Page 39 of Liberty
“Take it from me son.” He gave me a firm nod of his head. “If you get your chance, don’t let it pass you by.”
Chapter Twelve:You Can Run
Belle
Yes, I ran. I really felt like I had no choice. The way he looked at me. That warm kiss on my palm. I shivered but it had actually been from the heat climbing up along my body. I panicked. I gave it my best ‘cold lady’ act. I had lots of practice from working with attorneys and watching them in court cases. I hoped I hid it well as I got myself and him off the hook. I sayoff the hookbecause I know if we fell into a relationship, it would be a freaking disaster.
I realized that I actually cared about this guy. I did feel attracted to him and I liked him. But if I acted on all that…This whole thing would become an even bigger mess.
I couldn't fall for Liberty. I mean I hated the man, right? Or I did, yesterday. And right this minute, I was desperately clinging to the dislike I had for him just 24 hours ago. He had already gotten on my nerves and under my skin in a bad way. Now he had been busy creeping under it in a whole other way. I couldn’t allow it to happen. Today, I felt concerned for him. I felt warmth for him, I felt need. NEED! No, no. I didn’t need anyone, not in my life and not a man. Especially a man like Liberty.
Even though I ran away, I did have a place to be and a purpose to serve. The girls were supposed to have a wedding planning session today. I hoped I could still get in on it as I hurried to the main room and looked around.
I spotted Scarlet sitting at a table with a few other women. Cinnamon, Jewel and Glory. Scarlet looked so happy as she talked to the girls. Spotting me, she waved me over.
I wasn’t sure I would be any kind of help while feeling the way I did right now. But being that I was the Matron of Honor for this whole thing, I’d better get it together. I let out a breath and went over to where they were all sitting.
“Hey Sis, have a seat,” Scarlet said as she motioned to an extra chair.
I pulled out the chair and did so.
Beaming at me, she announced, “Cinnamon has sketches of my dress. Take a look,” Scarlet urged as she pushed a sketch pad over to me.
Looking down, I saw a colored sketch of one of the most beautiful gowns I think I’d ever seen. “Wow.” It was simple but so elegant too. With different layers and a modest train. The front had a heart shaped cameo-like bustier.
“Right?” Scarlet exclaimed. “It is perfect. I told her that it doesn’t need any changes.”’
“We have already started on it,” Cinnamon said. “So it will be done in the two days we have left.”
Nodding my head, I smiled. “You are going to look like a fairytale princess,” I told Scarlet.
“Who woulda thunk it?” Scarlet nodded. “After the two PrinceNot-So-CharmingsI dated.”
I smiled at her. It was true. The two men in her past had really hurt her badly. I paused to wonder why she had trusted Justice after what her first two loves had done to her. One had been abusive and jealous. The other had lied to her and fooled her. He wasn’t mean, just pathetic really. But how did she get past the fear of being hurt and fooled again? Wasn’t she scared that she might end up with another broken heart?
“Is everything okay?” Scarlet asked me.
Oops, I had just sat here staring at her while wondering how she could trust another man. I needed to get my act together. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“Is Liberty alright?” Glory asked.
“He looked okay when I left him.” I nodded. “I mean his lip was bleeding and he had a few cuts.”
“I just think it is so romantic,” Cinnamon said with a dreamy sigh in her voice.
I looked over at her to ask, “What is?”
“It’s not any of my business, but the fact that Liberty wanted to fight Talon over your honor…” Cinnamon nodded as she placed her hand on her chest. “Wow. Just wow.”
“Over my…” I blinked my eyes. “No, I mean it wasn't like…” I shook my head. Ok, maybe it was, but I didn’t want to look at it too closely. I was too busy running away.
“I heard Talon had been an ass to you,” Cinnamon explained. “Then you went to slap him. He caught your hand then Liberty came in and got mad that he was gripping your wrist.”
These women saw it like that? I paused. Liberty did say that defending me was not a dumb thing to do. So he saw it that way too.
“So were you able to save him from that stunner move Talon has?” Jewel asked me.
All of them stared at me.
