Chapter 4
Corbin was staring at her again. All through dinner, whenever Belle glanced in his direction his icy blue eyes were focused on her . . . and shooting daggers. She couldn’t blame him. She deserved his anger. Liberty might have broken their date, but Belle was the one who had made her sister’s rejection worse instead of better.
The plan had been for Belle to answer the door and tell Corbin that Liberty was sick and couldn’t go on their date. But just one look at his pressed shirt, the roses in his hand, and the vulnerable look in his eyes and her heart had broken. When he had mistaken her for Liberty, she had thought it would be less hurtful if she just pretended to be her sister. Being a na?ve teenager, she hadn’t thought her plan through.
She hadn’t planned on enjoying being with Corbin.
He turned out to be different from the other boys Belle had dated. He hadn’t been all wrapped up in sports or his looks or trying to get in her jeans. He’d been thoughtful and kind and listened intently when she spoke. He’d talked more than he had in school, about math and books and the old westerns he enjoyed. He was funny in a dry wit kind of way that took her by surprise. Time had flown by. When he’d walked her to the door and looked at her with those cobalt-blue eyes, she’d forgotten it wasn’t her he liked and had leaned in and kissed him.
And not just once.
On that warm night in May, they had stood on the porch and kissed repeatedly until she felt as weak as a newborn calf. She would have kept kissing him all night if Mama hadn’t flashed the porch light. And it was a good thing her mama had. Corbin hadn’t wanted to kiss Belle. He’d only wanted to see how far she’d go to try and convince him she was Liberty.
“He’s a handsome man . . . if not a little angry.”
Mimi’s words startled Belle out of her thoughts and she realized she was staring at Corbin. The icy disdain was still there. She pulled her gaze away and turned to her grandmother.
“Keep your voice down, Mimi.”
“He can’t hear me all the way at the other end of the table.” Mimi’s eyes twinkled. “Which doesn’t explain why he keeps staring down here at you. Did something happen in the barn?”
“Nothing, besides him letting me know in no uncertain terms that he has no intentions of giving back the ranch.”
“Then it’s a good thing we have a plan.”
Belle stared at her. “A plan? What kind of plan?” It was never good when Mimi came up with plans. Her last plan to save the ranch had been marrying off one of her granddaughters to a Remington. Which hadn’t saved the ranch at all. “I hope you don’t think one of your granddaughters is going to marry Corbin because that’s not going to happen.”
Mimi chuckled. “Of course not. But it wouldn’t hurt for you to become Corbin’s friend.”
“Is that why you, Mama, and Daddy haven’t moved out yet? You’re hoping to become Corbin’s friends so he’ll let Rome buy the ranch? Because that’s not going to work, Mimi. Corbin doesn’t want a Holiday as a friend.”
Mimi got the stubborn look on her face she always got when she was determined to see something through. “Maybe he thinks he doesn’t, but he just doesn’t realize what good friends we Holidays make.” She raised her voice. “Hey, Darla! Cut Corbin a piece of that pie you baked this mornin’.”
Corbin certainly seemed to enjoy the pie. He didn’t leave a buttery flake or cherry on his plate. Or maybe eating gave him something to do since he didn’t seem to want to participate in the conversation. He spoke when asked a direct question, but other than that he didn’t speak at all. She remembered him being quiet in high school as well. Which was why she’d been so surprised on their date. After a few awkward moments, he had opened up and become a completely different person. Belle couldn’t help wondering if that person was still inside somewhere.
Not that she would find out. She wasn’t about to do what her grandmother asked. Corbin didn’t want her as a friend, and to be honest, she didn’t want him as one either. He wasn’t the same sweet boy she remembered. He was a vengeful man she wanted no part of. As far as she was concerned, it would be best if her family just accepted they were losing the ranch and moved out. She planned to tell her sisters just that at the next Secret Sisterhood meeting.
Her thoughts about Corbin and the ranch were interrupted when Liberty and Jesse got to their feet.
“Now that we’re all finished with dessert,” Liberty said. “Jesse and I want to tell you about our surprise. But first, I need to get Noelle and Hallie on the phone.”
A few seconds later, Hallie’s voice came through the speaker of Liberty’s phone.
Loud and clear.
“Hey, Libby! I hope you’re calling to tell me that the lowdown snake Corbin Whitlock is giving us back our ranch.”
Everyone at the table cringed. Everyone but Jesse and Sunny who both threw back their heads and laughed.
“Nope,” Sunny said in between snorts of laughter. “The lowdown snake and his sister are still here.”
“Damn,” Hallie grumbled. “Thanks for the warning, Libby.”
Liberty rolled her eyes. “If you had given me a chance, I would have told you that everyone is here.” She glanced at Sunny and Corbin. “Forgive my outspoken sister. But Hallie talks smack about everyone. Including her family. And pretty soon you and Sunny are going to be part of that family.” She exchanged smiles with Jesse before she held out her hand to display the ruby ring on her finger. “Jesse and I are getting married!”
The entire room erupted with congratulations and the sound of chairs scraping back as everyone got up to offer hugs and handshakes to the happy couple.
Everyone but Belle.
She couldn’t move. She was too stunned.
Married? Liberty was getting married? Belle felt like she was going to pass out. Or throw up. And not wanting to do either in front of everyone, she got to her feet and quietly slipped out the back door.
The storm had moved through, all that remained of it was a smattering of dark clouds on the eastern horizon. On the western, a brilliant sunset stretched its reddish-orange rays across the sky. Belle leaned back against the side of the house and took deep gulping breaths.
This wasn’t right. Not right at all. Liberty had never wanted to get married. She wanted to run a successful business and make loads of money and grow old in a Galveston beach house. With Belle. Not Jesse.
The door opened and Liberty stepped out.
Belle had always gone along with every plan her sister had ever come up with, but she couldn’t go along with this one. “What are you thinking, Libby?”
Liberty shrugged as she joined Belle. “Believe me, I’m just as surprised as you are. I never thought I’d be one of those sappy women to fall head over heels for a man.” A dreamy look spread over her face. “But I love him, Belly. I love him so much it hurts. When he got down on one knee last Saturday, this overwhelming joy at just the thought of spending the rest of my life with him hit me and I couldn’t say no . . . I didn’t want to say no.”
Belle stared at her sister. “Last Saturday? You’ve known for over a week and you didn’t say a word?”
“I thought it would be better to tell you in person.”
“You could’ve come to Houston. It’s not that far away.”
“There’s a lot going on with the renovations at the bed-and-breakfast. Jesse needed to be here.”
“And you couldn’t come without him? What happened to my sister who claimed she would never become one of those women who couldn’t do anything without a man?”
Liberty smiled sheepishly. “I fell in love. And just to be clear, I can do things without Jesse. I came to help you pack up our business, didn’t I? It’s just that being apart from Jesse for too long is like missing half of my heart.”
Belle felt like she’d been punched hard in the stomach and couldn’t catch her breath. It was Liberty and Belle who were two halves of a whole. The ones who couldn’t be apart. Their names said it all. Liberty Belle. Liberty Jesse didn’t even go together. They hadn’t shared a womb. The same crib. The same bottles and pacifiers. They weren’t sisters who could finish each other’s sentences. Or a team that complemented each other perfectly.
Whether it was the decorations for the homecoming dance or the Halloween costumes they wore for trick-or-treating, everything they did together turned out spectacular. Liberty was the vivacious decision maker and Belle was the soft-spoken worker bee. Liberty sketched out the plan and Belle brought it to life. Liberty saw the big picture and Belle took care of all the little details to make that picture a reality.
Which was why Holiday Sisters Events was so successful.
Liberty and Belle were the dream team.
Jesse didn’t complement Liberty. They were too much alike. According to what she’d learned about him from family members, he was as much of a leader as her sister. There was no way he and Liberty could ever work as a team. Leaders needed followers.
What kind of a spell had Jesse placed on her sister? Liberty had never based any of her decisions on a man. In fact, she had barely dated after college. Her entire focus had been on making their business a success. Now her entire focus was on Jesse. In the last week, she had barely mentioned their upcoming events when she’d called. All she’d talked about was Jesse and his ridiculous idea to turn a house of ill repute into a bed-and-breakfast.
“I know you’re upset, Belly,” Liberty said.
That was the thing about being a twin. You couldn’t hide anything from your sister. Or at least Belle couldn’t hide anything from Liberty. Obviously, Liberty had been hiding a lot from her. Belle had thought Jesse was just a spring fling. Someone Liberty would get over. She had never thought her sister would marry him. She had never thought he would become Liberty’s other half.
Liberty pulled her into her arms. “I’m sorry, Belly. You’re right. I should have come to Houston and told you in person. I guess I’ve just been feeling as broadsided by everything as you do. My plans never included falling in love. But I promise you that Jesse is not going to come between us.” But that was a lie. Jesse had already come between them. As if reading her thoughts, Liberty continued. “I swear, Belly. Just because I’m getting married in July that’s not going to change what we have.”
Belle drew back. “July? This July?”
Liberty sent her a sheepish look. “Jesse doesn’t want to wait and we’ve always planned on getting married on the Fourth of July.”
“We planned it. You and I planned to get married in a double ceremony on the Fourth of July.”
“I know, Belly. But you’re not getting married.”
Belle’s temper flared. “You shouldn’t be either! I’ve gone along with every idea you have ever come up, Libby. Even the bad ones like stealing Daddy’s truck when we were only fourteen and tearing up the Remingtons’ alfalfa field. And sneaking into the boys’ locker room and painting Girls Rule in lipstick on their mirrors. But I’m not going along with this one. I won’t stand by and let you make a mistake that could ruin your life forever. I won’t do it, Libby. I know you think you love Jesse, but no one can love a man they barely know. I get that Sweetie and Cloe married quickly, but they have known Decker and Rome for most of their lives. You’ve only known Jesse a few months.”
Liberty smiled softly. “It doesn’t feel that way. It feels like I’ve known him forever.” She hesitated. “You might not think I should marry Jesse, Belly, but I’m doing it.”
Belle knew if she opened her mouth bad things would come out. As angry as she was, she didn’t want to sling hurtful words that would put an even bigger chasm between her and her twin. She also knew her sister well enough to know that no matter what she said it wouldn’t change Liberty’s mind. In fact, like Mimi, the more you argued with Liberty, the more she dug her feet in. For now, it was best if Belle went along with her until she could come up with a plan. And she would. She wasn’t about to let her sister get married to a man she barely knew.
“Then I guess there’s nothing to say but congratulations.”
Liberty hugged her close. “Thank you, Belly. I know you’re going to need some time to get used to the idea, but I know you’re going to love Jesse when you get to know him.” She drew back. “Now let’s go inside. Mimi popped open a bottle of her elderberry wine.”
Belle shook her head. “I just need a minute.”
“Belly—”
“No, really, I’m fine.”
Liberty studied her for a moment before she nodded. “Okay.”
After she was gone, Belle stood there watching the sun sink beneath the horizon and trying to come to grips with how quickly everything had changed. She had never been the type of person who liked change and now her entire life was spinning out of control and she couldn’t seem to stop it.
“I take it you’re not real happy about your sister and my brother’s upcoming nuptials.”
She startled and turned to see Corbin leaning against the corner of the house. He held out the glass in his hand. “I have strict orders from Mimi to deliver this. She thinks you might need it.”
Since she could use a stiff drink, Belle took the glass and guzzled the wine like water. The strong, sweet elderberry wine slid easily down her throat and warmed her belly.
“Careful,” Corbin said. “I’ve only had two glasses of your grandma’s wine and I’m feeling like I drank half a bottle of tequila.”
“I’m used to it. I grew up on elderberry wine.” She set the empty glass on the back door stoop.
“You were allowed to drink wine as kids?”
“I wouldn’t say allowed.”
He laughed. Since it was the first time she’d seen him laugh since their date, she figured he must be tipsy. Just not tipsy enough to let her get away with not answering his question.
“So why aren’t you happy about Jesse and Liberty getting married?”
It was one thing to tell her sister about how she felt. It was another to tell Jesse’s brother—and the man foreclosing on the ranch. She pinned on a smile. “I’m happy. I just couldn’t sit anymore. I’m still sore from the fall.”
He wore a cowboy hat so she couldn’t see his eyes, but she could feel them. “You’re a horrible liar. You looked like you wanted to throw up when Liberty gave us the news.” He studied the sunset. “And I’m not real happy about your sister marrying my brother either. But I don’t think we have anything to worry about. I give them a few weeks at the most.”
“And what makes you think that?”
“They’re both too bossy and opinionated to live together without killing each other.”
Since it was an accurate description of her sister, she couldn’t help laughing. He didn’t join in, but he did smile. She had forgotten how nice his smile was. He had smiled a lot on their date.
“When did you realize I wasn’t Liberty?” she asked.
His smile faded. “Not soon enough. If I had been paying closer attention instead of walking around with my head in the clouds because I’d gotten a date with Liberty Holiday, I would have figured it out much sooner.”
She stared at him. “How?”
He stepped closer, and she couldn’t help taking a step back. His eyes matched the color of the dusky sky behind him as he reached out and brushed a finger over the bridge of her nose.
“You have freckles.”
His touch caused heat to spiral through her and her voice didn’t sound like her own when she spoke. “Liberty has freckles.”
He studied her nose as if counting them. “Not as many as you do.” His gaze lifted. “And then there’s this.” He touched the corner of her left eyebrow. Again a wave of heat rolled through her. Damn Mimi and her strong winemaking. “Where did you get this tiny scar?”
“I fell and hit my head on the corner of the coffee table when I was three.”
“You seem to fall a lot.” Before she could argue the point, he squinted, emphasizing his long dark lashes. “And your eyes are two different colors.”
She blinked. “They are not?”
“They are too.” He leaned closer. So close she could see her reflection in the deep blue of his eyes and feel his warm breath brush her cheeks. It smelled like sweet cherry pie and potent elderberry wine. The mixture was intoxicating. “The right one is definitely a slightly darker shade of Kelly green.”
“That’s not possible. I would know if my eyes were different shades.”
“So I guess you don’t know about the bow of your lips either.” His gaze lowered to her mouth and heat didn’t just roll through her. It settled low in her body, causing the spot between her legs to simmer like the thick gravy of Mama’s chicken and dumplings. Her words came out stuttered, breathy, and low.
“W-W-What’s wrong with the bow of my lips?”
“It’s uneven.” The pad of his finger touched the corner of her mouth and lightly traced its way up her top lip. “Yep.” This time, his voice was low and breathy. “Definitely uneven.” His finger didn’t stop. When it reached the opposite corner, it turned and slowly swept over her bottom lip, pressing just enough that it entered her mouth and brushed the edge of her lower teeth.
Her heart seemed to stop as her breath sucked in.
They stood like that for what felt like forever. His cherry/elderberry breath warming her face. His cobalt-blue eyes taking up her entire view. And his pressing finger touching more than just her lip.
Then suddenly as if a switch had been flipped, Corbin’s hand dropped and he stepped away. “We better get back inside.”
She wasn’t ready to go back inside . . . especially when she felt like a puddle of melted butter. But she wasn’t about to say that when Corbin looked so unaffected. As she moved toward the back door, she realized Corbin had succeeded in one thing.
He’d taken her mind off Liberty getting married.