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But he hadn’t kissed her.
Instead, he had looked up into the branches of the old oak tree and challenged her to a tree-climbing contest. She had taken him up on the challenge, of course, and quickly figured out that climbing the tree had been much easier when she was a kid. But she’d done it and taunted Jesse from the high branch she sat on. He’d taken off his boots and easily scaled the tree and joined her, whereupon they had gotten into a heated verbal battle on who had done it quicker.
Even that had made her laugh.
By the time they climbed down and he walked her back to the house, with his boots dangling from one hand and the other resting on the small of her back, she hadn’t been able to stop smiling. She had even invited him to sit on the porch.
He had declined, then hopped in his obnoxious truck and left.
Without trying to kiss her once.
Her eyes narrowed on the shaft of light shining in through the opening in the curtains.
What was the man up to? If he was trying to seduce her, he was doing a piss-poor job.
The thought had her angry all over again. But this time at herself.
“What are you thinking, Liberty Holiday? You should be thankful he’s not trying to seduce you, instead of lying here wishing he had. You have a bet to win. And you damn well aren’t going to win it by kissing Jesse.”
She jumped out of bed and headed into the bathroom to shower.
Once she was dressed, she went downstairs to discover that everyone was gone. In the kitchen, she spied the note on the refrigerator from her mama, reminding her about Daddy’s heart specialist appointment in Austin and Mimi’s book club meeting in town. Mimi had even taken Tay-Tay with her.
Which meant Liberty was alone.
Being alone wasn’t something Liberty was used to. As a twin, she’d had company even in the womb. She quickly tried calling Belle. When her sister didn’t answer, she tried calling her other four sisters. Not one answered. Obviously, everyone had something to do this morning but her.
She sighed and flopped down in a kitchen chair. “So much for being ready to win a triathlon.” She tapped her phone and started looking at ideas on Pinterest for a five-year-old girl’s birthday party. She had just started making a list of things she needed when the doorbell rang.
She sprang up like a jack-in-the-box. Hopefully, it was someone from the Wi-Fi company. But when she opened the door, there was no one there. A large box sat on the doormat and a FedEx truck was heading down the road in a cloud of dust.
She picked up the box and carried it inside. She set it on the kitchen counter before looking to see who it was addressed to. Libby Lou Holiday. Besides Mimi, there was only one person who called her that.
Taking a knife from a drawer, she opened the box. Inside, she found three other boxes. She opened the first one and discovered a box of mocha chocolate muffins from some online specialty bakery. The second box had a straw cowboy hat with a feather sticking in its brim. And the box on the bottom held a pair of brand-new brown roper boots.
The ornery man hadn’t gotten her one thing she’d asked for. And yet, she ended up liking everything he’d picked out. The muffins were almost as good as Sheryl Ann’s. The cowboy hat looked adorable on. And the boots fit her to perfection with just enough give.
Of course, she couldn’t keep them. Well, maybe the muffins since she’d already eaten one. But the hat and the boots she had to return . . . after she did a little teasing. She picked up her phone and tapped the screen.
What happened to the diamonds and Ferragamos?
She only had to wait a moment for the reply.
Those requests were from Liberty Holiday, tough businesswoman. My gifts are for Libby Lou, fun-lovin’ country gal.
She laughed as she texted back. Fun-lovin’ country gals like diamonds and designer heels too.
He replied right away. But this fun-lovin’ country boy likes you in hats and boots.
Thank you, but I can’t accept them. At least not the boots and hat. I ate a muffin.
Well, that’s a shame because I got them on sale and they’re nonrefundable. I guess I’ll have to find another fun-lovin’ country gal to give them to.
She didn’t know what bothered her most: another woman getting the cute hat and comfy boots or Jesse giving them to her.
Fine. If you can’t return them, I’ll keep them. Thank you.
You’re welcome.
