by Dylann Crush
“Your place?” She leveled him with a glare.
He shrugged. “Unless you want to go over to Lacey’s. My place is closer, but I can run you out there if you’d rather. I’ll get someone out here with a generator so you’ll be set for later tonight but if you need electricity to get ready for the kickoff, my place might be your best bet.”
“Fine. Let me get my things.” She found the key on her key ring and moved toward the trailer.
Jasper took the opportunity to follow up on Helmut, who’d gone inside to check out his fuse box. “Figure it out?”
“No. Usually when I have a power surge, I just flip the breaker back but that’s not working.”
“You’re probably not up to code.” That was a massive understatement. Jasper hadn’t ever seen the same combination of colored wires that Helmut’s fuse box contained, and he’d been around plenty of old electrical boxes in some of the outbuildings on the farm. “I think your best bet is to get someone out here who knows what they’re doing to take a look.”
“But what about my restaurant? I’m supposed to be taking food over to the kickoff celebration.”
Jasper let his head roll back as he sighed. “Ah, hell. What’s left to do? We can’t have a party without the refreshments.”
“It was working fine until I plugged in that trailer. Maybe she’s the one to blame. I’ve got half a mind to call the tourism board myself and have them send someone out here to check the electrical on that tacky camper.”
Jasper reached out and gripped Helmut’s shoulder. “That would be a surefire way to make sure we don’t win that contest. You think they’ll give an award to a town who accuses them of sabotage?”
Helmut scratched his chin. “What do you want me to do then?”
Jasper clasped his hands and slipped them over his head to rest behind his neck. He could think better when he walked, so he paced the small back room of the restaurant, trying to force some brilliant idea into his head. “Let me call Lacey. She’ll know what to do.”
“If you don’t get me power in the next half hour, I may as well throw all the food I was planning on making away. Health department rules.” Helmut shrugged and left Jasper standing alone, staring at the fried fuse box.
He dialed Lacey and held the phone to his ear. Better to call now than when he got in the truck with Delilah. She didn’t need to know what was going on . . . he needed to keep things as seamless as he could.
“Hey, Lacey. Breaker blew out at Helmut’s. You know anyone with a generator that can get out here ASAP so he doesn’t lose all the food he’s prepping for the party tonight?”
“What?”
He’d obviously caught her by surprise. “Yeah. When he plugged in Delilah’s trailer his fuse box fried.”
“Oh no. Where is she?”
“She’s here. I’m going to run her back to my place so she can get ready for tonight. But we need to get the power back on.”
“Right. Um, let me think for a minute.” She clucked her tongue several times in rapid succession. “I bet the sheriff’s department has something we can borrow until we can get someone out there to fix it. Let me call Bodie and I’ll get back to you in a few minutes.”
“Sounds good.”
“And, Jasper?”
“Yes, ma’am?” He braced himself, waiting for the inevitable words. She was going to go off on him, he just knew it. Not even two hours into his role and he’d blown it. Literally.
“Is there anywhere else you can take her to get ready? The Phillips House won’t work since we’ve got that big wedding, but I’m not sure your place is the best option.”
She had a point. He wasn’t too keen on offering his place to begin with. “Where would you like me to take her instead?”
“I don’t know. My house is nuts right now with all the baby’s gear and the wedding stuff. Maybe Zina’s?”
“You want me to drive her all the way out there?”
“No, I guess not. Just, try not to scare her off, will you?”
“I’ll do my best.” Her lack of faith in him made him want to double down on his efforts. In that moment, a flash of inspiration struck. His aunt Suzy’s was closer to town. She lived by herself since Uncle Gus had passed a few years ago. He could take Delilah there. Aunt Suzy wasn’t exactly the world’s best housekeeper, but it would be better than taking her back to his cabin. The only woman who’d ever visited him there was his mom.
Glad to have a firm plan, he fired off a text to Suzy, then tucked his phone back into his pocket and returned to the truck.
Delilah gripped a roller bag carry-on in one hand and a large hot-pink tackle box in the other. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to follow you or if we should go together.”
“Why don’t you ride with me? My aunt Suzy’s is closer to town and I think you’ll be more comfortable there.”
“Whatever you think is best. I just need access to a powder room and some electricity.”
Jasper nodded. “I’ll run you over there, then she can bring you to town when she comes for the kickoff.” He glanced back at the pink pickup. “If you’re sure you’d rather not drive yourself?”
“I’m liable to get lost on these backcountry roads. If you don’t mind, I’ll let you navigate.”
“Sure. Here”—he reached for her bags—“let me toss these in the back.”
“Oh, I’ll hold on to this one if you don’t mind.” She let him take the carry-on but clasped the tackle box to her chest. “It’s my makeup case.”
He eyed the box as he slid her suitcase into the bed of the truck. “That’s a lot of makeup.”
She cocked her head and glanced from the case to him. “Comes with the territory.”
“Let me get the door for you.” Jasper moved past her to pull the pickup door open.
She climbed onto the running board and grabbed the handle to hoist herself into the passenger seat. He waited for her to get settled, then closed the door behind her. As he rounded the truck, he checked for a reply from Suzy. Thankfully, she said she’d be okay with having a little company.
“So how long have you lived in Ido?” Delilah had set her makeup box on the seat between them, like a bulky barrier reminding him to stay on his side of the cab.
“All my life. I’ve never lived anywhere else except the years I spent up in College Station.”
“You’re an Aggie?”
“Through and through. How about you?”
“I just finished up my undergrad through an online program at UT Austin.” She leaned an elbow on the window frame. “What did you study?”
He grinned at the question. “Agriculture and business. Seemed like the best course of action. My family operates the largest commercial pecan orchard in Texas.”
“Oh, I love pecan pie.”
“What did you say?”
“Pecan pie.” Her eyebrows squished together.
He shook his head. “It’s pih-kahn, not pee-kahn. At least if you’re a true Texan, that’s how you’d pronounce it.”
“Really?” Her arms crossed. “Says who?”
“Says everybody. At least everybody around these parts. Where are you from?”
She picked something from her shirt and dropped it on the floor mat. Hell, the last one to ride shotgun in his truck was probably Buster, the pit bull he’d adopted from For Pitties’ Sake. The dog not only shed like a beast, he also had some major gastrointestinal issues.
“I’ve lived several places. California, Florida, Alabama to name a few.”
“That explains it.” Jasper navigated his truck onto the road, already counting the seconds until they got to Aunt Suzy’s.
“Explains what?”
“Why you don’t say the word ‘pecan’ right.” His mouth quirked into a sideways grin. The beauty queen seemed a bit flustered. He kind of liked her bett
er that way.
“I say it just fine.”
Not wanting to cross the line between a little good-natured ribbing and totally pissing her off, he eased back on the teasing. “It is kind of cute the way you say it.”
Her head jerked up and she met his gaze for a hot second before looking away.
“Just don’t let the locals hear you,” he advised. Especially not his dad. Dad would have no problem correcting her, and probably wouldn’t mince any words in his approach.
As they neared Aunt Suzy’s place, he tried to think of something else to say to bridge the awkward silence between them. “What made you want to run for Miss Lovin’ Texas?”
She rested her chin in her palm. “My mother. She loves the thrill of a good title run.”
“Oh yeah? Where is she now?”
“Back in Dallas. As soon as I’m done here, I’ll join her. We’re starting a new business that will help raise money for my mentor’s nonprofit organization. She helps young girls learn what they need to know to compete in pageants.”
For a second, he thought she was joking. That’s all the world needed . . . more beauty queens. But the light in her eyes as she talked about it let him know she was serious.
“There’s a big need for these girls to learn how to strut the runway in a swimsuit?” He couldn’t help himself. Even as he asked the question, he imagined Lacey frowning at him and urging him to shut up and make nice.
“No. But there’s a big need for girls to have access to the kind of training that can help them get ready for public speaking, to learn how to defend their beliefs, to build their confidence so they’re not afraid to pursue their dreams.”
“And a beauty pageant can do all that?” He should shut this line of conversation down. He’d already unintentionally insulted her—the one woman who might hold the future of Taylor Farms, and the whole damn town, in her hands.
“Yes, actually, it can. My entire platform is about empowering girls so they’re not afraid to follow their dreams. When I’m done here, I’ll be able to devote all of my time to raising money to do just that.” The look in her eyes seemed to vacillate between heat and ice.
“I didn’t realize a pageant could make that big of a difference.” Best to back away slowly, so as not to further anger the woman sitting next to him. She might be sugar and spice and wrapped up in a gorgeous package with all the trimmings, but he could sense a fire burning deep down inside of her. No way did he want to be the one to ignite those flames.
He pulled into the long drive at Aunt Suzy’s place. Her double-wide sat in a small clearing of live oaks and a few tall pecans. He used to love coming out here when Uncle Gus was alive. They’d spend all day in the saddle, checking the farthest corners of the orchard for his dad and filling their lungs full of fresh country air. Unfortunately, after Gus passed, Suzy couldn’t keep up with the horses. She’d turned the outbuilding into her workspace. No telling what kinds of projects Aunt Suzy had in the works. He’d have to make sure to keep Delilah far away from there.
“Here we are.” He eased the truck to a stop in front of his aunt’s trailer.
Delilah peered through the windshield, her eyes wide.
Jasper tried to see his aunt’s place with fresh eyes. He was used to her line of work but to a newcomer, especially someone who didn’t spend much time in the country, the sight of Suzy’s handiwork might be a little overwhelming.
Before he could admit that this had been a mistake, Suzy came out of the door and stood on the small stoop. She was dressed all in black, including the lace veil she wore over her head, obscuring her face.
Delilah glanced at him as she opened the door.
“Maybe you’d be more comfortable at my place instead.”
Before Delilah could answer, Suzy came down the steps, waving her hand, her black glove whipping back and forth. “Hello, hello. Y’all are just in time.”
Jasper closed his eyes for a long beat, wanting nothing more than to bang his head on the steering wheel. How could he have forgotten? The last day of September held special meaning for Aunt Suzy. It was the anniversary of James Dean’s death. His aunt had always been a huge fan. How was he going to explain a tradition like that to Miss Lovin’ Texas?
five
“It’s so nice to meet you.” Delilah held Jasper’s aunt’s hand in hers, the lace netting of the woman’s gloves rough against her palm.
“The pleasure’s all mine. Jasper said you need a place to get cleaned up. Come on in.” Suzy held the trailer door open and gestured for Delilah to go inside.
“Aunt Suzy is a taxidermist by trade.” Jasper gathered her bag from the truck bed and came to stand behind his aunt.
Delilah nodded as she entered the trailer. Eyes peered out at her from the walls. Her heart stopped. Her palms went clammy. Her vision went fuzzy. Deer and other woodland creatures she didn’t even want to know the names of smiled, snarled, and frowned at her, their likenesses forever frozen in time.
“Aunt Suzy’s won awards for her skills.” Jasper’s deep voice came from over her shoulder, drawing her attention away from the menagerie of animals whose eyes seemed to follow her.
“Is that right?” Delilah swallowed a lump of discomfort rising in her throat.
“Sure is. I’ve shown my work in several competitions. Even was featured as a centerfold in a big taxidermy magazine. I’ve got a copy right here.” Suzy brushed past them, making her way to a small sitting area, where a coffee table held dozens of magazines.
Jasper leaned forward, his breath brushing her cheek. “I’m so sorry. I should have warned you.”
Delilah closed her eyes for a moment at the contact. “It’s fine. Your aunt seems like a lovely person.” Lovely and just slightly off her rocker. But Delilah was a professional. She could keep her own feelings and emotions tucked deep down inside. She’d learned how to do that over the years, and that was something that no amount of pageant training could provide. Her ability to put up a front came from dealing with her mother’s never-ending surprises.
“If you want to go, I can take you somewhere else to get ready,” Jasper muttered.
She turned around, not prepared for how close he’d be in the small space. His nose might have brushed hers had she not stepped away.
“Ms. Stone.” Jasper reached for her as her calves bumped into the bench of the dinette. She stumbled backward, his hand wrapping around her arm, holding her suspended even as her head tipped back. A bobcat snarled at her from above, its teeth bared, a glint of anger in its glassy eyes.
“Oh my.” Her hand went to her chest and before she had a chance to register what was happening, she found herself chest to chest with Jasper Taylor.
“Are you okay?” One hand clasped her around the waist, the other held her arm . . . the arm that wedged between them . . . the only thing keeping her breasts from smooshing against the hard planes of his broad chest.
“I’m fine.”
He set her upright and immediately released his grip. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
Hot prickles danced across her cheeks. She averted her gaze, desperate to look anywhere but into the eyes of the man who’d just caught her by surprise. “Thank you, um, I think I might need some air.”
“Of course.” He stepped aside so she could get to the stoop.
In the bright afternoon sun, she took in a deep breath. She didn’t belong in Ido any more than they deserved the title of most romantic small town in Texas. It was obvious. At least to her. And probably to Jasper Taylor as well.
“Here it is.” Suzy joined her on the small wooden stoop, a magazine in her hands. “My first centerfold.”
Delilah’s gaze ran over the spread. Suzy sat in the middle of a virtual wonderland of stuffed animals. “That’s really something.”
“Those were the days.” Suzy ran a gloved finger over the picture
. “I suppose I ought to show you where you can get ready. Jasper said you don’t have much time and that something went wrong with your trailer?”
“That’s right.” Relieved to be back on task, Delilah ran her palm over her skirt. “Could I possibly use your bathroom?”
“Of course. Let me show you where it is.” Suzy reentered the trailer and Delilah followed.
Jasper had moved to the sitting area. His large frame barely seemed to fit in the small club chair. He made a move to stand as she reached for her makeup case.
“You need any help?” he asked.
“I’ve got it. I’ll be a little while. Do you need to go take care of anything while I get ready?”
“I need to make sure everything’s ready at the square.” He frowned as he glanced down at his jeans. “And then get cleaned up myself.”
“Oh, I’ll make sure she gets to the party in time.” Suzy pulled on Jasper’s hand. “You go take care of yourself and leave us girls to it.”
Jasper glanced from Suzy to Delilah and back again, his brows drawing down to create a tiny furrow between them. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. But before you go, can we have a moment of silence?” Suzy took Jasper’s hand in hers, then reached for Delilah’s. “Go on, join hands, you two.”
Delilah slowly reached out. Jasper’s fingers closed around hers, sending a pulse of warmth up her arm.
He rolled his eyes and nudged his chin toward his aunt. “I failed to mention that September thirtieth is a special day to Aunt Suzy.”
“Not just me. It’s a big day for all of us Deaners.” Suzy nodded.
“What’s a Deaner?” Delilah was almost afraid to ask. For all she knew, it was a group of taxidermists who practiced some strange ritual on the last day of September.
“Fans of James Dean. He tragically lost his life on September thirtieth, and at five forty-five local time we share a moment of silence.” Suzy glanced at the clock on the wall. A chipmunk popped out of a small log as a chime sounded. “If y’all will bow your heads.”
