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A blush stained her cheeks. “I guess this is about the kiss.”

Since she hadn’t spoken softly, he glanced around before he took her arm and led her behind the gazebo. Once there, he released her and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I know what you’re doing. You’re doing to me exactly what you’ve done to the veterans and that clown. You’re trying to manipulate me with your sweet talk and your bright smiles. But I’m not a clown, Bella. I was played by you and your sister once, but I won’t be played again.”

Her eyes widened. “Me kissing you had nothing to do with me trying to manipulate you.”

He snorted. “Oh, come on. Tell that bullshit to someone else because I’m not falling for it. You played me in high school and you’re playing me now. But I’m not a horny teenage kid anymore who will let you confuse him with hot kisses.”

She blinked and he realized what he’d said.

“Not that our kiss was hot. I’ve had much hotter.” I’ve had much hotter? He mentally rolled his eyes. What the hell? She had him reverting to teenage lingo.

She studied him for a long moment before she spoke. “Well, I haven’t.”

It was his turn to blink. “What?”

“I’ve never had a kiss as hot as yours. And maybe that’s why I couldn’t help kissing you again. You might think it had to do with manipulation, but that’s just not true. I would never think that giving you a kiss would change your mind about the ranch. I know you can’t be swayed that easily. I also know you’re not interested in me and never have been. You said yourself that you never settle for second best. And I’ve always been second best to Liberty. And even if you were actually interested in me, nothing good would come of us starting something. You’re taking my family’s ranch and I’m the girl who tricked you in high school.”

Her eyes softened. “But you need to know that kissing you wasn’t a trick, Corbin. Not on the porch of my family’s farmhouse and not at the trailer. Both times, I kissed you because I wanted to.” She tugged the leash. “Come on, Gilley.”

She walked away, leaving Corbin feeling like a clown juggling a bunch of Hula-Hoops.

Chapter Twelve

I might have made another bad choice.

This thought popped into Belle’s mind as soon as she sat up in bed and saw the disaster Gilley had made of the room. The floor was littered with an empty Flamin’ Hot Cheetos bag, a water bottle that had been completely flattened, one of her high heels covered in teeth marks, a long trail of toilet paper that led all the way down the hall from the bathroom, a tube of Crest Ultra White that was leaking toothpaste from puncture holes, and a pair of her panties ripped to shreds.

Amid the mess sat Gilley with his tail thumping against the floor and Cheetos dust clinging to the fur around his mouth and a look that said, “Hey, Mom, did you see what I did?”

Belle sighed. “I guess that’s what I get for not putting you in the crate at night like Melba told me.”

As if she’d just praised him, Gilley took a flying leap onto the bed and knocked her back to the pillows, covering her face with sloppy kisses that had her giggling.

Okay, so maybe she hadn’t made such a bad choice.

Her cellphone rang and she held Gilley back so she could grab it from the nightstand. It was Mimi. Her grandmother had been checking on her at least twice a day since she’d moved into Corbin’s trailer.

“Good mornin’, Mimi.” She giggled again when Gilley licked her ear.

“You sound like you’re in a fine mood this morning. I gather you’re enjoying living at Corbin’s trailer.” Mimi paused. “I saw you two talking yesterday at the picnic.”

Belle’s face filled with heat. Why had she told Corbin she’d wanted to kiss him? She could have just let him continue to think she was manipulating him to get the ranch. But, no, she had to be honest. Of course, the upside was that he hadn’t believed her.

And why did that hurt so much?

“I guess you two are getting along better,” Mimi said.

Belle adjusted the pillows and leaned back on the headboard. “Not at all.”

“Hmm? He did look a little upset when you two were talking.” Mimi paused. “You do seem to be upsetting a lot of people lately. Have you talked with your sister?”

“Which one?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Belle Justine. You know which one. Whatever argument you and Liberty had you need to get over it and call her.”

“Why me? Why not Libby? I’m always the one who gives in first. This time, she needs to.”