The Bull Rider's Twins by Tina Leonard Page A

care of legally,” Judah growled. “I don’t waste any energy worrying about that.”
    She blinked. “Legally?”
    â€œSure.” He shrugged. “I could have Sam draw up custodial papers tonight if I was worried about you keeping me from my children. That’s the least of my concerns.”
    â€œIt’s very nice to know that you’ve considered all your options, even as you bring me a token of your questionable affection.”
    His lips thinned. “That’s not what I meant.”
    She turned away. “It doesn’t matter, Judah. I don’t want to marry you.”
    â€œGuess I’ll have to take the good doc out and ask him what his secret is.”
    She whirled around to face him. “There isn’t a secret. We have a lot in common. I like the security of knowing that I’m marrying someone a lot like me.”
    â€œSounds boring.” Judah leaned against the counter, giving her a lazy smile. “You’re too sexy to be boring.”
    â€œSexy?” She looked at him, startled.
    â€œI think so.” He shrugged. “Does Sidney?”
    â€œI don’t…I don’t know,” Darla said, confused. “I don’t believe so. I mean, why would he?”
    Judah grinned at her, and suddenly Darla felt like a mouse in the paws of a playful lion.
    â€œI don’t know why he wouldn’t,” Judah said. “Maybe youshould ask ol’ Sid.” He pushed himself away from the counter, approaching her too quickly for her to step away, even if she’d wanted to, which she didn’t. Not really. She was kind of curious to see what new trick he had up his sleeve.
    And she wanted him to kiss her. Just once more, to see if it was as good as she remembered.
    He stopped in front of her, towering like a strong redwood tree. “I’m sure almost anyone would say that the good doctor is the better man. I know you’ll rest comfortably with your very prudent decision.”
    â€œQuit being a rat,” Darla snapped, and Judah kissed her—on the forehead.
    The jerk. She wanted his lips on hers, and she had a feeling he knew it.
    â€œI know when I’m beat.” Judah strode to the door, tipped his hat, then placed it over his heart. “Congratulations. And I’ll let ol’ Sidney know that I have stood aside, his bride having made her choice.”
    Darla stared as he flipped the closed sign to Open, and loped down the main street of Diablo. Judah Callahan was the most maddening man she’d ever met. Why she’d ever slept with him, she didn’t know.
    Passion. She’d wanted one night of passion, which she knew Judah would give her, before she did the practical thing and married Dr. Sidney Tunstall. She’d wanted a lusty bedding before her marriage of convenience shut her up in a gilded prison of diligent routine for the rest of her life.
    â€œI have no regrets,” she murmured, and then her gaze fell on the small jeweler’s box Judah had left on the wrap stand, next to the healthy snack he’d brought her.
    She glanced once at the door to make certain he wasn’t outside spying in on her, ready to tease her if she gave in to temptation. But Judah was long gone. There was a crowd on the sidewalk, so she knew that several women had runto chat with him, Judah being a female magnet like all the Callahan men.
    Darla’s hand rested on the jeweler’s box.

Chapter Five
    It was one of those days, Judah thought, as he picked himself off the ground. Some days you were the hero, and some days you were the dust between the hero’s toes.
    Today he might have been the dust under a very ordinary man’s feet. Crazy Eight had thrown him within three seconds. It hadn’t even been a decent ride. Crazy Eight hadn’t been anything spectacular. But just as he’d left the chute, Judah had seen Sidney Tunstall out of the corner of his eye, and somehow his