by Tina Leonard
“Wait!” Mrs. Donovan sounded panicked. “What are we going to do with the girls?”
“Raise them,” Aberdeen said, and Creed could see her lips were tight. She was angry, loaded for bear, and he didn’t ever want to see her look at him like that. “Maybe you’ll do a better job with them than you did with us.”
“Hang on a minute,” Mr. Donovan said. “Let’s just all calm down.”
“I’m past calm,” Aberdeen said. “Calm isn’t available to me at the moment.”
The little girls started to cry. Creed’s heart broke. “Oh,” he murmured, not sure what to do, completely undone by the waterworks. “I think I’ll wait outside,” he said, and headed toward Johnny’s truck. This was such bad karma that he was going to kiss Aunt Fiona as soon as he got back to Rancho Diablo. He’d never realized before how much her steadfast parenting had colored his existence happy. Of course, she was going to box his ears when she found out he was getting married and she didn’t get to arrange it, and that made him feel a bit more resourceful.
He sat in the truck, feeling like a teenager. After a few moments, Mrs. Donovan came to his window. “Mr. Callahan,” she said, her eyes bright. He thought she’d been crying.
“Yes, ma’am? Please call me Creed.”
“Will you please come back inside and have a cup of tea before you depart?”
He looked at her, and she looked back at him with a sad expression, and he realized she was scared.
“You know,” he said softly, “I’m not taking her away from you forever. And you will always be welcome at Rancho Diablo. We like having family around.”
Tears jumped into her eyes. She nodded. “Tea?”
“I’d be honored,” he said, and followed his future mother-in-law into the house.
“WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER?” Aberdeen asked, watching her mother ply Creed with cupcakes and tea.
“I said I liked tea a whole lot.”
Creed filled his plate up with sweets, and balanced Lincoln Rose on his knee as though he’d done it a thousand times before. Aberdeen was astonished. Good father material wasn’t something she’d put on her checklist when she’d decided to seduce Creed. The shock of discovering that he might have potential in this area warmed her heart. The most important thing in the world to her right now was the welfare of her nieces—she’d do anything to protect their futures, make sure their lives were as comfortable and normal as possible under the circumstances.
Never had she suspected that Creed might be a truly willing participant in her goal. He sure looked like it now, with all her nieces standing close to him, eating him up with their eyes like they’d never seen a real man before. They’d had Johnny, but she and Johnny hadn’t been around much, not knowing that Diane’s marriage was in trouble. So Creed garnered a lot of attention from the girls. And he seemed to return that attention, with affection thrown in.
It’s an agreement. We made an agreement. He’s merely keeping up his part of the bargain. I wanted stability, and he wanted stability, and neither of us ever said anything about permanent. Or love.
So don’t do it. Don’t go falling in love when you know that’s not a realistic ending to the story. Wild never settles down forever—and he never said forever anyway.
“More tea?” she said to Creed, and he smiled at her, his gaze kind and patient as he held the girls, and she felt heat run all over her. And another chip fell off her heart.
“TO BE HONEST,” JOHNNY SAID to Creed when they’d gone outside to throw a ball for the little nieces, “I didn’t mean for you to propose to my sister.”
Creed looked at him, then back at the porch where Aberdeen was standing with her parents, watching the game. The small house framed them. If he hadn’t known better, he would have thought this was a happy family. However, it wasn’t anything he wasn’t experienced with, so Creed felt pretty comfortable. “What did you have in mind, then?”
“I thought it would be a good idea to give Aberdeen something new to look at. Re-ride was old, you were new.” Johnny grinned. “I wanted her to know that there were other fish in the sea.”
“I’m sure there’ve been plenty of fish swimming her way,” Creed said, his tone mild.
“Yeah, but she’s not much for catching them.” Johnny tossed the ball, and the pink toy bounced toward the girls who squealed and tried to catch it with uncoordinated hands. “Anyway, I just wanted you to know that you’re taking on a pretty tall order with us.”
“Tall doesn’t bother me.” Creed looked at the girls, then glanced back at Aberdeen. Her hair shone in the Montana sunlight and she was smiling at him. “However, you’ll have to come to New Mexico to see her, my friend, so I hope you thought through your plan in its entirety.”
“That’s the way it is, huh?”
“That’s the way it is.” Creed nodded. “We’ve got plenty of space for you, too, if you’re of a mind to see a different topography.”
Johnny grinned. “I hear New Mexico is nice this time of year.”
Creed nodded, but his gaze was on Aberdeen again, and all he could think about was that New Mexico was going to be really nice, better than nice, when he had his little preacher lady sleeping in his big bed. Naked. Naked, warm and willing.
She waved at him, and he smiled, feeling like the big bad wolf. The happiest wolf in the canyons.
AFTER HE’D CHARMED Aberdeen’s folks—who warmed to him quickly after their initial resistance—and after he’d cleared hurdles with the judge, Creed placed one last phone call to warn his family of their impending change in lifestyle.
“Hello,” Rafe said, and Creed grinned.
“Hello, yourself. If you’ve got the time, we need a ride.”
His twin sighed. “I’m not flying up there just to pick up your lazy butt.”
Creed had taken himself out to the small backyard after dinner to have this conversation. Johnny and Aberdeen were tucking the little girls into bed, so he had time to sound the alarm. “You’ll be picking up my lazy butt and a few very busy little bottoms.”
“Well, now, that sounds more interesting. How are these bottoms? Female, I hope?”
Creed grinned. “Very much so.”
“Round and cute?”
“The cutest, roundest tushes you ever saw.”
“So I should shave.”
“Definitely. You’ll regret it if you don’t. You don’t want to scare them.” Creed thought about the small dolls that would be traveling with him and held back a laugh.
“You flying your own entertainment in for Fiona’s charity ball?”
“You might say I am.”
“Well, consider me your eager pilot. Where and what time do you need a pick-up?”
One of the benefits of having an ex-military pilot who’d spent time flying for private corporations was that the family had their own plane. Rafe was an excellent pilot, and letting him fly them home would be easier on the girls. Creed hadn’t yet told Aberdeen, but he was looking forward to surprising her. “Tomorrow, in Spring, Montana. Plan on me, a friend and four damsels, you might say.”
Rafe whistled. “You have been busy.”
“Be on your best behavior. And ask Aunt Fiona to get the guest house ready for visitors, will you?”
“She’s going to be thrilled that you’re falling into line.” Rafe laughed. “I should have known that all this talk of watching over a bar for some guy was just a ruse.”
“Probably you should have.”
“I don’t know if Fiona’s going to be cool with you sleeping in the guest house with a bunch of women. On the other hand she’s not totally uptight, and she is hoping to marry you off,” Rafe mused. “She did say she thought you were the least likely of all of us to ever settle down. So she’ll probably be okay with it.”
“My ladies are pretty fine. Aunt Fiona will be all right after the initial shock.”
“Bombshells, huh? Are you sharing?”
“You can hold them any time you like. Except for my particular favorite, of course. O
h, and bring your headset. They can be loud. Girl chatter and all that. Wild times.”
“You old dog,” Rafe said, his tone admiring. “And everyone says you’re the slow twin. Boy, did you have everybody fooled.”
“See you tomorrow,” Creed said, and turned off his phone. He went to find Aberdeen, who was sitting in the family room alone. She appeared slightly anxious as her gaze settled on him. “Hello.”
“Hi.” She smiled, but he thought she looked nervous.
“Girls asleep?”
“Johnny’s reading to them. Lincoln Rose is asleep, the other two are excited about the trip tomorrow.”
Creed nodded, sitting next to her on the sofa. “I hope you don’t mind flying.”
Aberdeen looked at him. “We’re flying to New Mexico?”
“It’ll be easier on the girls than a few days’ drive.”
“Thank you.” Aberdeen smiled. “That’s considerate of you, Creed.”
“It is. I plan to get my reward after we’re married.”
Aberdeen’s eyes widened. “After?”
“Well, yes. You’ll have to wait to have me until you’ve made an honest man of me.” He was pretty proud of his plan. He knew she had probably been thinking of how everything was going to work out between them. Sooner or later, she’d get worried about the silly stuff. Like, she wouldn’t want to sleep with him at his ranch until they were married; it wouldn’t be decent. She was, after all, a minister. She would worry about such things. She was also a new mother to children. She would be concerned about propriety. He intended to take all those worries right out of her busy little mind.
“I think you are an honest man,” Aberdeen said shyly.
“Well, aren’t you just a little angel cake,” he said, pleased, and dropped a kiss on her nose. “But you’re still not having me until you put the ring on my finger.”
Aberdeen laughed. “You’re horrible.”
“But you like it.” He put her head against his shoulder, enjoying holding her in the quiet family room.
“I’m so glad you weren’t bothered by my folks,” Aberdeen said softly. “They can be busybodies.”
“Oh, I know all about well-meaning interference. I’m an experienced hand. I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, little lady.”
She smiled and leaned closer, and Creed closed his eyes, contented. Of course she had no idea what she was stepping into. He wasn’t certain what was waiting back home for them, either. All he did know was that he’d told her she had to wait until they were married to have him again.
But they hadn’t set a wedding date.
He felt like he was holding his breath—and he needed to breathe again. Soon.
Chapter Twelve
When Rafe met them at the plane, he was in full wolf mode. Dark aviator glasses, new jeans, dark Western shirt, dress boots. Even a sterling bolo with a turquoise stone. The kind of lone wolf any woman would lick her chops over.
Only Creed’s ladies didn’t really have chops yet, just gums. “Here you go,” he told Rafe, and handed him the baby. “This is Lincoln Rose. Lincoln, don’t be scared of ugly, honey. He tries hard but he’s just not handsome like me.”
Lincoln Rose stared at Rafe. Rafe stared back at her, just as bemused. Creed grinned and went to walk the next little girl up the stairs. “This is my brother, honey. You can call him Uncle Rafe if you want to, Ashley,” Creed said, even though she didn’t talk much yet. “Let’s figure out how to strap your car seat in, okay? This plane has never seen a baby seat. But I’m pretty sure we can figure it out.” He put her favorite stuffed animal and a small book beside her, then went back to the front of the plane. “And I see you’ve met my last little girl.” Creed grinned at his brother, who still held Lincoln Rose as he latched eyes on Aberdeen with appreciation. “And this is the lady I mentioned was my special girl. Aberdeen, this is my brother, Rafe. Rafe, this is my fiancée, Aberdeen Donovan, and this little munchkin is Suzanne. Her sisters call her Suzu. And bringing up the rear is our nanny, Johnny Donovan.”
“You look just like Creed,” Aberdeen said. “Creed, you didn’t tell me you had a twin.”
“No reason to reveal all the sordid details.” Creed waved Johnny toward the back and took Lincoln Rose from his brother.
“Details like how you travel in style?” Johnny said. “This is a sweet ride.”
“Well, it helps to get around the country fast. We do a lot of deals here and there.” Creed looked at Aberdeen. “Do you want to be co-pilot, honey?”
“No,” Aberdeen said, “Thank you. I’ll just sit back and try to decide how I got myself into this.”
Creed grinned. “Make yourself comfortable. I’m going to help Rafe fly this rust bucket. Are we good to go, pilot?”
Rafe still seemed stunned as he looked over his new cargo of toys and babies. “Three little girls,” he said, his tone amazed. “Are you trying to beat Pete?” he asked, and Creed glared at him.
“Do you see a fourth?” Creed asked.
“Who’s Pete?” Aberdeen asked.
“Our brother who was first to the altar, and first to hit the baby lotto,” Rafe said cheerfully.
“What were you supposed to beat him at, Creed?” Aberdeen asked.
Rafe glanced at Creed, who wished his brother had laryngitis. “I’m not trying to beat anybody at anything,” Creed said. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about anything my numbskull of a brother says.”
Rafe nodded. “That’s right. Ignore me. I’m a pig at times.”
“Most of the time. Let’s fly.” Creed dragged his brother into the cockpit.
“She doesn’t know, does she?” Rafe asked as they settled in.
“I saw no reason to mention the baby-making aspects of Fiona’s plan. It had no bearing on my decision.”
“You sure?” Rafe asked.
“More than sure. Otherwise, there would be a fourth.”
“And there’s not?”
“Do you see a fourth?” Creed glared at Rafe again.
“I’m just wondering,” Rafe said. “As your twin, it’s my duty to wonder.”
“Skip your duty, okay?”
Rafe switched on some controls. “I should have known that when you said you were keeping an eye on a bar, you meant a nursery.”
“No, I meant a bar. I didn’t have plans to get engaged when I left.”
“So you found yourself in a bar and then a bed.” Rafe sounded tickled. “And there were three bonuses, and so you realized this was a primo opportunity to get out of Fiona’s line of fire. And maybe even beat Pete.”
“No,” Creed said, “because there’s nothing to beat Pete for. We have no ranch, per se. Therefore, no need to have children by the dozen.”
“Oh. You hadn’t heard. You’ve been gone.” Rafe slowly taxied on to the runway. “We’re all supposed to settle down, if we want to, to try to keep Bode from getting the ranch.”
“It’s no guarantee.”
“But you don’t know that Fiona says that competition begets our more successful efforts, so he who winds up with a wife and the biggest family will get the biggest chunk of the ranch—if we keep it.”
Creed frowned. “That has no bearing on my decision.”
“It might when you’ve had a chance to think it over. You’ll probably think about it next time you crawl into bed with your fiancée,” Rafe said, his tone annoyingly cheerful.
Creed scowled. “Let’s not talk about marriage like it’s a rodeo, okay? I’m getting married because…because Aberdeen and the girls are what I need.”
“To settle you down.” Rafe nodded. “Believe me, I understand. I’d settle down if I could find the right woman.”
That wasn’t it, exactly. Creed was getting married because he and Aberdeen had struck a bargain that suited them both. He got up to glance out at his precious cargo, wanting to make certain everyone was comfortable, particularly the little ladies. Aberdeen and Johnny were staring at him. Aberdeen looked as if
she might be on the verge of throwing Lincoln Rose’s bear at him. Johnny looked as if he was considering getting out of his seat to squash Creed’s head. “Is something wrong?” he asked, instantly concerned for the babies.
“The mike’s on,” Johnny said, “or whatever you call that loudspeaker thing.”
Creed groaned. They’d heard everything—and probably misunderstood everything, too. “We’ll talk later,” he said to Aberdeen, but she looked out the window, not happy with him at all.
That made two of them.
Creed went back into the cockpit, flipping the switch off as he sat down. Rafe glanced at him.
“Uh-oh. You may be in trouble,” Rafe said. He looked honestly concerned. “Was that my bad?”
“I’m not certain whose bad it was. Just think about flight patterns, bro. The sooner I get her on terra firma at Rancho Diablo, the clearer things will be.”
He hoped Aberdeen was the type of woman who was willing to forgive and forget. Otherwise, he might be in for a bit of a rough ride, and, as he recalled, he’d been thrown recently. Which was how he’d ended up here in the first place.
He had no intention of being thrown again.
“THIS IS HOME,” CREED TOLD Aberdeen when they arrived at the ranch a few hours later. Rafe had left a van at the small regional airport where they kept the family plane in a hangar, and very little had been said on the ride to the ranch. The girls had been sound asleep in their car seats. Though Johnny had ridden up front with Rafe, and Creed had sat next to her, neither of them had felt like talking. The bigger conversation was later. If he thought she was marrying him out of a sense of obligation, he was dead wrong. And she had no intention of “settling him down,” as he’d told Rafe. He could just go settle himself down, she thought.
Now, at the family ranch, Aberdeen couldn’t help but be surprised. She glanced at Johnny for his reaction to the huge house on the New Mexico plains. In the distance a couple of oil derricks worked. Cattle roamed behind barbed-wire fencing. The sky was a bruised blue, and canyons were red and purple smudges in the distance. It was in the middle of nowhere, and a sense of isolation hung over the ranch.
