6. Delilah
DELILAH
“Thank you for your hospitality. I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you and spending time in your romantic town.” I gave the crowd my biggest, brightest smile as I wrapped up my short speech and gazed out over the small group assembled in front of the gazebo.
“Thank you, Ms. Stone.” Mayor Cherish stepped next to me.
“We’re excited to have you here and can’t wait to show you the best Ido has to offer.
” Lacey nodded toward the tables set up to the side.
“If you’d all like to join us for some refreshments, I think we’re ready to get the welcome party started. ”
The crowd erupted into polite applause. Lacey flipped the switch on the mic, then turned toward me.
“That went well. I know you’re probably tired from traveling and ready to settle in for the night. Do you mind sticking around for a little bit to mingle before Jasper runs you back to your trailer?”
“I was planning on it.” I tried to find Jasper in the crowd.
He stood a head taller than most people, so it didn’t take me long.
My stomach warmed as he met my gaze. His lips quirked into a grin, and I found myself smiling back before I regained my composure and turned my attention back to the mayor.
“Great.” Lacey took her son in her arms from a man who’d joined us in the gazebo. “Have you met my husband yet?”
“I haven’t had the pleasure.” I took the man’s hand in mine. “Deputy Phillips, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. But you can call me Bodie.” He shook my hand, then released it and tipped his hat my way. “We’re thrilled to have you with us, Ms. Stone.”
“Call me Delilah, please.”
“Will do.” He handed me a card. “You have any trouble during your stay, just let me know.”
“Thank you, I will.” I slipped his card into the small clutch I held in my hand.
“I’ve got to go change the baby. Bodie, can you introduce Delilah around and make sure she gets one of Helmut’s cupcakes?” Lacey bounced the baby on her hip. “I’ll catch up to you in just a bit.”
“I’d be happy to,” Jasper said as he came up the steps.
“Great. I’m going to walk around the perimeter and make sure everything is in order.” Bodie tipped his hat again. “See you later, Ms. Stone.”
I nodded at Lacey and Bodie before turning my attention on Jasper. “So, there you are.”
“Here I am.” He gave me a lopsided grin that made my pulse tick up. “Ready to meet the good people of Ido?”
“I suppose so.” I wrapped my hand around the arm he offered and let him lead me down the steps.
“What do you think of the town so far?” Jasper asked.
I breathed in the scent of just-popped kettle corn mixed with the smell of fresh-cut grass. “I think it’s charming.”
“Really?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” We meandered past a large fountain as we made our way toward the tables full of refreshments, where most of the people congregated.
Jasper shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t mean to act surprised. This is my first go-round as a hospitality host, so I’m not sure how we stack up against the other towns you’ve visited.”
I went through the motions of locking my lips with a fake key and tossing it to the side. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
“I get it. I’m sure part of your job is to stay impartial and not give out info on your other stops.”
“That’s right.” The same thing happened in East. They’d tried to pump me for info on how my time had gone in Hartwood. It wouldn’t be fair to share info that might give one town an edge over another, not even at the request of the charming hospitality host.
“Well I bet they didn’t have melt-in-your-mouth cupcakes like Helmut makes in the other places you visited.” Jasper stopped at the edge of a table that had been packed full of cupcakes a few minutes ago. “Care for a sample?”
Helmut ambled over, his leather biker jacket replaced by a pristine white chef’s apron. “Ms. Stone, what can I get you? Red velvet? Chocolate decadence? Vanilla bean?”
I tilted my head and looked up at Jasper. “Which one’s your favorite?”
“Mine?” His eyes widened. “They’re all good. But I’ve got to admit, I’m pretty partial to the chocolate bourbon pecan pie cupcake. Helmut uses pecans straight from my family’s orchard for those.”
My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t had anything for dinner. “That sounds wonderful. Do you have any of those?”
Helmut shook his head. “Not tonight. But I’ll bake a special batch for you when I get my next delivery of pecans from Taylor Grove.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” I tapped a finger against my lip as I looked over the other choices. I could gain ten pounds just by inhaling the sweet smell of sugar and chocolate. “Let’s go classic. How about vanilla bean?”
“Fantastic choice.” Helmut placed a white cupcake with white frosting onto a paper plate. “Here you go. Enjoy.”
“Hey, don’t I get one, too?” Jasper asked.
Helmut nodded toward the paper plates. “You’ve got two hands.”
Jasper let out a laugh and reached for a chocolate cupcake.
“What do you think?” Helmut waited, his palms braced on the table, a tiny hint of vulnerability showing in his kind green eyes.
“Oh, you want me to try it now?”
He nodded.
I peeled back the paper and took a nibble. The perfect blend of vanilla and sweetness exploded on my tongue, and I had to restrain myself from literally inhaling the rest of the cupcake in one bite.
“Good, isn’t it?” Jasper’s brows raised.
“Mmm. Delicious.” I nodded, relishing the first taste of refined sugar I’d allowed myself in the past two weeks.
Helmut seemed pleased with my reaction. “Plenty more where that came from. Feel free to help yourself to any of the flavors.”
“Thank you.” I broke off another small bite and popped it into my mouth.
Jasper’s plate was empty.
“Did you already eat your cupcake?”
“Yeah. I’m a sucker for sweets. Would you like to meet some of the other folks involved in the wedding business here in Ido?” he asked.
“Sure. But is there somewhere I can get rid of this first?”
His brow scrunched, making him look a little confused, even a tiny bit vulnerable. “You don’t like it?”
“I love it. That’s why I need to get rid of it. I’m on a strict no-sugar diet. How else do you think I fit into all of these gowns?” I cocked a hip and his gaze flickered down, past my waist. My cheeks warmed as the hint of humor in his eyes gave way to something darker.
He shook his head as he took my plate, folding the cupcake inside, and walked to the edge of the crowd. “It’s a damn shame to waste a cupcake.”
“You can finish it if you don’t want to waste it.” I wouldn’t blow my diet just to make him feel good.
“It’s all right. Just don’t let Helmut know. He might look like a badass on the back of his bike, but he’s a big softy. Now, let me introduce you around.”
We approached a circle of people who seemed deep in conversation. “Zina, Alex, meet Miss Lovin’ Texas, Delilah Stone. She’ll be spending the next month here.”
“Nice to meet you.” I shook hands with both.
“Zina runs the For Pitties’ Sake pit bull rescue and Alex here is going to be the best vet in town when he finishes his degree.”
I couldn’t help but notice the familiar warmth between them. The way Alex’s eyes softened as he looked at the woman next to him or the way she tucked herself against his side. Someday I hoped I’d have the chance to find a man to share that kind of bond with me.
“I read something about the pit bull shelter. What a great cause.”
“Unfortunately, it’s necessary around here.” Zina shook her head. “We seem to be a dumping ground for unwanted pit bulls.”
“I think it’s wonderful that you’ve got a place for them to go. I’m a huge proponent of supporting the underdog.” I smiled. “I’d love to tour the shelter while I’m here.”
Zina glanced at Jasper. “That would be great.”
“I’m sure we can find a time. Zina runs a great program over there.” Jasper’s chin tipped up. “She’s even started working with a veterans’ support group to train dogs to help soldiers acclimate to life outside the military.”
“Really?” I arched a brow. I made a mental note to spend some time getting to know the pit bull rescue director. Zina could be a good ally since we both had a vested interest in helping others.
“She’s amazing.” Alex turned a wide smile on the woman next to him. “We actually met while working on the dog rescue together.”
“I think it was more because of the penguins, wouldn’t you say?” Zina smiled up at him.
“Penguins?” I narrowed my eyes.
“It’s a long story.” Jasper nodded toward an area where a small band had set up. “I promised the band I’d introduce them if you don’t mind. It’s their first time to meet a reigning pageant queen.”
“Of course.” I tucked my arm into the crook of his elbow. “It was so nice to meet both of you.”
Zina and Alex nodded as Jasper led me toward the band. “I’ll check with Zina to find out when a good time would be to visit. She’s amazing with those dogs.”
“I’d like that, thanks.”
“In fact, I adopted my dog from For Pitties’ Sake last year.”
“I love dogs. I’ve never had a chance to have one because I travel so much, but once this trip is over, I’m hoping to get one of my own.
” My mother never would have let me get a dog, even if we hadn’t spent most of our time running from pageant to pageant.
In Stella’s eyes, dogs were slobbery, hairy, filthy animals that belonged outside.
As I pictured my mother surrounded by pit bulls, I let out a soft laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Jasper asked.
“Just picturing my mom’s reaction if I came home with a rescue dog. She’s pretty particular.”
“I don’t know what life would be like without a dog. We’ve always had at least one or two running around the orchard. They keep the goat in line.”
“You have a goat?”
“A goat, chickens, couple of dogs.”
“What’s the goat’s name?”
“Tie Dye.” He glanced down at me. “There’s a story behind that.”
“I’d expect nothing less with a name like Tie Dye. Are you going to tell me how the goat got that name?”