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“But what if you don’t? If you’ve already kissed Jesse twice, you must be physically attracted to him.”
Liberty couldn’t deny it. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to fall into bed with him. Especially now that keeping the family home depends upon it. You know me, Belly. When it comes to a challenge, I never lose. I’m going to win the bet, get the ranch back . . . and keep the barn that’s going to be a perfect wedding venue for our business. Now enough about Jesse. Have you talked to Sweetie? It looks like we’re going to need to plan two baby showers instead of just one.”
“Sweetie’s pregnant! Oh my gosh! That’s wonderful news.” Belle hesitated. “How do you feel about it?”
She had never been able to lie to her twin. “A little jealous, but it will pass.”
“You could still be a mom, Libby. That doctor didn’t say you couldn’t get pregnant. He just said it was highly unlikely.”
“I think he was just trying to leave me with a little hope. But I’ve seen pictures of my scans and ultrasounds, Belly. I have so much scar tissue on my ovaries from endometrial cysts, they look like peach pits. Besides, getting married and having a passel of snot-nosed kids has never been my dream. I’ll be just fine being awesome Auntie Libby.”
And maybe if she kept telling herself that, she would be.
Chapter Ten
Jesse should have known Liberty would play the game well. As soon as he arrived at the Holiday Ranch, she pawned him off on Mimi.
“Why don’t you take Jesse to see your gardens, Mimi? I’m sure he would love to see all the vegetables and flowers you grow.” Liberty flashed him a smug smile. “Wouldn’t you, Jesse? Mimi is one of the best gardeners in all of Texas.”
It turned out Liberty wasn’t wrong. Mimi knew how to garden. She pointed out every flower in the front garden and told him their names and what they needed to bloom so brilliantly before she took him around back and showed off her extensive vegetable garden.
While she gave him a tour, she talked about how long the land had been in the Holiday family. He knew she was making her case so he’d talk Corbin into stopping the foreclosure proceedings.
He had tried, but he and Corbin were playing telephone tag. It was easy to do when there was a seven-hour time difference and Corbin was busy spoiling his little sister. But Jesse wasn’t worried. No matter what his reason was for wanting the ranch, Jesse knew Corbin was a deep-down good man. He wouldn’t take the Holidays’ home away from them. There had to be a misunderstanding. One Jesse would get figured out once Corbin got back.
“Liberty mentioned you’re adopted.”
Mimi’s comment pulled him from his thoughts and he returned his attention to the older woman. She wore her wide-brimmed hat, T-shirt, and jeans again. Tay-Tay was cradled in her arms. That cat loved the old woman and the feeling seemed to be mutual.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I was adopted when I was nine and happily so.”
She petted Tay-Tay. “And before that, you were in foster care?”
“I don’t know if I’d call it care.”
Mimi smiled. “I knew we had a strong bond the first time we met. I lost both my parents when I was fourteen and ended up in foster care. The family I lived with was good to me, but they didn’t want to adopt a sullen teenager. I can’t say as I blame them. I was filled with a lot of hate back then.”
Jesse understood perfectly. “I was pretty angry myself.”
She nodded. “I think anger is what kids go to when they don’t understand why bad things happen. But it looks like we found our happiness. You got good adoptive parents and I met the love of my life and he gave me this.” She looked around and smiled.
That pretty much clinched it. There was no way he could let Corbin foreclose on the ranch now.
When they got to the house, Hank and Darla were sitting on the porch swing enjoying the last rays of the sun. He could tell Hank still wasn’t thrilled he was there, but he wasn’t quite as mean looking as he’d been on Jesse’s first visit. Darla was gracious as always.
“Come join us, Jesse. It’s a lovely sunset.”
“It sure is, ma’am. Where’s Liberty?”
“She wanted to make supper by herself and shooed me out of the kitchen.” Darla’s eyes twinkled. “I think she wants to impress you.”
Or more like hide from him.
He smiled. “Well, I can’t let her go to all the trouble without a little help.”
When he walked into the kitchen, he found Liberty elbow deep in chopped vegetables. She was wearing an old-fashioned gingham apron that looked like it had been passed down from generation to generation. Why the sight of her in it made his heart trip was beyond him.
He had come in to start his seduction, but he discovered he was content to just stand in the doorway and watch her chop an onion. He didn’t realize it had made her cry until she glanced up. Seeing tears glistening in those emerald eyes totally wrecked him. Thankfully, her sassy smile kept him from rushing over and pulling her into his arms to soothe her.
