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you.”
    Laurel took a bite of a french fry. “Oh, so good.” She moaned in pleasure. “I don’t get much of a chance to indulge in Rocky’s hamburgers and fries.”
    Kase tried to concentrate on his food but found he’d rather watch Laurel.
    When she frowned at him, he realized he’d been staring again and picked up his hamburger. He took a big bite. “So good. I haven’t had a good burger in a long time.”
    Laurel waved another fry before popping it into her mouth. “So the big-time lawyer can’t be caught eating a double-stack burger with everything, including onions?”
    â€œMost of my clients prefer something more than a hamburger lunch, especially for what it costs them to keep us on retainer.”
    Laurel knew it wasn’t a good idea to accept Kase’s lunch invitation, but here she was sitting across from him. Even though it had been Addy who’d invited her, Kase had tossed in he wanted to thank her for watching his daughter during his meeting.
    She was so out of her league. This wasn’t the Kase Rawlins who’d left here ten years ago. She didn’t know how to play the game. She’d proved that with her lousy record with men. “You must be good at what you do if you’ve made junior partner so soon.” She took a big bite of her sandwich.
    His gaze shot to hers, his gray depths suddenly dark and searching. “So you checked me out.”
    When would she learn to keep her mouth shut? She shrugged, trying to act like it didn’t matter much. “It’s easy to Google a person.” She took another french fry. “Seems you got everything you wanted after you left here.”
    He paused, then said, “Sometimes we get confused about what we want, especially when we’re so young.”
    Her heart stopped, then sped up again. “You didn’t want to be a great criminal defense attorney?”
    â€œGreat is a stretch,” he said. “I had one landmark case. I got lucky with some evidence and with a good cyber investigator, so I was able to prove my client’s innocence.”
    Laurel couldn’t help but get caught up in his enthusiasm as he talked about his case. No doubt he was born to be a lawyer. Hadn’t he told her that was his passion from day one of their dating?
    Now he was back in Hidden Springs, widowed, with a young daughter. Would he be changing careers and staying permanently? “I think you’re being modest.”
    Kase leaned back in his seat. He didn’t want to talk about himself or the future, since he wasn’t sure about anything but keeping Addy. His attention went to Laurel as she lovingly brushed his daughter’s hair back. Her gaze met his. Those green eyes had always been able to turn him inside out.
    Laurel sighed. “Addy’s had a lot to deal with in her short life, especially losing her mother so young, and moving back here. All those changes can’t be easy for her.”
    â€œI guess so.” He didn’t want to hash over Johanna’s lack of mothering. “But I want to concentrate on building a new life for us here.”
    She arched an eyebrow. “So you’re staying? Permanently?”
    A funny feeling came over him as he looked across the table at the beautiful woman and wondered why he ever left. He nodded slowly.
    She smiled and his breath locked in his chest.
    â€œIsn’t it funny how life works out?” she questioned. “I mean, the last place you wanted to be was in Hidden Springs.”
    â€œThere isn’t much opportunity in a small town for defense attorneys.” He paused. “Look, Laurel, I know I didn’t exactly treat you fairly when we broke up. I was young and selfish...”
    She sweetly replied, “And I was a rancher’s daughter who didn’t fit into your plan to make a life in the big city.”
    He glanced away, wishing she’d hit him with anger, instead of