The Twins' Rodeo Rider

by Tina Leonard

  Of course she was insinuating they’d been intimate—but he could have been out of his mind on a bender and he wouldn’t have touched Daisy. He was pretty certain parts of his body would shrivel up and fall off if that ever happened, and not just from BC voodoo. Magic, whatever. He found his jeans where they’d somehow ended up under the bed and dressed quickly, his head swimming, as she posed in the door obviously expecting him to say adios. Or catch the stupid kiss she’d blown, or something.

  What the hell had she done to him?

  Quadruplets. Oh, God.

  He started to ask her if he was really going to be a father of four, then swallowed the question, realizing that would play right into her hands. Patience and courtesy be damned, he shoved her from his room and locked the door.

  Damn it, I’m in trouble.

  Cisco glanced at the bed, thinking about Daisy wrapped around him like some kind of pink-panty-wearing boa constrictor.

  And then it hit him. She’d taken photos, of course.

  He tore the bedroom door open, not surprised that she was still standing there. “Give me your phone.”

  “Now, Cisco,” Daisy said, turning to walk away. “You don’t think I’m the kind of girl who kisses and tells, do you?”

  Crap—she’d kissed him, and taken a selfie. And he’d been out stupid, poleaxed by the news of quadruplets—which would no doubt look like he was either in the throes of passion or out cold after lovemaking. The hammering dance his heart was doing increased. He let her go, realizing she’d already sent whatever photos she’d taken.

  He was doomed.

  As far as he was concerned, BC wasn’t about the fairy tales, happy endings and magic moments. He’d never experienced any of those in Bridesmaids Creek, not a one. All those purported charms seemed to conspire to work against him. Unlike Ty and Justin, the BC thing just didn’t want to give him a break.

  Daisy had won him three times fair and square, and she hadn’t given up.

  * * *

  CISCO CAME TEARING through the door, nearly giving Suz heart failure. “Cisco!”

  He hurried to her side, flinging a bouquet of flowers he’d brought to the floor and dropping to his knees by the side of the chaise on which she was ensconced. By the wild look in her husband’s eyes he was very well aware she was pregnant.

  “Don’t be upset—” she began.

  “The whole thing was a crock,” Cisco said, his gaze glued to her stomach before raising back up to her face. “It was a crock, and God, I missed you. I’ve got to kiss you right now.”

  He did kiss her, and Suz’s heart melted. “We should talk,” she said, pulling back. Guilt swamped her as she desperately wished she’d been honest with him before someone had informed him of her pregnancy.

  “You’re darned right.” He put a hand on her big round stomach, which these days felt like a baby elephant was in a tent inside her. “I’ll go first. No, you. Hell, I don’t care. Whatever you want.”

  He was more handsome than she’d even remembered. As much as she’d missed him, talking to him on a cell phone just didn’t cut it. “Cisco—”

  “I wasn’t with Daisy,” he said.

  “I know that!”

  He let out a long breath. “Feels great to get that off my chest.”

  She touched his face. “You shouldn’t have worried.”

  “You have no idea. I drove like a bat out of hell to get here from Montana.” He laid his head down on her stomach, cradling it with his hands. “Oh, God, I’m having four babies. I get light in the head sometimes thinking about it.”

  At least he wasn’t mad that she hadn’t told him that they were expecting. Suz felt a huge breath of relief escape her, too. “We’re having twins. Where’d you get the idea we were having quads?”

  He gazed up at her, his face a little haggard. And he seemed tired from the long drive, too. Suz resolved to get her husband into bed as soon as she could. “Daisy said we were.”

  Suz rolled her eyes. “You can’t believe one thing Daisy Donovan says. If I didn’t believe those stupid photos were real, why would you listen to anything that came out of her mouth?”

  He gazed at her huge tummy with some alarm. “I believed her because Mackenzie had quads, and I distinctly recall you telling me that you were taking the same medication, some superbooster baby-maker stuff. I figured if your sister had done it, you’d feel right at home doing likewise.” He took a deep breath. “But if there aren’t four babies in there, Suz, we must be having a couple of basketballs.”

  “We’re having twins.” She smiled at him. “I hope you’re not disappointed.”

  “Hardly.” He kissed her stomach. “But when were you going to tell me?”

  “Tomorrow. So you’re right on schedule.”

  “Why tomorrow?” He raised a brow.

  “Because the day after, I go in for a C-section, and I figured you’d want to be here.”

  “I wanted to be here for all of it!” He scowled. “And you knew I would darn well be here, so you didn’t tell me!”

  “Please don’t be mad, Cisco. It’s been crazy around here with Daisy and her father making everyone miserable.” She took a deep breath. “We really disturbed a hornet’s nest with our marriage, and then when it became obvious that I was pregnant, Daisy went a little crazy. Then when she learned I was having twins, she really seemed to realize that she was never going to get her way. Daisy not getting her way isn’t pretty.” Suz shrugged. “I’ve been working overtime trying to smooth things over. Judging by the photos Daisy sent around of the two of you, nothing’s been smoothed at all.”

  “There isn’t any Daisy and me,” he growled. “I don’t know what she sent, but I do appreciate you realizing it was a Daisy-plot.”

  “We all decided it was too convenient to be real.”

  “We? That sounds ominous. Who saw it?”

  “All the usual suspects. Daisy sent the photos to everyone in her phone.”

  He lowered his forehead to her stomach. “I’m so glad you didn’t fall for that nonsense.”

  “I’ve known Daisy almost all my life. I didn’t lose a second’s sleep.”

  “I don’t believe that, but thank you for trying to comfort me.” He looked up at her.

  “It’s the truth. Where is she, anyway? I figured she’d be hot on your heels.”

  “I think she gave up on me. The only reason she came to find me was to cause trouble. Those photos were a spur-of-the-moment lie when I fainted.”

  “You fainted! You weren’t just asleep?”

  He looked a bit embarrassed. “When she told me we were having quadruplets, I think my blood pressure freaked out.”

  “And you fainted!”

  “Like an old woman who’d seen a ghost.”

  Suz laughed. “You poor thing. So where do you think our Crazy Daisy is?”

  “I’m pretty sure she’s in Montana.” He kissed her hand, lingering long enough to give her shivers of pleasure. “Branch Winters doesn’t take too kindly to trespassers. Once I learned you were pregnant—which I would rather not have learned from Daisy, by the way,” he said, and she blushed. “I took off out of there instantly, as I mentioned. I called Branch from my truck to let him know there was a trespasser on his property. Just to slow her down a little, so she wouldn’t follow me all the way home.” He grinned, looking pretty pleased by that. “Last I saw Daisy, she was in custody.”

  “Custody!”

  “Branch has a couple of teams of SEALs and other sorts of paramilitary types at his ranch. They help him out with a bunch of stuff, and he gives them a place to recharge, recoup, rewind.” He shrugged. “Daisy’s truck looked like it had been commandeered by them, and she was in the back of one of Branch’s Jeeps being escorted to his ranch house, looked to me. Like I said, trespassing’s
not something he favors.”

  “They won’t hurt her, will they?”

  “Of course not! They’ll just keep her from causing trouble here for a few hours.” He kissed her fingers. “So, I’m having sons, huh?”

  “Actually, you’ll be getting the chance to coach girls’ soccer and lacrosse. We’re having twin girls.”

  He let out a sigh of pure pleasure. “My world is turning pink. A wife and two little girls. I hope they look just like you.”

  She smiled. “I’m so very glad you’re home.”

  He stood. “I’m going to grab some food. Can I get you anything?”

  “You can tell me why you’re walking so stiffly.”

  Her husband’s eyes took on a cagey cast. “I drove straight here from Montana. I’m a little stiff from driving.”

  “We should probably make a pact from this moment forward that we always tell each other the truth. We don’t have to protect each other as much as we have been.”

  He took a long look at her. “You’re right. We’re going to be parents. Parents should set good examples by being honest.”

  “Exactly. So, the injuries came from?”

  “I may have had a small meeting with a bull that didn’t go well.”

  Suz shook her head. “Didn’t we talk about the fact that you’re not the world’s best bull rider, and I’m not the world’s best swimmer? Let me see your ribs.”

  He raised his denim shirt, allowed her to walk her fingers along his torso, feeling for soreness. It was hard to focus on her task when there was a glory of muscle and dark skin under her fingers, but she forced herself to concentrate. “I’m calling the doctor for an appointment for you. And I’ll wrap these ribs.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “No more fibbing. I remember a lot about this body, and I remember quite well that you don’t wince when I touch you. Your ribs hurt.”

  “Like the devil,” he confessed.

  She smiled. “Bring me the special first aid kit I keep just for you. It has Cisco written on it.”

  “Hey!” he said, then shrugged. “Probably a good idea.”

  Suz watched her sexy man walk from the room, shifting a bit with discomfort. Everyone had tried as hard as they could to make her comfortable, but the past months had been long—especially without her husband.

  It had been the right thing to do. She’d been shocked by the pictures Daisy had sent, though she wouldn’t whisper a word of that to Cisco. Her phone had rung like mad from her friends, many of whom rushed over to comfort her in the face of Daisy’s perfidy.

  Darn Daisy, anyway. Suz hadn’t needed comforting. She’d needed her husband.

  Sam and Squint hurried into the room like eager puppies, heading straight to her sofa.

  “We come bearing gifts!” Sam said.

  “He says the same thing every time. It’s like you’re a one-trick pony, bud.” Squint put down a bowl of chicken salad in which red grapes nestled, and a pitcher of a ruby liquid that looked an awful lot like sangria. “This is sangria,” he said, setting down three glasses. “Miss Betty says it’s pregnancy-appropriate sangria, which means it’s some kind of organic crap—I mean, organic goodness. I think beet juice in seltzer water, with a splash of carrot and cucumber.” He looked a bit woebegone. “Betty says that after you deliver the babies, she’ll send over some almond-milk hot chocolate to celebrate. She’s working on a new recipe.”

  Both men looked a bit concerned by the healthy twist to their diets. Suz laughed. “Thank you. This looks amazing.”

  “It’s not real food, though.” Sam dished out a plate of chicken salad for her, placing a few grapes beside it. “This is how she told me to serve this to you. And there’s no bread because Miss Betty says she’s being careful of food combining. Therefore, no grains with your meat.” He sighed. “It’s all hogwash to me, but whatever Betty says is law.”

  “Especially since her holistic approach appears to be working for you.” Squint looked at her appreciatively. “You’re looking good, Suz.”

  “Hey!” Cisco strolled in bearing a water pitcher and a platter of muffins. “What is all this?”

  “This is us hitting on your girl while you’re away,” Sam informed him. He pounded Cisco on the back with enthusiasm, and then Squint took his turn.

  “His ribs, fellows,” Suz said, laughing. “I haven’t wrapped them yet.”

  They stepped back quickly, and Cisco looked like he was trying to recover from the exuberant greetings.

  “Again?” Squint asked. “You’re hurt again?”

  They shook their heads in disgust, sat down and snagged some grub.

  “I’m not hurt,” Cisco said. “I’m just a bit grazed.”

  “That means it’s a three-wrapper,” Sam whispered to Suz. “He’ll require three layers of wrapping to get him back to scratch. He’ll look like a mummy, but it’s the only way to put our town Humpty Dumpty back together.”

  “You’re terrible.” Suz laughed, looking at Cisco, who seemed to weather his buddies’ jibes with good humor.

  “So, hitting on my girl, you said?” Cisco asked mildly.

  “Just doing your job.” Squint waved a muffin. “These are not Betty-approved for you, Suz. You have to wait thirty minutes after you eat to have one because I’m pretty sure this falls under the heading of grains. They sure are good, too. Zucchini?”

  “I’m not sure.” Cisco studied his. “I think mine’s chocolate chip.”

  “And mine’s gingerbread. I love gingerbread when it’s cold outside.” Sam slathered his with butter. “So you came home after Daisy rooted you out, huh?”

  “Rooted me out?” Cisco raised a brow.

  “You know. The photos.” Sam waved his butter knife. “Those photos were some lulus, I can tell you. If ever there was a man to be caught with his pants down, I didn’t think it would be you.”

  “Yeah. Caught with your hands in the cookie jar, too,” Squint chimed in.

  “With his nuts in the oven,” Sam agreed.

  “Buns afire,” Squint added.

  “I thought it was chestnuts roasting on an open fire?” Sam said. “Those photos sure gave new meaning to that holiday classic.”

  Cisco put his muffin down. “Maybe I should see these photos.”

  “No,” Suz said. “They weren’t that big of a deal. The guys are just teasing, aren’t you?” She sent a warning look to both men. “And we’ve all deleted the photos, anyway. Haven’t we?”

  The men slowly nodded.

  “Mine are gone,” Squint said.

  “Like the wind,” Sam said.

  “History.” Squint looked from Suz to Cisco. “Zapped right into the dustbin of BC lore.”

  Cisco pushed his hat back. “I know when you two are lying, because you start talking real fast, which you’re doing now. Hand over the phones so I can see the photos.”

  “Cisco,” Suz said. “It’s not important.”

  “Why are you hiding them?” He looked at her. “If it was no big deal, it won’t matter if I see them.”

  Suz shrugged. “Okay. But you’re not going to be happy.”

  “I’m already not happy.” He accepted a phone from Sam, gazed at a couple of photos. His buddies stared at him, concerned, and Suz waited, her breath held.

  “I’m going to kill her,” Cisco muttered. He tossed the phone back to Sam. “At the very minimum, I’m going to file a law—”

  “No, you’re not,” Suz interrupted. “You’re not going to even acknowledge these photos.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s what she wants. To cause trouble,” Suz said. “We’ve talked about it—”

  “Who’s talked about it?”

  “We have,” Sam said. “We think if you cause trouble, it’l
l just make everything worse for everyone.”

  “How can it be worse when there are fairly naked photos of me being sent around the town with a fairly naked woman?” His voice blazed.

  “Daisy’s always been a troublemaker,” Suz said quickly. “No one believed a thing they saw. Don’t stir trouble, Cisco. We have our daughters to think of.” Suz took a deep breath. “And what’s even more important, I want you to call your friend Branch and tell him he has to call off his friends and let Daisy come home.”

  Chapter Ten

  “Daisy’s at Branch’s?” Squint looked at him, surprised. “What’s she doing there?”

  “She stayed for an extra visit.” Cisco didn’t feel like talking about it. His blood still boiled over the photos. He was darn lucky he had such an understanding wife. Suz didn’t seem to be near as bothered as he was by what Daisy had done. Maybe she’d grown a tough shell from all the years of Daisy’s shenanigans—but he wanted to wring her neck. “Suz, Daisy’s better at a distance, from my point of view.”

  “Cisco, it’s got to end sometime. And for the sake of our children, I’d like it to end now. Please call Branch.” Suz looked at Squint and Sam. “And I’d like you fellows to go escort her back home.”

  Their jaws dropped. “Us?” Sam said.

  “As you know, Daisy and I aren’t exactly on good terms,” Squint said. “I tried my best, found greener pastures.”

  “Well, those greener pastures are no longer green, so it doesn’t matter,” Suz said.

  Cisco perked up. “You quit seeing that woman from the town over?”

  Squint looked a little embarrassed. “I was just trying to make Daisy a bit jealous. Thought it might make her take notice. But all she was ever interested in was you.” He looked at Suz. “Don’t make me go after her. Send Handsome Sam.”

  “I’ll go,” Cisco said, having no intention whatsoever of going but wanting to goose his brothers. “It should be me.”

  That shot Squint and Sam from their chairs. “We’ll go,” Sam said. “You have to be here for the birth of your daughters! Our namesakes!”

  Cisco looked at his beautiful wife, who was more beautiful than ever, to his hungry eyes. “Their namesakes?”