Read Online Leaving Liberty, a Western Romance (Book 5) (Texas Hearts) by Lisa Mondello - Free Book Online Page A

and just allowed herself to feel. Would he know the difference in her? Would it matter? She didn’t want to think about it. Instead, Libby focused on the feel of Jackson’s arms wound tightly around her body, and the stirring she felt in her belly, as she pressed herself up against his hot skin.
    His strength and the gentleness of his hands as his fingers dug into her hair. When he finally bent his head and his mouth covered hers, it made it easy for Libby to forget the struggles she’d been facing. Oh, it would be so wonderful to stay in Jackson’s arms, she decided. Nothing could hurt her there.
    Jackson pulled away to gaze into her eyes and take a deep breath, but it only left her wanting more of him. Everything inside her screamed that this was so right.
    “I’d wondered what it would be like to taste you,” he said, looking down at her with a smile that stole her breath away.
    But before she could find the words to respond her pleasure, the sound of a truck coming down the driveway pulled their attention toward the barn door.
    She looked up at him, still shaky from their kiss. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
    “Do you think it might be Cole?”
    She shook her head, not wanting the irritation about his focus on Cole to ruin the wonderful moment they’d shared.
    “We’d better go see who it is then,” he said, brushing his fingers gently along the curve of her cheek.
    She touched her hand to her chest as she walked beside him. Outside, she had to squint her eyes to focus on the truck now parked in front of the house. She didn’t know who it belonged to, but she did recognize the emblem on the side of the truck, a telltale sign of the man’s profession. He was another Texas Ranger.
    She glanced up at Jackson and his smile told Libby he recognized the man now standing beside the truck.
    “I wasn’t expecting to see you until I got back to Austin,” Jackson said. “Libby, this is Ranger Doug Dunlap. I work with him on occasion.”
    “Some of us are chained to a desk and don’t get all the perks of working in the field,” Doug said, tipping his hat at Libby. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
    “Likewise.”
    The awkward silence let Libby know the ranger was probably here on official business. A knot formed in the pit of her stomach.
    “Your timing is lousy,” Jackson said as Doug handed him the manila folder he’d been holding.
    “I’m not sure it was what you were looking for but it’s interesting reading. I could have faxed all this to you. But then I wouldn’t have had an excuse to come out and see what was keeping you here in Liberty all this time. Now I know.”
    The knowing smile Jackson gave her made her blush.
    “Where are my manners? Would you like a glass of iced tea, Doug?” she asked. “I made a fresh pitcher before I left for my ride.”
    “That would be nice. Thank you.”
    Doug tipped his hat at Libby as she turned away. Walking to the house, she wondered why on earth a Texas Ranger would travel all the way from Austin to Liberty when a phone call would do. And she wanted to know what was in that folder Doug had just handed Jackson.
    And she wanted him to leave as quickly as he came. Her mother would be appalled by her behavior. She’d been raised better than that. But Libby couldn’t help but want to rewind the minutes back to when she was in Jackson’s arms and she felt safe.
    She kept a watchful eye out the kitchen window at the two men as they talked in the yard while she pulled clean glasses from the cabinet and put them on a tray. Then she quickly poured the iced tea.
    As she pushed the screen door open with the tray in her hand, she saw the back end of Doug’s truck as it sped down the driveway. Jackson was sitting in a chair on the porch. Libby walked over and dropped the tray on the wooden table.
    “I thought Doug wanted a drink?” she said.
    Jackson kept his eyes on the pages in the file folder.
    “Jackson?”
    “It’s interesting.”
    “What is?”
    He put