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She hesitated for a moment before she spoke. “Bad decisions.”
“I’m not sure I understand. What kind of bad decisions are we talking about?”
“All the decisions I make without help are usually bad. Grocery store lines, clothing, hairstyles, ice cream flavors.”
He stared at her. “How can you make a bad decision about ice cream? I don’t think I’ve ever met an ice cream I didn’t like.”
“Have you ever tasted licorice ice cream?”
He squinted. “You actually ordered licorice ice cream?”
“I love licorice so I thought I’d like it in ice cream. It turns out some flavors are just not meant to be mixed with cream.”
“True, but you never know until you try. And that wasn’t a bad decision. It was just a test. It might have turned out to be your favorite ice cream of all time.”
She scrunched up her face. “Licorice?”
He didn’t want to find this woman cute, but damned if he couldn’t help laughing. “You’re right. The odds were against you, but it’s still not what I would call a bad decision. Now, allowing your brother to talk you into riding a wild-eyed beast is a bad decision.” Homer chose that moment to come up and nudge his shoulder. He tentatively stroked the horse’s soft forehead. When he glanced over, Belle was smiling.
“You don’t look too upset about riding that wild beast.”
He shrugged. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought. So how did you know where to find me?”
She glanced at the gnarled tree. “As kids, it was my and Liberty’s secret place that none of our other sisters knew about. We even hid a time capsule in the hollow trunk when we were thirteen. We planned to come back and take it out when we both turned thirty.” Her eyes grew sad. “But I’m sure she’s forgotten all about it now.”
After what she’d done to him, he didn’t think he’d ever feel sympathy for her, but he’d been wrong. He knew what it was like to love your sibling above all else. Sunny was the only one who was always there for him. The only one he could count on no matter what. He’d come to love Jesse, but he still didn’t love him like he loved his sister. He and Sunny were connected by more than just blood. They were connected by the things they’d lived through.
It looked like Belle and Liberty were the same.
“I’m sure she hasn’t forgotten the tree or your time capsule,” he said. “She’s just a little consumed with Jesse right now. It won’t last. Jesse’s smart. He’ll figure it out.”
Belle stared at him. “Figure what out?”
“That Liberty isn’t who he thinks she is.”
Her eyes flared with temper. He was surprised. He’d never thought of her as the fiery one. “And just what does that mean? If anyone will figure it out, it will be Liberty. From what I’ve heard, Jesse is nothing but a wandering rodeo bum who can’t stay in one place long enough to get a mailing address.”
“I wouldn’t call a multi-millionaire a rodeo bum, but you’re right about Jesse not staying in one place for very long. Which is another reason I’m convinced it won’t last.”
“So you think Jesse is just going to take off one day and leave my sister with a broken heart?”
“I think it’s as possible as your sister changing her mind and breaking Jesse’s heart.” He cocked a brow. “Something I have personal experience with. And why do you look so upset? Isn’t that what you’re hoping for? You’re hoping they’ll break up so you can have your sister all to yourself.”
Belle opened her mouth as if to argue, but then slowly closed it. Her deflated look bothered him for some reason and he found himself softening his voice. “Look, I get it. You love her and you don’t want to lose her.”
She glanced at him. “Is that why you wanted our ranch? You thought it was a way to keep Sunny close to you?”
He should have left it at that. Belle didn’t deserve his truth. But for some reason, he gave it to her anyway. “I want Sunny to have it all—a husband, a family, a happily-ever-after. Once she does, I’ll be content to fade into the background.”
Belle’s mismatched eyes seemed to drill right through him. “What about you? Don’t you want a happily-ever-after?”
He had once. Once he’d dreamed about a ranch and a wife and a passel of dark-haired daughters. But it had been a foolish dream. Now, he was anything but foolish.
“I’ve learned it’s best not to want too much. That way you’re never disappointed when you don’t get it.”
Chapter Six
“Before we get to the reason Belle called this meeting,” Cloe said. “I just want to make it clear I don’t think it’s right that Liberty’s not here.”
