The Twin Birthright

“And if they’d wanted to stay?”

He stared back at her silently.

Reason trickled through her anger. Nothing could have made her family leave if they hadn’t wanted to—or unless they had an ulterior motive. “They’re all hoping we’ll get back together.”

“Maybe. Regardless, I want to help. Is that so bad?”

“I have help. Or rather, I did until you gave them all their marching orders.” She tamped down her anger. “Who’s watching your dog?”

His Saint Bernard, Tessie—named in honor of the scientist Tesla—was his big, lovable, constant companion.

“My neighbor’s got her. She fine. Don’t worry. Just rest.”

Sagging back, Naomi relented. She had been surprised at how much it hurt saying goodbye to Tessie when she’d packed up her things at Royce’s place. She’d cried more than a few tears into the soft fur.

So many tears. So much grief. She was weary with the hurt.

But it was for the best, because she couldn’t risk falling into a relationship with him again.

Naomi cradled her babies, upset, but not wanting to let anything spoil this first night with her girls. And Royce really had been there for her today. They had meant so much to each other once, even if for only a brief time. “I guess this was our plan, back before.”

“That it was. I spent a large part of your pregnancy expecting to be their father. It’s not so easy for me to just shut that off.”

Tears became heavy in her eyes, compromising her vision, as all the words she knew seemed wrong, inadequate. “I’m so sorry for any pain I caused you. I should have known sooner that—”

“Stop. This isn’t the time to rehash that.” He slid an arm around her, the strength and heat of him so familiar.

So missed.

She shrugged off his arm and the temptation it held for her to slide into their prior routine. “No offense. But touch me and I’ll cry. It’s the hormones. And I wish they were in my room with me and everything was...normal.”

“Understandable. How about we sit together, you put your feet up here—” he pushed a chair in front of her and lifted her legs to rest on it “—and we’ll hold the babies all night long.”

She looked up from her daughters into his deep brown eyes, finding his gaze full of emotion, of memories. Their memories. And this time there would be no escaping them or hiding from each other. Not now.

As they spent the night together, pretending to be the family they never could be.

* * *

Milla Jones pushed the flower cart down the quiet hospital corridor, careful not to wake the sleeping patients, the babies and their families.

One family in particular. Her reason for being here tonight. She’d been unable to stay away, even though she would have a legitimate reason to see them all in two weeks. Revenge required patience, and God, she’d waited for so long. Surely she could allow herself this small indulgence after all that had been taken from her. All the reasons she had not to trust anyone.

Milla wheeled past a janitor mopping up dried mud and stains from people tracking in wet snow, and stopped outside Naomi Steele’s door. The cart held four arrangements for the new mother of twins, and a cluster of pink balloons. Milla didn’t plan to make this a full-time job. It was a one-time gig with a purpose.

She hadn’t been able to resist the chance to scope out the Steeles and Mikkelsons. She’d heard about the twins’ birth and had conned a hospital volunteer into letting her deliver arrangements to the patients. Which technically wasn’t cool on so many levels, but Milla had long ago given up playing by the rules. Life had been too harsh. She’d fought hard to build a future for herself, independent of anyone.

So she refused to feel guilty for pushing the door open and peeking inside the room. The empty room. No one lay in the bed, though the sheets were rumpled. No sounds came from the bathroom and the recliner was unoccupied.

Sighing in disappointment, she unloaded the four arrangements, placing them around the room wherever there was space—two on the window ledge, one on the rolling cart and the last by the sink. Scanning the room once more, envisioning the family that should have been in here, she tied the balloons to the end of the bed.

Her time would come. She wasn’t backing down. She had two more weeks to scope out both families before she made her move.

For years, she’d hidden out in fear of her enemies. But when she’d almost died in a wildfire last summer, she’d decided the time had arrived. She had to look out for her own safety. She’d come here to uncover the truth. The reason she’d left Canada and moved to Anchorage. To find out who was responsible for the destruction of her life—the Mikkelsons or the Steeles.

Three (#ua6bbe52d-5073-538a-97e9-76ed0f99f16b)

Sprawled in the burgundy recliner, Royce reached overhead to stretch out his tense back. He kept his eyes trained in front of him, watching the steady rise and fall of Naomi’s chest as she slept. Somehow those breaths steadied his own after the adrenaline. The fragrance of flowers throughout the room covered the antiseptic scent and reminded him of her shampoo. Her dark hair pooled around her, halo-like. Peaceful.

But this peace between them was a temporary thing. He understood that all too well.

Hospital staff had told him he could sleep on the pull-out sofa, but he’d been too restless. Once he’d texted his neighbor for an update on Tessie, he’d reached for his tablet and got to work.

The room was still dark, even though morning crept closer. Alaska days were lengthening. Naomi was tough and independent, but he hadn’t thought about her handling two infant seats on an icy walkway.

Or what if she’d been trapped in that storm, alone, with the babies?

Those two tiny girls already had him wrapped around their little fingers. The breakup with Naomi had been hell, so much so he hadn’t given much thought to the twins. What it would feel like to lose them. He hadn’t realized how much he already cared about the two of them. That he was gutted at the thought of losing them.

Royce rubbed a crick at the back of his neck. He and Naomi had been up most of the night. The hours together reminded him of nights they’d spent in bed planning for the twins’ arrival, sharing dreams for the future.

None of their discussions bore any resemblance to the way things had turned out.

Neither of them was willing to leave Anna and Mary. The pediatrician wanted them observed for the night since they’d been born early and in such unusual circumstances.

Quite frankly, Royce hadn’t wanted to leave Naomi, either. Sure, her family could have stayed, but he’d seen her assert her independence with them mighty damn effectively, and hadn’t trusted she would ask for help. Or that they would see what she really needed.

So he’d stayed and kicked her family out.

And yes, he’d also chosen to stick around because the glow on her face mesmerized him. The soft, soothing sound of her voice as she spoke to her babies surpassed any song.

Finally, when Naomi couldn’t keep her head up any longer, a nurse had gently reminded her she would be no good to her children exhausted. She should rest while she could.

Royce had helped her back to her room and watched over her while she slept. The babies were in good hands. Someone needed to look out for Naomi. The best thing would be to walk away, but damn it all, he kept buying in to lame reasons to stick around.

He sure as hell wouldn’t be able to hold off her family for long. They would all be back here en masse soon enough. For now, before the sun rose, he could imagine things were different between them.

Her feet shifted under the sheet in that way he’d learned she did just before the rest of her awoke. Back in the days when they’d shared a bed, when he’d made love to her through the night. When he’d had the right to slide his arm around her and draw her to him. To bury his face in her hair and breathe in the scent of her shampoo.

Naomi stretched her arms overhead, then swept back her hair before gingerly sitting up in bed. “The girls?”

“Anna and Mary are fine. The nurse said they would be brought in after the shift change, which should be happening right now.”

“Did you sleep at all?”

“Catnaps. I’m fine.” He set his tablet aside and poured her a cup of ice water.

“Thank you.” She took it and sipped. “Catnap, huh? I bet you worked.”