Read Mending Fences for Free Online Page B

but I really ought to be going.”
    Kelli glanced over from the refrigerator. “Don’t leave on my account. I’m just putting the cold things away and I’ll get out of here.”
    “No, no, I have a lot to do today. I’ve gotten seriously sidetracked. It was nice to meet you.”
    “You too,” Kelli said. “Don’t be a stranger.”
    Curran noted the way Victoria stiffened when she turned back to him. She wasn’t planning to come back. The thought made him uneasy. Her spontaneity and self-confidence on Halloween captured his imagination, and he’d spent more nights than he was comfortable with haunting Brindle’s, hoping she’d return. A couple of the other waitresses knew her first name, but no one actually knew her. He’d briefly considered buying the place and assigning people to do nothing but watch for her to reappear.
    A twist of fate had given him another shot. God bless Peg for his attempt to get through the fence. He couldn’t let Victoria walk away a second time. Not until he examined their potential more closely and decided their fate for himself. “I’ll help you with your horse.”
    “Oh, you don’t have to do that, really.” She sounded cheery enough, but when he looked in her eyes, the deep freeze had returned. Was she always this mercurial, or did he bring out the worst in her?
    “I need to get back out there and fix the fence anyway.” Vaguely aware of Kelli trying to disappear inside the huge fridge, he lowered his voice. “Please, Victoria. Let me walk you out.”
    She closed her eyes, turned her face away from him. She nodded. Good, a point for him in this little negotiation. He placed a hand on her waist and guided her out of the kitchen, snagging both of their coats off the sofa with his free hand as they left the house.
    They paused on the covered porch and he examined her torn parka. Leave it to Peg to destroy a perfectly serviceable coat. “You can’t possibly wear this. You’ll freeze.”
    “It’s not that long a ride. I’ll live.”
    He tucked the parka under his arm and held out the sheepskin. “Take mine, until I can buy a replacement for you.”
    A shadow passed through her eyes, and she shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m fine. Really. Mine will get me home.”
    “If you insist, but I’m still going to buy you a new one.” He studied her, watching for her reaction. There it was again, flitting through her gaze. Wariness, bordering on suspicion. As if she feared he might demand something from her in return.
    “You don’t have to do that. I was due for a new parka anyway. I’ll replace it.”
    Now, that made no sense at all. Why wouldn’t she want him to fix what his animal had damaged? He shook his head, then held the torn parka for her, slipping it up her arms and settling it on her shoulders.
    As he pulled on his own coat, she stood watching him, worrying her lower lip with her teeth. He couldn’t help focusing on her mouth.
    The memory of her sitting astride him in the club, kissing him, slammed home. She noticed his attention and abruptly released her lip and looked away, her cheeks flushing pink. He shook off the memory, but the tightness in his gut didn’t loosen.
    When she hazarded a glance back at him, he tried to set her at ease. “My nephew does that when he wonders if he should say something.”
    Her eyes widened. “Does what?”
    He reached up, ran a finger along the edge of her mouth. “Chews on his lip. What were you thinking?”
    She edged slightly away from his touch. “I don’t want to be nosy.”
    He sighed, his breath a cloud in the frosty air, and thrust his hand in his coat pocket. “Ask. I’ll tell you when you’re being nosy.”
    She turned and started down the steps. “Your nephew is a cute little guy. How long have they lived here?”
    Well, that certainly wasn’t a question he expected. He followed her off the porch, walking beside her toward the barn. “About three years. They moved into their house before I built