Ten Acres and Twins by Kaitlyn Rice Read Free Book Online

need to work out a way to keep the twins together.”
    Abby felt a rush of relief so profound that she hopped up to kiss him. It was nothing more than a hasty smack on the cheek, but as soon as she did it she realized her mistake.
    His beard scraped against her lips, making them feel soft and pouty. And he smelled incredible. Manly, like some bracing man’s soap, or like ocean air. She hadn’t experienced that sort of smell in a long, long time.
    A deep, urgent response walloped her so powerfully that she immediately closed her eyes and collapsed back into her chair. When she opened them again, she realized he was checking out her chest.
    Apparently, her kiss had affected him, too. Or perhaps he was always ready for an opportunity to check out a female body. Even Abby’s.
    She crossed her arms in front of her. “Sorry,” she said. “You caught me by surprise.”
    His crinkle-eyed gaze floated leisurely up to her face.
    â€œHey, don’t ever apologize for kissing me,” he said. Then he cleared his throat. “I just don’t know how to do it.”
    â€œUm, do what, exactly?”
    â€œKeep them together.”
    â€œOh, of course,” she said, sweeping her gaze to the precious baby girl she’d managed to forget for an instant.
    â€œI’m not ready to give up my place in Kansas City,” he explained. “It’s a phenomenal town home, near the heart of the business district. Many of my clients have offices nearby.”
    â€œAre you planning to leave Wyatt here?” she asked.
    Perhaps her hopes were coming true. If he would sell her the land, too, her dreams would be tied up with a tidy bow.
    â€œNo,” he said, dashing her hopes abruptly. “I’ll stay a year as Brian requested. If you run the orchard, the proceeds can go back into the farm. Next fall, we can talk about a fair price for the land, and a way to keep Wyatt and Rosie in contact. Things might be easier by then.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    Jack ran a hand along his whiskery jaw, staring out at the greenhouse. “I could sublet the town home….”
    Abby listened as he thought out loud. Since he was moving things in her direction on his own, she decided to let him ramble on before she butted in. Maybe he’d realize he should just leave Wyatt here with her. Forever.
    â€œâ€¦and find a place around here. You know of anyplace?”
    She thought of the land surrounding the farm. There was a cattle ranch on one side and a wheat farm on the other. She shook her head. “There’s nothing to rent out here.”
    Wyatt’s howl exploded into the room, causing Jack to jump out of his seat. “Hot damn—” he began, then glanced at Rosie. “Hot dang, what is that racket?”
    Abby clicked off the receiver. “Just the baby monitor.”
    He stared at the device. “Why is it so loud?”
    Abby was already headed for the stairs. “A bad habit,” she hollered back. “This house is so big I’m afraid I won’t hear them, so I turn it up full blast.”
    Wyatt quieted almost immediately when Abby picked him up.
    She used one of Rosie’s diapers to change him, and then carried him back downstairs, thinking all the way.
    She loved this baby. She wanted to be near him every single day and night. She’d do anything to achieve that goal.
    Anything.
    When she got back to the kitchen, she handed Wyatt to Jack, then lifted Rosie out of the bouncer and laid her belly-down on the floor. “This is when a high chair would come in handy,” she said. “Paige was thinking about getting one, but the babies only started eating solid food a few weeks ago.”
    A frown creased Jack’s forehead. “Is Wyatt hungry?”
    â€œNo, but one baby could sit in a high chair with a couple of toys while the other took a turn in the activity center.” Abby took Wyatt and deposited him in the toy’s seat.