The Bull Rider's Twins

“HOW DARE YOU?” Darla demanded when Judah made it to his motel room an hour later, where she was waiting outside the door. He cast an appreciative eye over the snapping fire in her blue eyes, and her long blond hair. She looked like an angel, but she was going to bless him out like a she-devil.

Which meant that Tunstall had given her the bad news. And that suited Judah just fine.

“I dare,” he said, unlocking his door and stepping inside his room with her on his heels, “because that’s what I do. Idare.”

Her lips compressed for a moment. “You have no right to interfere.”

He tossed his hat into the chair. “Just one man chatting with another. Don’t get your panties in a twist over it, sugar.” Grinning, he pulled a beer from the six-pack his brothers had thoughtfully left in his room, satisfied that matters should be straight as an arrow between him and his buttercup.

“I’m not going to marry you, Judah.” Darla’s chin rose, and her tiny nose nearly pointed at his chin. He so badly wanted to run his finger down her face and tell her everything was going to be just fine, if she’d only settle down and let him take care of her.

“We’ll talk about it tomorrow after I ride. There’s a lot of things we’ll have to plan, like naming my sons. You’ll need to enroll in a prenatal yoga class, too. I hear it’s very beneficial for the mother and the babies.”

Darla’s cheeks went pink. “I’m leaving now,” she told him, “and I am marrying Sidney. Quit trying to take over my life.”

“Whew,” Judah said, pulling her close against his chest. “You’ll know when I’m trying to take over your life, babe. I’ll say, ‘Get in my bed,’ and you’ll go happily because you’ll know I’m going to make you feel like a princess.”

Irate as Darla was, she leaned into him, and for a moment, completely relaxed.

But she suddenly pulled herself away and marched to the door. “Not a chance, Judah. Goodbye.”

THE NEXT DAY Darla carried the magic wedding dress to the back of the store where she couldn’t see it. Lately, it had begun to call to her with a siren song of such temptation that she could barely resist it.

“Just try on the gown,” Jackie urged. But Darla didn’t want to fashion hopes and dreams through simple fabric.

“I don’t need fairy tales and magic in my life. I’m making a solid, practical decision to marry a man who’s as even-keeled as I am. Judah is a winter wind blowing through a canyon. I could never rely on him.”

“But he’s the father of your children,” Jackie said. “You don’t want to do something in the heat of passion, Darla.”

“I already did that,” she replied, “which is why I’m choosing to be quite selective with my children’s futures now. Sidney will be a good father. He comes from a very small family, and has always wanted a large one. We’re good friends. I’ll be an organized, supportive doctor’s wife.” Darla stowed the magic wedding gown in the very back of the stock closet, behind back-stock dresses. It did lure her. Sometimes in the night, she could hear a faint rustle of musical chimes, like an antique jewelry box opening to play a lilting melody. The dress was beautiful.

And she wanted it so badly. But she wouldn’t admit that to Jackie. Darla wanted to believe in romance and dreams and fairy tales, just like any other bride. Yet she couldn’t afford any mistakes. Her whole makeup was geared toward thoughtful, careful decision making. There really wasn’t any room for loving a bonehead like Judah.

Unfortunately for her, that bonehead made her body shiver and ache every time she thought of him. It was like that wild winter wind blew over her skin, reminding her of how much she loved him.

But that was the problem. She did love Judah—and she was just another responsibility for him, much like the ranch, and his family, and rodeo. Nothing special or different. Something he had to rule over, boss, command. Before their night together, he’d never spoken to her, nothing more than a passing hello and chitchat about the weather. And he hadn’t so much as sought her out at the store since that night, either.

A woman knew when she was the object of a man’s passions, and she wasn’t that to Judah. He was too wild for her, too unsettled for a woman who liked calm rational choices in her life. Judah was her one moment of reckless abandon—and it didn’t take a psychic gift to know they were not meant to be.

“Speaking of psychic,” Darla said, and Jackie glanced up.

“Were we?” she asked.

“No, but is Sabrina really going to work for Fiona?”

“I think so. Why?”

“Because I was thinking about asking her if she wanted to work in the shop while I’m out after the babies are born. You can’t do it all by yourself,” Darla said, staying in practical mode.

“I’ll be fine,” Jackie assured her.

“You have three little ones. We need backup.”

The door swung open, sending the bells over the shop door tinkling. Judah strolled in, the man of her dreams obviously on a mission, judging by the hot gleam in his eyes. Darla’s heart jumped into overdrive.

“We need to talk,” he stated, and Jackie said, “I’ll be heading out for a coffee break. Nice ride last night, Judah.”

He tipped his hat to her, and when the door swung shut behind her, he put the closed sign in the window.

“You can’t close my shop,” Darla said.

“We have to talk.”

“Not while I’m working.”

“The brides of Diablo will just have to wait while you take a fruit and juice break.” He handed her a small bag. “Organic. Every bite.”

She began to seethe. “I eat healthy, Judah. You don’t need to concern yourself with my diet.”

He nodded. “A husband takes care of his wife.”

“Not to point out the obvious—”

He handed her a box. “Darla, you have to quit being so stubborn.”

“What’s this?” She eyed the small dark box as if it were a bomb.

“What a man gives a woman he wants to marry.” He grinned, clearly pleased with himself.

She handed it back. “I’ll keep the organic breakfast. You can keep your Pandora’s box.”

He put it on the counter. “If you don’t want me to romance you, I’ll stop.”

“Thank you.” She folded her arms.

He shrugged. “If that’s the way you want it.”

She didn’t say anything to confirm his statement because it really wasn’t the way she wanted it. But under the circumstances, “no” was the only option. Judah was a conqueror. He wanted to bulldoze her ivory tower and take her prisoner—but letting him do so would be a mistake.

“Why aren’t you at the rodeo?”

“I can’t ride when I’m all torn up like this.”

That stopped her. She checked his eyes for signs of amusement, found none. Surely he was jesting, though. Judah wasn’t a man whose emotions ruled his life. He was all action, sometimes even brave, fearless action. She again checked his expression for teasing, but he looked just as deadly serious as he had a moment ago. It was like gazing into the eyes of an Old West gunslinger in a classic movie: resolute, determined, honest.

She caught her breath. “We don’t know each other at all.”

He looked at her. “We know each other well enough to be parents.”