Twins For The Bull Rider. April Arrington

tone and rugged charm were enough to reduce a woman to a puddle at his feet. And she refused to melt.

      A quick shower, fresh set of clothes and pair of sneakers had her feeling halfway decent again. The boys showered next, taking full advantage of the toiletries provided in the en suite bathroom. Most of which ended up on the floor.

      Mouth full of toothpaste, Cissy rubbed a towel over the boys’ wet heads. Her cell phone vibrated with a clatter across the nightstand. She froze. It could only be Jason again.

      “I can’t breathe.” Kayden’s whine barely broke through the fluffy cloth of the towel draped over his face.

      “Sorry,” she muttered absently, slinging the towel away and rinsing her mouth in the sink. “You two finish up.”

      Unplugging her cell from the charger, she scrolled through and found over a dozen missed calls since last night. All of them from Jason.

      Cissy shoved the cell in her pocket, her jaw clenching. That was it, then. She had to take his next call. If she didn’t, she’d only make things worse. There was no way around it.

      She helped the boys dress, then they made their way down to join Dominic. A large plate of pancakes, warm syrup and crisp bacon was waiting for her. Ms. Betty turned out to be a small, bubbly woman with a bright smile. And the boys weren’t exaggerating. She had to be the best cook in Georgia. Kayden and Jayden even found room for second servings.

      After waiting patiently for the boys to refill their bellies, Dominic led them outside and down a trail to the paddock. Cissy followed behind him and the boys, taking in the sights around her.

      The bright morning sun hadn’t quite begun blazing yet, making the air less humid. Several guests strolled about the grounds or splashed in a large pool on the side of the main building. Azaleas, grouped around the walkway, boasted brightly colored blooms.

      Cissy inhaled, pulling in the sweet fragrance of the flowers and savoring the stroll down to a paddock below. The boys’ giggles mingled with Dominic’s deep tones, stretching a smile across her face. It was nice to ease her vigilant grip on them and relax.

      She glanced around once more, noting the extensive grounds peppered with bunkhouses, roaming horses and guests enjoying outdoor activities of all kinds. Surely a bustling business like this would have a need for extra help.

      Cissy smiled wider. A job. The first step of a solid plan to salvage the mess she’d made of her life. She’d ask if there were openings. Hopefully, there’d be something. If she could secure a job and board here, she could earn enough money to fix the car and save to pay for a new apartment. She’d work every hour of the day if she had to.

      That was it. A strategy she could swing. A job, money and a new home.

      She turned back and sighed with satisfaction at the boys’ excited skips ahead of her. They bounced at Dominic’s side with glee, stretching up every now and then to snag his jeans and tug for his attention. Each eager pull drew the denim tighter across his muscular thighs and buttocks.

      Cissy’s skin tingled. Dear Lord, that man had a fantastic a—

      Stop. She had a plan now. Job, money, apartment. There was no room for diversions. And there sure as heck wasn’t any room for a man. Even if he did have the sexiest butt on the planet.

      Kayden released his hold on Dominic’s jeans and tore off to clamber up a white fence surrounding the paddock. Jayden held Dominic’s hand, pulling at it as he ran.

      Dominic’s attention clung to the lithe man who’d opened the door to them last night, who stood a few feet from them, grooming a horse. “I brought you some help, Logan.”

      Jayden added, “Mr. Dominic said we could pet the horses.”

      Logan’s arm stilled, the brush hovering over the horse’s back as he smiled at the boys. Tipping his hat, he stepped forward and held out his hand to Cissy. “Morning. Don’t think we had a proper introduction last night. I’m Logan Slade. Dom’s older brother.”

      She took his hand, his warm greeting putting her at ease. “Cissy Henley. I’m sorry about us barging in on you last night.”

      Logan waved away the apology. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry I wasn’t more cordial.” His eyes cut to Dominic. “Just didn’t know company was dropping by.”

      “Yeah, well, that’d be my fault.” Dominic moved to the fence, lifting Jayden up on the rail beside Kayden. “Didn’t think I needed to call seeing as how I’m family.”

      “You don’t,” an older man said, ambling up to the fence. “Both my sons can come and go as they please.” He gripped Logan’s shoulder, then stretched an arm out over the fence to shake Cissy’s hand. “I’m Tate Slade. Dominic and Logan’s dad. But you can call me Pop. Everyone else does,” he added with a wink.

      Cissy smiled, briefly shaking his hand and thanking him for allowing them to stay the night. He had a kind face and gentle voice. She could easily see where Dominic and Logan got their gentlemanly qualities.

      Sidestepping the men, Cissy took up a piece of the fence, too. She lifted a foot and braced it on the lower rung. The rail’s warmth seeped into her palms.

      “Can we pet the horses?” Kayden asked.

      He seemed fascinated by Logan’s movements. His eyes clung to Logan’s hand as it pulled a brush through the horse’s hair with whispering sweeps.

      “Sure.” Pop retrieved an apple from a bucket. He handed it to Kayden and motioned toward a horse lingering nearby. “That one’s named Oreo. Call him.”

      “Come on, Oreo,” Kayden urged, holding out the red apple.

      “Gentle,” Dominic said. He lifted Kayden higher on the fence. “Stretch your arm out a bit farther. And hold your hand as flat as you can.”

      “What if he’s not hungry?”

      “Don’t worry. Oreo never turns down a treat. He’ll come when he’s ready. You just have to be patient.”

      The large horse moved with ease toward Kayden’s arm. Spots of midnight black and creamy white covered the horse’s sleek muscles. Oreo dipped his broad head and nuzzled Kayden’s hand with his nose, tugging on the apple with his teeth and chomping off a generous bite. Kayden dissolved into a fit of giggles.

      “Oreo likes it,” Jayden announced, promptly scooting closer to Dominic to lean over the fence, as well.

      The boys’ eyes sparkled and their faces flushed. Cissy smiled. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen them this excited over anything. Of course, Crystal’s illness had cast thick shadows over them for so long.

      But watching them now, they seemed like their old selves for the first time in forever. Their laughter was genuine. Their comfort obvious.

      Cissy closed her eyes and dropped her head back, enjoying the peaceful moment. The sun’s heat poured into her muscles and her body relaxed on a deep exhale.

      This was her promise to Crystal. Providing the boys with full bellies and the comfort of a permanent home. A life free of poverty and displacement. Something she and Crystal had never known growing up.

      A buzzing in her pocket shot vibrations down her thigh. Cissy snatched the cell phone out, her fingers fumbling to keep it from falling to the ground. Here we go.

      “Aunt Cissy, come look at this,” Kayden called.

      Pop had taken over with the boys and laughed with them as Oreo nuzzled their palms.

      “In a minute,” she hastened, shrugging as Dominic twisted to survey her. “I have to take this.”

      Spinning, she moved a few steps away and pressed the phone to her ear.

      “Jason.” It was impossible to drudge up a more polite greeting than that.