3. Delilah
DELILAH
I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel of the hot-pink, decked-out dually truck.
I’d enjoyed the drive from East to Ido more than I expected.
It was nice to have control of the radio and not have to bend to my mother’s preferences when it came to where to stop for a meal, or even which gas station she thought would have the nicest bathroom. Freedom felt just fine to me.
Stella hadn’t always been so overbearing.
But since things had gotten a little rocky with the man I had been sure would assume the role of stepfather number five, Stella had been more clingy than usual.
Even insisted on going on the road together, which meant the two of us had to share space inside the tiny retro camper the tourism board had provided.
It would be nice to have the place to myself for the next thirty days, even if I did have to spend it in another small Texas town vying for the title.
Maybe if the cosmetics line did well it would keep Stella busy enough that I could put some effort into something with a little more heart behind it.
I’d always had a soft spot in my heart for the little girls who came to watch the pageants.
They had stars in their eyes and hopes of winning a title of their own.
What most of them didn’t have was access to the kind of training and preparation that Monique had provided for me. But first, thirty days in Ido.
I glanced to the roadside sign welcoming me to town as I passed.
It looked new based on the fresh piles of dirt sitting next to the posts that stuck out of the ground.
Mr. Plum hadn’t provided much background information on the town.
He wanted me to evaluate each place based on my own personal experience, not go in with a bunch of preconceived ideas.
As I navigated around the town square, looking for a place to park the truck and trailer I towed behind, I took my first real look at downtown Ido.
Seemed pleasant enough. The square took up about half a city block.
Tall shade trees blocked the afternoon sun, and people sat on benches placed around the perimeter.
A white gazebo stood in the center of it all.
Chairs had been set up in front, and a few people were working their way around the railing, fastening some sort of ribbon and flower clusters.
I pulled the truck in parallel to the sidewalk, taking up a handful of parking spots in front of city hall.
I’d used part of my per diem to stay in a hotel the night before so I could pull myself together and make a good first impression on the mayor and other representatives of the town.
As I slid down from the running board of the truck, I adjusted my sash.
Mr. Plum had made it clear I was representing the tourism board at all times and needed to wear my sash anytime I was out in public.
I pushed the heavy truck door closed behind me and set my gaze on the building ahead.
I stepped onto the sidewalk and made my way to the stairs.
As I did, someone came around the side of the building, a giant hose in his hand.
Before I could get his attention, he shifted the direction of the sprayer.
Icy cold droplets of water rained down on me, stopping me dead in my tracks.
I opened my mouth to scream but closed it immediately as the water splashed across my face.
“Oh, shit!” The onslaught of water ceased as the man in front of me dropped the hose to the ground. “Cut the water! For fuck’s sake, turn it off.”
The hose continued to whip around, spraying water like a sprinkler. I stood frozen in place on a drenched section of sidewalk, not knowing whether I should seek shelter behind the truck or try to race up the steps before the water sprayed over me again.
Too late. The hose had taken on a life of its own.
Water shot out at every angle as the hose bounced along the grass.
The man tried to step on it but slipped and fell.
He climbed on top of it, wrestling it into submission as the gush of water came closer to my feet.
I couldn’t move. The end of the hose lifted, shooting a spray of frigid water straight up my skirt.
He launched himself at the spigot, finally pinning it to the ground.
The hose clenched in his hand, he sprawled across the sidewalk and squinted up at me.
“Please tell me you’re not Delilah Stone.”
I took a startled step back. From that angle he might very well be able to see right up my skirt.
My dripping-wet skirt. What was pageant protocol in a situation like this?
Years of training and etiquette classes had left me unprepared.
So I did what I imagined the reigning Miss Lovin’ Texas should do in a moment like that—stepped over the man lying at my feet, straightened my sash, and proceeded up the steps of city hall.
The door had barely closed behind me when he followed me in. “I’m so sorry. Please, let me get you a towel.”
“Is there a powder room nearby?” A drop of water ran down my cheek, and I resisted the urge to swipe it away, lest I smear my favorite volumizing mascara.
“Right this way.” The man gestured to the right. “I’m so sorry. I already said that, didn’t I? I was trying to clean off the sidewalk for the kickoff event tonight. We’ve had a problem with pigeons shitting—I mean pooping—all over the square.”
I didn’t care about pigeons or poop or anything beyond finding a place to pull myself together in private. “I understand.”
“Bathroom’s right here.” His voice dropped as I put my palm on the door. “Are you sure I can’t get you a towel or a change of clothes, or—”
“That’s quite all right. I believe you’ve done enough.” I pushed the door open and took refuge in the sanctity of the women’s room. First things first, I checked under the stalls to make sure I was alone. It wouldn’t do me any good to let someone get a bad first impression.
Satisfied I was the only person in the small space, I gritted my teeth and faced the mirror.
My once-loose waves stuck to my head in wet clumps.
Black streaks ran down my cheeks and had dripped onto the white silk shell I’d slipped on under my blazer.
And my sash. I let out a soft groan. A few drops of diluted mascara had splashed onto my white satin sash.
How the heck was I supposed to get that out?
I reached into my purse for a stain wipe—one of the many items I carried in my small emergency bag.
As I dabbed at the black dots, the door to the bathroom opened and a woman walked in, a nervous smile pasted on her face.
“Hi, I’m Mayor Lacey Cherish. I heard you had some trouble outside of city hall.”
I turned toward the mayor. “Just a little run-in with your maintenance man. Nothing a stain wipe and a dryer won’t fix.”
“I’m so sorry.” Lacey held a hand towel out to me.
“Thanks.” I pressed it onto my hair, trying to sop up the water that continued to drip onto the tile floor. “Accidents happen.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“Oh, I’ll be fine. Contrary to popular belief, pageant queens don’t melt when they get doused with water.” I tried to make light of the awkward situation. It wouldn’t do any good for me to get off on the wrong foot with the mayor.
“Would you like to reschedule our meeting? We can move it back a little bit and give you a chance to settle in and get cleaned up.”
The thought of getting the trailer situated and having a chance to compose myself tempted me to agree.
But it was already after four, and I had to be ready for the kickoff event in just a few hours.
“Why don’t we go ahead and get the details out of the way?
I’m going to need a little extra time to get ready for tonight, so I’d rather touch base now so I have the rest of the afternoon to get settled if that’s okay. ”
“Of course. I’ll give you a few minutes. Just head down the hall when you’re ready. My office is at the end. You can’t miss it.”
“Thank you.” I met Lacey’s gaze in the reflection of the mirror. “I’m going to run to the camper and grab a dry set of clothes. I’ll be there in five.”
Jasper
I ran my palms over my denim-clad thighs. Delilah Stone had been in town for less than five minutes and I’d already screwed up. How the hell would I explain to my dad that I’d managed to ruin Ido’s run for the title before the judge even made it up the steps of city hall?
“What in the world happened?” Lacey entered her office, her cheeks flushed.
I jumped to my feet. “I don’t know. I was cleaning the pigeon shit off the sidewalk and all of a sudden there she was.”
“You didn’t hear her? See her heading your way?”
I shook my head. “I came around the corner and before I knew what was happening, she was soaked through.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll fix this.” Lacey crossed her arms over her chest, her mouth set in a determined line.
“Me?” My stomach dipped. “How do you expect me to do that?”
“I need a hospitality host, and you owe me.”
“Wait a sec. I said I was sorry and I meant it. But I don’t think—”
The office door creaked open. Delilah Stone entered.
She’d changed into dry clothes, but her hair still hung in damp curls, framing her heart-shaped face.
I’d expected the beauty queen to be, well, beautiful.
But beautiful was too dull a word to do justice to the gorgeous woman who’d just entered the mayor’s office.
Lacey rounded the desk and moved toward the door. “Ms. Stone, welcome.”
I rose to my full height and drew in a breath. Then I forced what I hoped looked like a reassuring grin and turned it on Miss Lovin’ Texas herself.
She might have been drenched from head to toe a few minutes ago, but she handled herself with the composure of a queen. Her spine ramrod straight, her face scrubbed free of any trace of makeup, she entered the office like she owned the place.