CHAPTER 33

Frankie, four months later.

 

“Before I go to work, I want to talk to you about something.”

Wilder’s words made me pause as I was feeding Claire. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes and no.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“Yes, because I have you and the girls, but no, because we don’t even have a wedding date set, and I don’t want to wait any longer to marry you.”

My heart danced, and I reached over the table and held his hand. “I don’t want to wait either. It’s just been busy with the twins and me getting back to work. We can pick a date right now.”

“Good, how about tomorrow?”

I started to laugh, but he wasn’t smiling. “You’re serious?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“I’d do it tomorrow, but we need to get a marriage license first.”

He grinned. “Then let’s do that tomorrow.”

“Okay. And tonight, after the girls go to bed, we’ll set a date.”

“Thank you, honey.”

“No, thank you for not giving up on me and—”

“That’ll never happen.”

I nodded. “I know, and I didn’t mean it like that. I’ve just been…”

“Busy raising twins, taking care of your man, and getting your business rolling again. You’re already baking cupcakes for the diner and now you’re going back to designing cakes. I love that you’re ambitious, and I love that you’re mine. I just want it official.”

“And I want to give that to you almost as much as I want it myself.”

He kissed my forehead and then stood. “You don’t want that more than me.”

“Uh, yeah, I do. I used to scribble Frankie Ryder in my journal when I was sixteen.”

He tickled Meadow and grinned. “That’s right.”

“So enough procrastinating. Marriage license tomorrow, and we’ll set a date tonight.”

“Okay, damn, you don’t gotta yell at me about it.”

I playfully slapped his arm. “Shut up and go to work so you can get back.”

“I hate leaving you.” He cupped my face. “I wish we could just stay here all day, every day.”

“Me too.”

He sighed, then kissed me again, this time on my lips. “Be back soon. Love you.”

* * *

My life was chaos. Complete and utter chaos. I didn’t know what I was thinking by going back to work, but I had my first taste test at my new shop, and it was a disaster. Wilder was supposed to be home to watch the girls so I could meet my clients, but he called and said one of their older barns was having structural issues so they had to clear all the animals out immediately.

I couldn’t keep my clients waiting, so I had no choice but to go in with the babies.

But because the girls knew I was supposed to be giving my attention to someone else, they were acting up. Normally, my babies were even-keeled and easygoing, but not when I needed them to be the most.

Which was why I had one on my hip and the other in a bouncy seat that I was rocking with my foot as I tried to balance with one leg while smiling at the bride-to-be.

“I think we’re going to go with lemon.”

I never wanted my clients to feel rushed, but I was relieved she had finally made a decision. “That’s definitely a favorite. I think your guests will love it.” Meadow started to cry, and I switched hips. “I’m so sorry,” I apologized, embarrassed at my level of unprofessionalism.

“Don’t worry about it. Life happens sometimes, right?” Her fiancé helped her stand, and she came over and pinched Meadow’s chubby little thigh. “They’re both so adorable. I’ll let you get back to being a mom.”

“I promise this won’t happen again.”

She waved her hand. “Seriously, it’s fine.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you. I’m so excited to see what you come up with.”

Normally, I’d walk them to the door, but in this case, I just waved with my free hand. As soon as they drove away, I fell onto the couch and burst into tears. I didn’t know how I was going to do this. I thought I could, but it was just too much.

I struggled enough with the twins, let alone working. Nursing was difficult, and with two babies, it proved to be impossible for me, so after only three days, I switched to bottles. Wilder supported my decision, and I was grateful for that. I already felt like enough of a failure on my own. The last thing I needed was him looking down on me.

So since I could, I reached over to the fridge and grabbed a mini bottle of champagne for myself. I drank it straight from the bottle, and after a few sips, I switched the girls so I was holding Claire, and Meadow was in the bouncer. I worked so hard to remove tension from my life, and even after finding out about Maverick being Aubrey’s dad, I had done a great job.

I made it clear to Piper that she and I would talk about it one time, and that would be it. I refused for it to be something we went back to over and over again. So I listened to her tell me her side, and when she was done, I gave her the same grace I gave my dad. I didn’t judge her, and I told her I was there for her, and she broke down in a way she never had before. Ever since then, she had actually been very pleasant. A lot of her issues were really more about that than anything else, and now that it was in the open, she was able to let go of a lot of that anger.

So things were coming together, and everything was crazy in a good way, which was what I wanted for my girls. I didn’t want them to feel my frustration, and I was worried they would, no matter how much I tried to pretend I was okay.

I had just wiped my face with a burp cloth when Wilder pulled up. I saw him through the window as he ran to the door. As soon as he stepped inside, he apologized. “If there was any way I could have gotten out of it, you know I would have.”

“It’s okay.” He came over and kissed Claire and then took her from me. “Did you get all the animals out?”

“Yes, thank God. Why are you crying?”

“I’m not.”

He dipped his chin. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I was just overwhelmed, and I don’t know if I can do this. It’s a lot.”

“You don’t have to unless you want to.”

Since I moved my business to Warrenville, I had understandably lost my assistant, so I was trying to do everything on my own. “I want to. I just don’t know if I can do it all.”

“Funny you should mention that…”

“What?”

“I’ve been talking to Dally, and I just mentioned that you were going back to work. He told me about a really good nanny that their drummer used. She doesn’t live in Texas, but her sister owns a wedding planning business so she has experience in that field.”

I tipped back the rest of the champagne. “Okay, and…”

“And he gave me her number. He said she’s awesome, and since they’re not touring right now, she’s looking for another nanny job.”

“I don’t need a full-time nanny, Wilder.”

“I know. But think about it… she could be your assistant and watch the girls while you did your thing. I just thought it might be worth a phone call.”

I picked up Meadow and started putting her in her car seat. “So you’re saying you don’t think I can do it alone?”

“No. Not at all. But honey, as much as I love you and think you’re the shit, you’re only one woman. You can’t do everything, and you shouldn’t feel bad about that. I don’t know if she’d even be willing to come down here, but I just thought it would be a good solution. If anything, you need a new assistant. I already promised you I’d work my schedule around yours and be here for the girls whenever you needed, but shit like today is inevitable. I’m just trying to offer a possible solution, so get that look off your face.”

“What look?”

“The look that says you feel like a failure.” He held my chin and tipped my head back. “You’re the absolute best mom in the world. You’re an amazing wife, a talented artist, and a brilliant pastry chef. But you only have two hands, and there are only twenty-four hours in a day.”

I glanced sideways when Meadow slapped me on the face. “I’m just frustrated.” I took a breath and saw him still watching my reaction closely. “But you’re right. I want to do it all, but it’s impossible. I’ll call her.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I need help, and I’m not too proud to admit that. I don’t want you to have to rearrange your schedule during the day because I want our nights together.”

He waggled his eyebrows. “You’ll always have my nights, baby.” Then he softly kissed my cheek and dropped his forehead to mine. “And my days, my evenings, my weekends, mornings, and high noon. You’ll always have me, Frankie. Every single part of me whenever you want me. Until the day I die.”

 

 

 

Maverick’s story is next! Click here to read book 3 in the Ryder Ranch series!

 

I was going to love her until my last breath, and she promised to do the same… but she lied.

 

Cricket McBride packed up without warning, ditching our small town and the life we were going to build together. She left me with tears in her eyes, a kiss on my cheek, and an empty heart that had done nothing but hardened over the years.

 

My life wasn’t what I thought it would be, but I’d long since accepted it for what it was. I was content with working on my family ranch and being the best father I could. And I was fine with that.

 

Or so I thought.

 

When Cricket returned, one look was all it took for me to admit I still cared, but it wasn’t until I saw the marks on her skin and the pain in her soul that I realized just how deep that love went. Because the same hands that held her tight also promised to protect her… and I never broke a promise.

 

 

 

 

If you want read Brody and Molly’s story, you can find Break by clicking here!

 

When I woke up in that hospital bed, I knew my life would never be the same. Returning home broken and unable to do my job anymore, I was lost until she came back into my world.

 

Though I tried to deny what I was feeling, she made it impossible not to fall for her… and I fell, hard and fast. The problem? I wasn’t the only one who wanted her all to himself. So not only did I have to protect her from a man intent on doing her harm but I also had to tell my brother we were in love with the same woman.