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Talk about feeling like the odd person out. When she arrived at Mrs. Fields’ Boardinghouse and found Jesse and Liberty kissing in front of the carriage house, the feeling only grew. But instead of staying in her car and giving them a few minutes of privacy, she got out and loudly slammed her door.
Jesse pulled away, but Liberty continued to cling to him like the wisteria vines that grew on the side of the carriage house.
“Hey, Belly!” Jesse sent her a big, toothy smile.
She scowled. “Only close family call me that.”
Her rudeness caused Liberty to untangle herself from Jesse in a hurry. “Belly!”
Jesse didn’t seem to be at all offended. “Now, Libby Lou, I remember when you didn’t like me using your nickname either.” He winked at Belle. “You’re right. We need to get to know each other before we start using nicknames. How about if I give you a tour of your new office? Liberty has been chomping at the bit to see it. But since it’s your office too, Belle, I made her wait until you could see it together.”
Belle didn’t want a tour from Jesse, but to decline really would be rude. Especially when Jesse was the one renting them the carriage house and at a low price. Which is why they had decided to move their business to Wilder. That, and they both wanted to be closer to their family. Belle hadn’t realized Liberty pushing to move home also had to do with Jesse moving there. If she had known, she wouldn’t have agreed.
But it was too late to do anything about it now. Their Houston office’s lease was up and so was their apartment’s. The moving van with all their furniture and office equipment would be there any day.
Although as it turned out, they wouldn’t need any of their office furniture or equipment. It looked like Jesse had not only renovated the carriage house, but also decorated the loft that would serve as their office. An expensive-looking beige leather couch and chairs were in the waiting area, along with an antique credenza that held a coffee bar. In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows was a round white oak conference table with six cowhide chairs. The rest of the loft was dedicated to two office spaces with desks, new laptops, phones, and high-tech office chairs. The room to the left of the stairs led to a bathroom and the room at the back looked like it held a printer and small kitchenette.
“Surprise!” Jesse said with his big goofy grin.
Liberty released a squeal and dove into his arms while Belle just stood there in shock. This was nothing like their office in Houston. That office had been small with very few windows, stained carpeting, and a faulty air conditioner that worked only half of the time. This loft had plenty of windows, a rustic oak plank floor, and a constant flow of cool air that dried the sweat on the back of Belle’s neck.
“So what do you think, Belle?” Jesse asked as he tucked an arm around Liberty and pulled her close.
“It’s fine. Thank you.”
“Fine?” Liberty stared at her. “This is your dream office, Jelly Belly, and you know it.”
“I don’t think I dreamed about cowhide chairs.” She knew she was being petty, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself.
Liberty sighed. “You are really starting to annoy the crap out of me, Belle Holiday.”
Usually this was the point when Belle backed down. But she was too angry and hurt to back down today.
“Well, then we’re even because you have been annoying the crap out of me for weeks. You left me doing everything for the business while you were here kicking up your heels and signing us up to do numerous events for the folks of Wilder without even asking me. And to top everything off, your boyfriend decided to decorate our office without even considering my preferences.”
Jesse cleared his throat. “I had a decorator from Austin do it and she said she can change anything you don’t like. Just say the word.”
“You won’t change a thing!” Liberty glared at Belle. “It’s perfect.”
Belle glared back. “Oh, and if it’s perfect for you, then that’s all that matters. That’s all that ever matters. If you think we should move to Houston and start an event-planning business, we move to Houston and start an event-planning business. If you think we should leave Houston and come back to Wilder, we leave everything we’ve worked so hard for and come back to Wilder. Whatever Liberty wants, Liberty gets.”
Liberty’s face turned bright red and Belle knew she had pushed the wrong button. Jesse knew it too.
“Now, honey, I’m sure your sister didn’t—” He cut off when Liberty turned on him. He held up his hands. “I’ll just let you two talk it out.”
Once he was gone, Liberty looked back at Belle. “Do you know why I always make all the decisions, Belly? Because you’re the most indecisive person I have ever met in my life. You can’t decide what line to get in at the grocery store, you can’t decide what flavor of ice cream you want at Baskin-Robbins, you can’t decide what you want off a menu at a restaurant. And if you do finally decide, you’re never happy with your choice. And it makes me so damn frustrated, I decide for you. But I would damn well love it if you could think for yourself, Belly. Then I wouldn’t have had the added pressure of making you happy all my life!”
Belle fumed. “Making me happy? Tell that lie to someone else. All you think about is yourself, Libby. I wouldn’t be standing here in this office if it wasn’t for you. Now I know why you pushed so hard for us to move here. It had nothing to do with Jesse giving us a great deal on Mrs. Fields’ carriage house. Or being centrally located. Or using the barn as a wedding venue. Or being closer to our family. It had to do with you having the hots for an ex-rodeo bum. Because that’s all it is, Libby. No one falls in love after only a few weeks!”
“You’re wrong, Belly. I am in love. But you’re right about you not being here without me.” She waved a hand around. “This is your dream, Belly. It was never mine. Do you think I wanted to be an event planner? I chose it because I knew how much you loved celebrating with people. Like Mama, you enjoy decorating for every holiday and throwing people big parties. I thought Belly would love to do that for the rest of her life. And now you’re mad at me for trying to make your dream come true—for making the choice because you’re too scared of failing to choose anything for yourself? Well, screw you, Belly! Screw you!”
Belle felt like the designer rug under her feet had just been yanked out from beneath her. Not by some unseen force, but by her own sister. With tears blurring her eyes, she headed for the stairs. She didn’t know how she made it down them. Her legs felt like they had no bones and her hands were shaking so badly she dropped her car keys as soon as she pulled them out of her purse.
Before she could pick them up off the ground, Jesse did. When she straightened, his brown eyes were filled with sympathy and compassion.
“Maybe you need to take a few minutes before you get behind the wheel, Belle.”
“So she’s convinced you that I can’t think for myself.” She jerked the keys from him. “Well, I have news for both of you. I don’t need anyone telling me what to do. I can manage just fine on my own!” She got into her car and started it before peeling out in a spray of gravel.
