Twins for the Bull Rider (7 page)

Come on, Kayden. Come on.

A wisp of clothing brushed his fingertips. He stabbed an arm out and managed to curl his fist into the boy's shirt. He tugged hard, bringing Kayden's body close and shooting to the surface.

Kayden choked and sputtered when they broke through to open air, fighting and succeeding in capturing much-needed oxygen.

Thank God
. Dominic almost wept with relief.

Tremors racked the boy's frame.

“Easy, Kayden.”

Dominic shifted, floating on his back and clutching Kayden to his midsection. He forced himself to loosen his tight grip.

Hardheaded kid
. If Cissy hadn't thought to come looking for him here—

Cissy
. His eyes shot to the paddleboat. She was safe inside, sagging with relief, arms wrapped around Jayden.

Kayden's second bout of coughing vibrated against his gut, commanding his attention and reminding him to get a move on. Dominic executed gentle kicks, being careful not to jostle the boy any more than necessary as they made their way to the edge of the pond.

He lifted Kayden out of the water and propped him on his side in the grass. The boy's slim arms and shoulders heaved in a quick rhythm on each cough and spit of dirty pond water before he became quiet and resumed normal breathing.

Dominic smoothed back the wet hair plastered over Kayden's eyes and cheeks, the buzzing in his blood making it difficult to maintain a steady hand.

Defiant, hardheaded kid.
A minute or two more and Dominic would've been too late.

“Kayden, look at me.” Struggling to keep the biting edge in his tone under control, he waited until Kayden lifted his head, the boy's blue eyes wide and fearful. “Do you have any idea how close you cut that?”

Kayden blinked several times, then nodded. “I'm sorry...” His chin trembled. “I didn't mean to—”

“Oh, you meant to all right.” Dominic dug his hands underneath the boy's armpits and lifted him upright. “That paddleboat didn't untie itself. And what did I tell you about that?”

Kayden dropped his head, his words muffled against his soaked shirt. “Not to go by myself. And to always have a life per-suh...”

“Preserver,” Dominic stressed. “If you'd had one of those on, you wouldn't be like you are now. And if you'd stayed put like your Aunt Cissy told you to, none of it would've happened to begin with.”

Kayden wrapped his hands around Dominic's forearms and looked up at him, regret flooding his features. “I'm sorry,” he whispered.

Dominic's anger fizzled, his heart melting.

Sweet, defiant, hardheaded kid
. Who was he to judge anyway? His screw-ups had started long before he'd reached Kayden's age and hadn't stopped yet.

Sighing, he drew Kayden in and wrapped his arms around him, squeezing the solidness of his back and arms to assure himself that the boy was safe.

Jayden appeared, hovering at his elbow. Tears poured down his cheeks and dripped from his chin. “Is he okay?”

Dominic nodded, leaning back and releasing Kayden. The boys fell into each other's arms with slight sniffles.

The soggy slap of denim sounded. Cissy limped toward them, Logan close on her heels. Her face was drawn and her mouth tight. The honey-colored strands of her hair hung in soaked clumps.

She dropped to her knees beside the boys and tugged Kayden out of Jayden's embrace. Pinning him close, she held him for a brief moment before jerking him back and squeezing her hands around his upper arms.

“How could you do that?” Her voice rose. “I told you to stay in the barn. I told you.”

Kayden's face crumpled. “I'm sorry, Aunt Cissy.”

“No, you're not.” She shook him, her pale arms and slight frame quaking. “You're not sorry. You're never sorry. You just run wild and do anything you want. You never listen to a word I say.”

A pang of sympathy traveled through Dominic's chest. Fear had overtaken her. “Cissy—”

“How many times do I have to tell you to listen to me?” The shaking turned fierce. “To just do what I ask?”

Her accusations became shrill. The tremors racking her small build grew more violent. Jayden sobbed heavily, his hands reaching out in an attempt to wrench her grip from his brother.

“You could have died,” Cissy shouted, her voice hoarse. “And what about Jayden? He could've drowned as easy as you. You could both be at the bottom of that pond right now.”

“But I'm okay, Aunt Cissy,” Jayden pleaded, patting the soggy shirt plastered over her shoulders and trying to put himself between the two. “I'm okay,” he choked out.

Dominic's heart constricted. He winced at the terrified looks on the boys' faces. As much as he understood her anger, it was hurting rather than helping.

“That's enough, Cissy.” He reached out and pried her hands from Kayden, forcing her to rise.

“Let go of me.” She shoved her shoulder into his chest and struggled to break free.

Her elbow caught his rib. Dominic pushed back, being careful not to hurt her with his tight hold.

“Stop it. You need to calm down. You're scaring them and you're gonna make yourself sick.”

“Let me go!”

He met Logan's eyes over her head and jerked his chin in the direction of the boys, now wrapped around each other behind him on the ground. Logan nodded, moving past him.

“Calm down, Cissy,” Dominic repeated gently, walking her backward. She stumbled several times, favoring her left leg. He stopped and smoothed his hands over her back, his fingers fumbling over the drenched folds of her T-shirt.

“L-let me g-go.” She stammered the words over and over but her fingers clutched at him, pulling him to her.

At last, she grew silent. Tears wobbled on her dark lashes and her face contorted.

“It's okay,” Dominic murmured, running a hand over her brow and pushing her wet bangs back. He stooped and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her over to one of the benches lining the pond.

She gasped when he set her down and braced her hands on the edge of the bench.

He apologized softly, running his palm down the back of her leg. “What's wrong here?”

“Ch-charley horse.” Her teeth chattered. “I—I got it when I was in the water.” She shuddered, her leg jerking beneath his fingers. “I w-was so c-close to him...but I couldn't...I couldn't—”

“Hey,” he whispered. He looked up, squeezing her slim thigh and urging her to look down and meet his eyes. “Everything's okay.”

Cissy nodded and dropped her head back against the wood bench. Dominic refocused on her calf, dragging the soaked leg of her jeans up to her knee. The muscle was tight. He wrapped his hand around it, rubbing the knot with the heel of his hand. She jumped and tried to pull away.

“Easy,” he soothed. “I'm going to rub it out but you've got to relax. Otherwise, it won't work.”

Her muscles drew tighter and her face clenched.

He had to distract her. She had her emotions bottled up to the point of bursting. If she didn't loosen up, she'd do some damage to herself.

Dominic conjured up a small smile. “You know, when I was a kid, I was just as bullheaded as Kayden. Logan was always the good boy. But I disobeyed every chance I got. Sneaked off on my own. And if I couldn't find trouble, I'd make some.” He rubbed again, digging deep into the muscle. “It's a wonder I survived past ten. But I did.”

The knot in her calf eased and her leg relaxed against his grip.

“What did your mom do?” she rasped.

An old, familiar memory flashed. The swirl of a white skirt and flip of a red handbag. A brush of lips on his cheek and a soft whisper—
Bye, Dominic
.

“Nothing.” His stomach roiled. “She wasn't here for most of it. Left when I was eight...”

He paused in surprise, his words whispering off. As best he could remember, this was the first time he'd spoken of his mother to someone other than Logan. And that was rare at best. Their mother was a taboo subject at Raintree. One they all avoided at every opportunity.

It was too difficult a thing to revisit. Too hard to remember how easy it had been for his mother to smile, wave and walk away. Right into a waiting car and into a new life. Leaving all three Slade men standing in shocked silence in Raintree's dirt drive. Leaving Dominic to watch as she left without any of them. Without his shaken, grief-stricken Pop. Without grim, stoic-faced Logan. And without him, tears and all.

Because none of them were enough for her. And she hadn't needed them.

It hadn't taken long for Dominic to decide that he should leave at the first chance, too. That he had to get his own ride out of Raintree and stay the hell away. Away from the memories of his mom not needing him. And from the knowledge he'd never be able to measure up to Logan's stringent model of what a man should be.

His palm still moved at Cissy's calf but no longer rubbed. It glided along her soft skin. He found the action comforting and it appeared to do the same for her.

“Not that it mattered when she left,” he tacked on, swallowing hard. “If you trust Logan's take on it, she wasn't much of a mom anyway.”

A soft cry brought his head up. Cissy's hands obscured her face and her shoulders shook.

Dominic rose swiftly and scooted in beside her on the bench. “Hey, come on now,” he soothed, pulling her hands down and clasping them in his. “What's this?”

“What if I'm like that? What if I'm not much of a mom, either?” Her questions tumbled out in shaky bursts, jerking her small body. “What if I'm not fit to have them?”

“Okay, now, that's enough,” he admonished, caressing the back of her neck with the pads of his fingers. “None of that is true.”

“But—”

“But what? The only reason those boys are still breathing is because you had the instinct that told you something was wrong. And you were the only one that thought of looking for them at the pond.” He smoothed his thumb over her cheek, brushing away a tear. “You know those boys like the back of your hand. And that doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of attention and a lot of hard work.”

She examined his features. Almost as though she was trying to peer inside him and pick his thoughts apart. Her eyes moved beyond him. He followed her gaze to the field behind him where Logan's shadowy figure headed toward the house, Kayden in his arms and Jayden trailing behind.

“Dominic?” Her voice was soft and hesitant.

“Yeah?”

“I don't know what I'm doing,” she whispered.

Warmth flooded his chest and spread through his body. How many times had he acknowledged that to himself over the years? Questioned his actions? His path in life?

Dominic shook his head and grinned, drifting the blunt tip of his finger over the delicate seam of her mouth. “Who does?”

She returned her attention to his face, her lips parting with a smile of her own. She moved into his arms, pressing her cheek to his chest and brushing her arms under his to cradle his back.

Dominic stilled. Something pleasant unfurled inside him and streamed through his veins.

He'd held a lot of women. Felt their soft curves against him. Excited them with his touch. But he couldn't remember a woman ever putting her hands on him for a reason other than sexual gratification. Or his wallet.

None of them had ever had such a gentle touch. And none of them had ever held him.

Breathing her in, he smoothed his hands over her hair. The strands, still wet, were straw-like and released whiffs of pond water and dirt. He nuzzled his face against it.

No cloying perfume or artificial pretense here. Just an honest, earthy bundle of woman.

He stayed silent for several minutes, savoring the experience and half afraid she'd bolt given the chance.

“I don't want to hear any more talk about you not being a good mom.” He lifted her chin with his knuckle. “Matter of fact, it's only fit for one thing. And that's for tossing in that wheelbarrow of yours.”

Cissy blinked, then closed her eyes in dismay, her shoulders drooping.

“What?” he asked.

“I just remembered.” She gave a frustrated smile. “I knocked the wheelbarrow over on the way out of the stall. Every bit of what I cleaned up is probably all over the barn floor. It's going to take forever to get it all up.”

He chuckled. “That's a perfect job for two disobedient boys. Especially since they put us knee-deep in it today.”

She brightened, those blue eyes of hers beaming up at him through the darkening night surrounding them. Her small nose wrinkled, drawing focus to her sweet freckles. His arms moved of their own accord, drawing her close again to rest his chin on top of her head.

He realized he didn't know what he was doing right now, either. He'd never opened up this much to a woman. Had never taken a path as real and risky as this before. There was no telling where this was headed.

He ought to be careful. Wary, even. Cissy was just as unpredictable as any ride he'd ever taken in the arena. But as hard as he tried, he couldn't quite talk himself out of it.

Dominic grinned, pressing closer and absorbing her soft heat.
Well, hell
. He guessed he'd just have to see how long he could hold on.

Chapter Five

Cissy eased back in the rocking chair and inhaled. The air was moist and warm, filling her lungs and soothing her senses. It was early. Much earlier than the ranch guests usually rose and began milling about.

The sun was just beginning to peek above the horizon, the rays gentle. An early-morning dew sparkled on the grassy fields below. She closed her eyes and soaked it up, lifting her legs and rolling her feet in circles. The pain from last night had eased and her calf muscle had loosened up again.

“Here you go.”

She rolled her head on the back of the chair and lifted her lids a bit to find Pop standing over her. A squat mug sat in each of his hands, steam curling from the rims.

“Thought you might like a cup of coffee,” he said. “Didn't know how you took it so I just dropped a bit of cream and sugar in it.”

Cissy sat up and smiled, taking one of the cups, cradling it and sipping slow. “Thanks. That's perfect,” she murmured.

The chair next to her creaked. Pop settled his weight in it, leaned back and plopped his booted feet up on the white porch railing. He took a few sips of his own, then released a satisfied sigh.

“Crack of dawn's the only time during summer that you can really enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a good porch spell.”

His silver hair took on an orange glow as the sun hit it. His lashes swooped down as he took another sip of coffee. The lines of his face eased and he moaned low in his throat. He opened his eyes and turned to her with a broad smile.

“Go ahead.” He winked and gestured to her feet. “Throw those dogs on up there. If you're gonna do it, you might as well do it right.”

Cissy laughed. She lifted her legs, one at a time, and tried dropping them on the porch rail. Only they wouldn't quite reach. Each foot fell short of the mark about four inches.

Pop guffawed. “I didn't quite take into account our difference in height, little bit. Scoot that chair on up there and show me how it's done.”

She did as instructed, dragging the chair forward a few inches with her free hand then settling back down and throwing her legs up. Success!

“Good deal.” Pop returned his attention to the view before them and continued nursing his coffee. “Where are the boys this morning?”

“Dominic took them out to the barn a while ago to muck some stalls.”

Cissy grinned, recalling the boys' groans as Dominic had led them out of the room next to hers. Dominic's deep tenor had sounded outside her door, providing explanation that it was punishment for their antics the night before. Surprisingly, they'd accepted it with a minimum of resistance.

“Ah. It'll do 'em some good,” Pop remarked. “Though I can't say I'm well versed in the art of discipline.” He caught her questioning look and continued, “It's hard balancing protection and tough love when you're going at it on your own.”

She nodded. “Was it difficult? You know... When you were on your own with Dominic and Logan?” Her face heated at his look of surprise. Maybe she was being rude for mentioning it. “I don't mean to pry,” she hastened. “Dominic told me his mom left when he was young. I just wondered if it was as difficult for you with two boys as it's been for me.”

He grunted. “
Difficult
ain't the word for it.” His forehead wrinkled until he settled on the right one with a smirk. “Hellish, maybe. That would be a better description.”

Silence descended for a few minutes, Pop gazing out at the fields and squinting his eyes against the rapid ascension of the sun.

“Logan was around ten when Julie left,” he said. “Dominic had just turned eight. I was at my wit's end there for a while. What with dealing with my wife leaving, trying to juggle the ranch and chasing after them full time. I put a lot on Logan. Dominic, too, come to think of it.” A gentle expression eased over his features. “But once we got our rhythm, there was no stopping us. We were a tiny unit but we were still a family. All three of us made mistakes. But we loved each other hard. Still do. And that's what got us through.” He shifted, roving his gaze over her face. “Reminds me a lot of you and those boys of yours. The three of you against the world.”

Cissy's cheeks warmed. She wanted to thank him for more than just the coffee. But she couldn't find the right words.

“Pop spouting tall tales again?”

Grass rustled against Dominic's boots as he and the boys approached the back porch steps. Jayden bounded up before him, his damp shoes pounding across the expanse of the porch. Kayden hung back, easing his way up behind the thick cover of Dominic's legs.

“I beg your pardon,” Pop shot back with a sarcastic laugh. “I don't tell tall tales.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Dominic lingered at her side, tapping his blunt fingertips against her shoes propped on the rail. “You've got Cissy in story position. It was a fair assumption.”

Dominic took his hat off, balanced it on the porch rail, then trailed his hand up to touch the back of her calf. A thrill shot through her. So did a fresh surge of embarrassment. She tucked her chin to her chest to hide the blush snaking down her neck.

Lord, she couldn't believe she'd blubbered all over him last night.

“How's the leg this morning?” he asked, cupping his warm palm against her skin.

“Better.” Clearing her throat, she turned her attention to the boys. “Have you two been busy?”

Jayden nodded with pride, stretching across her lap to kiss her cheek. “We got up all the poop, and Mr. Dominic said we did so good that if you were feeling better, we could go fishing.”

“Oh, yeah?” She squinted up at him. She was sure he would've had his fill of them after last night.

Dominic's dark waves moved with his nod, falling over his tanned forehead. “Yep. Thought it was about time y'all had a day off. And it's a proved fact that fish bite better on Sundays.”

“That all depends on the skill of the fisherman,” Pop inserted.

“Are you a good fisherman, Pop?” Jayden sprung to Pop's chair, ducking beneath his propped legs and wedging in between.

“The absolute best, my boy.” Pop dropped his feet from the rail, set his coffee on the porch and swept Jayden up in his arms.

“Do you think I could be a good one?” Jayden asked, smoothing his fingers over the stubble lining Pop's jaw.

“Hmm, let me see those hands.” Pop took Jayden's hands in his and turned them over. His brow wrinkled and he put on a grave expression as he examined the palms. “Looks as if you got all the hallmarks of a fine fisherman. Can't say you'd have any trouble.”

Jayden scrambled higher in Pop's arms and issued a theatrical whisper in his ear. “Will you come with us and show me your skills? I want to catch more than Kayden.”

Pop chuckled. “I think I will join y'all. But what you say we work together on this? If I taught you and Kayden the same things, we might catch enough fish to fry up tonight. Whatcha think, Kayden?”

Kayden edged around Dominic's thigh and nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Cissy took stock of him. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, fists shoved deep in his pockets, and hovered off to the side. Very meek and reserved. Very un-Kayden-like.

“Kayden?” Dominic ruffled his hair, squeezing him to his side for a second then nudging him with a knuckle in Cissy's direction. “Why don't you show your aunt Cissy where the tackle is and gather it up while Jayden and I get some bait together?”

Dominic bent, divested Cissy of her cup and wrapped his hand around hers to pull her up. Her skin tingled under his touch. The warmth radiating from his long, muscular length beckoned and she fought the urge to lean into him.

“Sounds good,” Cissy said. She brushed past Dominic and made her way to Kayden, taking his hand in hers.

“You remember where I showed you in the shed, Kayden?” Dominic asked.

“Yes, sir.” Kayden squeezed Cissy's hand tight, tugging to lead the way down the steps and back across the grass toward the barn.

The farther they drifted away from the porch, the quieter it became. The only sounds were the dewy grass sweeping against their legs and the soft chirps of crickets. Kayden's grip remained snug.

Cissy glanced down at him as they crossed the field. He held his head high and took confident steps but kept parting his lips only to think better of it and look away again.

She bit her lip to keep from prodding the thoughts out of him. It was best to wait and let him share when he was ready. Otherwise, he'd clam up and hide away whatever was bothering him even more than before.

“Aunt Cissy?”

“Yeah?”

“I am sorry, you know?” Kayden halted, pulling her to a stop. “I really am.”

Cissy knelt, ignoring the wet grass on her bare legs. She took his face in her hands and smoothed a strand of blond hair off his forehead.

“I know.” She sighed, rubbing her thumbs over his soft cheeks. “I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have lost my temper but you disobeyed me. And, more than that, you scared me, Kayden.”

He dropped his head and twisted the toe of his shoe in the grass. “I didn't mean to scare you.”

“I know that, too.” She tipped his chin up and he cocked his head, bringing his eyes to hers. “But I was scared just the same.”

“I won't do it again. I promise.”

“I hope not. I'd be lost without you and Jayden. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to either of you. We're a team, you know?”

A broad smile burst across his face. He hurled himself against her, knocking her to the ground. Laughter bubbled up from her belly and she relaxed into his embrace, rocking him from side to side on her back.

“I love you, Aunt Cissy,” he whispered, planting his face against her neck and tightening his arms around her.

Her breath caught, her heart full to bursting. She hadn't really gotten it before. But she did now.

This was really the promise Crystal had begged for. This was what she had wanted for the boys. Something all the money in the world couldn't buy.

And it was the only thing that really mattered.

“I love you, too, Kayden.”

He slid off to the side, plopping onto his back and tucking his hands beneath his head. “You think Mama's up there?”

Cissy tilted her head back and looked up. The sky was clear and blue. Not a single cloud to be found. The sun had fully risen and lent a gentle morning heat to the air around them. Just the kind of day Crystal had loved the most.

“I know she is.”

“Do you miss her?”

Her throat tightened and she turned her face away, concentrating on the tickle of the grass pressed against her cheek. “Every day.”

“Aunt Cissy?”

She swallowed hard and blinked several times before turning back to face him. “Hmm?”

“What's it like to have a grandpa?”

“I don't know. Your mom and I never had one.”

He frowned, pursing his lips. “You think grandpas go fishin'?”

She smiled. “I suppose.”

He nodded. “I think Pop would be a good grandpa.”

“I think you might be right.”

“I bet he'd show me how to catch more fish than Jayden.” He sprang up and bent down to yank her to her feet.

“Pop said he'd show both of you, Kayden,” she reminded. “So don't go monopolizing his time, okay? And how about we not make today a competition? How about we just enjoy our time together?”

Kayden frowned, squinting his eyes and opening his mouth with a disgusted expression.

Cissy placed her hands on her hips and hid her grin. “Let me put it this way. If you don't play nice and do as you're told, you'll be shoveling poop every morning for the rest of the week.”

He closed his mouth and lost the attitude.

She couldn't resist bending down to kiss his cheek. He scrunched his nose, dragged the back of his hand over his face then took off.

“Wait for me, Kayden,” she called, her words bouncing off his back as he tore toward the shed behind the barn. She laughed. He was such a rubber ball of trouble.

“I gotta get the tackle,” he hollered over his shoulder. “Mr. Dominic and Pop are pro'ly ready to go.”

Cissy sobered, her steps slowing.

Dominic.

If Kayden was beginning to imagine Pop as a grandpa, what thoughts could he be entertaining about Dominic? The boys spent an enormous amount of time with him despite the heavy workload she gave them. And they were still young enough to want to latch on to anyone within three feet.

But Dominic wasn't just another guy. He was turning out to be different somehow. Patient. Calm. Protective. And understanding. A combination of traits she'd never expected to encounter all at once in a man.

Cissy rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms, trembling despite the warm summer sun. She'd never felt as safe or as comforted as she had last night in Dominic's supportive hold.

She stilled. Maybe Kayden was on to something. Maybe this ranch was more than just a pit stop. There might be more here than she anticipated.

And that was what scared her the most.

She couldn't afford to make a mistake. And Dominic could very well end up being the worst one of all.

* * *

D
OMINIC
DIDN
'
T
KNOW
when he'd had such fun fishing. It was one thing to sit motionless in a boat and wait in silence. It was another thing altogether to step up to the edge of a pond and toss a line out with twin boys full of energy.

Especially a pair that could talk the hind leg off a mule.

“Dang it,” Jayden cried, yanking his rod back.

“Jayden, watch your language.” Cissy cast a stern look at him, then resumed her relaxed stance with her fishing pole.

Her ivory cheeks were flushed with sunburn and her freckles had multiplied by a cute dozen. They'd been out for several hours now. The abundance of the day's catch and sustained enjoyment of everyone had kept them at it longer than he'd intended.