Leaving Liberty, a Western Romance (Book 5) (Texas Hearts) by Lisa Mondello

Author:Lisa Mondello [Mondello, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: western romance, breast cancer, contemporary romance, military romance, police, texas ranger, tornado, storm, liberty, Gentry brothers, McKinnon Brothers
Published: 2014-04-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Libby looked at Jackson across from the dinner table. He’d found a set of candlesticks in the cabinet when they were setting the table and insisted they dine by candlelight. When she told him they were having Shepherd’s Pie, hardly a candlelight dinner meal, he still insisted. Libby decided maybe a little romantic atmosphere wouldn’t hurt.

“You surprised me today,” she said.

Jackson’s face glowed against the low light of the candles. His hard features would be menacing if she didn’t find him so handsome. He didn’t have the typical chiseled look of a stud from a magazine ad peddling cologne or some other product. Jackson was real. And he was here with her. Libby fought to keep from making a fool of herself by sighing or doing something equally as silly as that.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You don’t even know what it is that surprised me.”

“That you noticed anything at all about me is flattering.”

A blush burned her cheeks. She didn’t want to be here with Jackson Gentry like this. Aside from Cole, she’d never been alone in this house with another man. She wasn’t a teenage girl with her father watching over her, making sure no boys were taking liberties they shouldn’t. She was a woman.

“What?”

She hadn’t realized she’d chuckled, but seeing the quizzical look on Jackson’s face, she realized she had.

Shaking her head, she said, “I was just thinking about my father.”

She loved Jackson’s expressions. They changed so readily that she couldn’t imagine how he could ever play poker and win. You knew his emotions just by looking at him. Right now, all she saw was deep sympathy in his beautiful blue eyes.

“What were you thinking?” he asked.

“That he would have liked you.”

His eyebrows raised. “Really?”

She nodded. “My father didn’t like games. He was honest to the core. As annoying as this investigation has been for me, he would have liked your straight forward approach, making sure the job got done right. He admired that in a man.”

“That’s a nice compliment.” Jackson looked away as if he were hiding a blush and then shook his head with a smile. “Two compliments in one night. I don’t know if I can stand it.”

She laughed then. “You’ve reached your quota, Ranger Gentry.” She reached across the table and picked up her empty dish and glass. He did the same.

“I’ll get it,” she said.

“Isadore would whip me.”

She laughed. “Sounds like Isadore ran the show at your ranch.”

He shrugged. “My mother did, but Isadore was a close second. And after mom passed…”

“Your mother must have been quite a woman.”

He cornered her at the sink. “You’re quite a woman, Libby.”

She’d seen desire in him before, fleeting in between his professionalism. He’d always pull back and remain distant when talking about her father’s case. But the attraction between them was always there. And it was there now. Except this time, like in the barn, Jackson did nothing to hide it.

She watched the rise and fall of his chest as he stood beside her.

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