Twins for the Bull Rider (16 page)

Chapter Twelve

“Aunt Cissy?”

Cissy started, the pile of folded clothes slipping from her hands and onto the dresser. She swiped the back of her hand over her eyes and turned to find Kayden and Jayden hovering on the threshold of her room.

“You two about ready?” Her voice shook. She swallowed the lump in her throat and gathered the clothes back up. Tossing them in her overnight bag, she faced the boys with what she hoped was more composure. “It's about time to head out.”

They blinked up at her, Kayden with a guarded expression and Jayden with a frown. Cissy sighed. She'd expected them to be confused. They'd left for the weekend rodeo only to return early and be instructed to pack up to leave permanently.

Pop had driven them back to Raintree the first night of the invitational. Cissy thought it best to give the boys one last day of fun at the ranch before leaving. But no more than that. It would just be harder to leave. And she was already having to force herself to go through the motions that would sever her ties with Dominic.

Her chin trembled. This was much harder than she'd expected. Her breaking point was much closer than she'd thought. She hid it by running her tongue over her lips and diverting her attention back to packing the bag.

“Are you sad?” Jayden asked.

Cissy straightened. “No.”
Liar
. “I'm not sad. I'm just ready to get going is all.”

Unconvinced, Jayden moved closer and tugged on her arms. He reached up on his toes and the warmth of his palms brushed over her cheeks.

“But you look sad,” Jayden said. “Is it because we have to go? 'Cuz I don't want to.”

“Me, neither.” Kayden shoved his hands into his pockets and dug the toe of his shoe into the carpet. “Why can't we stay here?”

Cissy lowered her head, easing her hair in front of her face. How could she explain? There was no way to tell the truth without hurting them. And that was the last thing she'd do.

“Well, the car's fixed,” she said. “And you two have to start back to school soon. So it's time to go and get settled. Pop helped me find a new job. He has a doctor friend a few hours away in Springfield that needs some office help. And I thought we could look for a new apartment together before I start working.” She ruffled Jayden's hair, a real smile peeking out through the fog of pain smothering her. “You two could pick the one you like the most. We can afford a nicer one now. You can both have your own room.”

Jayden looked thoughtful. Kayden was still unimpressed.

“And the apartments I've lined up for us to look at are near a college. They have classes that I think will jibe with my new work schedule.” She summoned up a wider smile. “We'll all have a new school. New friends. It'll be exciting. A new beginning.”

Kayden trudged over and picked at the sheets on the bed. “But can't we do that here?”

Cissy struggled to silence the voice pleading the same argument in her head. She stuffed the last of her clothes into the bag with more force than necessary. “We can't mooch off Pop forever, Kayden. Don't you want to get a place of our own?”

“Not if it means leaving here. We won't get to see Pop and Mr. Logan.” Kayden scowled, punching a pillow. He shot her an accusing glare. “And what about Mr. Dominic?”

“What about him?” She yanked the zipper on the bag shut.

“We can't just leave him, Aunt Cissy.”

“We're not leaving him—”

“Yes, we are—”

“We're not leaving him,” she snapped. “He left us.”

The boys froze.

Cissy's stomach dropped. The comment had sprung from her mouth before she'd had a chance to stop it. She clenched her eyes shut and dropped her head.

“Mr. Dominic wouldn't do that.” Kayden's voice held a note of defiance. Tears pooled in his eyes.

“I didn't mean it that way,” she said softly, floundering for the right words. “Mr. Dominic cares about both of you very much. But you know he travels a lot. And he had to leave, too. The trip we went on with him wasn't a break for him. It was a starting point for a longer one. One that will last a long time.”

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 tipped 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.”