by Dylann Crush
He smiled and it sent a shock of warmth straight through her. “That’s the other thing. Here.”
“What’s this?” He’d handed her a key. “I don’t get it.”
“That’s a key to one of the climate-controlled outbuildings on my granddad’s property. I’m going to be living in the ranch house with him. He’s been wanting to move home for a while now but Char hasn’t been able to swing it. There’s plenty of room out there for you to set up the shelter.”
“You’re kidding.” But a look at his face told her he wasn’t.
“Plenty of room in the house for you and Zeb, too, if you want to be close to the dogs.” He lowered his voice and stepped closer. “And close to me.”
“Are you asking me to move in with you?”
He nodded.
“And my brother and your granddad?”
He winced and nodded again.
“I believe that’s the most unromantic offer I’ve ever had.”
“Really?” His nose nuzzled into her hair, and his lips pressed against a sensitive spot behind her ear. “I make fantastic breakfast quesadillas.”
“Oh, well, if there will be breakfast quesadillas, I might consider it.”
“There’s one thing I’m even better at than making breakfast.”
“Is that special talent part of your offer as well?” She knew what one thing he was referring to and even if she hated his guts and never wanted to set eyes on him again, she’d still have to admit how good he was at that.
“It can be.”
“Well, I think we’d have to negotiate that into the arrangement. How long will that offer stay open?”
He leaned down and put an arm behind her knees, sweeping her off her feet and into his arms. “There’s no expiration date. It’s good for a lifetime.”
“A lifetime?”
He nodded, his gaze meeting hers. Love shone through. He was telling the truth. She might not have seen it coming and probably would have run the other way if she had. But somewhere over the past several weeks she’d fallen hard for Alex Sanders. He’d changed the way she looked at the world, changed the way she looked at herself. And most of all, he’d taught her that a love like theirs was worth a second chance.
She smiled at him, the kind of smile that an amazing man like him deserved. “A lifetime sounds good. I think we can definitely start with that.”
epilogue
Zina raced along the walkway leading to the entrance of the aquarium. She should have been there fifteen minutes ago, but she’d gotten caught up in traffic after stopping by to check on one of the puppy mill pups who’d been settling in with her new family just outside of Houston.
Alex was going to strangle her if she missed the dedication for the new penguin habitat. Especially since it was the first time they’d get a chance to visit with Thelma, Louise, and the rest of the Ido dozen who’d been part of the Munyon wedding. She shook her head as she thought about what a crazy mess that had been. Over seven months later and she could still remember how it felt to think her whole life was over because he’d spooked.
Since then she and Lacey had worked with over a dozen brides to give them the weddings of their dreams. Well, mostly her since Lacey was still pushing herself too hard and the doc kept putting her back on bed rest. But today wasn’t about weddings or events or pit bulls. It was all about Alex.
He’d been invited to participate behind the scenes this week and help move the colony into their new habitat, so it was just as easy for her to meet him there. Plus he’d promised her dinner at the exclusive Cattleman’s restaurant after the quick dedication ceremony. She’d be a fool to turn down that kind of an offer.
The aquarium had gone all out with the holiday decorations. Christmas was still over a month away, but as she entered the front door and made her way to the penguin exhibit, twinkle lights sparkled overhead. Alex had warned her it would be a pretty small affair. The public dedication would be happening the next day but since he’d been instrumental in coordinating the makeover, the aquarium had extended an invite to their private ceremony. She hadn’t seen much of him since he’d started the veterinary program at the University of Houston in September. Even though he’d arranged all of his classes so he only had to drive into the city a few times a week, she was ready for the holiday break so they’d have more time to spend together.
Her heels clicked on the tile as the first strains of music drifted from the sound system down the empty hall. The low hum of chatter made her think the party might be bigger than she thought. She smoothed a hand over the skirt of her dress, suddenly wondering if she should have worn something nicer.
As she turned the corner, eager to get her first glimpse of the new exhibit and even more excited to wrap her arms around the man who’d made it possible, she stopped in her tracks.
What was her brother doing here? Zeb stood off to the side, Semper at his feet. Lacey sat at a small bar top table with Bodie’s arm draped over her back. Char spotted her and rushed over, a flute of champagne in her hand.
“She’s here.” Dolly wrapped her arms around Zina’s legs, preventing her from moving any farther.
“What’s going on?” Zina let her gaze rest on each person in attendance.
“Cue the penguins,” a deep voice boomed out over the room. Morty glanced over, catching Zina’s eye.
“What in the world is happening? Where’s Alex?”
It only took a moment for her to catch sight of him. Two rows of penguins waddled toward her, Alex bringing up the rear. Thelma and Louise stopped when they reached her and took turns lifting their flippers for a high five. Zina laughed as she tapped her palm against them.
“How did you finally teach them that trick?” She smiled at Alex. He’d been working on that one for weeks when the penguins had been staying in the warehouse.
“Turns out you can get anyone to do pretty much anything if you provide the right incentive.” He dropped down onto one knee in front of her.
Her stomach flip-flopped while her heart seemed to swan dive to her feet. “What are you doing?”
“I’m hoping I’m about to make you an offer you can’t refuse.” He grinned, the same sexy, smug grin she’d come to love.
“Well, get on with it then.” The steady tone of her voice didn’t betray the mishmash of emotions that swirled around inside.
He reached for her hand. “Zina Baxter, you’re the strongest, most beautiful, most capable woman I’ve ever met. I don’t know what you see in me but I start off every day so thankful that you’re a part of my life.”
Dammit, he was going to make her cry. The threat of tears swelled. She focused on her breath, trying not to lose it before he finished saying what he wanted to say.
“We haven’t known each other all that long in human years but we’ve been together longer in penguin years.”
She laughed, spilling a tear over the rim of her lashes.
“That’s three and a half years in dog years, too. Plenty of time for me to know that you’re the one for me. I hope you feel the same way.”
She nodded, the tears no longer a threat now, but an inevitable outcome.
“I love you. Will you marry us?”
“‘Us’?” She’d been ready to literally bowl him over with an enthusiastic yes, but that last word caught her off guard.
“Yeah, us.” He stood and gestured around him. “You’re not just getting me. You’re getting the family I came with and the one we’ve created. Penguins, dogs, people, hell, even the damn bird.”
“Damn bird. Damn bird.” Shiner Bock piped up from his perch on Morty’s shoulder.
“Is he supposed to be in here?” She pointed to the bird.
“He’s part of the family. For better or for worse. What do you say?”
Alex held an open jewelry box out to her. A large aquamarine stone nestled agai
nst a white velvet background. “An aquamarine?”
“Yeah, like the ocean.” He took the ring and slid it onto her finger. “I figured that’s technically what brought us together.”
She centered the stone on her finger and looked up at him. Her cheeks already hurt from smiling.
“So?” he asked.
“So what?”
“You didn’t actually say yes yet. It doesn’t count if you don’t say the words.”
She bit her lip, loving the fact that he’d turned her own argument against her. “Fair point. I say yes. Yes to this motley, ragtag crew we’ve brought together. Yes to you.”
“Good.” He caught her up in his arms and spun her around. When his lips met hers, everything else faded into the background.
Until someone tapped her on the shoulder. A firm, persistent tap that didn’t let up.
“Yes?” Zina pulled away from Alex to find Lacey invading her personal space.
“We need to get started right away. I’m picturing a winter wonderland dogsledding wedding so we can incorporate both the penguins and the dogs.”
“Oh no.” Zina shook her head and held tight to Alex. “We’re going to have a small ceremony. No fuss. No fireworks. No ice.”
“Aw, honey, are you sure?” Alex squeezed her hand.
She nudged her nose against his, her hair falling around them like a curtain, blocking out the rest of the room. “Actually, I have an even better idea.”
“What’s that?”
“Let’s elope.”
acknowledgments
Huge thanks to Berkley and their team of editors and artists for making me look so good on paper. Especially my editor, Kristine Swartz, who didn’t blink an eye when I wanted to put penguins in the middle of Texas. Hugs and smooches to my agent, Jessica Watterson, for always believing in me (or at least faking it) even when she thinks I’ve gone off the deep end with one of my ideas. And I couldn’t have written this book without the support of my reader group, Crushin’ It Crew, and the amazing readers and authors in both Must Love Cowboys and Romance Chicks Partypalooza. I always hate listing names because I’m terrified I’m going to forget someone, but special thanks to Christina Hovland, Jody Holford, Renee Ann Miller, Serena Bell, Brenda St. John Brown, Aidy Award, LeAnne Bristow, Dawn Luedecke, and Sandra Marine for being a fabulous sounding board and support system. And finally, to my family, especially Mr. Crush, HoneyBee, GlitterBee, and BuzzleBee. You’ll always be my why.
KEEP READING FOR AN EXCERPT FROM
DYLANN CRUSH’S NEXT
TYING THE KNOT IN TEXAS NOVEL . . .
crazy about a cowboy
COMING SOON FROM JOVE!
one
Delilah Stone removed her rhinestone tiara as she ducked into the vintage trailer she’d been living in for the past few months. As the reigning Miss Lovin’ Texas, her most pressing official duty was judging the state tourism board’s search for the most romantic small town in Texas. Thirty days had been more than enough time to determine the tiny town of East, which ironically happened to be located in the westernmost corner of the state, wasn’t going to win. She’d already been to Hartwood, a charming little town located in the Hill Country and the clear favorite to take the title.
With only one more town to judge, she was looking forward to putting her time as Miss Lovin’ Texas behind her. Living in the hot pink branded trailer provided by the pageant’s main sponsor was getting old. She just had to spend the next thirty days in Swynton—the final contender—before she could trade in the trailer for her condo and get back to pursuing something more meaningful than deciding which town would secure the title.
“Well that was a nightmare.” Delilah’s manager, who also happened to be her mother, or “momager” in pageant terms, came in behind her and pulled the door shut.
“Two stops down, one to go.” Delilah lifted her sash over her head and hung it in the tiny closet.
“Just think, a couple of months from now, and this will all be behind you.” Her mother unfastened the eye hook at the back of Delilah’s dress and slid the zipper down to where she could reach it. “Next time you might want to smile more and talk less.”
“Thanks for the feedback, Stella.” Delilah had been banished from calling her mother anything but her given name. God forbid someone actually mistake her mom for anything but her older sister—a game Delilah had grown tired of playing.
Her fingers closed around the zipper, and she stepped into the tiny bedroom area to change into something a little more comfortable and a lot less sparkly. Tonight’s final farewell appearance marked the end of her time in East. Tomorrow they’d start the trek to the southeast Texas town of Swynton where she’d spend the next month evaluating their efforts to win the title.
She’d be glad when this jig was up. Not only could she use some time away from Stella, but she was also ready to move on to bigger and better things. Once she wrapped up her stay in Swynton, she’d just have one final appearance to make—the award ceremony where the board would award the title to the most romantic small town in Texas.
At twenty-five, she was ready to retire from pageant life and use her connections to make a difference in the world. Some of her competitors might not believe in the causes they promoted on their personal platforms, but Delilah did. And once her current reign came to a glittering end, she had plans to put her money where her mouth was and start doing something to support her cause of empowering young girls instead of just talking about it all the time.
She carefully slipped the glittery gown onto a hanger then pulled on her dressing robe. As she slid a headband in place to start her long makeup removal routine, her cell rang.
“Want me to pick up for you?” Stella asked. Even with the door between the bedroom and the living area closed, it sounded like her mother was standing right next to her.
“I’ll get it.” Delilah moved through the trailer and reached for her phone. “Hello. Miss Lovin’ Texas speaking.”
“Good evening, Ms. Stone. It’s Marty Plum. We’ve had a change of plans as to your travel itinerary tomorrow.”
“Oh? What kind of change?” Delilah had only spoken to the contest chair a few times since she started her term.
Stella leaned against the counter next to her. “What’s going on?”
Delilah shrugged. “I don’t know yet,” she whispered.
Mr. Plum cleared his throat. “Seems Swynton has been disqualified from the competition.”
“Disqualified?” Delilah shot a glance to Stella. “What did they do?”
“That’s right. They’ve been accused of bribing a member of the committee. We can’t have any kind of scandal touch the competition, so we’ve taken them out of the running.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Delilah couldn’t care less about Swynton, Texas. Didn’t matter to her which town they sent her to, as long as she’d be done by the date her contract specified.
“What’s happening?” Stella asked.
Delilah held up a finger. “Does that mean my judging obligations are complete? It’s just between Hartwood and East?”
“Not exactly.” Marty cleared his throat again. “The committee wants to let the runner-up town take Swynton’s place. It’s actually a fairly convenient swap since it’s right across the river. Instead of spending thirty days in Swynton, we’re going to have you spend the next month in Ido.”
“Ido? Where’s that?” Delilah had never heard of the town and as a lifelong pageant participant, she’d traveled back and forth across the great state of Texas more times than the pony express had in its heyday.
Stella whipped her head back and forth, turning her giant earrings into weapons. “No. You’re not going there.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Plum. Could you hold for just a moment?” She put her hand over the mouthpiece and studied her mother. “What’s in Ido?”
“It’s where I grew up. You’re not spending any amount of time in that place. I barely escaped alive, I’m not sending my only child back there. Traveling to Swynton was close enough. No, you can’t do it.”
“Ms. Stone, are you there?” Marty asked. “Is there a problem?”
“I’m still here.” She motioned for her mother to sit down at the small dinette. “Can you please send over the information? I need some time to talk to my manager about the change of plans.”
“Of course. E-mail okay?”
“That would be just fine. Thank you. I’ll give you a call in the morning.”
By the time Delilah disconnected, Stella sat at the tiny table with her head in her hands. “They can’t just trade out a town like that.”
“What’s the big deal? Whether I go to Swynton or Ido or Timbuktu, one of my official duties is judging their contest. I can’t back out now.” Stella was the one who’d insisted she sign up for the Miss Lovin’ Texas pageant in the first place. Why the change of heart?
“I have such bad memories.”
Delilah slid onto the bench seat across from her mom. “Whatever you ran from in Ido, Texas, is long gone. You don’t have to come with me, you can go back to—”
“Not go with you?” Stella lifted her head, her blue eyes taking on a haunted, wounded look. “You don’t want me to travel with you anymore?”
“That’s not what I said.” Delilah couldn’t win, not where her mother was concerned. If she wanted her to go with her, Stella would call her demanding. If she didn’t want her to come, then she’d be insensitive. She’d navigated the tricky interpersonal relationship with her mother her whole life. “I want you to do what’s best for you even though I have to follow through on the commitment I made when I won this title.”
Stella placed a hand over her heart. “If I’d have known they’d be sending you to Ido, I never would have encouraged you to enter that pageant.”
