The next afternoon Brittany’s cell phone rang as she pulled out a tray of sugar cookies from Nan’s oven. What if it was the bank? Adrenaline spiked through her body. After plunking the cookie sheet on top of the stove, Brittany lunged for her phone sitting on the counter.
“Hello?” She craned her neck to check on Nan—nodding off in the recliner, as she usually did about this time.
“Brittany?”
“Oh, hi, Mason.” The adrenaline surged even harder. Wonderful. Her body not only overreacted at the thought of getting her line of credit approved, but at hearing Mason’s voice, as well. Having his arms wrapped around her yesterday had really messed with her head.
“I have a favor to ask,” he said.
“What’s up?” She hadn’t heard those words from him in a decade.
“I asked Babs to track down my father’s high school friends, and she called earlier with a lead, but the man lives thirty miles away and is leaving tonight to visit his kids for Christmas. And Ryder arrived this morning with his twin girls.”
“Okay...” She tried to add up what Mason wanted but drew a blank.
“He says he has something to give us, something that belonged to our dad. We’d like to drive out to see this guy today, but we don’t think taking three toddlers is the best move. Eden has an appointment, or she’d watch them. And Gabby thinks Phoebe is getting sick, so she’s out, too.”
“Do you need me to babysit?”
“Could you?”
“Of course. I love kids.” Either he was truly desperate or he was warming up to her. Maybe a little bit of both. Either way, she’d help him out. “Can you bring them over here or should I go out to your ranch?”
“We’ll bring them over there.” A pause ensued. “They have a lot of energy.”
“I’ve taught countless three-year-olds over the years. I can handle it. In fact, I just baked cookies. They can help me decorate them. And bring outdoor clothes for them—we’ll go out to the barn to swing.”
“Thanks, I owe you one.”
“No, I owe you for all you’ve done.” She did, too. She’d had no idea how much Nan depended on him until she’d spent the week here.
“We’ll be over in twenty minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting.” She hung up and stretched from side to side. Three kids? They’d wear her out for sure, but she wouldn’t mind one bit. After days of not working, she relished the thought.
She went through each room, trying to think of things that might keep the kids busy. After sliding another batch of cookies into the oven, she taped her secret weapon under the table and prepped a few other items guaranteed to distract toddlers. Then she sat and stared out the front window. The mountains still took her breath away.
But the view couldn’t take her mind off Mason’s embrace yesterday. After sinking into his arms and enjoying the hug way more than she should have, she’d needed to think. So she’d driven around Rendezvous to get her head straight. But instead of calming her, the anxiety had mounted until she’d finally just parked on a side street in front of an old building. It was an unimaginative rectangular structure with large windows lining the front. A for-sale-by-owner sign hung on the door, and the windows were decaled with High Tech Computer Repairs—Come In For a Quote! From the looks of it, the store had been closed for some time.
Why she’d jotted down the number on the sign, she couldn’t say. Maybe to compare costs. It would be interesting to know the price of a building here as opposed to the one she was trying to lease in California.
A building here in Rendezvous? Why was she even thinking about it?
Blame it on Mason’s strong arms. They’d distracted her, making the California studio a distant thought instead of an urgent need. And the worst part about it was if he would have lowered his head and kissed her...well, she just might have canceled every one of her plans to stay in those arms for good.
She dropped her forehead to her hands. Wanted to bang it once or twice against the window.
A relationship with him was out of the question. All these years later, and it still wouldn’t work. Because she was this close to the studio, to the dance team, to success.
He didn’t want her, anyhow. He needed someone like Mia, someone who would be a partner on the ranch. Actually, he didn’t seem to want anyone, which was fine by her.
God, don’t let me lose sight of what’s important. This—Rendezvous—isn’t my life. It’s a Christmas vacation. Nothing more.
The slamming of truck doors reached her ears, and a funny zip went down her spine at what she’d gotten herself into.
Energetic preschoolers.
Three of them.
She opened the front door as Noah bounded up the steps in his snow pants and boots. Two girls in matching pink snowsuits chattered behind him. Bringing up the rear were Mason and Ryder. Unlike the girls, they were not wearing identical outfits, but they were stunningly similar nonetheless. One gorgeous Fanning was almost too much to take. But two?
“Miss Bwittany, I got cousins!” Noah kicked off his boots the second he entered the foyer. “That’s Harper, and that’s Ivy.”
The girls stood next to each other on the rug and stared up at her through two pairs of deep blue eyes. Under their purple stocking caps, dark brown hair hung down their backs. They each had a button nose and long eyelashes. They were destined to be beauties.
“Hi, Harper and Ivy!” She plastered on her brightest smile.
“Hey, Brittany.” Ryder gave her a brotherly hug. “How’s your visit been so far?”
“Really good.” She waited for Mason to shut the door. “I can’t believe how fast it’s going, though. Christmas is, what, five days away?”
Nan came over, beaming. But her expression faltered as she studied Ryder. “Mason?”
“Over here, Nan.” Mason stepped forward. “This is the brother I told you about, Ryder.”
“There are two of you.”
“Yep, we’re twins.”
“Remember we told you a few days ago?” Brittany helped the girls remove their snow gear. Now that the doctor had told her Nan experienced some short-term memory loss, the forgetful moments didn’t seem as sinister as they had when she’d first arrived.
“Oh...” She frowned. “Yes.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Ryder shook her hand. “These are my girls, Ivy and Harper.”
“Sweet children.” Nan smiled as she studied the girls. “Hello, dears.”
“I’m here, too, Nan.” Noah strutted to Nan and gave her a hug.
She bent and kissed the top of his head. “Of course you are, Noah.”
Ryder’s twins continued to stare at Brittany.
“We’re going to have fun today,” she said to them.
“This is Harper.” Ryder put his hands on the shoulders of the girl in the red shirt. “And this is Ivy.” He gestured to the girl in green. Then he crouched in front of them. “Remember what we talked about? I’ll be back in a couple of hours with Uncle Mason. In the meantime, you mind Miss Brittany, okay?”
“Okay, Daddy!” They both threw their arms around him.
“You have my cell number if you need anything.” Mason met her eyes. His gaze was brooding, intense. “And you can always call Bill and Joanna if you have any trouble.”
“We’ll be fine.” She shooed him and Ryder out the door. “Go. Get some answers.”
Out on the porch, Mason turned back. The glint in his eyes sent a shiver over her skin. She waited for him to say something, but he must have thought better of it and continued down the steps.
Strange. She closed the door and faced the kids. They stared at her with wide-eyed expectation.
“Let’s play a game to get to know each other better.” She bounced over to the kitchen table.
“I like games.” Noah climbed onto a chair. Harper and Ivy reached for the same chair and started arguing over it. It was a good thing Brittany had dealt with young children extensively over the years. Their attention spans were notoriously short. She always had a bag of tricks up her sleeve.
“This is your special chair, Ivy.” Brittany pulled out the one on the end. Ivy gave her sister a triumphant smile as she climbed up.
“And Harper, this is your special chair.” She pulled out the one on the other end. Harper stuck her tongue out at Ivy. Then Brittany sat across from Noah. “There. Now everyone is exactly where they’re supposed to be.”
“What about Nan?” Noah asked.
“Do you want to join us, Nan?” Brittany called.
“Maybe a little later, honey.”
“What’s the game?” Noah asked. “Do we use a spinner?”
“No spinner. We use a special wand.”
“Where’s the special wand?” Harper, sitting on her knees on the chair, bounced with enthusiasm.
“It’s right here.” Brittany pulled the wand out from where she’d taped it under the table earlier. It was a pink pen with a huge—and very soft—faux fur pom-pom on the end. She leaned in with a secretive air. “Do you want to know the rules?”
Ivy blinked through big eyes and nodded.
“Whoever has the wand gets to answer a question. We take turns. And we listen until it’s our turn to speak. How does that sound?”
“Me first!” Noah reached for the wand. But Brittany held it back.
“We’re going in order. We’ll start with Harper. What is your favorite color?” She handed it to the right, and Harper clutched it with both hands.
“Pink!” Her little cheeks were rosy.
“I love pink, too.” Brittany nodded in encouragement. “Go ahead and pass it to Noah. Noah, what’s your favorite color?”
“Blue. Like the sky.”
“Ooh, nice. The sky is very blue here in the summer, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, and I like riding under it on a horse with my daddy. We go all over—up the hills and down to the creek. The sky’s real blue.”
“I want to ride a horse.” Harper’s eyes practically glowed.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Brittany said. “Okay, Ivy’s turn.”
Noah handed the wand to her. She instantly rubbed it against her chin, closing her eyes. “It’s soft, like a bunny.”
Brittany’s heart flip-flopped at the girl’s simple joy. “What’s your favorite color, Ivy?”
“Don’t you say pink.” Harper jutted her lower lip out. “No copying.”
“I wasn’t going to say pink, Harper.” Her little nose tilted up. “I like green.”
“Green is very pretty.” Brittany gestured for her to hand over the wand. She held it with both hands and looked one by one at the children. “And I like the color aqua.”
“Aqua?” Noah’s forehead creased. “What’s that?”
“It’s a very light bluish green. Like the ocean.”
“I like aqua, too.” Ivy batted her lashes.
“Me, too.” Harper bounced on the chair.
“If it’s got blue, I like it,” Noah conceded.
They continued passing the wand around and answering questions until Brittany sensed they were getting bored. She set the wand on the counter. “Should we go out to the barn and swing for a while?”
“Swing!” Noah yelled.
She ruffled his hair. “What do you say, girls? Want to check out the barn?”
“Yeah!” Harper yelled. She ran after Noah, who was halfway into his snow pants.
Ivy hung back. Brittany bent to talk to her. “You don’t have to swing if you don’t want to.”
“I never been in a barn.” Worry lines grew between her eyes.
“I think you’ll like it. Do you like kitties?”
“I love kitties.” In a flash, her expression brightened.
“Well, Nan has a bunch of fluffy cats out there. We can pet them.”
“Really? My mama says we can’t have no kitties.”
She rose and put her hand on Ivy’s shoulder. “You can borrow ours today.”
For the next hour, Brittany pushed the three children on the tire swing—they all fit on it at the same time—and let them feed, water and pet the cats to their hearts’ delight. She loved every minute of it, even the times they occasionally squabbled.
All three had distinct personalities. Noah had already cast himself in the role of protector. It was cute watching him puff out his chest. Harper wasn’t going to be outdone by a boy, and she did whatever he did and seemed to love every minute. Ivy was content to just be with them. A quieter girl, she preferred to sit with the cats while Noah and Harper chased each other through the barn, throwing straw in the air.
When they’d had their fill of fun, they trekked back to the house through the snow.
“I like snow.” Ivy bent to scoop some into her gloved hands. “We don’t get it where we live. Look at how sparkly it is.”
“I like it, too, Ivy.” Harper clomped over and kissed Ivy on the cheek. “This is fun.”
The sweet gesture pulled at Brittany’s heart. What precious little girls.
“Are we having cookies now, Miss Bwittany?” Noah reached up to hold her hand through his mittens.
“Yes, we are. And you guys get to help decorate them.”
“We do?”
“Yes.”
“Yay!” They all shrieked and jumped and, laughing, fell into the snow.
“Look, I’m making a snow angel.” Noah waved his arms and legs. The girls imitated him. They stood up and admired their work, then they were off again.
As the children ran ahead of her, Brittany’s feet refused to move. It was if an air horn blasted in her brain.
She wanted kids.
Wanted to be a mother.
She ached to have a husband, a home and children to raise.
Her cell phone rang. She fumbled to see who it was. Hopefully, Mason and Ryder weren’t worried about the kids.
The bank. Her heart jumped to her throat and her palms grew clammy.
“Hello?” She climbed the steps to the back porch and let the kids inside.
“I’m sorry I missed your call the other day, Miss Green. We’re still waiting on information before we’ll have an answer on your line of credit. I didn’t want you to think we forgot about you. Expect a call early next week.”
“Thank you.” She hung up, sliding the phone back into her pocket.
The studio beckoned. If the bank came through, she’d be able to add hardwood floors and mirrors to the rooms in the building she planned on leasing, outfit a small waiting area for the parents, hire more instructors, offer more classes and quit her extra jobs.
She’d finally have made it—she’d finally be successful.
She entered the back door.
“Can you help me get my boot off, Miss Brittany?” Ivy lay on the floor with one leg in the air.
“Of course.” She pulled off the boot and unzipped the girl’s coat. The building here in town popped into her mind, but she dismissed it. Rendezvous was tiny. It would never have enough serious dancers to put a team together.
But then again...
Rendezvous might not have the numbers for an elite dance team, but it had its own charms. Nan. Mason. Noah.
Her mother’s voice rang through her mind. Don’t throw away your dreams for a middle-of-nowhere town.
Don’t worry, Mom. She lined up the boots on the rug. It was only a fantasy.
He didn’t have a good feeling about this. Mason carried a stack of pizza boxes into his kitchen that night. Trying to be proactive about introducing his in-laws to Ryder, he’d invited Bill, Joanna and Eden over for supper, with Ryder’s blessing. But earlier, when he and Ryder had picked up the kids, his brother had invited Nan and Brittany to join them, too.
Naturally, the kids had grabbed Brittany’s hands and pleaded with her to come until, laughing, she’d agreed. Nan had seemed pleased, as well.
He couldn’t un-invite them. But having Brittany and his in-laws together was bound to be uncomfortable.
“Does anyone want pop?” He set the pizzas on the counter.
“Me, me, me!” the three kids yelled.
“I’ll handle it.” Ryder chuckled. “I’ll get them something without caffeine.”
“Good plan.”
“Is it okay if we come in?” Bill’s voice carried from the foyer.
“Come on in.” Mason pivoted and went down the hall to greet them. Joanna and Eden were taking off their coats.
Bill held up a covered casserole dish. “Joanna’s bacon cheeseburger dip.”
“How did you know I was hungry for it?” He kissed his mother-in-law’s cheek.
“It’s your favorite.” She flushed and handed him a bag of tortilla chips.
“Your appointment go okay?” Mason asked Eden.
“It was fine. No cavities.” She flashed her white teeth. “Sorry I couldn’t watch Noah and the girls for you.”
“Don’t apologize. You have a life, too.”
He didn’t miss her slight frown. Had he said something wrong?
“Why don’t you go back to the kitchen. I’ll introduce you to Ryder.” He waited until they were halfway down the hall before adding, “Nan and Brittany will be here soon.”
Bill shot him a backward glance full of suspicion. Mason busied himself hanging up the coats. He’d just keep the conversation flowing and hope for the best.
“Grandpa!” Noah ran from the living room. “I got cousins!”
“That’s what I hear, Spurs. Where are these young ladies?” Bill let Noah take him by the hand to the living room. Mason followed them.
“That’s Harper, and that’s Ivy.” He pointed to the girls, both lying on their tummies with their chins propped on their hands and their feet kicking behind them as they watched a Christmas cartoon. At the introduction, they rolled over and stood. Ivy hung back while Harper went up to Bill.
“Well, I’ll be.” Bill had his happy grandpa voice on. “You have the purdiest cousins I ever did see, Spurs.”
Both girls giggled.
“What were your names again? Curly and Joe?” He pointed to them.
“No, silly! I’m Harper.” The little girl jammed her thumb into her chest.
“I’m Ivy.” She stared up through shy eyes.
“Delighted to meet you.” He shook their hands. They giggled again.
Mason cleared his throat. “And this is Ryder.” He clapped his hand on Ryder’s shoulder.
Bill’s face went blank and Joanna blinked again and again. Eden had paled.
“I knew it was true...but seeing you together...it’s incredible.” Joanna rushed forward with arms wide-open and hugged Ryder. “You really are twins.”
“Good to meet you.” Bill had recovered and shook Ryder’s hand. “You’ve got cute kids.”
“Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, sir.”
“Oh, and this is my sister-in-law, Eden.” Mason nodded to her. “I don’t know what I’d do without her. She takes care of Noah for me while I’m working.”
“Good to meet you, Eden.” Ryder shook her hand.
“You, too.”
Noise from the front porch caught his attention. “That must be Nan. I’ll be right back.”
Mason jogged to the entrance and let them inside. After helping Nan remove her coat, he pointed her to the living room.
Brittany caught his arm. Questions swam in her blue eyes. He had the worst urge to hold her again. Instead, he stiffened.
“Are you sure you want us here?” she asked.
What was he supposed to say? No, but my brother insisted and the kids acted like you’re Mary Poppins and I didn’t want to look like the mean guy.
“Yes.” He hung Nan’s coat up. Brittany was twitching around on her feet as she nibbled her lower lip. He sighed. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
His in-laws were cordial to Brittany, but Mason didn’t miss the slight narrowing of Bill’s eyes. At least Eden made an effort to talk to her.
“Let’s eat.” Mason extended his arm to the kitchen.
Everyone got a plate of food and found a place to sit, either at the table or counter.
“You’re Joanie’s daughter, aren’t you?” Bill asked Brittany.
“I am.”
“Staying in these parts long?”
“Just until after Christmas.” She took another bite of her slice of pepperoni. “Did you know my mother well?”
“No.” He grunted. “I knew of her. She was younger than me. Flighty thing.”
“Bill!” Joanna whispered, shocked.
“What?” He acted innocent.
Mason decided it was time to change the subject. “Ryder and I met with a friend of our dad’s today, Jake Simmons.”
“His name doesn’t ring a bell,” Joanna said. “How did it go?”
“Not as well as I’d hoped. He’s a nice man, but he lost touch with our dad after high school. He didn’t have any clues to share about why we were separated.”
“He did give us a shoebox he’d kept,” Ryder said. “There were some pictures of our dad and Jake, ticket stubs from movies and concerts and a small book filled with rodeo stats they recorded every summer. Who knew John Fanning was such a bull-riding buff? Apparently he never got on one himself, though. Jake said John loved crunching numbers. Accounting is my line of work. Uncanny, isn’t it? Although, being out here makes me miss ranching.”
“You used to ranch? I took you for a city boy.” Bill shifted to face Ryder.
“Grew up on a sheep ranch in Montana. All that bare, lonely land—I never thought I’d miss it. But being around people all the time isn’t easy.”
“You can say that again.” Bill chuckled.
“I like being around people.” Brittany looked as if she couldn’t believe the words had come out of her mouth.
“Good thing you’re in California, then,” Bill said.
“Yes, it is,” she said quietly.
Mason watched her. A melancholy air had fallen over her, and, against his will, he wanted to cheer her up, the way he used to. She leaned over and whispered something to Nan. Nan nodded, and Brittany handed her a napkin.
“How long you in town, then, Ryder?” Bill asked.
“A week. We’re leaving next Saturday.”
Eden frowned. “The girls won’t see their mother for Christmas?”
“No, she’s on location.” Ryder’s face hardened.
“On location?” Joanna seemed confused.
“She’s an actress.” His face grew red.
“Oh, anyone we’d know?” Joanna asked.
“Lily Haviland.”
“You’re married to Lily Haviland?” Eden’s jaw scraped the floor. “She’s famous.”
“Don’t I know it,” he said, almost under his breath.
“Mom, she’s the one who plays Rain on Courtroom Crimes and was in that romantic comedy we saw in the theater last summer.”
“Oh, right, the striking brunette with those piercing eyes.” Joanna opened her hands, palms outward. “She’s charismatic.”
“She’s a good actress.” Ryder kept his tone neutral. “We’ve recently divorced.”
“Oh.” An awkward silence fell over the room.
“I signed the papers last month.” His shoulders slumped.
“Well, we’re glad you’re spending Christmas here, with family.” Brittany gave Ryder a sympathetic smile as she stood and threw away her paper plate.
The way she seamlessly shifted the conversation to make Ryder comfortable touched Mason’s heart. He’d forgotten how kind she could be. Or maybe over the years he’d convinced himself she had no good qualities.
He’d been wrong. She had plenty of good qualities.
“I’m done, Daddy.” Ivy held up her paper plate. It had half a slice of pizza on it.
“Can you eat two more bites, pumpkin?”
“I’m full.” She patted her tummy.
“I’m full, too.” Harper’s plate held the crust of her slice.
“Not me. I’m still hungry.” Noah got up to get another piece.
“Let me help you.” Eden scrunched her nose as she smiled at Noah. She set a small piece of pizza on his plate.
He blew her a kiss. “Thanks, Auntie Eden. I love you.”
“I love you, too. And we’re going to have fun tomorrow. It’s Christmas Fest.”
“Christmas Fest!” He turned to the twins. “We’re gonna skate and see Santa and feed reindeer and have hot cocoa and...”
“Christmas Fest?” Ryder rubbed his chin. “Sounds fun. Brittany, you should come with us.”
“Oh, no.” She gave him a tight smile. “I can’t.”
Mason knew she was lying, and although he should have been glad she declined, he couldn’t help wishing she’d said yes.
Less than a week. Just keep it together until after Christmas. Remember your promise? Mia was it for you. Period. Brittany will leave and you’ll forget about her.
But something told him she wouldn’t be so easy to forget.