Heartland Read Online Free Page A

Her fingers dug into the soft dough.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Her voice was as cold and unwelcoming as she could make it, though a wicked flame seemed to heat her blood.
    The screen door squeaked on its hinges as it opened and closed. Still, she refused to turn around. She didn’t move at all.
    â€œHi! We’re making bread,” Jennifer informed him, clearly thrilled by his appearance. “Aunt Lara makes the best bread in the whole world.”
    â€œI’ll bet she does.”
    â€œYou want to help?”
    â€œI think I’ll just watch.”
    Lara glanced at him at last, fighting against the shock of looking into his eyes. Those eyes of his had always been her undoing. A vivid blue, they had seemed able to see into her soul. Whatever secrets she’d kept from others had never been hidden to Steven’s searching gaze. She wondered if he could sense her confusion now. She wanted him out of her kitchen, but she didn’t want Jennifer to witness the fireworks likely to result from her request that he leave at once.
    â€œI think I hear Kelly stirring,” she said to Jennifer. “Why don’t you go check on her?”
    â€œI didn’t hear anything.”
    â€œJennifer!”
    Her lower lip curved into a pout. “Okay.” Then Jennifer offered Steven her sunniest smile. “Will you still be here when I come back?”
    â€œI hope so.” There was a dry note to his voice that Lara couldn’t miss.
    â€œI’ll hurry then,” she promised as she ran from the room. “We hardly ever have company.”
    â€œCute girl,” he said, when they were alone. “Is it true what she said?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThat you never have company?”
    â€œI don’t see that that’s any of your business.”
    Steven shrugged, plucked a strawberry from the basket he’d left and bit into it. Lara had to force herself not to watch as he licked the red juice from his lips. She wanted to tell him to get out, but now that she’d created the opportunity to say the words, they wouldn’t come.
    â€œYou didn’t say yesterday. Is she Tommy’s?”
    Lara nodded. “His oldest. She and Kelly are staying here for the summer.”
    When he said nothing, she felt an urgent need to fill the silence. “Tommy’s doing very well. He’s just gotten a job with a big firm in Kansas City. He and Megan are there now, looking for a house. The girls will be going out there in the fall. I’ll miss them terribly, and it’s been good to have them here. They love the farm. It’s not like it was when I was growing up. We have help around here now, so I have time to spend with them. They’re at that age where everything fascinates them. The days don’t seem long enough to show them everything.”
    She caught herself rambling and suddenly fell silent. Steven leaned back against the counter, crossed his jeans-clad legs at the ankles and watched her. Agitated, she worked the dough even harder. At the rate things were going, it would be very tough bread.
    â€œYou still haven’t said what you wanted,” she said at last.
    â€œNothing special. Just a neighborly visit.”
    Her gaze rose and met his, caught the knowing gleam in his eyes. “Neighbors don’t usually wait for years before dropping in.”
    â€œWould I have been welcome any sooner?”
    â€œYou’re not welcome now.”
    â€œI’d hoped—”
    â€œWhat? That the strawberries would soften me up.”
    He grinned. “Well, you are harder than you used to be,” he admitted. “I could see that yesterday. It might take more than strawberries, but I figured that would be a start. I’ve been waiting all this time for some sign that you’re ready to let go of the past, but you won’t even look at me when we pass on the street in town.”
    The dough hit the counter with a resounding