We spent the rest of the afternoon brainstorming ideas with her mom, and just as I suspected, Mrs. Sinclair was elated her daughter wanted to borrow her act.
My plan for distracting Ruby from my situation with Jake worked better than I had anticipated.
It had distracted me as well.
Chapter Twelve
The night of the Strawberry Queen Pageant found Ruby a nervous wreck. I tried to soothe her frayed nerves, but she was impossible to deal with.
“I can’t do it!” she stubbornly insisted. The pout that played on her full lips would have made even the most spoiled princess look like an amateur.
“Yes, you can, Ruby. You’re the most confident person I know,” I answered patiently.
“Oh, you have to say that,” she wailed. “It’s in our best friend contract.”
I rolled my eyes at her dramatic outburst. She might not be coordinated enough to sing or dance, but she would certainly win an Academy Award if given the chance.
“You are going to be amazing, Ruby,” Mrs. Sinclair offered, giving her daughter a reassuring hug. The two had spent a lot of time together rehearsing over the past week, and the bonding had done both of them good. They absolutely beamed—that is, when Ruby wasn’t throwing a fit.
“I don’t know. I’ve never been so nervous before!”
I looked around the pageant dressing room at the other contestants. Every single participant looked absolutely beautiful, but none compared to Ruby. It amazed me that she wasn’t able to see that.
“Look at how you won over the judges with your talent,” Mrs. Sinclair reminded her.
Ruby had owned the stage during the talent portion of the contest held earlier that day. She’d borrowed her mother’s ventriloquist act and had stolen the show. She even won a standing ovation at the end of her performance.
“I did do that, didn’t I?” Ruby questioned, her eyes shining bright with enthusiasm. Ruby would never admit it, but she adored the spotlight.
“Yes, you did,” her mom answered with a comforting rub on her shoulder. “And you can do this, too.”
Ruby drew in a shaky breath and nodded, her blond hair piled high in an elegant updo. She looked down at the long emerald green dress that clung to her slender frame and gave it a twirl. Finally, she touched her painted nails to the delicate diamonds hanging on her ears and smiled. “Okay, I think I’m ready,” Ruby announced nervously.
“Girls!” a plump lady called, clapping her hands together. “Get in your places. It’s almost time to go onstage.”
Ruby turned toward her mom, a frantic look decorating her pretty face.
Mrs. Sinclair gave her another hug and held her face between her hands. “You are smart and beautiful, Ruby. You can do this. No matter what happens out there, you will always be a winner to me.”
Ruby took one last deep breath and grinned, an expression of serenity taking over. Maybe that was all she needed to hear.
She turned on the heel of her stiletto and found her place among the long line of pageant entrants. She gave me a quick wave before I returned to my seat in the audience.
“How is she?” Jake leaned over and asked after I sat down next to him.
I let out an agitated sigh. “A nervous wreck.”
An amused look covered his face. “You’re nervous, too, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am! Ruby’s my best friend.”
“I think that’s cute,” he said, his smile growing wider.
I couldn’t help but giggle. “Have I told you how happy I am that you didn’t make me come to this thing by myself?”
Jake grasped my hand in his and flashed a mischievous grin. “Don’t worry. You can make it up to me later.”
I elbowed him in the side just as the auditorium lights dimmed, indicating the intermission was coming to an end. Lights flooded the stage as the contestants took their places in front of the large audience.
“Ruby really does stand out,” Jake whispered as the girls stood before us. I gave him an appreciative smile. He didn’t have to come with me to watch a bunch of high school girls compete for some silly title, but he did. And he hadn’t complained once.
“Ladies and gentleman,” the plump lady announced grandly from center stage, “I would like to introduce you to this year’s Strawberry Queen.”
A little girl in a fancy white dress approached the emcee with a small card in her chubby little hand. The plump lady took the envelope and nodded toward the child. “A round of applause for my young granddaughter, please.” The crowd erupted in praise, making the small girl blush. She scurried off the stage quickly.
“Now, for the moment we’ve all been waiting for,” the woman declared dramatically. “These exquisite ladies you see standing behind me are all fine examples of young women today. Each one has shown an amazing amount of maturity and showmanship. But as you know, only one can win this year’s title of Strawberry Queen.” She made an exaggerated gesture toward the nervous teenagers waiting patiently in the background.
Ruby’s eyes met mine and I gave her a wink. Pride swelled inside me as I watched my very best friend stand before the daunting audience, looking as radiant as the queen I knew she was.
“And the winner of the fifty-eighth annual Lakeside Strawberry Festival is . . .”
A hush fell over the crowd and I glanced over at Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, sitting a row ahead of us in the auditorium. I wasn’t sure who was more excited, Ruby or her parents.
“Ruby Sinclair!” the emcee released.
A standing ovation commanded the room as applause thundered around me. I watched intently as last year’s queen placed a bouquet of flowers in Ruby’s waiting arms and a small crystal-encrusted crown on top her head.
This was Ruby’s moment, and she was eating it up. She radiated on the stage as she waved to the crowd that stood clapping before her. She found her parents sitting in their chairs, tears shining in their eyes, and she blew them a kiss.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the scene unfolding around me. You would have thought Ruby was being crowned Miss Universe! I wiped away happy tears of my own and looked over at Jake. He was watching me with a smile.
Without warning, he leaned over and planted a soft kiss on my lips, causing me to stare back at him in awe. All of these beautiful girls surrounding us, and Jake only had eyes for me.
I couldn’t have been more thrilled.
* * *
Later that evening, when Jake dropped me off at home, we found ourselves walking along a path at the farm, the crunch of the dirt underneath our boots. Twilight was falling over the pasture and the sky was beautiful as it swirled into shades of purple and orange.
Jake reached for my hand. “What are you thinking?” he asked.
Reluctantly, I shrugged. “The Strawberry Festival means that summer is winding down.” I turned to look at him. “I guess I’ve been having so much fun, I hate to see it end.”
Jake’s gaze dropped to the ground and the muscle in his jaw flexed. “It’s been a nice summer.” He gave my hand a squeeze. “I have you to thank for that.”
Suddenly, my heart raced uncomfortably, pulling inside my chest. The last thing I wanted to think about was when Jake would be leaving to go back to Texas. I couldn’t stand the thought of saying good-bye. A thick lump began to form in my throat and I swallowed hard, trying to wash it away. “Come on,” I said, trying to change the subject. “I want to show you something.”
Jake followed behind as I pulled him toward the barn. We opened the big wooden door, and Jake reached inside to turn on the light. I crossed the dirt floor and led him to the horse stall at the end. Along the wall sat a tier of shelves, each rack holding a series of trophies. “What’s this?” he asked, reaching for one.
“They’re mine.”
He looked at me for a moment, then back at the souvenir in his hand. “Supreme Performance Champion?” He looked back at me. “I didn’t know you rode.”
I nodded and smiled. “I used to. I do
n’t anymore.”
“Why not?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I guess I grew out of it. After my horse Black Jack died, I lost interest.”
For the next several minutes, Jake studied the trophies on the wall, occasionally picking one up to get a better look. “Did you win all of these with Black Jack?”
“I did. The one you’re holding right now I won a few years ago, right before we had to put him down. I was almost fifteen. It was actually one of the last times I rode.”
“What happened to your horse?” he asked quietly.
I took a deep breath. “He hurt himself on a jump. Broke his leg. For some reason, it just didn’t want to heal.” I paused, turning to look at the last stall. “He was getting older, I guess. He didn’t spring back like the younger ones do.”
Jake placed the trophy on the shelf and was suddenly behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist. “Was this his stall?”
My breath caught at the feel of his lips touching my ear. “It was.”
Slowly, Jake turned me around to face him. “I’m sorry about your horse.”
He pulled me closer and I wrapped my arms around his neck. When his lips met mine, I closed my eyes, savoring the feel. His hand trailed up my spine until it cupped the back of my head, somehow bringing me closer. His tongue slid against mine, and my insides stirred with anticipation.
Just then, a noise outside the barn separated us. “Someone’s coming,” I whispered, my eyes wide with surprise.
A slow grin appeared on his face and he held his finger to his lips. “Shhh. Follow me.”
I smiled as he grabbed my hand, pulling me to a ladder that led up to the hayloft. He helped me on and followed me the whole way up, pausing so I could haul myself to the top. When we were both safely concealed, we looked down below and saw Gramps open the door and come into the barn, a look of confusion across his face. Finally, he turned off the light, leaving us in shadows.
I stifled a giggle. “He doesn’t know we’re in here.”
“Yeah, let’s keep it that way. I don’t want him to think I’m molesting his granddaughter.”
“But weren’t you?” I whispered, giving him a long, heated look.
When our eyes met, I saw a desire like I’d never seen before. We fell into each other’s arms and then to the floor, my back pressed up against a layer of hay. A reckless, swooping sensation hit my stomach when his lips grazed my neck and I relented to the fact that this might actually be love. Real, true, honest-to-God love. With one hand tangled in my hair, I felt Jake’s other hand slide up my midsection and rest just below my breast. It was shocking yet tender, sending shivers of pleasure straight to my core.
Our lips met again, and after a long while, he pulled away, resting his forehead against mine. His hot, labored breath mingled with mine, and he planted one last kiss on my lips.
I lifted my hand to his face and stared into his eyes, and the world stood still. Jake smiled, then covered my hand with his. Very gently, he brought it up to his lips and then sighed. “I better get you home.”
Chapter Thirteen
Friday morning greeted me with sunny skies and comfortable temperatures. It was the perfect day to kick off the Strawberry Festival. My little Georgia town was extremely proud of the annual event and spared no expense at making everything just right.
Festival patrons traveled from far and wide to experience the many pleasantries Lakeside had to offer. From the much-anticipated Strawberry Pancake Breakfast that signaled the beginning of the fair, to the scores of strawberry treats and goodies offered throughout the entire downtown area, including the homegrown strawberry wine. The festival was, without a doubt, the highlight of the summer.
Even Gramps and Mags took the day off from the farm to commemorate the affair. They always helped out at the breakfast, whipping up the hotcakes and serving them to the guests. And I was looking forward to wandering around the festival with Jake, as both my parents and his aunt and uncle would be preoccupied with the weekend celebration. It would feel as if we were on our own, with no one to answer to but ourselves.
My first responsibility, however, was to make sure Ruby was all set with her designated royal responsibilities. She was expected to make an appearance at the pancake breakfast and charm those in attendance. But Ruby hadn’t been awake before noon since summer vacation started, and I knew I would have to serve as her wake-up call. After my third attempt, I was starting to get nervous. I let the phone ring as long as it would, when finally she decided to pick up.
“Rise and shine, Queen Ruby,” I called sweetly into the phone.
“Ugh. What time is it?”
“It’s time to get up. That strawberry breakfast isn’t going to wait for you to get there, you know.”
“Do I have to?” she whined into my ear.
“Yes, you have to. You wanted this, Ruby, now you have to follow through.”
“You sound like my mother.”
I rolled my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was argue with Ruby that early in the morning.
“You’re coming to pick me up, right?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Do I have a choice?”
“If you would rather attend the breakfast on your own, I would be happy to go back to bed.” I had to smile, knowing I had her.
I heard her sigh in defeat from the other end. “I’ll be there. Give me forty-five minutes.”
“I don’t want to be late. If my pancakes are cold, I’m going to kick your royal a—” But she had already hung up.
I showered and dressed in record time, finally making my way downstairs to wait for my ride. My parents had already left to help out with the breakfast, so it was just me alone with my thoughts. I sat in a comfy chair near the front window and twirled my hair around my finger. My mind drifted to Jake, as it always seemed to. I was excited to be meeting up with him later—it was all I could think about. Every time I pictured his lips touching mine, my stomach would tighten. Was this normal? Did he get butterflies when he thought of me, too? Probably not.
Our relationship was moving along rather smoothly and I couldn’t help but wonder what this weekend had in store. I knew that we would be left to our own devices and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. On one hand, I was really looking forward to being alone with him. I loved everything about him. His sense of humor, his kindness, the way that he looked. And the way he looked at me.
On the other hand, I was scared to death. I felt like a fish out of water. All of these feelings I had for him were so new to me. I talked to Ruby about it a little, but even then I held back. It felt so personal.
Jake and I had discussed the future of our union, as well. He always made sure that I felt comfortable and that things weren’t rushing along too quickly. He was a gentleman, in every sense of the word.
But something was coming, I could sense it.
There was a part of me that still could not believe my good fortune for having met Jake. My girlfriends were always prodding me for more information about him, but I just didn’t want to talk to them about it. They would get so frustrated by my lack of cooperation—we would always gossip about the guys that we liked before! But this was different. I didn’t want them to know how I felt about Jake. Or how we would spend hours at the lake, listening to music and talking. And I certainly didn’t want to regale them with the stories that emerged from the backseat of his truck! I’d barely even shared those intimate details with Ruby. All of those reasons were what forced me to believe that this relationship was different. That he was different.
I had not yet told Jake that I loved him, or that I thought I was in love with him, but I could tell he already knew. I guess when it really is true love, you know it. Just like Mags had promised.
Chapter Fourteen
Ruby really came through as the reigning Strawberry Queen. She had the breakfast crowd captivated and left them wanting more. I watched her shine from my chair, nestled safely in the corner, far away from the limelight. She
was a natural; if her mom could have made it she would have been proud.
“Are you having a good time?” Ruby asked me, in between mingling with the guests.
“I’m having a blast,” I told her.
“Oh, come on! You could at least be social, Addy,” she retorted with raised eyebrows.
“I don’t want to be social, Ruby. This is your affair. I’m just along for the ride.”
“Suit yourself,” she exclaimed, and turned sharply to greet a well-wisher.
“Not having any fun?” A deep voice came from behind me.
There were those pesky butterflies again.
“Jake,” I breathed and turned toward him. He was wearing my favorite outfit, a tight black T-shirt with jeans that hugged his frame and those worn-in cowboy boots. He grinned back at me and leaned in closer for a peck on the cheek. I watched Mags across the room smile at us and then turn quickly away, not wanting to be caught. I thought I was going to die.
Please, God, don’t let my parents be watching!
I felt my cheeks warm as I looked down, embarrassed by the public display of affection. What I would have given for a rock to climb under.
Jake chuckled and brushed away the hair that fell into my face. “Are you ready?” he asked. “I can’t wait for you to show me around.”
The awkwardness passed and I once again had a hard time hiding my enthusiasm. I’d been looking forward to this weekend for so long! What made it even better was knowing that I would be able to share the excitement with Jake. I had our whole day planned, from sampling all of the strawberry treats, to listening to live music play at the gazebo in Lakeside Park. I was also looking forward to the arts and crafts area. The festival always displayed an impressive amount of work from local artists, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and woodwork. But my favorite section was photography. Lakeside was such a beautiful area, and I was always amazed by the sights captured on film.
“So, what’s first on our itinerary?” he asked.
I looked at him sheepishly. “Don’t laugh, but every year I get a caricature.”
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