Chapter 9
Liberty should tell Jesse to take a flying leap at a rolling donut. Being at the arrogant cowboy’s beck and call was the worst thing she could possibly imagine. Not only because he annoyed the hell out of her, but also because there were times that he didn’t. Times when she caught herself actually enjoying their sparring. As much as she hated to admit it, he had a quick wit and an easy charm that entertained her. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had entertained her.
Or caused her panties to feel like they’d been set aflame with just one look.
Which is why she should probably decline the bet. After two heated kisses, she had come to realize she was more than a little sexually attracted to Jesse Cates. And today had only solidified that realization.
Being this close to him had her libido doing jumping jacks. Every time he took a sip of coffee, she couldn’t help watching the way his bottom lip curved under the rim of the take-out cup. The way he sipped the hot liquid into his mouth. The way he licked away any wayward drops. All she wanted to do was jerk him to her and suck the steamy caffeinated flavor from his mouth.
If she couldn’t sit in a truck with him and not want to devour him, the chances of her winning the bet were slim to none.
But she had no choice. She had to take the bet.
After discovering Jesse was related to one of the most influential families in Texas, she realized he had more clout than she’d thought. He wasn’t just Corbin’s friend. He was a powerful friend. If Corbin was any kind of a smart businessman, he’d take whatever advice Jesse gave him. In business, keeping powerful people as friends was important.
Which was another reason Liberty was considering the bet.
The Cates were one of the wealthiest families in Texas. And wealthy families always needed a good event planner. If she could resist falling in bed with Jesse and instead just become his friend, she could not only save her family’s ranch, but she could also get new clients for Holiday Sisters Events. Clients who would recommend her and Belle to all their influential friends.
All she had to do was stay strong.
If Liberty was anything, she was strong.
She held out her hand. “Deal.”
Jesse hesitated for only a second before he took it. She had shaken a lot of men’s hands in her life. Arrogant men who held her hand too softly because they thought of her as a weak woman and insecure men who squeezed too hard to prove their strength and power. Jesse’s handshake was neither. His calloused fingers gripped hers with just enough pressure to make her feel respected, but not enough to make her feel threatened.
“Deal.” He grinned. “Now you’re not planning on running off like you did at Cooper Springs, are you?”
“I believe I swam off. And you just weren’t fast enough to catch me. Maybe you need to brush up on your chasing skills.”
His smile faded as his brown eyes turned steamy. “Maybe I do. How about I start by taking you to dinner tonight?”
The last thing she should do if she wanted to win the bet was to go on a date alone with him. She needed to make sure they were never alone.
“Sorry, but I already told my mama I’d cook dinner tonight. You’re welcome to come. In fact, let me give you my number.” She took a pen out of her purse and wrote the number on the lid of the muffin box, finishing by scrawling her name at the top.
He looked at the name she’d written. “I thought you didn’t like me calling you Libby Lou.”
“I figure the more it annoys me, the more you’ll use it. So I’m embracing it. You’ll have to come up with something else to annoy me.”
“I’m sure that won’t be hard.”
She laughed. “I’m sure it won’t be either.”
A smile spread over his face. Not a cocky one. A sincere one. Like he was looking forward to seeing just how much he could annoy her. She had to admit she was looking forward to it too. She hadn’t lied when she’d told him she was bored. But now, suddenly, she wasn’t bored at all. She had a challenge. She loved a good challenge.
She looked down at Tay-Tay sleeping in her lap. “You want to get your cat? I’d like to save some of my skin.”
“Sorry, but we made a deal. You’re taking Tay-Tay home.”
She stared at him. “That was before our bet.”
“Right. But you still offered and I’m accepting. I’ll bring all her designer cat things when I come for dinner tonight.”
“Talk about a cheater,” she grumbled as she tucked the kitten against her chest. She only cringed slightly when Tay-Tay dug her claws into her hand. “But good luck getting me into your bed with my daddy and his shotgun standing guard.”
He shrugged. “I’ve outsmarted many a shotgun-toting daddy.”
“But you won’t outsmart me.” She opened the door. But before she jumped down from the big truck, she flipped up the lid of the box and grabbed a muffin.
“Hey!” he said. “That’s my Cocoa Java Junkie.”
“Consider it part of your seduction. I love dark chocolate and coffee. I also love diamond earrings—at least one carat, Ferragamo shoes—red, and Gucci handbags—any.” She sent him a cocky grin. “Sorry, but you didn’t choose a cheap gal to seduce.” She took a big bite of the muffin as she nudged the door closed with her shoulder.
She could hear his laughter all the way to her car. Once she was behind the wheel of the SUV with Tay-Tay sitting in the passenger’s seat, her cellphone pinged with an incoming text. She set the muffin in the cup holder and reached in her purse for her phone. She didn’t recognize the number, but she knew who the text was from as soon as she read it.
What size shoe?
She smiled as she texted back. Nine and a half.
He replied almost immediately. Those are some good-sized hoofs, Libby Lou. I know what they say about men who have big feet. What do they say about women?
She rolled her eyes. Are you asking if I have a big penis?
Well, considering everyone in town has told me you have balls . . .
She laughed. Is this what you call seduction?
Is it working?
Not at all.
Then I guess it’s back to the drawing board.
She was still smiling when a loud rumbling drew her attention. She glanced in her side mirror and saw his truck backing out behind her. He leaned down and waggled his fingers.
Annoying man.
She was watching the obnoxious truck take off with flags flapping when Melba Wadley startled her by stepping up to her window.
Melba had been the sheriff’s assistant for as long as Liberty could remember. She was a stout woman with an addiction to Crocs, bright clothing, and abandoned or abused animals. She fostered those animals and found them permanent homes. Decker and Sweetie had two of Melba’s orphans. Rome and Cloe had numerous. Corbin had one.
Which was why Liberty wasn’t surprised when she rolled down the window to say hi and Tay-Tay jumped up and started meowing like crazy.
“Well, hey there, Taylor Swift.” Melba stroked the kitten’s ears—without one nip or scratch. “You’re lookin’ good, girlfriend. Love the rhinestone collar. I started getting a little concerned I’d made the wrong decision placing you with Corbin after I found out about what he’s doing. But you look as fit as a fiddle.” She glanced at Liberty. “How did you end up with her?”
“I’m just cat-sitting for a friend.”
Melba looked surprised. “Jesse said y’all were friends, but I didn’t believe him. Not when his friend is trying to take your family’s ranch.”
“It’s complicated.” That was putting it mildly, but Liberty didn’t want the entire town finding out about her bet with Jesse. She didn’t even want her family knowing. Her daddy would throw a fit. Her mama would be appalled that she’d even considered it, her sisters would try to talk her out of it, and Mimi . . . Mimi would probably think she was going to marry off another granddaughter. Which was why it was better to keep the bet to herself.
Of course, the townsfolk had always filled in the blanks the way they saw fit. Liberty was surprised how close Melba came to the truth.
“Ahh, I get it.” She winked at Liberty. “That Jesse is one hot cowboy. He turned his charming smile on me and I about melted into a puddle. And just because he’s friends with Corbin doesn’t mean he’s a bad apple too. Although he refused to take Buck Owens.” Melba’s eyes lit up. “Say, you wouldn’t be interested in a cute little pug, would you? Buck would be a perfect pet for you and Belle. I bet you two girls miss being around animals.”
It was the truth. Liberty did miss animals. It hadn’t been so bad when she and Belle could come back to the ranch and get their fix. But Daddy had to sell off all the cattle and horses to pay the loan. As the dogs and cats passed, Mama figured it was best not to replace them since she already had her hands full taking care of the ranch. It was a shame. Mimi and Mama loved cats and dogs.
As soon as Liberty untangled this mess, she intended to make sure they got as many as they wanted. Maybe she’d even buy Daddy a couple horses. He wouldn’t have enough land to raise cattle, but he could ride. And she was sure Rome would let his new father-in-law help work the Remington Ranch. Although she doubted her daddy would want to. He and Sam Remington, Rome’s father, put up with each other now that their children were married, but that didn’t mean they liked each other.
“. . . I’m telling you that Buck Owens is the sweetest thing you’d ever want to meet. Wait right here and I’ll go get him.”
Liberty pulled out of her thoughts and realized she hadn’t been paying close enough attention to what Melba was saying. If you didn’t pay attention to Melba, you ended up with a pet you didn’t want.
Liberty held up her hand. “Now hold up there, Mel. I’m sorry, but Belle and I can’t take any of your animals. Our apartment building doesn’t allow pets.”
Melba looked like Liberty had punched her in the face. “What kind of place doesn’t allow pets? And why would you and Belle want to live there?”
“Apartments close to our office are hard to find. Especially in our price range.”
Melba sighed. “I guess I just don’t understand city life. But Buck Owens isn’t why I wanted to talk to you, anyway. My granddaughter is going to turn five this Saturday and since my daughter-in-law has her hands full with my three-year-old granddaughter and my new grandson, I told her I’d pull Pip’s party together. But I don’t know the first thing about planning a little girl’s party and I was wondering if you’d help me out.”
When Liberty had started an event-planning business with Belle, no kids’ parties had been her one stipulation.
“Sorry, Mel, but kids’ birthday parties aren’t really my specialty. Belle and I only do adult events.”
“I just need a little guidance. My sons you could hand squirt guns and Popsicles and they thought it was a party. But little girls are different. They like everything organized and pretty with planned entertainment. I don’t have a clue how to entertain twelve little girls.”
“Then why did you volunteer?”
A sad look entered Melba’s eyes. “I guess I was just hoping to score some points with my granddaughter. Her other grandma is real creative—always making her cute little tutus and coming up with fun games and craft ideas for them to do together. When I invite Pip over, all she gets to do is help me take care of my foster animals.”
“Which I’m sure she loves.”
Melba smiled. “She does. She’s a chip off the old block. She says she’s going to be a veterinarian when she grows up. I don’t doubt it with the way she helps me out.” Her eyes turned hopeful. “Which is why I’d like to do something really special for her. I could pay you.”
Liberty knew Melba couldn’t afford to pay Holiday Sisters Events prices. Not that Liberty would ever take money from her . . . nor could she deny the woman help. No matter how much it hurt to be around little kids. And since her sisters were pregnant, she needed to quit being a wussy and get over her phobia.
“I’ll help you,” she said. “But not for money. After everything you’ve done for my family and this town, I’ll be happy to do a party for your granddaughter free of charge.”
Melba’s eyes widened. “Oh, I couldn’t let you do that. I’d have to give you something. You sure you don’t want Buck Owens?”
“I’m sure.” Liberty lifted her phone and opened her notes. “Now what else does your granddaughter like besides animals?”
Once she’d gotten all the information she needed from Melba, Liberty headed back to the ranch. On the way, Belle called. This was the longest they had been apart. Just hearing her voice made Liberty feel happy.
“Belly!”
“Libby!”
“I miss you,” they said at the same time, and then laughed.
“So how are things going?” Liberty asked.
Belle quickly filled Liberty in on everything that had been happening since the last time they spoke—all the events she’d just hosted and all the ones coming up on the calendar. Belle had an entire list of things she wanted Liberty to help her decide on. Decision-making was not Belle’s forte. She worried too much about making mistakes. Liberty, on the other hand, didn’t worry at all about making the wrong decision.
Her bet with Jesse being a perfect example.
“Go with the low arrangements of hydrangeas instead of the high tulips,” she said. “That way people can talk to the people seated across the table from them.”
“As always, you’re right, Libby,” Belle said. “Hydrangeas it is. Oh, and the rental price of tables and chairs has gone up again. Maybe we should think about buying our own. It would be expensive at first, but save us money in the long run.”
“I agree that it would save money, but where would we store them? Our office space is jam-packed as is with decorations and event supplies.”
“Our lease is coming up. Maybe we should start looking for a new space. One with a larger storage area.”
“That will cost money too.”
“You’re right. But it never hurts to look. Maybe we’ll stumble on a real bargain.”
“I won’t be stumbling on anything, there’s still no Wi-Fi at the ranch. I swear it’s like living in a dead zone.”
Belle laughed. “It’s always been that way. If it’s making you go crazy, I’ll be happy to come early and help sort things out there while you take over here.”
Liberty would love to take her up on the offer, but it wouldn’t be fair. All the sisters were taking a turn helping out at the ranch. Liberty couldn’t shirk her responsibility.
That, and there was the bet to consider.
“No, it’s fine. I need to stay here because there have been some new developments. Corbin knows it’s our ranch he’s foreclosing on.”
There was a long stretch of silence before Belle spoke. “So I guess the meeting with him didn’t go well.”
“He didn’t show up. He’s in Paris with his sister. He sent his friend.” She quickly filled her sister in on all the details. Then because she had never kept anything from her twin sister, she told her about the two kisses and the bet. Belle did not sound happy about any of it.
“Oh, Lib, this isn’t good.”
“It will be if I win.”
“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.