Chapter 7
“So let me get this straight. This Jesse Cates said that Corbin knows it’s our family’s ranch he’s foreclosing on?” Sweetie added another packet of sugar to her coffee. She appeared to have a sweet tooth this morning. She’d ordered two lemon poppy seed muffins and had already inhaled one.
Liberty was meeting Sweetie and Cloe that morning at the Nothin’ But Muffins café for breakfast. Since it was a glorious spring morning, they had decided to sit at one of the outside picnic tables. That, and they didn’t want people listening in on their conversation. Not that the townsfolk didn’t already know all about the Holiday Ranch’s troubles. Gossip had always spread like wildfire in Wilder. Since most of the folks inside the café were staring out the window at them, she figured they were hoping to read lips and get some more.
Liberty shot them an annoyed look before she returned her attention to the conversation. “That’s what Jesse said. But I don’t trust the man as far as I can throw him. So I’m not going to believe Corbin doesn’t know it’s the Holiday Ranch he’s foreclosing on until I talk to him myself.”
“When does he get back?” Sweetie peeled back the wrapper of her second muffin and took a big bite. Obviously, being a newlywed made you hungry. Cloe was on her second muffin too. Although she was eating for two so it was understandable. Liberty had only ordered black coffee. She’d had another sleepless night . . . this time because of an annoying rodeo cowboy.
“Jesse isn’t sure when Corbin will get back. Which is suspicious. If he and Corbin are friends, why wouldn’t he know?”
“But why would he lie about that?” Cloe asked.
“Why would Corbin ask Jesse to do his dirty work? That doesn’t make any sense either. A rodeo roper knows nothing about the loan business—although he claims he does.”
“Did you Google him?” Sweetie asked.
“Of course. And all I found was his rodeo stats. Mediocre stats at best. And you should see his old truck.” She rolled her eyes. “A bigger, mud-splattered redneck-mobile I’ve never seen in my life. And his sweat-stained, crumpled cowboy hat is just as bad. The thing has to be twenty years old if it’s a day.”
“So you’re judging a man by his truck and hat?” Cloe sent her a disappointed look.
“It’s not just his truck and hat. It’s his attitude. He’s this smug, cocky jerk who struts around like his crap don’t stink.” When Sweetie exchanged knowing looks with Cloe, Liberty glanced between her sisters. “What?”
Sweetie shrugged. “It just seems like you’re rather taken with this Jesse.”
“Taken? I’m certainly not taken with Jesse Cates.”
“Then why were you kissing him in the barn?”
Liberty huffed. “Mimi! I should have known she couldn’t keep a secret.” She glanced at the people looking out the window. “I’d be surprised if the entire town doesn’t know by now.”
“Mimi wouldn’t tell the town about that,” Cloe said. “Just family. And I don’t know why you’d want to keep that a secret from us? We’re your sisters, Libby. You can tell us anything.”
Sweetie polished off the muffin and sucked the lemon icing off her fingers. “Clo’s right. The Holiday Secret Sisterhood took a vow a long time ago to never keep secrets from each other. So do you want to tell us what’s really going on between you and Jesse?”
“Nothing is going on between us . . . except two random kisses.”
Sweetie’s eyebrows lifted. “Two?”
“We sort of kissed on the porch when he was leaving.”
“That doesn’t sound like nothing,” Cloe said. “Or random. One kiss can be random, but two?”
“Okay, so we’re physically attracted to each other. But it’s not going anywhere. Not only because he’s friends with the man who is trying to foreclose on our family’s ranch, but also because I’m too busy running a business to get into a relationship right now. As soon as I talk to Corbin and figure out what’s going on, I intend to get back to that business.”
“And Jesse didn’t have any information on why Corbin is foreclosing?”
She shook her head. “He acted like he didn’t. Which makes Mimi think that if we suck up to him, he just might convince Corbin to stop the foreclosure proceedings. But I’m not about to pretend to like the man when I don’t.”
“You liked him enough to kiss him,” Sweetie pointed out with a smug grin.
“I’ve kissed a lot of boys I didn’t particularly like. It’s called letting your hormones get the best of you. Believe me, it won’t happen again.”
“It shouldn’t,” Cloe said. “If Jesse is friends with Corbin, you and him getting involved isn’t a good idea. It already sounds like you’ve gotten off on the wrong foot with him. I agree with Mimi. He could be the answer to all our problems.” She hesitated. “Which is why I think it would be better if you went back to Houston and let Sweetie or me deal with him.”
Liberty should have taken her sister up on the offer without hesitation and thanked her lucky stars that she could get back to Houston. But there was one problem: it wasn’t in her nature to quit. When she set a task or a goal for herself, she achieved it. And she had set the goal of making sure her parents and grandma got to keep their home and Rome and Cloe could buy the ranch so it stayed in the family.
She intended to achieve that goal.
“I’m staying,” she said. “Not only is it my turn to be here and help Mama, Daddy, and Mimi, but I was high school friends with Corbin. If he’s going to listen to anyone in the family, it’s going to be me. Not to mention that you shouldn’t have the added stress when you’re pregnant, Cloe.”
“She does have a point,” Sweetie said. “Stress isn’t good for expecting women. I’ve been reading up on it.” Both Cloe and Liberty stared at her with surprise and she blushed as she rested a hand on her stomach. “I’m pregnant.”
There was a pang of pain and just a twinge of jealousy before Liberty jumped up from her side of the picnic table to join Cloe in hugging Sweetie.
“That’s awesome news, Sweetie!”
“Our babies will be born only months apart,” Cloe said.
“I know,” Sweetie said. “They can be best friends.”
Liberty loved the thought of her nieces or nephews being close friends. “I’m so happy for y’all. Now Belle and I can plan a double baby show—”
She cut off when Fiona Stokes stepped out of the café. The older woman was decked out like always in an expensive suit, hose, heels, and her ratty mink stole.
Liberty couldn’t help but smile. She’d always admired Mrs. Stokes’s style. Not just her clothes, but also the way she thumbed her nose at society. She was a woman who did what she wanted and made no apologies for it. Whether it was her smoking habit, how she spent her loads of money, or the way she went through men like a raccoon went through trash, Mrs. Stokes was her own woman.
Not to mention that she didn’t have children and seemed quite happy.
“With the way your sisters are hugging on you,” Mrs. Stokes said. “And the way you’ve been ordering two Sour Lemon Poppy muffins instead of your usual one, I’m guessing you’re eating for two, Sweetheart Mae. I figured it would only be a matter of time before our virile sheriff got you in the mama way. How’s Decker takin’ the news?”
Sweetie’s smile was filled with love. “He’s over the moon just like I am.”
Mrs. Stokes nodded. “That’s how it should be.” Her gaze narrowed on Liberty. “If we’re going by birth order, that means you’re next.”
Again there was the pang of pain, but Liberty ignored it. “No babies for me . . . or over-the-moon daddies.”
“That’s what we all think until we get bitten by the love bug.” From what Liberty knew, Mrs. Stokes had been bitten quite a lot. “I figure you’re about due.”
Liberty might have argued some more if Mrs. Stokes hadn’t had a coughing fit. Everyone knew you didn’t talk during one of her fits. While Liberty was waiting for it to end, she heard a loud rumbling noise. The same loud rumbling noise she’d heard yesterday when she’d been helping her mama with the dinner dishes. She didn’t even have to look down the street to know what was coming.
But she looked anyway.
The truck took up one and a half lanes. The way the shiny chrome grille was made it looked like the truck was grinning as it barreled toward them with flags flapping on either side like red, white, and blue flames.
“Good Lord,” Cloe said. “What’s that?”
“The annoying redneck I was telling you about,” Liberty grumbled.
Sweetie sent her a warning look. “Remember how to catch flies, Libby.”
Liberty hated that her sister was right. She might not like Jesse, but she needed to be nice to him. Just in case he did have the ability to sway Corbin.
She plastered on a smile as the truck pulled into two spaces. The door swung open and Jesse jumped out. He was wearing his standard outfit of white T-shirt, faded jeans, and the crumpled hat. It looked like he’d formed a truce with Taylor Swift because he was holding the kitten, its furry little head peeking out between his thumb and pointer finger. Even though Liberty didn’t like the man, she had to admit the sight of the rough cowboy holding Tay-Tay caused a slight twinge in her heart.
He seemed to be lost in thought because he didn’t notice Liberty until he was almost to the door of the café. He stopped in his tracks and those soft brown eyes locked on her. She tried to hold on to her smile, but it was hard when a wave of heat washed over her like she’d just stepped outside on a hot August day.
What the hell? Now all he had to do was look at her and she melted.
Thankfully, Sweetie hadn’t lost her ability to speak. “You must be Jesse Cates.” She held out a hand. “I’m Sweetie Carson.”
Jesse pulled his gaze away from Liberty and shook Sweetie’s hand. “Nice to meet you. I’d take off my hat, but my hands are kind of full.”
“Aww, what a sweetheart.” Sweetie went to pet Tay-Tay, but the kitten hissed and she pulled her hand back.
“Sorry,” Jesse said. “She’s meaner than a rattlesnake.”
“Or maybe she just doesn’t like strangers petting her.” Cloe held out her hand. “Cloe Remington.”
He took her hand. “Pleasure.”
“So you’re the one who adopted Taylor Swift,” Mrs. Stokes said.
“Not me. I’m just cat-sitting for a friend. I didn’t plan on bringing her this morning, but she’s taken to slipping out the door whenever I open it.”
“Cats do have minds of their own. I’m Fiona Stokes, by the way.” Mrs. Stokes looked over at Liberty. “That’s Liberty Holiday.”
Jesse glanced at her. His normal cocky smile was missing. “Liberty and I have already met.”
“Is that so?”
Liberty could hear the sly curiosity in Mrs. Stokes’s voice and she tried to squelch it before the woman got the wrong idea. “We met yesterday at a business meeting.”
Jesse’s eyebrows lifted and for a second she thought he was going to mention their first meeting at Cooper Springs. Instead, he nodded. “Purely business.”
Mrs. Stokes looked between them. “I’ve had quite a few . . . business meetings myself over the years.” She returned her attention to Jesse. “Cates. You wouldn’t be related to the Cateses who own C-Corp, would you?”
Jesse hesitated before he answered. “As a matter of fact, I am.”
“Then I guess you do know business. And speaking of business, I need to get to mine.” She nodded at Sweetie and Cloe. “Congratulations, girls. It’s about time we started repopulating this town.” After adjusting her stole around her shoulders, she headed down the street.
When she was gone, Jesse looked at Cloe and Sweetie. “It was nice meeting y’all.” He gave Liberty a brief nod before he turned to the door.
She stopped him. “Sheryl Ann doesn’t allow animals in the café after Milford Riddle brought in his goat and she ate the chair cushions.”
He didn’t smile. Liberty was annoyed by how much she missed his cocky grin. “Then I guess I’ll leave Tay-Tay in the truck.” He started for his truck, but again she stopped him.
“I’ll hold her for you.”
He blinked, his eyes confused and distrusting. And she really couldn’t blame him. She’d been all vinegar and now she was all sugar. He probably thought she had lost her mind. But talking with her sisters had made her reestablish her goal. If sucking up to a redneck kept her grandmother in her beloved home, she was willing to do some sucking. Which caused her to remember sucking his bottom lip into her mouth.
Her gaze lowered to his lips. By the time she realized what she was doing and glanced up, his eyes had darkened. The heated look made her tingle all over. She knew if they were alone, she’d be pressing herself against his hard body just like Tay-Tay was. He seemed to know it too because he looked away and cleared his throat.
“That’s okay. Tay-Tay can stay in the truck. I won’t be that long.”
Maybe it was her need to succeed at her goal of saving the ranch. Or maybe it was her annoyance at being so easily brushed off. Whatever it was, Liberty couldn’t let him refuse her offer.
“Don’t be an irresponsible pet owner. It’s too hot to leave her in the truck.” She walked around the picnic table and took the kitten from him, ignoring the hard heat of his chest and the sharpness of Tay-Tay’s teeth.
Jesse didn’t say anything. All he did was give her one more confused look before he headed inside. When he was gone, Cloe patted her on the back.
“Now was that so hard?”
It was a lot harder than she’d thought. Mostly because she couldn’t seem to control her body when he was around. “He’s still one of the most annoying men I’ve ever met.”
“You didn’t seem that annoyed with him today.” Sweetie smiled knowingly. “In fact, you looked like you were about to melt into the cement like a crayon left out in the sun too long.”
Liberty scowled. “Very funny.”
“Sweetie does have a point,” Cloe said. “I think you’re a little more taken with Jesse than you let us believe. And he must know something about business if Mrs. Stokes knows who his family is.” She pulled out her cellphone and started tapping the screen. “C-Corp.” Only a few seconds later, her eyes widened. “Oh my goodness.”
“What?” Sweetie leaned over her shoulder and looked at her phone. Her eyes widened too. “Holy crap.”
“Okay,” Liberty said. “What’s going on? Does C-Corp own carnivals? Because it would make sense.” She glanced at the huge truck. “Jesse’s a carnie if ever I saw one.”
Cloe looked up from her phone and shook her head. “No, his family aren’t carnies . . . they’re billionaires.”