Twins Under His Tree Read Online Free PDF Page A

be bored,” she muttered.
    While he pulled the afghan from the back of the sofa and spread it over her, he asked, “Don’t you knit or something?”
    â€œCrochet,” she corrected automatically, then pointed to the tapestry bag beside the easy chair. She knew if she made a move to get it, he wouldn’t let her.
    When he stooped to pick up the bag, she noticed the play of his shoulder muscles, the length of his upper torso, his slim hips. A tingle that she relegated to post-birth pangs rippled through her belly. Looking away, she pulled the afghan up higher.
    He brought the bag to her and settled it in her lap. “What are you making?”
    After opening the Velcro closure, she extracted a pink sweater that sported one sleeve. “I didn’t know whether to make these both pink or not. You know, stereotypes and all. But then I thought, two baby girls. What could be cuter than matching pink sweaters?”
    He laughed. “I’m sure Sophie and Grace will agree.”
    She turned the sweater over in her hands and then admitted, “I was an only child. I wanted a sister desperately. Sophie and Grace will always have each other.” She looked up at him again. “Do you have brothers or sisters?” She really didn’t know anything about Mitch’s background or his childhood.
    â€œNope. No brothers or sisters.”
    â€œTroy and his sister Ellie were close,” Lily said in a low voice.
    â€œHe talked about her often,” Mitch responded, in the way he had ever since Troy had been killed. She was grateful he made it all right for her to speak about her husband and anything connected to him.
    â€œShe’s in a tough situation right now,” Lily said to Mitch. “She had a small store where she sold her own line of baby clothes. But her area of Oklahoma was hard hit by the economic downturn and she had to close the store.”
    â€œWhat’s she doing now?”
    â€œShe’s trying to take her business to the internet.”
    â€œIs she coming for a visit?”
    â€œEllie and Troy’s mom, Darlene, both want to visit after the babies come home.” She’d always gotten along well with Ellie and Darlene…with all of Troy’s family.She knew he’d moved to Texas because the construction market had been thriving around Lubbock, unlike Oklahoma. She’d often wished his family wasn’t so far away.
    An odd expression crossed Mitch’s face, one she couldn’t decipher. He said, “You’ll have a lot of people to help with the babies. That’s just what you need.”
    â€œ Is that what I need, Mitch? I’m their mom. I want to take care of them myself.”
    â€œSure you do. But twins are a lot of work. There was a kid in my neighborhood when I was growing up. His mother had twins. She was always run ragged. And when you go back to work, you’re definitely going to need child care.”
    â€œI have to go back,” she said. “Insurance money and savings will only go so far.”
    â€œYou’ll have Troy’s benefits,” Mitch reminded her.
    â€œThat money is going into a trust fund for the twins.”
    He didn’t contradict her, or try to convince her otherwise. She wanted to give her girls the advantages she’d had growing up. Yet, most of all, she wanted them to appreciate the people around them who loved them. When she’d lost her parents, she’d realized how little material possessions actually meant, and she’d grown up quickly.
    â€œDid you grow up here in Sagebrush?” she asked Mitch, curious about his childhood.
    â€œYes, I did.”
    Frustrated he wasn’t more expansive, she prompted, “But you don’t have family here.”
    â€œNo, I don’t.”
    â€œMitch,” she said, letting her frustration show.
    â€œWhat do you want to know, Lily? Just ask.”
    Studying his collar-length black hair, his chiseled