Epilogue
DELILAH
Six months later
I stood at the back of the newly renovated Taylor Grove Event Barn.
I’d spent the past six months working with a handful of young girls from the surrounding area, the pilot group for the program Monique and I would be launching soon.
By this time next year we’d be able to offer a summer camp program as well, which would match the girls with one of the dogs from For Pitties’ Sake, something I’d been wanting to do since the first time I’d visited the rescue shelter.
“How do you think they’re going to do?” Jasper came up behind me and circled me in his arms. His hands came to rest on my stomach and I leaned into him.
“I don’t know. I’m so nervous right now I feel like I could puke.”
His breath brushed against my ear as he let out a soft laugh. “You’ve done what you could. It’s up to them now.”
Stella had arrived the day before, insistent on being the one to emcee the competition, and now walked across the temporary stage Jasper and his brothers had constructed.
“I’d like to welcome you to the first annual Pucker-Up Pageant, a competition that recognizes the hard work these young women have done, working with their canine partners for six months, training them in the areas of agility, behavior, and following basic commands. ”
I turned my head to whisper into Jasper’s ear. “She looks like she was made for this, doesn’t she?”
He nodded, the scruff of his cheek rubbing against my skin. “Poor Adeline. I almost feel sorry for her, don’t you?”
Biting back my smile, I squeezed my fiancé’s hands.
Stella and Adeline were a match made in pageant heaven.
They’d only been working together for a few months and with Stella’s coaching, Adeline had already been crowned Mrs. Blushing Bluebonnet.
Stella had her sights set on a state title next, and based on Adeline’s level of enthusiasm, I had no doubt they’d be successful.
Jasper stood straighter as Abby walked across the stage.
She’d been matched with the shy pup I met the day I’d toured the rescue.
There was nothing shy about Chantilly now.
Under Abby’s constant care and attention, the pup had come out of her shell.
Abby put Chantilly through her paces, stopping as they reached center stage.
“Smile. That’s it. Now let the dog give you a kiss.” Franco stood right in front, snapping photos.
I had scrapped the cosmetics line Stella had been working on and decided to develop something that would be 100 percent vegan, and cruelty-free. Fifty percent of our profits would go to charity: 25 percent to For Pitties’ Sake and 25 percent to the program I’d be running that would empower girls.
Franco surprised us all by offering to donate his time and skills, and the pictures he was shooting today would be part of our new “Beauty Isn’t Only Skin-Deep” campaign, which would promote our line while raising awareness about the evils of dog fighting.
“Have I told you how proud I am of you?” Jasper nibbled at my ear, causing ripples of goose bumps to pebble my skin.
“Well, I’m proud of you right back.” I meant it, too. He’d busted his butt to turn the old barn into the beautiful building we stood in today.
“I told you we make a good team.”
“And you were right.”
Franco finished snapping photos and Stella introduced the next pair. Today’s run-through was supposed to get the girls comfortable onstage. Tomorrow the real pageant would take place, and the seats would be full. Just thinking about it made my knees go weak.
“What do you think about making it official?” Jasper’s chin rested on my shoulder.
“Making what official?”
“Us.” He ran his thumb over the engagement ring he’d given me. “The barn’s ready. I figured we ought to be the first ones to get married here.”
I shivered at the idea of standing in a gorgeous white dress and saying my vows in front of all our family and friends. “Weddings take a long time to plan. We’ve both been so busy, I haven’t given it a ton of thought yet.”
“I’m sure our families will want to help. I figure we’ll need about a thousand butterflies.”
“Oh, at least. And it’s probably best if we catch them ourselves.” I smiled as I remembered the day we’d spent covered in mud by the creek.
“I bet Zina would break down and let us incorporate some of the rescue dogs. Lacey’s been trying to get her to do it for years, but I’m sure she would if you asked.”
I nodded. “Buster will be the ring bearer.”
“Of course. Hopefully that new food you started him on will cut down on his gas.” Jasper swayed back and forth. “Kirby will be devastated if we don’t ask the Wicked Washboarders to play the reception.”
“And Helmut will have to do the food. He’s been working on a whole vegetarian menu. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.”
“What do you say, Ms. Stone? Seems like we’ve got a good handle on the plans. Want to pick a date?”
I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. “September thirtieth. That’s the first day I laid eyes on you. It can be the first anniversary of the day we met. I think that will be perfect.”
“I’m glad we got that settled.” His arms tightened. “There’s one more thing I think we need to discuss.”
“What’s that?”
“When do we get to go on a honeymoon?”
My belly fluttered. “If you’ll stop yapping in my ear so I can pay attention, we can start practicing for that in about forty-five minutes.”
“You don’t have to entertain your mom while she’s in town tonight?”
I shook my head. “She’s got a date with Helmut.”
Stella held her hand to her forehead, shading her eyes against the spotlights Davis had rigged from the rafters. “If you can’t keep it down back there, why don’t you go do something more productive?”
Jasper bit down on his lip, though I could feel the laugh bubbling up in his chest.
“You heard her.” I shrugged. “It’ll be more fun to watch the competition live tomorrow anyway.”
“Does that mean you want to head back to our place?”
Our place. I loved it when he called it that. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Jasper pinched my behind, making me squeal and earning me a scowl from Stella. But it was worth it. I twirled out of his arms and tugged him by the hand toward the big barn door.
I was going to officially become a Taylor.
And I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than at our place, with the love of my life wrapped in my arms.