Twins for the Bull Rider

by April Arrington

  The silence continued, the boys exchanging glances.

  “So we won’t see him anymore?” Kayden whispered.

  Cissy’s throat tightened. She lowered to her knees and drew them both close.

  “I don’t know,” she said. Forcing herself to meet their eyes, she continued, “But you’ll see me. Every day. And we’ll be together. As long as we’re together, that’s all that matters. Right?”

  Jayden nodded slowly, winding his arm around her neck and rubbing her nape with his fingers. Cissy brushed a blond curl back from Kayden’s brow and tapped his chin.

  “Right, Kayden?”

  “You didn’t go with him.” Kayden sniffed, dragging the back of his hand over his eyes and studying her expression. “You didn’t go. You stayed with us ’cuz we’re a team.”

  Cissy couldn’t answer. His wide eyes saw more than any child’s should, and her self-control was fragile. She couldn’t risk it.

  Kayden threw his arms around her, nudging Jayden out of the way. His painful squeeze was a welcome comfort. It soothed the ache in her heart. She smiled and squeezed back.

  “I’ll help, Aunt Cissy.” Kayden grabbed one handle on the bag, dragging it to the edge. “Come on, Jayden.”

  Jayden moved to join his brother but hesitated. Scooting close, he whispered against her ear, “He’ll be back, Aunt Cissy.”

  She sighed as he pulled back and smoothed his fingers over her forehead.

  “He’ll be back,” Jayden repeated before joining Kayden to pull the bag off the bed.

  Cissy tucked her hair behind her ears with trembling fingers and watched the boys drag her overstuffed bag across the floor and out of the door. The pain was still there but it didn’t throb like before.

  She firmed her mouth. They’d make it through this. Together.

  An hour later, Cissy slammed the trunk shut on the Toyota and nodded with satisfaction. It had taken longer than she’d expected to load up. They hadn’t arrived with much but were leaving with almost more than their car could hold.

  “I wish you’d change your mind,” Pop said, waving to the boys through the back window. He spun to face her and pleaded once more. “Just a few more days, Cissy. Let Dominic come to his senses.”

  “No.” She hugged him tight. “It’s hard enough to go as it is. The longer we wait, the harder it’ll be.”

  “He’ll come around,” he murmured in her ear. “I know he will. He loves you and those boys too much not to.”

  Cissy relished the soothing stroke of Pop’s hand on her hair. “I’m sorry. I just can’t. I won’t force it. I have to let him go.” She kissed his cheek before opening the car door. “I’ll call you when we get settled. The boys would love it if you could come visit. So would I.”

  Pop nodded and smiled tightly. Cissy started the car and began to make her way down the long dirt drive. She watched Pop in the rearview mirror as he stood waving. The only sound in the car was the flick of Kayden’s rope against the back of her seat. Cissy managed to blink back the tears by the time they reached the highway.

  They’d only made it a few miles before Jayden said, “I gotta pee, Aunt Cissy.”

  “And I’m hungry,” Kayden added, smacking the rope against the seat once more.

  Cissy smiled and shook her head. It was fitting that they have one last goodbye. “I know just the place.”

  The Peachy Keen Diner was standing exactly where they’d left it. The menus were just as colorful as ever and the tables just as greasy. Meat sizzled in frying pans and the busy clang of metal utensils sounded from the kitchen. It was very much the way it had been on their last visit.

  Only, the group of morning patrons was a lot different from the one they’d mingled with the night they’d first entered. A few couples sipped coffee together and a set of grandparents beamed at small children over plates of breakfast. And there was a noticeable gap in the row of candy machines lining the wall.

  Cissy pinched her lips to conceal her smile.

  The boys headed straight to the restroom with Kayden’s rope trailing behind them. Cissy placed an order for three burgers to go, then took up residence by the bathroom door.

  Her lips twitched as she eyed the aged wood. The sign was still there. Still tattered as ever, an added scratch slashing through the M in MEN. She was surprised to find it still clinging to the door. She ran the tip of her finger over it and pressed the corner of the sign firmly in an effort to make it stick.

  Tears welled over onto her lashes. She blinked them back, pressing her finger harder to the door. Funny how a silly, stupid sign could make her blubber. Fat lot of good it would do to cry over a beat-up sign. Or a beat-up heart.

  “Need a little help, ma’am?”

  Cissy stilled. There was no mistaking the deep tenor of Dominic’s voice. It settled over her like a warm blanket, making her yearn to grab on and pull it close. Pull him close. Instead, she maintained her stance, scared to move in case he disappeared again.

  Her mouth dry, she said, “I might. Why do you ask?”

  Footsteps fell close behind her and his husky words made her ears tingle.

  “Well, you look a bit confused.” His large hand covered hers, obscuring the sign. “This is the men’s room, you see?”

  His thumb caressed the back of her hand. A delicious shot of pleasure overtook her, and she slipped from under his touch and turned, letting her eyes drink him in.

  His black hair was tousled. His dark eyes bright. They peered down at her, his strong jaw tightening as he brushed away a tear hovering on her lashes.

  “I was hoping the boys would need a pit stop,” he murmured. “I was already having a hard time catching up.”

  Heat bloomed in Cissy’s face. There was no stopping the tears now. They slipped from her lashes and tickled her cheeks.

  “I thought you’d be on your way to the next event by now.”

  Dominic smiled, white teeth and dimples appearing. “I am. I had a much bigger event I needed to make it to.”

  “I don’t understand—”

  “This one.” His finger drifted over her bottom lip, sending a wave of warmth to her belly. “The one where I make you an offer.”

  Cissy waited, air sticking in her lungs.

  “An offer to take a chance on us,” he continued. “A chance to love. To be a family.”

  Her heart floated but she shuffled her feet, keeping them firmly on the ground. “Dominic, there’s nothing I want more. But I know you feel as if you have to do this, and I don’t want you to give up something you love and then regret it later. I don’t want you to resent—”

  “The only regret I have is not manning up and telling you how I feel when you needed to hear it. And the only thing I resent is not choosing to do this sooner.” He cupped her face with his big hands. “I love you. I love Kayden and Jayden. I choose you. All three of you. I want to marry you. Be a dad to those boys. And I want to give you everything. Give us everything.”

  “But you love bull riding. It’s important to y—”

  “I love you and the boys more,” he stated firmly. A laugh burst from his lips. “And I have a feeling the three of you are gonna give me a more exciting ride than any bull ever could.”

  Cissy held on to his wrists, squeezing hard. It was almost impossible to believe the moment was real. She’d never expected...

  She had to know he was sure. “I don’t want to tie you down—”

  “I want to be tied down, Cissy.” He drew closer with a soft smile. Cissy’s stomach flipped at his eager grin. “Hell, if I’m being honest, I’m more concerned with making sure I have you tied down.”

  Feet shuffled from behind. “Need my rope?”

  Kayden’s hand thrust between them, a smile wreathing his face and his frayed rope dangling in the air.

  Dominic laughed and squeezed Kayden’s shoulder. “Nah, that’s okay, Kayden.”

  Jayden slammed the bathroom door, then shoved past Kayden to wrap his arms around Dominic’s leg. He tippe
d his head back to beam up at Dominic. “I knew you’d come back.”

  Cissy released a pent-up breath when Dominic lowered to his haunches. He hugged the boys close, murmuring phrases of affection and kissing the tops of their heads. Looking up at her, he hesitated, asking, “So what do you think?”

  Smiling at his boyish expression, she nodded and whispered, “Yes.”

  Dominic rose and pulled her against him. Face creasing with pleasure and devilry, he reached down and tucked the boys’ faces against his legs, then kissed her. Deeply and soundly. Cissy sighed, her knees growing weak, and leaned into him.

  “Let’s go home,” Dominic murmured against her mouth. Sweeping her up in his arms, he laughed deeper at her squeal. He glanced down and jerked his chin. “Boys, grab a leg. We’re heading home.”

  “Back to the ranch?” Jayden’s voice burst with excitement as he wrapped himself around one of Dominic’s legs and held on tight.

  “Yep.”

  Kayden climbed onto the other leg, asking with a grin, “To stay?”

  “Yep.”

  Kayden jabbed her bottom. “Aunt Cissy, we’re going back to the ranch.”

  Cissy jumped, batting Kayden’s hand away and pushing at Dominic’s broad chest with a laugh. “Dominic, let me down. We’re too heavy. You can’t carry all of us.”

  “Who says?” His sexy tenor rumbled beneath her palm. Dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose, he hefted one muscular leg forward, then another, making his way across the diner. “I got this.”

  The boys squealed with delight and Cissy laughed when they drew to a halt at the exit.

  Dominic shot her a rueful smile, dimples denting. “Might need some help with the door, though.”

  Cissy kissed his strong jaw and said, “We can manage it. Together.” She tapped the blond heads beneath her and directed, “Boys, help us out here.”

  A good shove with her feet and their little hands swept the door open. Dominic carried them all through it. She kissed him again, savoring his soft moan of pleasure and the giggles drifting up from the boys.

  Cissy held on tighter and smiled. They had more than she’d ever expected. They had everything.

  * * * * *

  Watching his young wife walk away almost destroyed Logan Slade. Now he’s determined to get her back. But is he too late?

  Don’t miss THE RANCHER’S WIFE,

  April Arrington’s next

  MEN OF RAINTREE RANCH novel.

  Available August 2016.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from HER STUBBORN COWBOY by Patricia Johns.

  Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003

  In July 2016

  the HARLEQUIN®

  AMERICAN ROMANCE® series

  will become

  the HARLEQUIN®

  WESTERN ROMANCE series

  Connect with us to find your next great read,

  special offers and more.

  /HarlequinBooks

  @HarlequinBooks

  www.HarlequinBlog.com

  www.Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!

  Do you want to earn Free Books and More?

  Join Harlequin My Rewards points program and earn points every time you shop.

  You can redeem your points to get more of what you love:

  Free books

  Exclusive gifts and contests

  Book recommendations tailored to your reading preferences

  Earn 2000 points instantly when you join—getting you closer to redeeming your first free book.

  Don’t miss out. Reward the book lover in you!

  Click here to sign up

  Or visit us online to sign up at

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010001

  Her Stubborn Cowboy

  by Patricia Johns

  Chapter One

  Chet Granger wanted her land, and Mackenzie Vaughn knew it. He’d offered to buy it from her grandmother multiple times over the years, and now that her grandmother had passed away, leaving the ranch to Mackenzie, she was waiting for the inevitable offer.

  And she would refuse. That was a given. The last person in this county she intended to sell this land to was Chet Granger. They had a bit of a history together, and if anyone was going to benefit from this land, it wouldn’t be him. Business wasn’t supposed to be personal, but this time it was.

  As a small white goat passed her, Mackenzie patted its rump and wiped the back of her hand over her moist forehead. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows through pools of warm sunlight. The peeling red barn loomed behind, its shadow stretching out like a sleepy cat. Since arriving two hours earlier, she’d already managed to get what was left of her grandmother’s herd back into the barn. Then she’d noticed the goat waddling off toward the fence, wide belly swinging back and forth with each step.

  “Come on now,” she urged. “Let’s go, goat.”

  It had to have a name; she just didn’t know it. The other three goats were already inside the barn, but this one paid no mind to peer pressure.

  This ranch had been a godsend when she was an angry teen caught in the middle of her parents’ acrid divorce. While her parents battled over who got what, she’d come back to her grandmother’s ranch—the one place she could count on not to change. It was here that she’d fallen in love for the first time, with Andy Granger. Chet was Andy’s older brother and had always been the more serious of the two. In fact, she’d had a bit of a crush on him at first, before Andy made his move and she realized that Chet hadn’t been interested in the least. He’d been concerned with the future of his family’s ranch more than with having much fun...so much so that he’d convinced Andy that Mack wasn’t worth his time. At least, that was Andy’s story. In spite of it all, a small part of her envied the Granger boys. When push came to shove, they chose each other, and the Granger family stood strong. Still, they stood strong against her, and that was one slight she wouldn’t forget.

  “Come on,” Mackenzie coaxed, patting the goat’s rump again. “I have some nice fresh hay waiting for you.”

  The goat didn’t seem the least bit interested in her offering, and it turned away again, trotting heavily along the fence line. Farther down the fence, a man sauntered up and leaned against the rail, gray eyes fixed on her in mild amusement. Mackenzie startled. He was tall, slim but well muscled. He rested his forearms over the top rail, big hands loosely holding a pair of work gloves. A cowboy hat sat on his head, pushed back so that the sun hit his face, illuminating the sandpaper of his stubble. He raised the gloves in a hello. He’d always been good-looking, but he’d lost his lean boyishness and hardened into a man since she’d last seen him. Chet Granger. The years had been good to him.

  “Long time,” he called.

  It certainly had been a long time, and in the few hours she’d been back, she’d been doing her best to avoid him. She’d known that wasn’t going to work for long, considering their ranches were side by side, their respective barns and houses no more than an acre apart. There had been a time when people liked the idea of being within shouting distance of a neighbor. This would have been a whole lot easier if they didn’t share such a difficult history.

  The goat trotted up to Chet and poked a nose through the fence.

  “Hey there, Butter Cream.” The rancher eased between the rails of the fence and came over to her side, hopping twice to get his boot through. His shirt was rolled up to reveal strong forearms, tanned skin with a vein bulging as he scratched the goat’s ears. The animal tipped her head back and forth, lashes fluttering in enjoyment. Chet looked up at Mackenzie, those disconcertingly light eyes pinned on her. “Trying to get her back inside?”

  He didn’t wait for the answer but strode off in the direction of her barn without a backward look
, and the goat followed him with the quiet loyalty of a dog.

  “Butter Cream,” she muttered to herself. That would be good to remember for the next time she had to plead with this particular critter.

  Mackenzie had been in town all of a day, and she already knew that she was in over her head. Why she’d thought she’d be able to run a ranch on her own, she had no idea. When her grandmother had died, leaving her the ranch, she’d thought this was the answer to that sense of empty boredom inside her—and maybe it was—but she wasn’t entirely sure it was worth it, especially not if Chet was part of the package.

  “So how come you didn’t stop by when you arrived?” Chet glanced over his shoulder at her as he pulled open the rolling door.

  “I had things to do,” she said, annoyed at his casual comfort with her property. And it was hers now—all four hundred acres of it.

  He laughed softly. “You have no idea how to run this place.”

  He was right about that, but she’d never been one to back away from a challenge, and this one had been dumped in her lap with the subtlety of a truckload of bricks.

  The goat nuzzled Chet’s leg once more and he bent to scratch her head again. “By the way, Butter Cream is due to kid in a week or two. So pretty soon, you’ll have baby goats and a pretty steady supply of goat milk. She’s a good producer.”

  Mackenzie studied the creature, attempting to hide her surprise.

  “As in more than one?” she asked.

  “Definitely more than one.”

  “I don’t need goat milk,” she said, before she could think better of it.

  “Then sell it.” Chet gave the goat’s rump a solid pat, and she waddled through the door toward her stall without a bleat of protest. He made it seem so easy, and she suspected that she’d never have that kind of luck with Butter Cream.