The Texas Valentine Twins

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  Lucille squinted at him as they reached the front of Adelaide’s home. Construction trucks were parked all around. “You think I’m interfering, don’t you?”

  I think you don’t trust me to be as capable as my siblings would be in this situation. And we both know why.

  But figuring it was best to let the ghosts of old problems recede into the past where they belonged, he said instead, “I think we’re all doing our best, Mom, which is all we can do. Right?”

  Lucille offered a smile so dubious it hurt. “Right.”

  Wyatt pushed aside his resentment. “Do you want to come inside?” he asked politely.

  At the rear of the cottage, there was a lot of sawing and hammering going on. Lucille wheeled the stroller in the opposite direction. “I think I’ll walk a little more. I don’t want the construction noise to wake up our little darlings.”

  “Okay. I’ll get Adelaide and be right out.”

  Familiar voices floated toward him as Wyatt walked in. Although the rear walls of her home were still intact, big drapes of heavy duty plastic had already been hung from ceiling to floor. Through the windows, Wyatt could see half a dozen workers putting together the frame for the addition to the cement foundation.

  In the kitchen, his brother Chance and his wife, Molly, stood with Adelaide, who looked increasingly uneasy.

  “So everything looked good to you, when you got here this morning?” Adelaide was asking.

  The couple nodded. “Yeah. It was fine,” Chance said.

  Molly put her hand on Adelaide’s shoulder. “Are you worried about your house being unoccupied?”

  Adelaide hesitated as Wyatt closed the distance between them. “A little,” she admitted as he took his place next to her.

  “In a city as big as Dallas, that might be warranted,” Molly soothed. “But here? No one is going to bother your stuff, Adelaide. Even if you left your door unlocked, it would still be fine.”

  Wyatt had the feeling that wasn’t it. “Okay,” Adelaide said.

  “You ready to walk the twins?” he asked.

  Behind him, more footsteps sounded. After a short rap at the door, Deputy Detective Kyle McCabe walked in.

  * * *

  ADELAIDE HAD ONLY to look at Wyatt’s face to know he had completely misunderstood why the uniformed lawman was there. Figuring she’d know how to deal with that later, she smiled and said hello to their visitor, who also happened to be one of the first people she’d met in the community she now called home.

  “Hey, Adelaide.” Kyle gave her an affable hug, then turned to Wyatt. After the two men shook hands, Kyle continued, “I didn’t know if you’d be by to check on the renovations today...”

  He did however know about the creepy message she had just received, Adelaide thought. And—thanks to the surveillance software the department had installed on her phone—exactly where to find her. Not just now, but at all times.

  “...but I’m glad I saw your vehicle because my parents tasked me with giving you a baby gift.”

  “That’s sweet of them.”

  “They know how it is to deal with multiples...”

  Adelaide chuckled. “I guess so, since they had five boys—triplets and twins!”

  “Anyway, they thought whatever the gift is might help. So—” Kyle gave her a look that signaled he needed to speak with her privately “—it’s out in the squad car.”

  “I can get it,” Wyatt offered.

  Guilt and anxiety flooded Adelaide. She had promised not to keep things from Wyatt but she had also privately vowed not to ever hurt him—or his family—unnecessarily again.

  She would tell him everything—as soon as she could. Meantime, she would do what had to be done.

  So, tensing with the duplicity required, Adelaide turned back to her husband. Aware it was all she could do not to wring her hands, said, “Actually, would you mind going up the block and seeing if your mom needs some help? That double stroller can feel like a lot to push after a while.”

  Wyatt paused. Then met her gaze with a completely inscrutable one of his own. “Sure.” He shook hands with Kyle again. “Nice to see you.”

  “Likewise.”

  While Wyatt headed off to catch up with his mom, who was almost to the next cross street, Adelaide walked out to the squad car with Kyle. The beautifully wrapped present was sitting on the front seat. “Is that a real gift or just a ploy to see me?”

  “Both.”

  “You saw the photo-message on Snapchat?”

  Kyle nodded imperceptibly. “Was it your dad?”

  “I think so,” Adelaide said nervously. “I mean his nose and his entire look were different, but yeah, I think so.” It was an effort to stay casual. “Were you able to record the photo?”

  “Yep.” Kyle reached into the front seat and got the package. “Have you told your husband what’s been going on?”

  Guilt flooded her anew. She and Wyatt had promised to be direct with each other...and here she was, already lying and hiding. “No.”

  “Good.” Kyle handed the box to Adelaide. “Don’t.”

  “He’s going to get suspicious,” Adelaide warned.

  “The last thing we need is him interfering with our investigation by trying to protect you. You can tell him everything when it’s all over.” Kyle paused meaningfully. “But nothing, not a word, Adelaide, before then. I mean it.”

  Adelaide gulped nervously and nodded her head. She prayed this didn’t backfire.

  Chapter Nine

  Hours later, Wyatt and Adelaide were back at the Wind River Ranch. Evening chores completed, Jenny and Jake asleep—at least for the time being—they finally had a chance to sit together on the sofa and open the gift from Annie and Travis McCabe.

  Wyatt stared at the padded black cotton canvas garment with the thick straps and two open envelope-style pouches with holes along the bottom. “What is it?”

  Adelaide’s dark eyes dazzled with excitement. “A kangaroo-style carrier for twins.”

  “For one person?”

  “And two babies. One in front, one in back.”

  He turned to face her, his knee nudging her thigh. “I didn’t know they made those.”

  “I did.” Adelaide’s smile widened. “But it seemed impractical because I couldn’t figure out how I was going to get both babies strapped in their compartments and then put it on by myself.” She studied the accompanying literature, then leaped to her feet. “Mind if we try it on you?”

  All for whatever made her happy, he said, “Sure.”

  She had to reach up to slip the contraption over his head. Her hair brushed against his chest and shoulder as she adjusted the length of the harness and fastened the clasps on either side of his waist.

  It took a while.

  He didn’t mind.

  She was gorgeous, with her delicate brow furrowed and her soft lips pursed in concentration.

  Inhaling the sweet womanly scent of her, he stood, legs braced slightly apart, his arms akimbo as she walked around him, her hands sliding between the carrier and his body as she checked to make sure it was on securely.

  “Now let’s see if we can put something akin to two babies in it.” She moved to the box of baby toys and returned with two stuffed teddy bears, one pink and one blue. “These are about the size of Jake and Jenny.” She fit one in, facing his chest. Safety-strapped it in.

  Then walked around behind him and did the same with the other.

  Plucking the phone from her pocket, she opened it and stepped back. “Say cheese!”

  He mugged at her comically. His pulse revved up even more as she sashayed back to him.

  It had been several days since they’d had the opportunity and energy to make love, and he wanted her more than he had imagined possible.
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  Oblivious to the lusty direction of his thoughts, she beamed and held the photo out for him to see. “See how cool this is? We’ll be able to carry both Jake and Jenny at one time, at least until their combined weight is thirty-five pounds.”

  Wyatt knew he would. He doubted Adelaide would be able to comfortably carry both for too much longer, given the way they were growing.

  It was a good thing he was going to be around.

  Adelaide picked up the note that had come with the present. She read it, then handed it over for him to peruse. “Annie and Travis McCabe said they used a similar one when Kyle and Kurt were infants, and they were still corralling their six-year-old triplets, Teddy, Tyler and Trevor. I’ll have to call them in the morning and thank them.”

  Here was his chance to ask some of the questions that had been nagging at him all day. He wasn’t normally a jealous guy. Maybe because he’d never had to compete for the attention of any woman he was interested in. But something about Kyle McCabe’s visits, the past couple of days, didn’t feel right to him.

  It was almost as if he and Adelaide were hiding something.

  What, he couldn’t imagine.

  “Why do you think Annie or Travis didn’t stop by in person to deliver this to us? Their ranch is just five miles from here.”

  For a moment, she went very still.

  “Do you think it’s because you and Kyle are no longer dating? And Annie McCabe thought it might be awkward?”

  Still wary, Adelaide lifted her chin. “I didn’t know you were aware I dated Kyle when I first moved to Laramie.”

  For a moment, Wyatt let himself drown in the depths of her dark brown eyes. “Kyle McCabe is the only one of his brothers not married with kids.”

  She shrugged. “So?”

  He inhaled the sweet smell of baby lotion clinging to her skin. “You were pregnant at the time, with no daddy in sight. Of course people took notice.”

  Just as he was now noticing Kyle’s dual appearances.

  She unhooked the belt buckles at his waist. Stepped back. He eased the carrier over his head and handed it to her. She turned and walked away, still not saying anything. He could practically see her emotional armor sliding back into place.

  “Don’t you have anything to add?” he asked quietly. The last thing he wanted was for them to go back to the anger and mistrust they’d experienced before they learned about the twins’ parentage.

  Whirling, a distant look came into her eyes. “I’m not sure what you want me to impart,” she returned with unusual stoicism.

  He couldn’t shake the feeling she was protecting someone. “Was there a reason he stopped by in person a couple of days ago to ask you to do his tax return, and delivered the gift from his parents to you personally today?”

  She stalked into the kitchen and stood on the other side of the island, where they’d made love a few days before. “First of all, a lot of people have asked me to do their federal taxes for them. And I expect even more will before the April filing deadline. Second of all, he delivered the present to us.”

  Thanks to the tumultuous events in their past, Wyatt had a sixth sense when she was holding back from him. She was definitely doing so now. The force field around her heart had never been more fortified.

  He had to find out why.

  “So the fact the two of you stopped dating was mutual. Kyle’s not interested in you romantically any longer?” he prodded.

  To his frustration, her emotions became even more obscure. “We’re...friends.”

  Who had spent at least ten minutes talking, their heads bent together, before Kyle left. Even half a block away, pushing a stroller, he had been able to see the subject matter had been both serious and intimate. “What’s going on, Adelaide?” he persisted. He knew there was something she was withholding.

  Worse, she knew that he realized it.

  And that knowledge broke the dam.

  She threw up her hands. “Look, I know the whole hiring Marco Maletti plan was supposed to stay just within the Lockhart family, but I’m not so sure it’s a good idea not to clue in at least someone in the sheriff’s department.”

  Suddenly, her fierce defense and the defeated slump of her slender shoulders made sense. “So you went rogue on us and contacted Kyle?”

  “No!” She circled around to stand in front of him again. “I had no idea Kyle was going to stop in when he did this morning. But then he was there, and he already knew stuff was going on...about us...”

  “You mean he read the tabloid stories.”

  “He heard about them. Everyone in town has. They’re just too polite to say anything to us about it directly.”

  “But Kyle did.”

  “No. But he—he wanted to know how I was, and so I just... I blurted it out. I told him in confidence that for the next few days or weeks we are going to be intermittently trailed and photographed by paparazzo Marco Maletti. And that it was with our permission, as part of a fight-fire-with-fire strategy. So that if someone saw something and reported it to the sheriff’s department, Marco would not be arrested.”

  That certainly explained the ten-minute conversation with their heads bent together, Wyatt thought in relief.

  Adelaide sighed. “And then I felt like maybe I shouldn’t have told Kyle without first discussing the option with you-all. Which is what I should have done in the first place anyway.”

  He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Then why didn’t you?”

  She splayed her hands across his chest. “Because clearly I was the only one who thought keeping anything from local law enforcement was not a good idea.”

  He stroked his hand through her hair, pushing it away from her face. “So you went along to get along, the way you always do.”

  “Yes.” Her chin trembled. “And then, because I didn’t speak my mind,” she admitted hoarsely, “I ended up getting myself in more trouble with you.”

  She bit her lip as her eyes searched his. “I know no one is supposed to know about our scandal-rebuttal plan but the Lockhart family. But, given how protective of their fellow citizens the residents of Laramie can be, I thought it was the right thing to do. For everyone.”

  Silence fell between them, followed by a wave of guilt.

  Wyatt had to admit he hadn’t given any thought to the jeopardy the freelance photographer Hope had hired could possibly be in.

  He praised her foresight. “Sweetheart, I think it was a smart move. I’ll let everyone else in the family know what you did, and why.”

  “And for the record? You have no reason to be jealous of Kyle McCabe.”

  The intensity in her low tone made him smile. “Is that so?”

  “There was never any chemistry between us.” She threw her arms about his neck and went up on tiptoe. Looking deep into his eyes, she whispered, “Not like what you and I have.”

  She pressed her lips to his, kissing him sweetly and evocatively. Each brush of her lips deeper and more intimate and searing than the last.

  Though she had always been quick to respond, he had always been the one making the first move. It was a thrill to feel her melting against him helplessly, wanting him as much as he wanted her.

  Resolved to cherish and care for her the way she deserved, he continued making out with her, slow dancing their way up the stairs to his king-size bed. In the glow of the moonlight pouring in through the windows, they faced each other once again.

  He let her strip her sweater over her head and shimmy out of her jeans, just because it was so exciting to see her begin a striptease. But when it came to her bra and panties, it was all him.

  When they were both naked once again, he kissed her long and hard and deep, until she made that low sound of acquiescence in the back of her throat.

  Determined to make her his, he positioned h
imself between her legs, making lazy circles, moving up, in, until the moisture flowed. Eager to please her even more, he drew her onto the bed.

  * * *

  “MY TURN,” SHE WHISPERED.

  The silk of her hair sliding over him, she kissed and caressed her way down his large, muscular body, molding and exploring, erotically laying claim. Supplying him with everything that had been missing from his life.

  Tenderness. Desire. The feeling of being not just wanted but needed.

  Sensations ran riot through him. Taking him to the brink.

  He found a condom.

  She rolled it on.

  Stretching over her, he slid his palms beneath her and lifted her in his arms. She arched against him, open and ready, and he slid into her, slowly pressing into her as deeply as he could go.

  She was everything he had ever wanted.

  Everything he needed. And more. And then there was no more thinking, only feeling, no more holding back, only hot, wet kisses and hotter pleasure.

  She shuddered and cried out.

  He caught the sound with his mouth, and then he too was catapulting into oblivion.

  They held each other tight. Surrendering to whatever this was. Always had been. And always would be.

  * * *

  WYATT EASED AWAY from her, moving onto his side, drawing her into the warm inviting curve of his body. As she shifted to face him, pillowing her head on his broad shoulder, Adelaide buried her face in his chest. The comfort she should have felt after making love with Wyatt was only partially present. Undercut by the deep sense of guilt she felt.

  They had promised they would be completely candid with each other this time. Stop holding back whatever was going on with each of them. So they could forge a better foundation for their family, whether they eventually divorced or not.

  But she couldn’t do that.

  Not when it came to the situation with her dad. He was a criminal, and he was still at large. And apparently trying to contact her with an intent to see her and his grandchildren.