The Rancher's Second Chance. Brenda Minton

She sat down next to Grace and studied her long and hard. “So you’re the trouble...”

      “Lilly.” Brody cut her off as he chuckled. “This is Grace.”

      Grace held out her hand. “Better known as trouble.”

      Lilly smirked. “Mom said you’re staying in the apartment.”

      “Yes, I am.”

      Lilly leaned back in her chair and Brody reached over, putting the chair back on four legs. “Down, killer.”

      “I have to get back to work. Mom and Dad will be here soon.” She stood, her attention focused on Grace. “I’m sorry I didn’t meet you earlier. I came here right after school.”

      “I’m sure we’ll have a chance to get to know each other,” Grace offered.

      “Great,” Brody murmured. “Maybe we should get our food to go.”

      “Why would we do that? This looks as if it might be entertaining,” Grace teased. It was easy to do when she knew how much Brody liked his privacy.

      “We should leave before the whole family shows up,” he said, leaning in close. “You’re laughing at me now, Gracie, but you wait till you’re face-to-face with Jake, Duke and their women. And then there’s this bunch.”

      He inclined his head, taking in the group at the table.

      “I do like to see you squirm.”

      He leaned back in his chair. “They’ll eat you alive.”

      As if on cue, one of the older men turned his attention on Brody and Grace. He grinned as he settled his fishing hat on his head, the stiff bill shading his face but not hiding the teasing glint in his dark eyes.

      “Brody, I’m just a wondering when you’re going to hang up your running shoes.”

      “Running isn’t good for your knees, Brody.” Grace understood the double meaning but she jumped in anyway. Anything to see his face turn red.

      “I haven’t been running, Grace.”

      The other gentleman laughed at that. “Brody, as far as I can tell, you’ve been running for a year. Looks to me as if it finally caught up with you.”

      Brody shot her an I-told-you-so look. She’d jumped in, thinking Brody would be the target. But it was suddenly clear that in Martin’s Crossing, no one got a break. For the next hour she took her share of teasing. When Brody’s brothers and their wives showed up, they made sure Brody took his fair share of ribbing. It felt good to be a part of that crowd, and to spend time laughing and not worrying.

      When Brody walked her back to the apartment an hour later, Grace was exhausted but still amused. She’d learned a lot about Brody Martin in their time with his family and with old-timers who’d known him all his life.

      “You really rode a bull through the school?” she asked as she unlocked the door.

      Brody lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug and reached to push the door open. He flipped on the lights inside and stepped back for her to enter.

      “A friend dared me.”

      “Do you always take dares?” For reasons unknown even to her, Grace’s voice softened. She looked up and saw Brody watching her, his blue eyes intent.

      She wanted to touch him. She wanted to brush her hands over the dark shadows on his cheeks. She wanted to lean in and inhale his scent.

      Instead, she took a step back, knowing that they didn’t have a future. She’d broken his heart once. And Brody didn’t trust easily. She had a baby to think about. This was definitely not the time for distractions.

      “Brody, thank you. For letting me stay here and for not being angry.”

      “Oh, I’m still angry, Grace. That doesn’t mean I don’t care.” He kissed her cheek and walked away.

      She drew in a deep breath as she locked the door behind him, then leaned against it. A tear slid down her cheek.

      She brushed it away because crying did no good. She’d gotten herself into this mess and she’d survive. Somehow.