Twins for the Rancher

by Trish Milburn

  “Oh.” But what about his birth parents? His grandparents? If he was adopted, did that mean they weren’t around anymore? And hadn’t been since he was a kid?

  Adam proceeded to wash away the humorous words from the window, and it made her inexplicably sad. It was as if the moment a bit of humor strolled into her life, she found a way to erase it.

  When he was finished washing the high-up windows, Adam descended the ladder and came over to the front counter, where she was standing sketching out ideas for the placement of customer seating and the gift-shop area. The thoughts that had been eating at her the past few minutes found their way out of her mouth.

  “I really am sorry if I brought up bad memories. I should have thought before I spoke.”

  “It’s really okay. It happened a long time ago.”

  She started to ask what but managed to stop herself. It wasn’t any of her business.

  “You don’t have to be so careful around me,” he said. “I won’t break.”

  She looked up at him and realized again just how much she liked him already. If she hadn’t been through what she had with Phil, she wouldn’t even question her assessment of Adam. She hated that she now always looked for hidden meaning behind words, selfish intent behind actions.

  “My birth parents died in a bridge collapse when I was six. I went to live with my grandmother after that for a year, but then she had a stroke and had to be moved to a care facility.”

  Without any conscious thought, she placed her hand atop his on the counter. “I’m so sorry.” That was a lot of loss to deal with. “I lost my dad when I was five, but I can’t imagine losing both parents at once.”

  “I won’t lie and say it wasn’t hard, but I got lucky in the end. My parents now are great, and I ended up with brothers and sisters instead of being an only child. They’re all adopted, too, so I wasn’t alone in that experience, either.”

  “How many of you are there?”

  “Five. Neil, Ben and Sloane are older, and Angel is younger.”

  “That’s amazing that your parents adopted so many kids.”

  “We tease them that they like to collect strays.”

  Lauren smiled at that and wondered what life was like when all the Hartleys got together. Just then the door opened, revealing Papa Ed and her mother pushing the double stroller. Lauren realized her hand was still lying atop the masculine warmth of Adam’s and she pulled it away, so quickly that it made her appear as if she’d been doing something wrong.

  “Hey,” she said to the new arrivals, probably sounding way brighter and cheerier than she should.

  She didn’t miss the curious glances both her mother and Papa Ed leveled at Adam. Before their imaginations ran wild, she gestured toward Adam.

  “You’re just in time to see what a great job Adam did on washing the windows.”

  “You hired someone?” her mother asked.

  Lauren shook her head. “No, Adam was kind enough to help with the stuff up high.”

  “This the young man who drove you back last night?” Papa Ed asked.

  “Yes. Adam Hartley, this is my grandfather, Ed, and my mom, Jeanie.” And now for the part of the introductions that would likely have her seeing the backside of Adam as he suddenly had to be somewhere else. She reminded herself that was okay. “And these two sleeping beauties are my daughters, Harper and Bethany.”

  Instead of causing a blur as he ran for the exit, Adam crossed the few feet that separated him from the stroller. Lauren held her breath for some reason. When he smiled as he crouched down in front of them, she inexplicably felt like crying happy tears.

  “They sure do look as if they don’t have a care in the world, don’t they?”

  Lauren couldn’t help the sudden laugh. “Don’t let their cherubic faces fool you. They both have an incredible lung capacity, which they put to good use last night.”

  Adam looked up at her. “That explains why you’re so tired.”

  “You don’t know the half of it.” There was so much, so very much, behind that simple statement. And to her great surprise, Adam didn’t run away. In fact, if she didn’t know better she’d swear he’d be perfectly willing to listen to every gory detail. And a bigger surprise than anything was that down deep, a part of her wanted to tell him.

  Not trusting herself or the part of her brain that had evidently forgotten the past eighteen months, she shifted her attention to her mom. “Let me show you around.”

  She forced herself not to look back at Adam again as she led her mom toward the area of the building where the gift shop would eventually be located.

  “It certainly has a lovely view,” her mom said as she looked out the now-clean windows a couple of minutes later.

  “Yeah, that was a big selling point.”

  Her mom glanced back toward the front of the building, where Lauren could hear Adam talking to Papa Ed but couldn’t tell what they were saying. She realized she hadn’t warned Adam not to say anything about the two guys outside the music hall. Hopefully, he wouldn’t divulge that bit of information she purposely hadn’t shared with her family.

  “Can’t say the view of the other direction is bad, either.”

  “Mom!” Lauren miraculously kept her voice low enough that she didn’t attract the attention of the men.

  “What? Am I lying?”

  Well, no. Not by a long shot. “He’s just being friendly, nothing more.”

  Her mom gave her one of those “mom” looks that said she was highly suspicious there was something Lauren wasn’t telling her.

  “Did I say otherwise?”

  Damn it. Lauren realized she’d just revealed more than she wanted to admit to herself. She was really attracted to Adam, and not just because he was pleasing to the eye. The part of her that still ached from Phil’s betrayal was looking for a balm, and it seemed to want that balm to be named Adam Hartley.

  “You don’t have to completely turn off your feelings, hon,” her mom said. “Use caution, yes, but don’t allow yourself to live the rest of your life afraid.”

  “I barely know him.”

  “I’m not saying he’s the one or if there even is a ‘one,’ just that I don’t want you to let Phil burrow too deeply into your mind. He’s not worth it.”

  She was right about that, but that didn’t mean she had any idea how to not let the experience with him color how she responded to people going forward.

  Not wanting Adam to realize they were talking about him and perhaps get the wrong idea, she walked back across the building. As they drew close, Harper woke up and her gaze fixed on the tall, handsome man in front of her.

  “Well, hello there, cutie,” Adam said.

  Lauren smiled at the genuine tenderness in his voice. At least it sounded genuine. Surely he wouldn’t use fake affection for her children as another way to influence her to do business with him.

  Harper smiled and wiggled her feet at the same time she thrust out her arms toward him. Lauren couldn’t have been more surprised if her daughter had unhooked herself from the stroller and proceeded to walk across to the windows for a view of the lake.

  “Well, will you look at that?” Papa Ed said.

  Adam looked confused.

  “She’s never done anything like that with someone who isn’t family,” Lauren said. “Neither of them has.”

  “Do you mind if I hold her? I’ll be careful.”

  “Uh, sure.”

  Lauren reached down to release the lap belt, but Adam already had it freed and was lifting Harper into his arms. Lauren resisted the urge to stand close in case he dropped his happy bundle. He must have seen the worry on her face because he smiled.

  “Don’t worry. I have lots of practice. I’m an uncle, remember?”

  She had to admit he looked as if he knew what he was doing. He tapped the pad of his finger agai
nst the tip of Harper’s nose and said, “Boop.” Evidently, Harper found that hilarious because she let out a belly laugh before planting her little palm against Adam’s nose.

  Lauren was pretty sure her ovaries struck up a lively tune and started tap dancing. Not good. Not good at all.

  “I think she likes you,” Papa Ed said.

  As if she didn’t like being left out, Bethany woke up and started fussing. Knowing her ovaries couldn’t handle seeing both of her babies in Adam’s arms, Lauren picked up Bethany and proceeded to do a little dance with her. It had the desired effect of replacing the eminent tears with a precious baby grin.

  Adam reached over and booped Bethany’s nose the same as he had Harper’s and got a similar result.

  “Okay, stop trying to become their favorite human,” Lauren said. “That’s my title.”

  “Can’t help it. They must smell the spoiling uncle on me.”

  Lauren had the craziest thought that she didn’t want him to be their uncle. But she couldn’t allow herself to even think he’d be anything more than just a funny guy who made them laugh. There were so many reasons to demand her ovaries knock off the dancing.

  But, seriously, how was she supposed to ignore how sexy the man looked holding her daughter and making the babies laugh? That was impossible. Even women who didn’t want children would darn near melt at the sight. Women with eyes and any shred of maternal instinct didn’t stand a chance.

  * * *

  ADAM WASN’T QUITE sure how to interpret the look on Lauren’s face. It was almost as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Did she think he’d hurt her babies somehow? Was she surprised he actually liked kids? He guessed he should have expected that kind of reaction. After all, he’d witnessed how protective his sisters and sisters-in-law were of their children. And he knew enough guys who didn’t want anything to do with kids, especially if they weren’t their own.

  It hit him that the twins’ father must be the ex-fiancé who’d dragged Lauren into court. Did she have to continue to deal with him for their daughters’ sake? He couldn’t imagine being forced to speak to someone he couldn’t stand for the next couple of decades.

  “How many nieces and nephews do you have?” Lauren’s mother asked.

  “Two nieces and one nephew for now, but there’s another on the way.”

  “Big family?”

  “Yeah. One big, cobbled-together family.”

  At Jeanie’s look of confusion, Lauren explained, “Adam and his four siblings are all adopted.”

  “From different families,” he added, realizing he hadn’t revealed that detail before.

  “Well, bless your parents,” Jeanie said.

  He smiled. “I’m sure there were times when they wondered what they’d gotten themselves into.”

  “I think all parents wonder that from time to time.”

  Lauren made an expression of mock affront. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mom. Granted, Violet was a pill, but I was perfect.”

  Her mom actually snorted at that. “Just like you thought these two were without fault about four this morning.”

  Adam jostled Harper, causing her to grin and reveal the hint of a tiny tooth about to make its appearance.

  “I don’t know what these people are talking about,” he said to the little girl. “You seem pretty perfect to me.”

  This time, all three of the other adults were looking at him as if he was a unicorn.

  Almost as if they all realized what they were doing at the same time, their expressions changed as they redirected their attention.

  “Well, I should probably be heading out,” Adam said as he handed over Harper to her grandmother.

  “Don’t run on our account,” Jeanie said. “At least let us treat you to lunch.”

  “No need, but thank you.” Even though he needed to get back to the ranch, he found himself not wanting to leave. Maybe that was why he found himself extending an invitation. “Why don’t you all come out to the ranch for dinner while you’re here?”

  “We wouldn’t want to intrude,” Lauren replied quickly.

  Had he overstepped somehow? Or was she just being polite? One way to find out.

  “No imposition. My mom loves having people over. Like I said, she loves your show, so I might even win some ‘favorite son’ points if I bring you all over for dinner.”

  Lauren hesitated. It was her grandfather who answered for all of them.

  “Well, in that case, we’d be happy to accept.” Both Lauren and her mother looked at Ed with surprise, but Lauren was quick to refocus her attention on Adam.

  “Thank you. We appreciate it. Hopefully you’ll have the same calming effect on Harper and Bethany then.” Even though she was nice, he got the feeling she was worried. If she thought a couple of crying babies would bother his family, she was mistaken.

  “If I don’t, someone will be able to.”

  As he finally headed for the door a couple of minutes later, he still had the feeling Lauren was on edge. He was honestly surprised she accompanied him outside.

  “Thanks again for your help today,” she said.

  “It was nothing.” Despite not being a great fan of washing windows, he’d enjoyed spending time with her. “Listen, I’m sorry if inviting you and your family to dinner made you uncomfortable.”

  She shook her head. “No, it’s okay. That’s just a lot of people to invite without asking your mother first.”

  He laughed. “I could bring home an entire tour bus full of flower peepers and she’d be in hog heaven. We’ve joked that when we all eventually move out, she’s probably going to turn the house into a bed-and-breakfast.”

  “At least let me bring something. I can bake a cake.”

  “Where?” He pointed toward the building. “You don’t have an operational kitchen yet. Plus, Mom isn’t a slouch when it comes to dessert, so no worries there.”

  Finally, Lauren looked marginally more comfortable with the idea of eating with a family of strangers.

  “I promise we don’t bite,” he said.

  She smiled at that, and he found himself wanting to do more to make her smile. “I can’t say the same for the girls. Teething makes them want to chew on whatever is handy.”

  “Then we’ll make sure the dog’s chew toys aren’t within their reach.”

  He became aware of her mother and grandfather inside, watching them while trying to seem as if they weren’t. “Well, see you tomorrow night.”

  “Okay. And—”

  “Don’t you dare thank me again.”

  She made a show of pressing her lips together but he could still see the gratitude in her eyes. Though he didn’t need her thanks, it was nicer to see than suspicion.

  As he walked across the street to his truck, he tried not to think about other emotions he wouldn’t mind seeing in Lauren’s eyes.

  Chapter Six

  Adam walked into the dining room where his mom was busy wrapping Christmas presents. Rolls of colorful paper, tape, tags and scissors were scattered across the surface of the table.

  “Any of that for me?”

  “No, this is all for the kids. I have to sneak my wrapping in when they aren’t here.”

  He wondered if Lauren was the type of mom to spoil her kids at Christmas, especially their first one.

  “I hope you don’t mind but I invited some people over for dinner tomorrow night.”

  “These people have names?”

  “Lauren Shayne, her mother, grandfather and twin daughters.”

  His mom dropped the box containing a toy ranch set, no doubt for Brent. The stunned expression on her face surprised him.

  “Lauren is coming here for dinner?”

  “Yeah. I thought it would be okay. If not—”

  She waved off what he’d been about t
o say. “No, it’s fine. I just...well, she’s famous for her cooking.”

  “So are you.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “You have no idea how many people we’ve all told about your chocolate cake. I’m surprised Texas hasn’t been invaded by surrounding states yet for a taste.”

  She made a pffftt sound of disbelief. “Nobody would give me a TV show.”

  “I disagree wholeheartedly with that assumption.”

  “Be that as it may, I need to figure out what I’m going to cook.”

  “Mom, seriously, anything will be fine. They’re nice, down-to-earth people.”

  “That right?” There was more to that question than it appeared on the surface. “Did you meet them in town just now?”

  “Yes.” Better to tell the truth than have her find out some other way. “I was helping Lauren wash some windows she couldn’t reach when they came by.”

  “You seem to be helping Lauren a lot.”

  “I’m trying to get her business, remember?”

  “And yet I’ve never seen you do manual labor for any other potential customers.”

  Damn it, she had him there. He’d never felt an attraction toward any of them, and he suspected his mom knew it.

  “None of them could give us this kind of exposure.”

  His mom started cleaning up her wrapping station. “You go ahead and keep telling yourself it’s only business.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” He knew full well how her mind worked, especially since her children had started falling in love and getting married. She only had two left unattached, and since they seemed to be going in order of age he was up to the plate.

  “You like that girl.”

  “She’s nice.” And his heart rate had a habit of speeding up whenever he looked at her, but he wasn’t about to say that out loud. Especially since Lauren had already made it known that she wasn’t relocating to Blue Falls. And after what she’d gone through with her ex, he suspected she wasn’t too hot on dating anyway. Not that it kept him from wondering what it would be like.

  “Uh-huh,” his mom said, fully aware in that freaky way she had that he was not being totally forthcoming.