Chapter 12
“Open up your mouth. I need to check your teeth and see if you have any tartar.”
Jesse opened his mouth wide and the little dark-haired girl in the white lab coat with Veterinarian Pippin embroidered on the pocket peeked into his mouth. Her entire face scrunched up in a serious, intent look. She’d been given the right nickname. The five-year-old was a pip.
“Yep, you have tartar, alright.” She leaned closer. “I can see it on your back tooths. And tartar can lead to heart failure.”
Jesse closed his mouth. “Really?”
Pip nodded sagely. “Especially in old dogs.”
Jesse stared at her. “Old dogs?”
“I can tell by your tooths that you are at least ten years old. Which makes you seventy in people years.”
“Hey, kid, I’m not seventy.”
Pip reached up and scratched the floppy ear that was attached to the dog costume Jesse wore. “It’s okay, boy. With a little tooth-cleaning, you’ll still have a few good years left.”
“That’s good to know,” he said dryly. “But if you think you’re cleaning my teeth, Doctor Pip, you got another think coming.”
“Of course I’m not cleaning your teeth.” She turned to the little freckled-face girl standing behind her. “My assistant, Didi, will do it.”
Didi shook her head. “My mama doesn’t like me sticking my hands in people’s germy mouths.”
“Smart mama,” Jesse said. “Now if you’re done with your examination, Doc.” He went to get up, but Pip pushed him right back down into the chair.
“Nope, I haven’t checked for worms.”
Jesse swallowed hard. “Worms?”
It wasn’t until much later that Jesse was able to escape Pip’s veterinarian chair of torture. But as soon as he did, he was bombarded with little five-year-old girls hugging his legs and pulling on his tail and pleading with “the big fuzzy dog” to give them piggyback rides. Jesse had always been a sucker for cute little girls. His sister Adeline had completely wrapped him around her little finger.
Thankfully, before his fur became too matted by sticky fingers and his back gave out, Liberty hollered.
“Birthday cake time!”
The little girls raced off, squealing with delight, while Jesse followed much more slowly. As he came around the corner of the blow-up bouncy house, he saw Liberty lighting the candles on a cake that was decorated with animal paw prints on the side and a toy stereoscope and shot syringe on top.
He should be pissed at her. She was the reason he was wearing a silly dog costume with floppy ears and a long tail he kept tripping over. Of course, it was his own fault. He shouldn’t have agreed to a bet where winner chooses the forfeit. Nor should he have gotten so distracted by the way Liberty’s wet swimming suit had ridden up one butt cheek that he didn’t care about winning the race to his truck and instead lagged behind enjoying the view.
He smiled. And damned if the view hadn’t been worth wearing a sweltering dog costume. That and the way she laughed every time she saw him in the costume. Even now, when her gaze lifted and those green eyes landed on him, she smiled so brightly it took his breath away.
Be careful, Jess.
The warning had popped into his head frequently in the last few days. Each time, he reasoned with his mind. He liked Liberty. He liked her a lot. But that’s all it was. He enjoyed being around her, but only because they were so much alike. They were both driven and competitive. They were both business minded. And they both weren’t interested in getting married and starting a family. She had told him so herself.
Which was why there was no reason Jesse needed to be careful. Neither one of them wanted to end up on a couch for family movie night. In fact, today, he’d gotten the distinct feeling Liberty didn’t like kids. She had done a great job at pulling the party together. She’d been the perfect hostess, making sure both the kids and adults were having a good time and had plenty to eat and drink. But there was a look she got in her eyes whenever she was around the little girls. A terrified look like she couldn’t get away fast enough.
“Would you mind if I took a picture of you holding my baby?”
He turned and saw a woman standing there holding a blanket-wrapped bundle.
“Hi. I’m Tammy Sue. You must be Jesse Cates, Liberty’s new beau.”
Jesse blinked. “Beau? Umm . . . well, I don’t know if I’d call myself—”
Tammy Sue cut him off before he could continue. “When I heard she was dating Corbin Whitlock’s friend, I was more than a little worried—we all know what a scoundrel he is. And I’ve known Liberty ever since she was born. I want her to get the kind of man who will do right by her. Not some lowlife drifter who is only interested in getting into her panties. But after today, I realize just what kind of man you are. My husband would never—ever—dress up in a ridiculous dog outfit for me.” Her eyes narrowed. “Even though I’ve given him three kids and the best years of my life.”
Jesse wasn’t sure what to say to that. So he just nodded, which caused his floppy ears to swing and Tammy Sue to smile.
“Just so cute.” She handed him the bundle.
Since he had babysat Adeline when she was a baby, he had no fear of holding infants. Although once he accepted the bundle, he grew a little concerned. The kid was the size of a football.
“He’s just a month old,” Tammy Sue said. “Isn’t he the sweetest nugget?”
Nugget was accurate. Jesse pinned on a smile hoping Tammy would quickly snap the picture and take her tiny son back. But as soon as she lifted her phone, bloodcurdling screams came from the bounce house.
Tammy Sue’s eyes widened. “I’ll be right back. Thomas! Heather! Mama’s comin’!”
Jesse started to give her the baby back, but then realized she couldn’t very well climb into the bounce house with a newborn. A newborn who started fussing as if he knew his mother was gone.
Jesse bounced him. “It’s okay, sport. Mama will be back in just a second.”
Unfortunately, when Mama crawled out of the bounce house it was with two toddlers who looked like they had been in fight club. The girl had scratches on her arms and the boy had a bite mark on his cheek. They were both still screaming bloody murder.
“I’m sorry,” Tammy Sue said. “Would you mind watching Douglas while I take care of these two ornery kids?” She didn’t wait for a reply as she dragged her two screaming kids toward the house.
“What in the world is going on?” Liberty came hurrying up. As soon as Jesse turned to her, she burst out laughing.
“I’m glad you’re so amused. Here. Your turn.” He handed her Douglas.
“What’s this?” She giggled. “Did one of the girls give the big ol’ fuzzy dog their doll to babysit?” Douglas released a fussy wahhh and Liberty’s smile faded. She glanced down at the baby and all color drained from her face.
Like all color.
“Liberty?” He reached out and took her arm. “Are you okay?”
She lifted her eyes to him. There was the fear again. But also a deep pain that cut right through him. “Take it . . . please.”
As soon as he took the baby from her arms, she turned and headed around the bounce house. He wanted to go after her, but Douglas started crying even louder and he figured he needed to deal with one upset person at a time. He shifted the baby to his shoulder and patted his back as he walked to the house. Once the baby was with his mama, Jesse went in search of Liberty.
He found her sitting on the ground behind the bounce house. He sat down next to her, stretching out his legs and crossing his dog paws in an attempt to get her to laugh. She didn’t.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine. I just needed a little break.”
“Yeah. I forgot how tiring kids’ birthday parties are.” He shot her a glance. “Especially when you’re the life of the party.” He shook his floppy ears and woofed.
A smile tipped the corner of her mouth. “You were. Pip wants to keep you—even though you have tartar and worms.” She glanced at him. “Exactly how did she find out you had worms?”
“She had to check out my fecal sample.” When Liberty’s eyes widened, he laughed. “It was a Tootsie Roll she dissected with a pair of kid’s scissors.” He shook his head. “All I can say is the kid is going to make a great vet. And I don’t think she’ll ever forget this party. Good job, Libby Lou.” He hesitated. “Especially when you’re scared to death of kids.”
“I’m not scared of kids.”
“Then you want to explain the terrified look you’ve had the entire party and the panic attack when I handed you Douglas?”
He thought she would deny her reactions. Instead, she spoke in a soft whisper he could barely hear. “I can’t have kids. I have endometriosis and it’s left a lot of scar tissue on my ovaries.”
Everything fell into place. She wasn’t scared of kids. She was scared that she’d never have her own. Which confused him.
“I thought you weren’t interested in having kids.”
“I thought I wasn’t. But now that it’s unlikely I can get pregnant . . .” She let the sentence drift off, but he understood. It was one thing to make that decision for yourself and another to have it taken from you.
He pulled the paws off his hands and drew her into his arms. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t know what to say. Sorry didn’t seem like enough. So he just held her. She didn’t sob or cry like most women would have. She just burrowed into the fake fur of his costume and clung to him as if he were a lifeline. Since Liberty was not a clinger, it broke his heart just as much as her tears.
After a while, he spoke. “My adoptive mama, Shirlene, couldn’t have kids. She tried for years and years and finally just gave up. Then four ornery foster kids showed up on her doorstep. I guess God had a plan for her all along. She said she just wished He had clued her in on it a little sooner so she wouldn’t have wasted all that money on fertility doctors and pregnancy tests.”
He felt more than heard Liberty’s chuckle. “Your mama sounds like a fun woman.”
“You have no idea. She believes in living life to the fullest.” He stroked her hair, loving the way it felt sliding through his fingers. “You remind me of her.”
She glanced up at him. He could lose himself in those green eyes. “I thought you said I didn’t know how to let go and just have fun.”
“You’re getting better at it.”
She was. There was a light in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. A light that drew him much more than any sexual chemistry between them. She tried to act like a tough businesswoman who could handle a sexual relationship with no strings and no attachments—a realist who knew that happily-ever-afters weren’t for everyone. But he realized now that it was all a fa?ade.
Liberty Holiday did believe in happily-ever-after. How could she not when she’d grown up in a big farmhouse with a loving family? She hadn’t lived the harsh reality Jesse had lived. She hadn’t had to install a shield for her heart to keep it safe.
Jesse could feel that shield going up right now. But before it was completely in place, he couldn’t stop himself from taking one last kiss. Her sweet lips melted beneath his and for a second—just a second—he let himself feel everything he was starting to feel for this woman. All the emotions he kept so tightly under lock and key.
Then he drew back and spoke the words that needed to be spoken. Not only to shield him from pain, but also to shield Liberty.
“You won. I’m going to convince Corbin to stop the foreclosure proceedings.”
Her eyes registered surprise before they narrowed. “Oh, you’re good, Jesse Cates. You’re extremely good. This is where you expect me to fall head over boots into bed with you.”
He glanced around. “Well, it might be risky. But if you’re willing to take the chance, darlin’, I am too.” He went to pull her back into his arms, but, as he knew she would, she slapped his hands away. “
“I wasn’t talking about here, you ingrate. The only reason you’d ever lose a bet is if you think it will ultimately get you what you want. Well, you’re out of luck this time. I’m not falling for your man-with-a-golden-heart act. But a man’s word is a man’s word. Since you already declared yourself the loser, there’s no reneging.”
He didn’t have to try to conjure up a look of disappointment. He was disappointed—disappointed in himself for not being brave enough to take a chance. He knew it wouldn’t be long before a much braver man than he came along and loved Liberty the way she deserved to be loved. With his entire heart. A heart that wasn’t damaged.
Before he could think of some witty reply, Pip appeared with her horde of friends trailing behind her. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. “There you are, Fluffy! Come on, we’re going into the bouncy house.” She grabbed his hand and tried to tug him to his feet.
He looked at Liberty for help, but she just grinned and handed him his paws. “You can’t disappoint the birthday girl, Fluffy.”
He sighed and put on his paws before he got to his feet. He held out a paw to Liberty. “If I’m going, you’re going.”
“Oh, no, I’m not getting in that thing.”
“Afraid Fluffy can out bounce you?”
Her eyes narrowed and she stood without his help. “Not in this lifetime.” She headed around the bounce house. “Come on, girls. Let’s show this dog how to bounce.”
He followed behind, but at a slower pace.
Damn, he was going to miss her.