Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 1 of 2

by Marta Perry

  “Most of us need a support group at some point in life.” She swallowed all her questions. They weren’t appropriate. “I’m blessed to be best friends with them.”

  His eyes had that intensity again, and she wanted to look away but couldn’t.

  “Eden, I have a very personal question to ask, and you don’t have to answer it.”

  Her heartbeat started pounding. “Oh, yeah?” She tried to sound nonchalant.

  “Why are you still single?”

  Her stomach fell to the floor. How could she possibly answer that?

  I’m not pretty like Mia. I don’t have the beauty, sparkling personality or talent of your ex-wife. I’m a homebody. Quiet. I have no idea how to flirt and don’t want to, anyhow. Guys don’t notice me. I don’t really blame them.

  “Never mind. It was a stupid question,” he muttered. “None of the guys around here deserve you, anyway.”

  Wait, what?

  Did he think she’d actually turned down the single men in Rendezvous? Was he under the impression they’d asked her out and she’d said no? She almost laughed.

  He tilted his head. “The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow. Why don’t you come over, and we’ll take the girls on a tour of the ranch?”

  She didn’t know how to handle the feelings Ryder kept bringing up. It was fine to babysit the girls. And hanging out here when all her friends were around wasn’t hurting anything. But spending additional time with Ryder?

  “I don’t know.” She studied her hands, unwilling to commit.

  “Do you have other plans?”

  “No…”

  “How will I know where to take the girls if you don’t show me? I don’t know how to find all these great spots you claim are on the ranch. Come over. We’ll make a day of it.”

  The girls would love her favorite places on the ranch, and the weather was supposed to be warm and sunny for once. What would it hurt?

  “Okay,” she said. “I’ll show you around.”

  “I’d like that.” His slow grin made her gulp. “It will be an adventure.”

  An adventure. Yes, the ranch was an adventure. One she hoped would give Harper and Ivy years of fun. She’d show them her favorite hangouts, and later, when she wasn’t part of their lives anymore, she’d rest easy knowing the ranch was being enjoyed the way it should be.

  Yeah, right.

  She was a hypocrite. Deep down, she wanted to spend more time getting to know Ryder. Spending it on the ranch was merely a bonus. She was playing with fire, and she knew it.

  * * *

  The next day, Ryder glanced over at Eden sitting in the passenger side of his truck. The girls were strapped into their booster seats in the back seat. The tires kicked up mud as they maneuvered the hills and crests of the land. Ryder had passed several places where evergreens flanked the overflowing creek. He hadn’t been this way before and got excited thinking of all the acres he’d soon be able to explore.

  Being out here on a sunny day made everything feel possible. Visions of fishing and riding horses and going to the twins’ school events crowded his brain. They’d be happy here. He’d make sure of it.

  Even Eden looked peaceful and content. She had that effect on him, too. Being around her made his problems disappear.

  Rays of sun beamed on the land still recovering from winter. The grass was green and wildflowers had begun to unfurl. Maybe he’d be able to move the cattle to the summer pasture sooner rather than later.

  “Once you get around the S in the creek up ahead, there will be a clearing.” Eden pointed to the right. “You can stop there.”

  “I’m glad you know where we’re going. I haven’t ventured to this part of the ranch at all.”

  She turned to him with a smile, and he was pretty sure his heart stopped beating for a moment.

  “You’ll know every nook and cranny of this place soon enough.”

  “I hope so.” He peeked at her again. “Thanks for showing us around.”

  “Thanks for inviting me.” She returned her attention out the window.

  The truck bounced over the uneven terrain, and Ryder focused on driving.

  “There. See? Park up on that hill.” Eden touched his arm, pointing with her other hand, and he practically jumped.

  “Right.” He sounded brusque.

  After they parked, they all got out of the truck. Eden stretched her arms above her head. “Wow, it feels so good to be out here without wearing a coat.”

  Ivy and Harper held hands and ran in their new rain boots toward the creek.

  “Stay away from the edge, girls,” Eden called. “The water’s high, and I don’t want you falling in.”

  “Okay!” Ivy tugged Harper’s hand and pointed to a clump of purple flowers growing near the trees. They bent over to inspect the blooms.

  “This might be the prettiest spot in the entire state.” Ryder strolled next to Eden.

  “I agree.” She smiled at him. “When Mia and I were young, we’d come out here in our bathing suits and lay out to get a suntan.”

  “Splash in the creek a little, too?”

  “Yeah, a little.” She laughed. “You have to be careful, though. The rocks can be sharp.”

  “Point taken.”

  “See the ridge beyond the creek?”

  He squinted. “Yeah.”

  “If you sit up there and wait, you’ll see pronghorns and mule deer and sometimes even wild horses in the distance.”

  “How patiently do you have to wait?” He wasn’t one to sit still for long.

  “It depends on the day. Bring a folding chair, a cooler and some binoculars. It’s worth it.”

  “Maybe in ten years I’ll have that kind of time.” They ambled beside the creek until they reached a rocky area where the water hadn’t spilled over. The girls were chasing a butterfly in the meadow.

  “You need to make the time.” Eden propped her foot on a boulder.

  Easy for her to say. She wasn’t in charge of a cattle ranch or the sole parent to twin five-year-old girls.

  “Seriously, Ryder, I know what I’m talking about.” Her eyebrows arched. “I’m assuming you moved here for a simpler life.”

  “Yeah.”

  “There’s not much simple in this rugged land. You’ve got to enjoy what you can.”

  “Daddy, did you bring my butterfly net?” Harper ran up to him and halted, panting.

  “I didn’t.”

  “But Daddy, I need my net. We found a big butterfly!”

  “Sorry, pumpkin. We’ll bring it next time.”

  “C’mon, Harper.” Ivy trotted up and grabbed her arm. “Let’s pick flowers for Mommy.”

  “They’ll die before she gets here, Ivy.”

  “No, they won’t. We’ll put ’em in water.”

  The girls took off again, but Ryder’s spirits sank. “Do they mention their mother a lot while you’re watching them?”

  “Not all the time, but, yes, they talk about her often.” Eden tilted her head. “Why?”

  “I’ll have to call her again,” he muttered under his breath.

  “I’m sure it’s a big adjustment for them to not see her as often as they used to.”

  Not see her as often? He cocked an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

  “Lily. Their mother.” She opened her hands as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

  “What about her?”

  “They miss seeing her. I’m sure this is hard on them. Being so far away from her.”

  “Right.” He backed up, squaring his shoulders. “Lily didn’t see them all that often in Los Angeles. They don’t spend much time with her.”

  Eden frowned. “Why not?”

  Because she’s too busy being important. He swallowed the words. He didn’t want to criticize
his ex. He wouldn’t. He’d learned his lesson. But he wasn’t going to pretend she was something she wasn’t, either. “I don’t know. She didn’t want to share custody, and the visitation schedules I suggest never seem to work out.”

  “Oh.” Eden stared at the grass near her feet. “Well, the girls miss her and love her. I’m sure she’ll come soon.”

  Eden said it like it was a good thing. He was trying to do everything in his power to help them get over the fact their mother was never around. Even when Lily did visit, she found a way to mess things up, because after she left, it took two days for him to pick up the pieces. The girls would be on cloud nine while they had her, and as soon as she left, they missed her and knew it might be months before they saw her again.

  It devastated them.

  And seeing them devastated always hurt him.

  “Whether she comes or not doesn’t change anything.” He clenched his jaw. “A few days. A week. It’s never enough. Our marriage—” He shook his head. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “The custody arrangement?” She looked confused.

  “No, marriage in general. It’s not worth it.”

  Eden seemed to be chewing on his statement. He shouldn’t have said so much.

  “Daddy?” Ivy yelled. “What’s this hole?”

  “That hole looks like it’s for a prairie dog.” Eden stopped near the girls.

  “A prairie dog?” Ivy shook her head. “Do they bark?”

  “Kind of. They yip and make chirpy sounds.” Eden chuckled. “They’re not dogs at all. They’re small and cute. We’ll have to look up some pictures of them this week.”

  The girls inspected the hole for another minute, then raced off when they spotted another cluster of flowers.

  “Have you given more thought to getting Ivy a kitten?” Eden asked.

  Another thing he’d put on the back burner. “Not really.”

  “Mrs. Ball’s long-haired white cat had kittens. You know Ivy has her heart set on a fluffy white cat. Want me to tell her to save one for you?”

  “When would I pick it up?” He’d need to prepare. Cat litter. Food. What else did cats need?

  “Oh, in a few weeks, I imagine. What about Harper?”

  “What about her?”

  “Do you think she’d want a kitten?”

  “I don’t know. Let’s ask her. Hey, Harper.” Up ahead, Harper turned back to him, her eyes wide and expectant. “If Ivy gets a kitten, do you want one, too?”

  “I want a pony,” Harper shouted.

  Eden chortled. “Well, I can’t help you with that.”

  Ivy raced to him with Harper on her heels. “Am I getting a kitty today, Daddy?”

  “Not today, Ivy.” He shook his head. “And Harper, no ponies. We have good horses already. I’m teaching both of you girls how to ride.”

  “I’m too scared, Daddy.” Ivy held on to his leg, looking up at him. He ruffled her curls.

  “That’s exactly why I want you to learn. So you won’t be scared. If you know what you’re doing, horseback riding isn’t scary.”

  “Your daddy’s right, Ivy.” Eden bent to her level. “It’s fun when you know how.”

  “Are you sure, Auntie Eden?” Ivy disentangled herself from Ryder’s legs to wrap her arms around Eden’s neck.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay.” Turning back to Ryder, Ivy clasped her hands in front of her chest. “Can we get the kitty tomorrow?”

  “No, ma’am. But we might get one in a few weeks.”

  “A few weeks,” Ivy said breathlessly. “Did you hear that, Harper? I’m getting a kitty!”

  “I still want a pony.” Harper kicked at the grass. “Not a dumb old horse.”

  Ryder exchanged an amused glance with Eden. He’d never taught anyone how to ride horses before, and he didn’t want the girls getting hurt.

  “How would you feel about helping Ivy learn how to ride?” he asked Eden.

  “I’m glad to be here for moral support, but if you want the girls to learn properly, talk to your brother. Mason had Noah riding pretty much from the time he could walk. You should ask him.”

  “Thanks, I will.”

  Sometimes Eden seemed too good to be true.

  He’d thought Lily was everything he ever wanted, and she turned out to be a mirage. But Eden was different…

  He wasn’t going to throw caution to the wind now. Too much was on the line with this move. Too much could go wrong if he let his heart get too close.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Two weeks later Eden stood on the corner of Third and Centennial as she waited for the Memorial Day parade to start. Brittany, Mason and Noah waved as they approached. Ever since she’d started babysitting at Ryder’s place, life had been great. There was plenty of room for structured play, doing crafts and running around outside. Most evenings Eden enlisted the twins to help put together a meal. They loved tearing lettuce for a salad or putting biscuits on a plate. Ryder always invited her to stay. She usually did.

  Not that she was eating supper to be near Ryder or anything. It was just lonely eating by herself in her apartment.

  “Thanks for saving us a spot.” Mason gave Eden a side hug, and Noah attached himself to her legs.

  “Hey there, Noah-bear.” Eden bent to kiss his forehead. “Are you ready for the parade?”

  “I’m ready for candy.” Noah wore an unzipped jacket, jeans and cowboy boots. As usual, he was bursting with energy.

  Eden exchanged an amused glance with Brittany.

  “He’s been wound up for hours. I’m not sure candy is a good idea.” Brittany pointed to her half-zip lavender pullover, identical to Eden’s. “Hey, we match.”

  “Sissy’s Bargain Clothes?” Eden asked.

  “Thirty percent off.” Brittany raised her palm for a high five, and Eden slapped it. “I almost bought one for Nan, too.”

  “How is your grandma?”

  “Slowly declining, but that’s to be expected. She’s still getting around okay.”

  “I see Ryder.” Mason was craning his neck around the Johnson family, who’d squeezed in next to them. He held up his arm, and Ryder waved.

  Eden hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until Brittany nudged her. “Any progress on your plans?”

  Plans? What plans? Seeing Ryder holding the twins’ hands had erased her thought process.

  “About finishing your degree.” Brittany scooted closer as a couple strode by.

  Oh, right. Those plans. Duh.

  “Yeah, I’m considering it. But I don’t know if early childhood education makes sense anymore. I love kids, but teaching preschool wouldn’t be full-time, and I need benefits.”

  Brittany nodded, her blond ponytail bobbing. “I hear you. Given my job history, I’ll be the first to admit they’re important. Have you ever thought about teaching elementary school?”

  “Not really.” Eden had always been drawn to babies and toddlers, but she was enjoying Noah and the twins, too. Maybe she should consider going that route. “I’m not against it. I don’t know what opportunities I’d have here in Rendezvous. The last time a teacher retired was three years ago.”

  “Look into it. It can’t hurt.” Brittany’s upbeat personality always made Eden feel better.

  “Thanks. I will.” Whatever she did, it would be here in Rendezvous. Being an active part of Noah’s life wasn’t something she’d willingly turn her back on. Speaking of… Brittany and Mason had a date tonight, and Eden was looking forward to babysitting for them. “What time are you bringing Noah over?”

  “Would six thirty work?”

  “Perfect.”

  “Hey, sorry we’re late.” Ryder somehow created a spot next to Eden, although Bertha Johnson had staked her ground there earlier. His proximity made Eden’s nerves twitch. He set the twins on
the ground, then he leaned in and said, “Thanks for saving us a spot.”

  His warm breath near her ear was a shock. She hadn’t saved him a spot—he’d shoved his way in. And she liked it. She turned her attention to the girls. “Are you excited about the parade?”

  “Yes!”

  “Come on, the front’s where the candy’s at!” Noah waved them to the curb where he stood with Mason. They wriggled through until they stood on the front lines.

  “Are we all set for tomorrow?” Ryder asked Eden.

  “Yes,” Eden said. “Mrs. Ball has the white kitten reserved and ready for Ivy.”

  “Good. Last night we bought a kitty-litter box and a collar, food and a scratching post. I have no idea what else we’ll need.”

  “It sounds like you’ve got the big stuff. You’ll be fine. What have you done about Harper’s wish?”

  “Nothing.” His mouth broke into a cheeky grin. “But I’m on top of it.” He tapped his brother’s shoulder. “Hey, Mason.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Since the weather’s nice, I’m thinking it’s time to get the girls on horseback.”

  “Yes.” Mason pumped both fists. “You are talking my language. Do you have time to buy some gear after the parade?”

  “If you have time to help me.”

  “I’ve got time.” Mason grinned. “Brittany? You okay with that?”

  She scoffed, waving. “Go ahead. I need to stop in at the studio anyhow. Oh, there’s Gabby and Dylan.” Brittany beckoned them over.

  “Hey, guys,” Gabby said. Dylan carried Phoebe and found a spot near Mason. “I was really hoping to not have to wear a jacket today. When is it going to warm up?”

  “July?” Eden teased.

  “Probably.” Gabby rolled her eyes, then hugged Eden and Brittany.

  Nicole and Judd pushed two strollers their way. The boys were in a double umbrella stroller, and Amelia was in a single. Eden had to admit this setup appeared much more manageable than the triple stroller Nicole used to bring to church every week.

  “You made it,” Eden said to Nicole, then bent to greet the babies. “I hear you got into your mama’s cupcake liners a few days ago, Amelia Bedelia.”