Leaving Liberty (25 page)

           
Jasmine pushed her books onto the counter and Nita took them. Daisy moved
forward to help. “Ana says she’s going to slave away with me in the library this
week. Do you have anything you need her to do?”

           
“Oh, Daisy, you take your friend and show her around. We’ll be just fine here.”
Nita scanned the books and handed them to Daisy to stamp.

           
“No way.” Ana leaned against the counter and flashed a smile. “My friend gives
up her whole summer to save the library and I’m not taking her away for a
second. We’re joining forces. We’ll be the library version of the Wonder
Twins.” She raised a fist and Daisy met it with her own, laughing.

           
“The grants are in and we’re waiting for word, so there’s not much to do there.
You’re welcome to help with the summer reading classes, Ana.” Nita scanned the
last book.

           
“Oh, that will be fun!” Ana rubbed her hands together. “But I think we should
have another of those festivals.”

           
Daisy threw her a look that clearly said ‘stop talking’ but Ana went on. “You
know, that one where you have the dunk tank and sell tickets?”

           
Nita bagged Jasmine’s books and nodded. “Like we do every year. Lane raises
about four hundred dollars all by himself. It’s a wonder people will pay so
much just to get someone soaking wet.”

           
Ana grinned and shot a glance at Daisy, who studiously ignored her. “Oh, I’d
buy a ticket. As long as Lane is still up for the job.” She waited for his
answer, but they all knew what he’d say.

           
“Tell me when and I’ll be there. Goggles and towel at the ready.” He shrugged.
“I wish a dunk tank would pay for the renovations, but it’s really just a drop
in the bucket.”

           
“A drop in the tank,” Nita corrected. She waved as Jasmine lugged her bag off
the desk and through the lobby. “There are a hundred things we need every day
to keep this library going.”

           
“Give me a list, I’m ready.” Ana snapped a salute and smiled hugely. Lane
couldn’t help liking this girl. She was full of positive energy.

           
“You can help me cold call local residents and beg for donations.” Daisy’s
voice was hopeful.

           
 “There may be limits to this friendship after all,” Ana said.

           
“There’s always dusting. The tops of the ranges collect dust so fast we should
enter them in the Guinness Book of World Records.” Nita held out the feather
duster to Lane and he took it automatically.

           
“Hey, I was in here for books,” he protested.

           
“You can browse while you dust. But start browsing down in the children’s
section, if you don’t mind.” Nita gave him a wink and turned to Ana. “We’ll
have to get you up to speed on where residents can donate. We have an account
set up at the bank. Let me get the information in case anyone is feeling in a
generous mood today.”

           
Daisy met Lane’s gaze and they grinned at each other. Marie had been the heart
of the library, but Nita was the backbone.  Daisy looked so happy, so at
home, as if this was her place in the world. He felt a warmth travel from his
chest to his gut and he quickly turned toward the office area, following Nita.
It wasn’t her home, not really. He needed to get that through his thick head.

Chapter Twenty

           
Ana peeked around the corner and whispered loudly, “Is he gone?”

           
Daisy rolled her eyes and pretended not to hear.
He
wasn’t gone.
He
was upstairs, a giant blue feather duster in one hand and a faded blue towels
in the other. Of course she knew exactly why Ana was asking but she really
didn’t want to discuss Lane. Now or later.

           
Ana crept out and poked Daisy in the ribs. “Cut it out. I know you can hear
me.”

           
“And so can everyone else, so if we must have this conversation, maybe we can
save it for later.” She gave her a look and tried to go back to organizing the
summer program sheets at the front desk.

           
“He is…” Ana clapped a hand to her heart and fanned her face with a bookmark.
“Those eyes! That jaw! That voice!”

           
“Yes, I know.” She tried not to be too irritated. Ana was always very
appreciative of handsome men, but somehow Daisy hated to be reminded of every
bit of Lane’s perfection.

           
“Why didn’t you tell me there was a resident hunka hunka? You said a local cop
named Lane owned the cabin and you two didn’t really get along but you didn’t
mention the tall, dark and
whoah
part!”

           
“Maybe I was afraid you’d buy a plane ticket and fly out to get a better look.”
Daisy knew she could tease Ana all she wanted because the girl was a real
friend, the kind that thought spending a few weeks in the middle of nowhere
sounded like a big adventure.

           
“You got that right. I would have bought tickets to Hicksville a month ago if
you’d sent me a picture.” She paused, lowering her voice. “He almost lost the
ability to speak when he saw you come in. You can’t tell me you didn’t notice.”

           
“Actually, I didn’t notice.” Not really. She’d walked in and the only thing
she’d noticed was how she loved the way that flannel shirt looked on him and
the way his ball cap made him seem so friendly and the way she’d never seen a
man look so amazing without even trying. Her heart had started pounding so hard
she couldn’t hear her own voice. That usually happened when he was a whole lot
closer. He wasn’t anywhere near her. In fact, he’d been clear across the lobby.
But one glance and she felt like someone had zapped her with a stun gun.
Annoying.

           
“Liar.” Ana leaned against the counter and narrowed her eyes. “Someone’s not
giving me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

           
 “Maybe you can’t handle the truth.”

           
“Oh, really?” Her brown eyes had gone wide. “That good, huh?”

           
She shrugged. “It’s not that important. We just agreed that there’s no reason
to hang out together when I’m leaving at the end of the summer.”

           
“Hang out? What does that mean exactly? My students say hang out and mean all
sorts of things.”

           
“You know… spend time together.” Her face was getting hot and she shuffled
papers a little more forcefully than necessary.

           
Ana said nothing while she watched Daisy’s face as it got hotter and hotter.

           
“Okay, fine.” Daisy turned and leaned forward, lowering her voice. “We shared
one little kiss and it was very unplanned and very unexpected and very… not
going to happen again.”

           
“I knew it!” Ana laughed and punched Daisy in the shoulder.

           
“Ow, what was that for?”

           
“For holding out on me. It took five seconds to see he’s a goner and you never
said a thing.”

           
“What was I supposed to say? It was random and brief and…” So wonderful it was
probably the best kiss she’d ever had in her life. She’d never felt so happy
and complete. Of course, utter confusion came right after, but the kiss itself
had been pretty great.

           
“So, what’s the problem? Was he promised at birth to some small town chick? Did
his father accept a herd of cows in exchange for his son?”

           
“Funny. Lane will never leave this place. He loves it and is perfectly and
completely content here.” Daisy couldn’t help the note of disbelief that crept
into her voice.

           
“It’s not so bad. I was expecting villagers rampaging with pitchforks. All I’ve
seen so far is a cute cop, gorgeous scenery, and a cranky teenager.”

           
“Not so bad?” She shot her glance. “You’ve only been here a day. Try living
through a weekend when everything closes Friday at three and reopens Monday at
nine. A person could starve to death in this kind of town. The café has hours
posted, but apparently it’s just a suggestion because half the time I stop by,
the place has a sticky note about someone going fishing or taking the day to
enjoy the mountains.” She sucked in a breath. “The woman who runs the bed and
breakfast also handles the pet control, but they don’t have a pound, so she
just brings all the strays back to her place. If you’d stayed there, you’d have
cats on your bed and Russell the hound dog as the alarm clock. And then there’s
the guy who runs the gas station. He’s also the person who runs the funeral
home. Sometimes his son helps out but he plays soccer on the weekends so good
luck getting any gas when there’s a game and a wake at the same time.”

           
Ana laughed. “Nothing you just said is so bad, really. It’s a small place.
People take on as many jobs as they need to.”

           
She shook her head. “It’s not all quirky folks. The mayor was elected to office
before I was born and he’ll probably die in office, controlling this little
town just the way he likes it. There are no secrets here. Everybody knows your
business. Sure, it’s nice that the cute cop is also the baseball coach, the
landlord
and
the main attraction at the library fundraiser but think
about it. What happens when things go bad? There’s no place to escape. You have
a problem with someone and they’re everywhere.”

           
“You think that’s what’s going to happen?” Ana’s voice was lower, more somber.
“You think if you two didn’t work out, you’d get blackballed?”

           
Daisy paused, considering.  She’d never looked at being with Lane as
anything more than impossible, so she’d never thought of it farther than
avoiding him at all costs. Honestly, the man he was, the way he carried himself
and protected the people of Liberty, the way he’d refused to bad-mouth his old
girlfriend… none of that sounded like a person who would act vengeful and
petty. Even contemplating for a moment the person he was made her stomach go
warm. She couldn’t imagine ever finding out she didn’t want to be with him. He
was perfect in every wa, except one.

           
“No, not exactly Lane, that’s not what I meant. Although there’s plenty of
gossip around. It’s just the place.” She sighed. “I’m going home. He’s staying
here.”

           
“Maybe one of you will change your mind.”

           
“Well, it won’t be me.” Daisy repeated the paper stacking movement and wished
she hadn’t already been over and over this scenario in her head.

           
Someone cleared his throat and Daisy whirled around, her face going hot. If
Lane had heard them discussing their potential future lives together, she would
sink through the floor. Men always complained about how women went from a
simple kiss to the prospect of wedded bliss in the blink of an eye.

           
“I apprehended an intruder.” He held up a small, threadbare teddy bear. One paw
was worn smooth and it had purple marker on the tummy, on the arm, and up the
back.

           
Daisy put out a hand. “Is it..? Could it be?”

           
Lane grinned and passed it over.

           
Ana leaned closer to take a look. “Pretty dusty. Looks like she’s been up there
awhile.”

           
“I was straightening some books and they just wouldn’t go all the way back on
the shelf. I reached down to pull out what was blocking them and there she was.
Jasmine must have set her down and she toppled behind.”

           
Nita came out of the office and peered at the bear. “That’s Jasmine’s, all
right. She took him everywhere.” Her eyes grew warm and soft. “Isn’t that the
darndest thing? Just when you think something is lost forever, you discover
it’s been right under your nose the whole time.”

           
“We should bring it to her. Didn’t Breezy say she went to Brenda’s daycare?”
Lane pulled out his keys.

           
Daisy nodded. “But  ask Breezy first. I know she’s snarky and a little
rude, but maybe she wants to give Jasmine the teddy bear.”

           
 “That’s a good idea. It may give her some big sister points and bring
those two closer together,” he said.

           
“Breezy works at Sal’s Diner. You could stop by there on your way to Brenda’s
house,” Nita said.

           
“I’m so glad you found him.” Daisy handed the teddy over, her throat getting
tight at the idea of Jasmine’s happiness.

           
“You should both go.” Ana stepped toward the summer reading papers. “I’ll work
on these while you’re gone.”

           
Daisy shot her a look. She knew exactly what Ana was doing and she didn’t like
it. Forcing them together wasn’t going to help the situation. On the other
hand, the little teddy bear brought back a lot of feelings about Bun-bun. She
would have done anything to have found her stuffed rabbit after he’d been
thrown out.