by Dylann Crush
He touched his forehead to hers, his chest heaving just as hard as her own. “I second that. Wow.”
They stayed like that for a long beat, foreheads pressed together, their breaths slowing in unison.
“I’m sorry, Delilah. I didn’t mean to take advantage.”
She put her palms on his chest and gave a slight push. “Take advantage? Is that what you think you’re doing here?”
He shook his head. “We haven’t had a chance to talk about the other night yet. I don’t know how to explain what I’m feeling.”
“Then don’t.”
His eyes crinkled at the edges and a furrow bisected his brow. “Don’t?”
“No. Don’t try to explain it. Let it be. Just let yourself feel it.” Her palm caressed his cheek. She didn’t know how to explain her feelings, either. They’d snuck up on her, slowly taken over, and left her reeling. She hadn’t planned on falling for Jasper Taylor. They barely knew each other. But something in her recognized something in him, and she was drawn to the man.
No, drawn wasn’t a strong enough word. Drawn gave the impression she could choose whether or not to give in. But there was no choice happening. Deep in her core, she knew they were meant to be together. The only thing she didn’t have a clue about was how long it was going to last.
He got up then helped her to her feet, leading her away from the muddy bank of the creek. “If your manager could see you now . . .”
She didn’t even try to stop the smile from spreading across her mouth. “She’d die. Literally have a heart attack right here.”
“I’m not done talking about what’s happening with us.” His jaw set. He had a serious side to him. That was one of his many attractive attributes. He wasn’t the kind of man who just wanted to get into her pants. She knew the type. They looked at her as a conquest. Like nailing a beauty queen was something they could cross off their bucket list and spend the rest of their lives bragging about to their friends. Sometimes she could spot a man like that from a mile away. Other times they were more difficult to weed out. But something always gave them away.
Jasper was different. She could tell he was just as apprehensive about their growing connection as she was. He wouldn’t be the type to string her along and fake it just long enough to get her in his bed. He was the real deal. That might be what scared her the most.
“What time do we need to get these butterflies to the wedding site?”
He glanced at his phone, which had surprisingly survived the fall and the mud. “Damn. We’ve only got another hour.”
“Let’s do it.” She picked up the net from where it had fallen on the ground.
“I’ve got to get a picture of you first. Do you mind?”
She laughed. “May as well. As long as you get my good side and can promise me it won’t make its way to social media.”
“You’ve got my word on that.” He held up his phone and snapped a pic of the two of them beaming at the camera. “Do you want to get cleaned up? I can run you back to the house, then come back with some of the guys, and—”
“You think I’m going to melt under all of this dirt?” She gathered her hair in one hand, then pulled an elastic out of her pocket. “In case you haven’t figured it out just yet, I’m tougher than I look.”
His mouth quirked into a lopsided smile. “You look pretty damn tough right now.”
“Ido is definitely putting me through the ringer. But I can handle it.”
“All right then. Let’s catch some butterflies.”
For the next forty-five minutes they did just that. By the time Jasper pulled into the parking lot at the wedding venue, they had hundreds, if not a thousand, colorful butterflies in their possession.
“You want to wait in the truck while I drop these off?” he asked.
She’d tried to clean herself up a bit on the drive over, but hadn’t been able to make much progress with the amount of dried mud caked to her face, her neck, and her clothes. At least it covered up a little bit of the bruising that had started to fade on her cheek.
“That might be for the best.” Her mother would pitch the epitome of all tizzies if someone snapped a picture of her in all of her bruised, muddy glory.
She waited in the cab of the truck while Jasper carefully carried the butterflies into the warehouse. A handful of other folks they’d been working with earlier did the same. It looked like Lacey might be off the hook and the butterfly crisis avoided. All thanks to the town coming together to save the day.
Jasper returned, a huge grin on his face. “I think they might have more butterflies than they started with.”
“That’s great. You really came through.”
He turned a heated gaze on her. “Not just me. Everyone who could, spent some time pitching in. That’s what we do around here.”
She nodded, happy to be a part of the effort, at least while she was in town.
“Let’s get back and get cleaned up. Lacey invited us both to the wedding on Saturday. I can’t wait to see what it looks like when they release all of those butterflies.”
“Me, too.” She leaned across the seat and pulled him close. “Thanks for taking me with you today.”
“Thanks for going with me.” He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “We probably ought to get out of here. I don’t want people to see us together and think I’m trying to sway the vote.”
Delilah immediately retreated to her side of the cab. “You’re right. I don’t know why I didn’t think about that.”
“Hey”—he gave her hand a squeeze—“it’s okay. We just have to be careful. I tried to tell Lacey I didn’t want the host job anymore but she was so upset about the butterflies, I didn’t have a chance. Now that it’s all taken care of, I’ll give her a call tomorrow.”
She nodded but inside, her chest pinched tight. She’d spent her whole life in some sort of spotlight. But today she’d forgotten about that. Let the emotion of the moment flood over her, and hadn’t thought about who might be watching. She’d have to be more careful, not only for her own sake, but for Jasper’s as well. If the contest committee thought she was getting involved on a personal level with the town, they’d probably remove her as a judge and maybe even disqualify Ido from the running. She couldn’t be the cause of that.
“Maybe we ought to put a halt to this”—she gestured to the space between them—“at least while I’m in town. I don’t want people to think my judgment will be compromised or anything.”
“I said I’d resign as the host.”
“But I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.” A tiny sliver cracked her heart at the thought of shutting things down with Jasper. But she couldn’t risk the fate of his hometown on a few kisses or a night of pleasure.
“If that’s what you want to do . . .”
That’s not what she wanted to do. What she wanted was to lose herself in Jasper’s arms, forget who she was for as long as she could, and give the connection between them freedom to see where it might lead. But for his sake, for the town’s sake, for her own sake, she didn’t say that. Instead, she nodded. “I think it’s for the best.”
“Okay then.” Jasper shifted into gear and moved back onto the road, his jaw tight, his shoulders tense.
She could feel the shift in his energy, like he’d constructed an invisible wall between them. As much as she ached to reach out to him, to tear it down, she didn’t. Sometimes she had to put others first. That was a lesson that had been ingrained in her through her entire life. She was about to tell Jasper just that when movement caught her eye. She leaned forward, trying to convince herself what she was seeing wasn’t what she thought. That the whirlwind on heels heading directly toward them wasn’t who she feared.
“You okay?” Jasper’s hand landed on her arm. “Delilah?”
“Delilah Francine Stone. What on God’s green earth have you gotte
n yourself into?” Stella, in all of her designer-clad glory, approached. Storm clouds of fury gathered in her eyes as her gaze swept over the mud-spattered truck.
Delilah’s stomach twisted itself into a giant knot. “Stella. What are you doing here?”
Her mother stopped when she reached the passenger window. “I wanted to surprise you and hand deliver those samples myself.” The clipped, tense tone of Stella’s voice sliced through Delilah like a hot knife passing through a stick of butter.
Trying to defuse the situation, Delilah gestured toward Jasper. “Stella, meet the hospitality host, Jasper Taylor. Jasper, this is my mother and manager, Stella Stone.”
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.” Jasper tilted his chin toward her mother.
Stella’s lips curled, her disgust for the entire situation so thinly veiled that Jasper would have to be blind not to see it. “I wish I could say the same, Mr. Taylor. Are you the reason my daughter’s been shirking her duties as Miss Lovin’ Texas?”
“I’m sorry?” Jasper’s brow crinkled. “Your daughter’s been doing a fine job while she’s been in town.”
Delilah met his smile with a tentative one of her own. She wanted to reach up and caress his cheek for trying to stick up for her in front of her mother. But she knew Stella better than anyone, and Jasper had no idea what he was up against.
“A fine job?” Stella took a step closer, not daring to get close enough to risk her designer suit brushing up against the dirty truck. “I don’t know what the hell’s been going on down here for the past week, but you need to get my daughter out of here. Now.”
“Stella!” Delilah appreciated where her mother was coming from. Reputation and public persona meant everything. But what she’d been experiencing in Ido was bigger than that.
Stella turned her steely gaze on Delilah next. “If you want to see this contest through, you’d better get yourself cleaned up. Now. I’ll catch up to you after I’ve had a chance to finish my talk with the mayor.”
Jasper gave her hand a squeeze. “Actually, I think Stella’s right.”
Delilah opened her mouth to try to talk some sense into both of them. “But—”
“I’m glad we can agree. At least on my daughter’s well-being.” The look Stella gave Jasper could have taken down a weaker man.
But Jasper held her gaze. “Delilah’s happiness and safety have always been my top concern.”
“Then get her the hell out of here before someone sees her like this,” Stella muttered, her jaw clenched tight.
Jasper started the truck and backed out of the parking spot.
“Don’t I get a say in this?” Delilah asked. Since when did Jasper and Stella have enough in common that they’d gang up against her? “What are you doing?”
“I’m getting you out of here before someone takes advantage of the situation and snaps a picture of you that will haunt you forever.”
As much as she wanted to argue with that, it was the best thing to do. And now it looked like she had her mother on her hands. Any chance of seeing where things might go with Jasper disappeared.
seventeen
Delilah got herself cleaned up and moved her things back into the trailer. She was grateful to the Taylor family for hosting her, but now with Stella in town, she needed to get back to her own space. At least her mom had found a room at the local motel. She wasn’t sure she could stomach sharing the trailer right now—not with how disappointed Stella seemed.
She’d gotten used to riding shotgun with Jasper, maybe too used to it. Pulling into the motel parking lot in her hot-pink contest truck, she realized how much she missed him chauffeuring her around. Based on their conversation earlier, she probably wouldn’t get another chance. He seemed pretty sure about ending whatever had started between them. Even though she’d been the one to say it was the right thing to do, it wasn’t going to be easy.
Before she could exit the truck, Stella stormed out of her motel room. “I need a drink. Please tell me there’s somewhere in town where I can get something stronger than a beer.”
Delilah hadn’t been to many places, but she remembered Jasper talking about a bar over in Swynton. “I think I might know of a place.”
“Take me there. I need a cosmo with top shelf if I’m going to survive the night.”
Delilah did as she was told. Any minute Stella would start in on her. The sooner she did, the sooner it would be over.
“What were you thinking?” Stella yanked the visor down and flipped open the mirror.
“I wasn’t. Lacey needed help and everyone pitched in. There’s a big wedding this weekend with butterflies, and—”
“And it’s none of your concern.” Stella lined her lips, then filled them in with her signature color. “What happened to your face?”
Delilah checked the rearview mirror. She’d done a halfway-decent job of covering the bruise with some of the heavy pancake makeup Monique had taught her how to apply. “You won’t believe me if I tell you.”
“Try me.” The visor snapped shut.
“I got kicked by a goat.”
“Try me again.” Stella scowled.
“That’s the truth. I was trying to put him back in his pen and he got spooked.” She glanced at her reflection again. “At least the bruising has faded.”
“I told you I booked Franco to come and take pictures for the cosmetics line.”
“That’s right.” Delilah’s shoulders slumped and she tilted her head back against the headrest. “I’m sure he can edit out my black eye. He’s a god behind the camera.”
Stella pursed her lips. Franco had been her find and Delilah knew she was pretty proud of herself for securing his services. He didn’t come cheap, but he was one of the most talented photographers she’d ever worked with.
“He might be able to make you look presentable in editing, but what are you going to do about your appearances? I should have known better than to let you come here by yourself.”
Gripping the steering wheel tight with both hands, Delilah took in a breath. “I’m twenty-five years old. I should be able to do some things on my own, don’t you think?”
Stella gasped, then reached into her purse and pulled out a tissue to swab at her cheeks. “All of the sacrifices I made for your career, and this is the thanks I get?”
Not now. Delilah clenched her jaw. She’d seen a glimpse of the woman she might be if she was able to get out from under Stella’s thumb. And she liked her. She’d had more fun chasing butterflies and rolling around in the mud with Jasper than she’d had in a good long while.
Stella pulled the visor down to check the mirror again. “Now I’ve gone and messed up my mascara. Maybe we should just go back to the motel.”
“No.” Delilah reached out and rested her hand on her mother’s arm. “You’re here and I think we both need some cheering up. Let’s grab a bite and you can fill me in on the progress you’ve made on the cosmetics line.”
“I’d like that.” Stella nodded, her lower lip jutting out in a tiny pout. “I’ve missed you.”
“We’ve only been apart a couple of weeks.”
“I know. But with Walter leaving me and all of the work I’ve been putting in on the business . . .”
“It’s been hard.” Delilah patted her arm. “I appreciate all of the time you’ve been working on this. I hope you know that.”
“Of course.” Stella moved her arm and gave Delilah’s hand a squeeze. “You’re my baby girl. I’d do anything for you.”
Anything but let Delilah live her own life. Delilah squeezed back. She thought once she was done with her reign as Miss Lovin’ Texas, Stella might find something else to focus on. But now it seemed like she’d never be free.
She could see her entire life laid out before her. She and Stella would do the cosmetics line together. Then they’d move into the fashion faux pas business. Pr
etty soon Stella would want to shift into a clothing line or restaurants or pageant dolls or who knew what else. But it was clear as day that if Delilah wanted the freedom to live her own life, she needed to start setting some boundaries.
As they drove down the main street of Swynton, she kept her eyes peeled for a place that looked like it served something besides bar food and beer. A sign outlined with twinkle lights caught her eye.
“How about this? It looks cute.” Delilah eyed the charming restaurant. It sat a little way back from the main road, close to the river.
“It sure looks better than that burger place we passed before we drove over that bridge.” Stella grimaced.
Delilah wanted to tell her that the burger place was owned by a very nice man named Helmut. And even though she didn’t appreciate some of his marketing tactics like Smoker Saturdays, he’d given up his day to catch butterflies for a complete stranger. That was the kind of community Delilah wanted to live in. Those were the kind of people she wanted to hang out with. But words like that would fall on deaf ears if she tried to explain all of that to her mother.
They entered the restaurant and were immediately seated next to a wall of windows overlooking the river. Stella ordered her cosmo with Grey Goose and Delilah waited for a sign as to what kind of mood she might be in.
“I told you I brought those samples.” Stella dipped into her oversized bag and pulled out a few compacts. “I want you to try this blush. It’s absolutely gorgeous on. Go ahead, try it.”
Delilah looked around at the other diners. “I’m not going to put on makeup at the dinner table. I’ll try it when I get back tonight.”
“Take it to the bathroom. You need to see how easy it goes on. Just the perfect amount of shimmer.” Stella pressed the blush into her hands. “Go.”
It wasn’t worth getting into an argument over so Delilah pushed back from the table and made her way to the powder room. Standing up to Stella over something so silly as trying a blush would have been an easy place to start setting boundaries. But her mother looked so sad when she talked about her breakup with Walter. Being firm could wait until tomorrow.