Twins for the Rebel Cowboy (The Boones of Texas 2)

And he knew the house. The crudely drawn lilac-blue house in the picture was the perfect family house—a storybook house. Annabeth had always loved the Czinkovic place. When they were kids riding their bikes around town, she’d stop there. She’d had a plan, pointing out each window and explaining what each room would be if it was her house. Greg would nod, listening intently to every word she said. But Ryder hadn’t understood her fascination with the place. Now he did. She’d wanted the family that lived there, not just the walls they lived in. She’d wanted everything he’d had and wanted to get away from.

He slipped out the back door of the house, careful not to disturb her. There was no fence, so he wasn’t sure where Annabeth’s yard ended and the Czinkovic house property line began. But a row of red-tipped petunias, two magnolia trees and several fruit trees made a sort of natural fence line. Cody’s massive oak tree sat in the middle of the house’s backyard. He stared up, seeing Cody’s design in the sprawling limbs of the old tree.

He turned, assessing the house. It seemed to be in good shape, but he suspected it would need a thorough inspection. Some updates would be needed—wiring and plumbing. No signs of foundation concerns, but it would need lots of TLC.

He walked the property, sizing it up. Taking notes...

They would need a place to grow. Chances were his dad would offer him property on the ranch to build, like he had with his brothers. But he’d always liked his space. Being in town, near Annabeth’s work and Cody’s school, made the most sense. Staying in Annabeth’s teeny-tiny house didn’t.

Once he’d written down the Realtor’s name and number, he headed back to Annabeth’s house. The yard needed raking, so he pulled open the shed and set to work. Most of her tools were in terrible shape. From the look of the lawn mower, he’d have to put more than elbow grease into it to get it running. He dug through the small shed until he found an old metal rake. Its handle was splintered and rough, but Annabeth had put a few layers of duct tape over the worst spots to keep using it. It made him smile, to see how resourceful she was. She knew how to take care of herself, without all the fancy bells and whistles. Not Annabeth. No, she made do with what she had—with a smile on her face. They may not have planned any of this, but he’d never had anything feel so right, so fast. He pulled on his work gloves and set to raking the leaves from the front yard.

Time and again, his gaze wandered to the empty house, imagining Cody sitting in the window, watching the birds. If he could give his family—something he never thought he’d have—a nice home, then he would.

Growing up, he’d never felt as though he fit anywhere, even at home. He wasn’t as smart as his brothers. He’d struggled in school and had taken a lot of teasing for it. The more teasing he’d got, the angrier he’d become. The angrier he’d been, the more trouble he’d got into—striking out and earning a reputation that had made his father shake his head and his brothers lecture him whenever they’d had the chance. His mother had been his only defender. And then she’d died in a car accident coming to help him. And all he’d felt was anger.

When he was young, the rodeo had fit. Riding bulls had eased his restlessness. He’d loved the freedom, the fight, it gave him. It had kept him out of trouble, mostly. It didn’t call to him the way it used to, but he still rode for the fun of it now and then.

But it was the vintage Packard his father had inherited from some long-lost aunt that had introduced Ryder to the real love of his life—cars. He could fix cars, build them from nothing or return them to their glory. He was a mechanic, working nine to five, and he was damn proud of that. Sure, he had a substantial share of the Boone fortune, but he’d never touched it. He’d wanted to make his own way—he’d needed to. Now he needed to take care of his family. He had a plan, one he was excited about.

When the yard was done and three large black bags were full of leaves, he crept back into the house. Staring down at her, at his baby, made him smile. “Annabeth?” he whispered.

Tom had been curled up against her side. The yellow-eyed glare he sent Ryder made him chuckle. Annabeth stirred a little, rolling onto her side and curling into a ball. The kitten climbed over her and curled up by her stomach.

“Princess?” he whispered again. “You’re going to sleep the day away.”

She rolled onto her back, blinking several times. “What time is it?”

“Almost five.”

“Five?” She sat up, then grabbed her stomach and flopped back. “Remind me not to do that.” Tom mewed, jostled by her sudden movements. “Sorry,” she murmured to the kitten, scratching the little gray head.

He sat beside her on the bed. “Good nap?”

She nodded, yawning. “I feel great.” He watched her stretch, reaching over her head with her arms and extending her long legs with a satisfied squeal.

“Looks like it.” He grinned, resisting the urge to touch her. Tom climbed into Ryder’s lap, a vibrating ball of fur.

“What have you been up to?” She smiled a sleepy-smile at him.

Her smile made his heart thump. “A little yard work.”

She frowned. “Ryder—”

His phone rang, interrupting what looked like another tirade about him helping out. He didn’t even look at the phone as he answered. “Yeah?”

“We going to get something to eat before tonight?” DB’s scratchy voice startled him.

“Tonight?” Ryder glanced at Annabeth, relaxed, propped up on the pillows, staring out the window.

“Rodeo? Tonight?” DB laughed. “You serious? You forgot?”

Ryder laughed. “Kinda had other things on my mind.” Annabeth looked at him, her hazel eyes full of something he didn’t understand. “I’m not gonna make it.”

“What?” she asked, sitting up. “Don’t change your plans.”

“Call you back,” Ryder said, hanging up the phone without waiting for a response from DB. “It’s nothing, Princess.”

“Tell me, then.” She swung her legs over the side of the bed, putting her right beside him. She smelled like heaven. “If you committed to something, you need to follow through.” He agreed, especially when it came to their marriage. If going tonight would help prove he was a man of his word, he would.