by Dylann Crush
“There you are.” She could have picked Jasper’s aunt Suzy out of any size crowd. Her bright red hair had been tamed into a bun at the nape of her neck. A set of jeweled clips held the sides in place. Were those frogs?
“Suzy.” Jasper stopped and let go of Delilah’s arm to greet his aunt. “Did you do the flowers today?”
“Sure did.” Suzy beamed. “Just wait until you see the bouquets on the head table. I used some branches from my own property as the base. Lacey wouldn’t let me use real butterflies at the reception. She said she had to draw the line there and it wouldn’t be sanitary since there’d be so much food around. Sometimes I don’t think that woman understands that there shouldn’t be lines when it comes to appreciating art.”
“She probably didn’t want butterflies landing in their dinner.” Jasper’s brows rose as he glanced at Delilah over the top of his aunt’s head.
“Do you think we could chat for a few minutes?” Delilah asked Suzy.
“Oh, yes. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” Suzy took Delilah’s arm. “Jasper, can we have a second?”
“Sure. I need to check on Abby. I’ll meet y’all back here in a few minutes?”
Suzy waved him away, already tugging Delilah to the bench they’d just vacated. “I wanted to apologize about that run-in with your mama. Seems like I had her mixed up with someone else. You know, my eyesight’s just not what it used to be.”
Delilah squinted at her. One of the rhinestone frogs in Suzy’s hair had caught the sun and sent a bright array of sparkles dancing at the edge of her vision. “But I saw you and my mother talking in the front seat of your car. And then she said she used to know you a long time ago.”
“She did?” Suzy’s hand went to her heart.
“I don’t understand. Were you in school together?”
“Oh, honey, your mama was a few years behind me. But I remember her well.”
“Were you friends?” Delilah wondered how Suzy would have known her mother. They didn’t seem like they were the type that would have much in common. As much as Delilah enjoyed Suzy’s unconventional ways, Stella didn’t have the same attitude when it came to expanding her social circle.
“We weren’t really friends. Did Estelle, I mean, Stella, say anything about it?”
“No. There’s something she’s not telling me, and I have no idea what it is.” Stella had never provided any detail about her childhood days. All she’d said was her parents didn’t support her decision to marry her father so they lost touch. Stella had shut them out of her life and never looked back. Not even when she and Delilah’s dad divorced.
Delilah had always wanted to learn more about her family, more about her past, but the memories were too painful for her mother to talk about, so she’d left it alone.
“I think it’s best you ask your mama about it. Whatever it is she’s not willing to talk about, it’s her story to share.” Suzy nodded, more to herself than anything else. “Now, we’ve got a party to get to. Are you going to cut a rug with my nephew? He sure looks handsome when he gets all gussied up, doesn’t he?”
Delilah wanted to press the issue, but looked up in time to see Jasper making his way toward them, Abby by his side. “He sure does.”
“Take care, hon.” Suzy stood and wrapped her in a hug, the faint scent of formaldehyde lingering as she released her grip.
“Did you hear my song, Delilah?” Abby’s excitement was contagious. “I get to sing another one at the reception. I can’t wait to taste the cake. Jojo made it and promised me she’d save me a piece with extra frosting.”
“Well then, what are we waiting for?” Delilah linked her arm with Abby’s, a safer choice than subjecting herself to Jasper’s charms, and they made their way toward the huge white tents.
Giant, colorful butterflies hung from the ceiling on clear filament. It made it look like butterflies danced all around them. Soft lights had been strung around the edges, making the inside of the tent glow. She’d never seen anything like it.
“I see Jojo over there.” Abby released her arm. “I’m going to go say hi and make sure she remembers about the cake.”
Delilah laughed as Abby sprinted across the dance floor, headed toward the cake table on the other side. “Where does she get her energy?”
“I bet you were like that when you were her age,” Jasper said.
“No.” Delilah tried to remember what she’d been like at twelve years old. She’d won several titles by then. Stella had decided that her pageant career took top priority over settling down somewhere, and they’d moved all over the state of Texas and even spent time in Louisiana and Georgia in Stella’s quest for Delilah to win one of the bigger titles.
“Are you sure about that? You strike me as someone who probably loved having a chance to dress up and go to parties.”
“Back then I probably would have preferred to stay home, learn how to ride a horse, and hang out with my friends. The pageants and parties were fun sometimes, but I missed out on a lot by always being on the move.”
“I guess I assumed that’s what you wanted.”
“Oh, I did. The first time I won a title, my mom was so proud. She said she’d always wanted to compete but then she met my dad and fell in love. I felt like I was giving her a second chance to realize her dreams.”
“What about your dreams?”
“What about them?” She shrugged. She’d lost sight of what she wanted a long time ago. When she realized winning pageants made her mom smile again, she set out to do just that. It got to the point where Stella’s dreams had blended with her own, and she couldn’t tell what she really wanted anymore.
“The business you’re building with your mom and your mentor . . .”
“Monique.”
“Right, Monique. Is that something you believe in?”
“Of course.” But it was so much more complicated than that. She’d used her platform to speak about empowering young girls. So many times in the pageant world she’d seen the girls who had the big budgets use their experience to intimidate the girls who couldn’t afford to hire coaches and consultants. The business she was building with Monique and Stella would be her way of supporting girls who couldn’t afford to compete at those levels.
“Sounds like there’s a but there,” Jasper said.
She’d already crossed the line with Jasper. What difference would it make if she came clean about her reservations? “Giving money toward causes that will empower young girls is great. But I’d love to be more involved. When I talk to those girls, get to look in their eyes and tell them about my own experiences, that’s what fills my soul.”
“Then why aren’t you doing that?”
He made it sound so easy, so simple. “What do I tell Stella? ‘I know I said I wanted to run the business with you, but I’ve decided I just want to hang out with teenagers instead’?”
“Well, yeah, for starters. Can’t you do both?”
“I don’t think there’s enough time in the day. My mother’s shifted from entering me into pageants to having me do appearances everywhere. She thinks I need to be the face of the brand. That doesn’t give me time to be the company spokesperson and spend my days running an actual program.”
“I guess I don’t see why you can’t make it work. My dad always told me if you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen.”
“Is that what you’re doing?” She was tired of everyone plying her with advice. “Have you always wanted to run a pecan orchard?”
He glanced down at her, his eyes taking on a hint of hurt. “No. But my dream is making sure my family’s legacy carries on. The pecan orchard has been in my family since my great-great-great-grandfather came over from England and settled on that piece of land. I can’t stand to see my dad lose it. Hell, if we lost the pecan orchard, it would put most of us out of a job. Trent runs the ret
ail store. Mitchell spends most of his time fixing the equipment. Lucas only took a part-time job in town to make ends meet since that tornado came through. If I can give us a chance to rebuild, it would save everything.”
Delilah couldn’t bear to hold his gaze. “We’re not so different then, you and me.”
“How’s that?”
“Your dream is to keep the orchard going for your family. Mine’s to save my own.”
“It shouldn’t be your job to make your mother happy, Delilah.”
“Did you want some punch? I’m going to go grab a beverage.” She didn’t want to have this conversation with him. Not now, not ever. The relationship between her and Stella had been set in stone from the time she’d won her first sash. Jasper couldn’t understand that. How could she expect him to when she barely understood it herself?
He shook his head. “No thanks. I’m going to go check on Lacey and see if she needs help with anything.”
“All right then. I’ll see you later.”
She walked away first, heading toward the bar in the opposite corner of the tent. And as much as she wanted to, she didn’t allow herself to look back.
* * *
* * *
Jasper stayed to the edge of the crowd. The wedding party was from Arkansas, so the only local folk were the people busing tables, manning the bar, and making sure everyone had a good time. Lacey had outdone herself. Again. By tomorrow there’d be talk of the great butterfly hunt, and another heartwarming story about how the town had joined forces to save another bride’s happy day.
As he looked around the tent, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was making a mistake by strong-arming his parents into following his idea of a wedding barn. What did he and his brothers know about weddings? Hell, what did they know about love? He’d struck out the one and only time he’d tried to commit to a woman for more than a few dates.
None of his brothers had settled down yet. Lucas was the one who’d come closest, and even then, he’d skipped the whole romance part and found himself raising a daughter as a single dad. Maybe the Taylor brothers were destined to stay single. They’d all live together in the big farmhouse while they worked to create happily-ever-afters for strangers.
He shook his head. Damn, he was turning into a sap. He might be hopeless but at least his younger brothers still had a shot. And God only knew what Colin was up to. He didn’t want to think about his older brother tonight. No one else had mentioned seeing him around town. Maybe he’d decided to clear out. The last thing his family needed was to have him show up again.
As he stood at the edge of the crowd, taking it all in, Delilah caught his eye. She was spinning around the dance floor in the arms of a stranger . . . a tall guy decked out in a tailored suit. Jasper didn’t like the way the guy’s eyes roamed over her bare shoulders. Didn’t like the way his hand rested a little too low at the small of her back. His stomach clenched as the music shifted into a slow song and the asshole pulled her in close.
Before he realized what he was doing, he made his way to the center of the dance floor, tapped the jerk on the shoulder, and asked to cut in. Delilah nodded her agreement and the stranger released his grip and slunk away.
“Was he bothering you?” Jasper asked, his pulse slowing now that he had her in his arms.
“No, he was a nice guy. His cousin got married and he came all the way from Nashville to be here.” Her fingers pressed into his shoulder and he shifted to pull her even tighter against his chest.
“Looked like he might be holding you a little too tight.” The suit jacket stretched and a few threads might have snapped as Jasper swayed to the music with her in his arms.
She bit down on her bottom lip. Almost like she was trying to prevent herself from smiling.
“What?” He angled his head down. “Was he?”
“Not as tight as you’re holding me now.” She tossed her head back and met his gaze.
His attraction sparked at the sight of her smooth, slender neck. He wanted to run his tongue along it, nip at the spot where her neck gave way to her shoulder, and slip the thin straps of her dress away.
“I want to apologize for earlier.” He smoothed his palm over the small of her back, enjoying the way it made her breath come just a smidge faster.
“No apology necessary.”
“Then I’ll do it for me. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you about your mom.”
“It’s fine. I know she has boundary issues. It’s something I’ve been working on for years, and will probably spend the rest of my life trying to sort out.”
He slowly spun her around, using the opportunity to slide his foot between hers. “Well, for what it’s worth, I don’t know what that’s like. I apologize if I made you feel uncomfortable.”
“It’s fine, Jasper.” His name rolled off her tongue in a breathy exhale.
He did a half-assed job of suppressing a groan.
“You okay?”
“Say my name again.”
Her brow furrowed. “Jasper?”
“No. Like you did before.”
The edges of her mouth tipped up into the slightest of grins. “Why?”
He leaned close. Close enough he could breathe in his fill of that damn perfume. “Because it drives me crazy.”
She pulled back and glanced around the dance floor. “I thought we weren’t going to go there?”
“I can’t help it.” His gaze drilled into hers. “I saw you dancing with that guy and I couldn’t think of a single reason why he should get to enjoy having you in his arms while I deprive myself of the very same thing.”
“Oh, Jasper.”
“Yeah, like that. I love it when you say my name just like that.”
She grinned. “I didn’t mean to say your name in a certain way. That’s just how it came out.”
“Look, Delilah. I don’t know what this is or where it’s going, but I can’t stop myself from wanting you.”
“Wanting me how, exactly?” Her eyes sparkled. He’d bet his best pair of boots that she knew exactly what he meant.
He dipped her low as the song came to an end. “I want you in every way possible.”
Her fingers gripped his biceps even though there was no chance he’d let go. “Is that an invitation?”
“Hell, I don’t know.” He set her upright, pulling her against his chest. “Call it what you want, but I call it the truth. I’ve wanted you since the first day I set eyes on you, Delilah Stone.”
“Well then.” She let her hands fall from his shoulders. “We probably ought to drop your sister at home so I can explore that truth a little.”
His belly burned with anticipation. They’d been flirting around the combustible attraction between them for the better part of the past two weeks. Would she regret giving in to it again?
She twined her fingers with his and gave them a squeeze. “I need to say good-bye to Lacey before we go, and see if I can locate my mother.”
“I’ll find Abby and meet you by the truck?”
“That sounds good.” She lifted her gaze and gave him a shy glance. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Their fingers slid apart as she moved toward the edge of the crowd, where Lacey surveyed her domain. He scanned the interior of the tent, on the lookout for Abby. He needed to get her home before he let himself have too much time to think about what might happen with Delilah.
* * *
* * *
A half hour later Abby slid out of the small back seat. “Thanks for the ride, Jasper. That was so much fun.”
He nodded to his sister as Delilah handed her the extra piece of cake Jojo had boxed up. “Don’t forget this.”
“Think Mom will let me have cake for breakfast?” Abby asked.
“I say what Mom doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” He waited for Abby to make her way up the st
eps and disappear inside the house. It wasn’t quite eleven, pretty early to turn in on a Saturday night. “Do you want to take a drive?”
“Or we could watch a movie,” Delilah said.
Seemed neither one of them was brave enough to make reference to the heated moment they’d shared while dancing.
“A movie sounds good. Why don’t I drop you off, then run home and change?”
“That works.”
Before he could walk around to open her door for her, she met him at the steps of the camper. “You’ve got your key?”
“Right here.” She slid it into the lock.
“I’ll see you in a few.”
She nodded, disappearing inside.
Jasper got back in the truck and drove the short distance to his place. As he slipped off his brother’s suit and hung it in the closet, he let his mind wander. Were they really going to go all in? Yes, they’d given in to the attraction before, but the stakes were higher now.
Buster followed him from room to room, not used to being left behind.
“Bud, this is a one-man job.” Jasper ruffled the fur behind his ear and gave him a soup bone he’d been saving. “This ought to keep you busy for a while.”
As Buster settled on the living room floor with his bone, Jasper slipped through the front door. He tossed his keys from one hand to the next. It would probably be best to leave his truck here and walk back up to the camper. No reason to give anyone something to speculate about. Based on the way he and Delilah had held each other close while they danced, anyone who’d seen them might already suspect there was a fair amount of heat between them. But he wouldn’t compromise her reputation as the contest judge, so he set off on foot.
She opened the door to the camper in a pair of cropped yoga pants and a T-shirt. He preferred the flimsy nightie he’d seen her in before, but he wasn’t about to admit it. He’d take her however she was, as long as she would be his.
“Come on in. I can make some popcorn if you want.”
“That’s okay. I’m not here for the popcorn.”
“What movie do you want to watch?” She picked up a remote and gestured to the tiny seating area that doubled as a kitchen.