Free Winter's End by Ruth Logan Herne Page B

“And you know Kayla. Craig said she was working with your father, so I knew we’d make a nice group tonight.”
    Marc never missed a beat. He sent Kayla an even look over Sarah’s head. “And you were right.” Stepping back, he motionedto McKenna, who was enthralled with the intricacies of trying on Kayla’s much-too-large shoes. “I can’t get over how big she is. And independent.”
    “Yes.” Sarah beamed. “Her coloring may be mine, but there’s a lot of Macklin in that child. She can charm her way into anything. And obviously has great taste in shoes already.”
    “A trait from her father,” announced Craig as he came down the stairs. “The charming part. Not the shoe thing. I’m sure that’s Kayla’s doing. Marc. Hey.” He reached out a hand to Marc, then turned Kayla’s way. “It’s nice you guys know each other so we could have you over together. Between work, lambs and the baby, we don’t get to do this often enough.”
    “Me, neither,” replied Marc. “It’s nice.”
    Kayla had been just about to beg off the evening and go home. Craig’s words stopped her. He and Sarah had been good to her these past two years. It had seemed odd at first, being Sarah’s friend, since Kayla had dated Craig a few summers back. But a kinship had formed between the two young women that moved beyond petty jealousies and developed into an abiding friendship. There hadn’t been too many of those in Kayla’s life. Her fault, she knew. Ties meant heartache when they had to be broken, and hers were always severed.
    “Kayla? Where are you?”
    She turned, surprised. “Hmm? Sorry. Lost in my thoughts.”
    “I was asking how you like your steak,” Craig explained. “I’m grilling while you girls finish in here, since you’ll be moving south before barbecue season really takes hold.”
    “How masterful.” Kayla gave him a full-fledged grin she bestowed on Marc, as well. “Pete assures me that Marc is a topnotch griller. Right?” She turned the full benefit of her smile Marc’s way.
    Eyes tight, he did a Clint Eastwood jaw twitch, then turned to Craig. “I’ll stand in the cold with you, Doc.”
    “Eight degrees and falling, I hear.” Kayla kept her voice cheerful as she nodded to Marc. “Did you bring a flannel?”
    His eyes sparked. His nostrils flared. Then he relaxed into a full, megawatt smile that had her heart hitching. “You got me.”
    As Kayla quirked her jaw in victory, Marc added, “But paybacks can be tough. And totally unexpected.”
    “I’ll take my chances,” she told him as she headed to the kitchen. “We’ll be in the nice, warm house if you boys need anything.”
    “Right.”
    Kayla felt his gaze as she moved across the carpeted room. Sarah called to Craig, “Honey, there’s an extra flannel in the closet for Marc.” She sent Kayla a knowing look. “L.L. Bean sells flannels, you know.”
    Kayla laughed. “Great.”
    “So does Lands’ End.”
    “Not to mention every Salvation Army thrift store,” Kayla rejoined. She flashed a grin to Sarah. “Actually, Calvin Klein and Eddie Bauer both carried flannels last fall.”
    “Well, then.” Sarah grinned. “I’ll feel quite stylish as I tend the sheep.”
    “ Très chic, ” Kayla agreed. “What am I helping with?”
    “Mostly keeping McKenna out from underfoot,” Sarah replied. She swept the spacious kitchen a glance. “I did a potato casserole with enough carbs to last us a month, and green beans with garlic and slivered almonds. And rolls, of course, straight from Main Street Bakery.”
    “Best around,” declared Kayla. She scooped up McKenna and gave the baby Eskimo kisses. “Has this little bundle eaten yet, or is she eating with us?”
    Sarah grimaced. “I don’t think our single friends are ready for what McKenna does to food. It isn’t pretty.”
    Kayla blew bubbles at the baby and laughed when the toddler tapped her mouth to break them. “So?”
    “I’ve got mashed up stew if you’re brave enough