Mending Fences. Jenna Mindel

could picture his daughter here—riding horses, planting a garden. An image of Angie picking the vegetables they could grow together was all it took. He came around the side of the barn and waited for Laura to notice him.

      She drove the lawn mower toward him and shut it off. “What do you think?”

      “I’m buying out a vet practice in town, but my goal is to work and live on the same property. I’m not sure if building a home first or the business is more appropriate.”

      “You’re a vet?” Her eyebrows lifted, as if surprised. “This place would be perfect for you.”

      “I have a daughter, that’s why I wanted to rent. Get to know the area better before committing.”

      “I’m not interested in renting. I need to sell.”

      Jack rubbed the stubble on his chin. “But should I buy a house or a practice facility? This place would work well as a vet’s office.”

      Looking into her blue eyes for guidance he knew she couldn’t give, he noticed her irises were rimmed in yellow. She had beautiful eyes that tilted up at the corners. His mouth formed the words before his mind registered. “What’s your asking price? I’m interested in buying.”

      Chapter Two

      Laura felt the weight of his stare and shifted her stance. This guy was big, well over six feet. He had an unruly mop of sandy blond hair with more than a day’s growth of beard. He was rough-looking with a lumberjack quality that most women would admire. But Laura wasn’t most women. He had a daughter. “How old is your daughter?”

      He beamed like any proud parent, his blue eyes shining. “She’s thirteen and she starts school after Labor Day.”

      “There’s not much room in that apartment for a teenaged girl.”

      “We’ve had to adjust to tougher things.”

      What kind of things?

      Laura’s interest piqued. Any self-respecting girl would hate living in a barn.

      He pointed toward Lake Superior. “Eventually, I could see myself building on the edge of those woods, as long as they’re part of the twenty acres.”

      “Maybe I should call my Realtor.” Laura grabbed her phone and dialed. When her Realtor finally answered, Laura explained the situation.

      “I’ll ask.” Laura lowered her phone. “She wants to know if you’ve had dinner?”

      He looked surprised. “No.”

      “He hasn’t.” Laura held his gaze. “Are you hungry? We can go through the papers over dinner if you have time. You can bring your daughter, too.”

      “I have the time, but Angie’s not with me. She’s at my sister’s in Lansing.”

      “We’ll meet you there.” Laura disconnected and looked up. “I hope you like Italian.”

      “Some of my favorite food.”

      “The restaurant’s in the center of town. You can’t miss it. It’s called Gino’s.”

      “Mind if I follow you?” he asked.

      “Not at all. I’ll get my keys.” Laura headed for the house. She turned in time to see Jack climb into his monster-sized SUV parked across the road. He was a big, tall man with a big truck.

      She usually met with men in the safety of offices and restaurants to go over business plans, but this was different. Grabbing her purse, she locked the front door and walked to her car while Jack pulled into the drive. She caught him giving her the once-over, but then he quickly looked away.

      She was used to men checking her out. Her looks were one of the challenges she’d faced at work—getting the tech heads to trust her and businessmen to take her seriously. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder what Jack might look like if he shaved.

      Slipping in behind the wheel, she turned the key but nothing happened. The car turned over but wouldn’t start.

      “Sounds like you’re out of gas.” He leaned close and smelled like sunshine and spice. His nearness gave her goose bumps.

      “I guess I pushed it too far.” She’d been back and forth to the hospital several times the last couple days. On her way home last night, the gas station in the four-corner town her mother lived near was closed.

      “You can ride with me.”

      Laura looked up into those kind blue eyes of his, but she wasn’t buying. “What did you say your last name was?”

      He smiled, displaying perfectly even, white teeth—no doubt the handiwork of a good orthodontist. “Jack Stahl.”

      “Thanks, Dr. Stahl, but there’s a gas can in the barn. I’ll be just fine.”

      He backed away as she got out. “It’s just Jack. I’ll get the can if you show me where.”

      She hesitated only a moment before leading the way. She matched his long strides across the lawn and opened the barn door. “Where are you from?”

      “East Lansing. What about you? You don’t strike me as the U.P. type.”

      “What gives you that idea?”

      He gestured toward her waist. “The latest in cell phones.”

      “What, no one in the U.P. has a cell phone?” She didn’t want to admit that her mother lived alone, not yet.

      “Yours is pretty high-tech. Are you a professor?”

      She laughed. “No.”

      “Landscaper then, you mow a mean lawn.” He actually winked before he picked up a five-gallon gas can as if it weighed nothing.

      “Thanks.” She focused on anything but him. Something about him made her feel off-kilter.

      “Nice tractor.” He pointed toward the old John Deere. “Antique?”

      “It belonged to my father.”

      “Does it work?”

      “I don’t know.” She followed him out.

      Without a moment’s hesitation, he reached in and popped her gas cover. She watched as he unscrewed the cap. His hands were large and broad with clean fingernails cut short. He wore a modest wedding ring, but he hadn’t mentioned a wife. Was he divorced? It didn’t matter. Like Anthony, he had a daughter.

      “How far?”

      His question scattered her thoughts. “What?”

      “How far to the restaurant?”

      “Five or six miles.”

      “I’ll follow you, but you may want to stop and fill up just the same.”

      “Will do, Jack. I’ll meet you there.”

      Jack took a deep breath before opening the door to the pizza parlor. “Italian, huh?”

      “You can order pasta, pizza, even meatball subs.” She gave him a quirky grin.

      “I’ll remember that.” He held the door for her. When she passed by him, he inhaled her perfume. It was soft and incredibly pleasing. He hoped she didn’t live next door. He was noticing things he’d be better off ignoring.

      He spotted a middle-aged woman with a file laid open on the table. After the introductions had been made, Maddie Smith, the Realtor, smiled. “I hope you don’t mind a booth,” she whispered. “More private.”

      “Fine with me.” Laura scooted in next to Maddie.

      Jack sat across from them. Laura looked ready to get down to business. Surely that meant she was eager to part with the barn instead of negotiating.