Leaving Liberty, a Western Romance (Book 5) (Texas Hearts) Read Online Free PDF Page B

here if you don’t recognize one when you see one.”
    “There are plenty. But every single one of them knows when to open a door for a lady and when not to tackle her.”
    Heat rose up Jackson’s face fast and hot. “Sorry about that. I was really just trying to help.”
    She blew out a quick breath and shook her head. “Forget it.”
    “Where’s your truck?”
    She pointed to one of the many trucks parked along the road. “That one’s mine. But you don’t have to carry it to my truck.”
    “Will you be quiet for the five seconds it takes us to walk down the sidewalk? It’ll take longer if you argue with me.”
    She opened her mouth, ready to fire back, but she quickly shut it again and began to walk. When they reached her truck, Libby yanked open the passenger’s side door before turning to Jackson to take the bag.
    “I’ve got it,” he said, moving in close and dropping the bag on the floor of the passenger’s side. The sweet fragrance of lavender and vanilla invaded his senses being so close to her. He pulled back and looked down at Libby. Her eyes said volumes.
    “You look like a lost little girl,” he said gently.
    “Yeah? Don’t worry. I know my way around town.”
    “I wasn’t talking about your sense of direction. Life is going to be difficult for a while.”
    “Made worse by your meddling.”
    He shrugged. “Meddling is my job. Some people call it investigating. But that doesn’t mean I enjoy it all the time. Why don’t we not talk about this and just get a bite to eat at the diner?”
    “What for?”
    “Because I hate eating alone. Because I tried Janine’s rodeo burger and it’s to die for.”
    “I’m not hungry.”
    “Of course you’re not, but you’re going to eat anyway.”
    Her lips pursed into the cutest bow as she eyed him. “I told you—”
    “When was the last time you ate a meal? I mean a real meal. Something that wasn’t just an apple or piece of toast you popped into your mouth.”
    His voice was sharper than he’d intended it to be. But he’d seen that kind of stubbornness before.
    “I’m not going to let you waste away.”
    “Who says you have to watch? You’re not responsible for me.”
    Frustration surged through him. “Have you always been this stubborn?”
    “Yes.”
    He looked at her for a few seconds and realized she wasn’t being flip. She’d answered him honestly. He chuckled, thinking about Libby as a child. She probably drove her father crazy with her stubbornness.
    She folded her arms across her chest. “I grew up on a ranch with ranch hands and an older brother who liked to boss me around. It’s called survival.”
    “Then use a little of that stubbornness to get yourself healthy.”
    Her back straightened and her arms dropped to her side. “Who told you I’m not healthy?”
    “No one has to. You look as white as a sheet and are so scrawny that you’ll probably blow away with the next gust of wind.”
    Except there was nothing scrawny about Libby Calvert. She had curves in all the right places and softness to her that made a man’s fingers itch to touch her skin.
    But he didn’t want to go there. The kind of thoughts he was having about the woman may have been giving him sleepless nights but Libby was driving herself into the ground for another reason.
    Her bottom lip quivered and she clamped down on it hard as if she didn’t want him to see. Too late.
    “Well, don’t hold back. Tell me what you really think of me.”
    Jackson felt like he’d been sucker punched by her drawn expression. She’d taken his concern the wrong way and there was no way he could correct it without her knowing his feelings or thinking he was back peddling.
    “Isadore is the housekeeper at my family ranch in Steerage Rock. She makes a mean enchilada that would put fire in your belly. I know Janine has enchiladas on her menu but I doubt they’re as good.”
    The slight tremble he’d seen in her lip had stopped and she was looking at him quizzically.