Page 111 of Taming I Do
“I got left behind. Needed somewhere to hide out for a few hours. And I was injured. Damn dog caught me right on the arm.”
I glanced at the scar on Colin’s arm, left behind by the stitches I’d given him. “You’re not even sorry about what happened, are you? Do you even care that Mom and Dad are going to be devastated when they find out what you’ve been up to?”
“Let me fix it.” Colin moved closer, his voice shaky. “You can take over for me. You get to the right people, and you can be pulling in thirty grand a month.”
“No.” I stood and moved toward the door. “I’m done. You’ve made your decision on how you want to live your life. I can’t protect them from it anymore.”
“You’re making a huge mistake. None of this would have happened if you hadn’t brought that chick around. I thought she would have left when she got freaked out by those damn crickets. But no... you had to save the day.”
I turned back to face my brother. “You’re responsible for the crickets in the trailer?”
“You know what happens if Ido wins that stupid title?”
My eyes narrowed, I clenched my fists and waited for Colin to continue.
Colin ground his molars together. “It’s already bad enough with that bitch mayor bringing in all kinds of wedding traffic. If Ido managed to get themselves declared the most romantic small town in Texas, we’d have so many tourists crawling around this part of the county that the dog ring would be done.”
“So you tried to make sure that wouldn’t happen.” I thought back to all the things that had taken place since Delilah had been in town. “The movie?”
“Come on, I can’t believe anyone still hangs out watching movies at the Hampton barn. It was a piece of cake to make afew cuts in the film. How was I to know they’d have another one ready to throw on though? And a butterfly wedding without butterflies sure ain’t very romantic, is it?” With his lips curled up in an ugly smirk, Colin glared at me. “At least she won’t be giving you the title now. Not after the crappy time you’ve shown her.”
I saw red. Anger flared, my hands fisted at my sides, and I took a swing at my older brother, connecting with his chin.
Colin backed up, a wild shine to his eyes. “It didn’t have to go down like this.”
“You’re right about that. I should have turned you in years ago when I had the chance.” With that, I opened the door and stepped to the side while one of the deputies went in to finish dealing with Colin.
I’d fucked up. But unlike my brother, I was more upset about the choices I’d made that had brought me to this moment than I was about getting caught. Hopefully my family would be able to forgive me. I’d not only failed the people who counted on me, like Lacey, but I’d failed the people I loved the most. My parents, my siblings, and Delilah.
It was failing her that hurt the most.
“I’m headed down to wrap up at the festival. You need a ride?” Bodie asked.
I nodded. Hopefully I’d have a chance to get to her. Before it was too late.
CHAPTER 29
DELILAH
I smiled and nodded,even though my heart wasn’t in it, waving at the small crowd from the steps of the gazebo. It was hard to believe that this was where it had all started just thirty days ago. I’d borrowed a spare outfit from Lacey after arriving back at the festival with grass stains all over my dress and rubber boots on my feet.
Looking out over the group, I tried to keep my emotions in check. My time in Ido had come to an end, and not a moment too soon. Watching Jasper get arrested had ripped me to pieces. I thought I’d found a safe place with him, free from the lies and betrayals I’d lived with my whole life at the hands of my mother.
Truth was, I couldn’t count on anyone. It was just too bad that I’d had to learn that lesson the hard way. The one man I thought I could trust, to be there for me through thick and thin, had been leading a whole other life.
Lacey turned off the mic and pulled me into a hug. “Thank you so much for being here. I just wish Jasper was here to say a few words, too.”
Numb, I nodded. Obviously, Lacey hadn’t heard the news yet that the hospitality host had proven to be less than hospitable.
“You want to meet up for breakfast tomorrow? I wasn’t sure what time you’d be leaving.”
“I’ve got so much to do back in Dallas. I figured I’d head out tonight. I’m eager to get home and sleep in my own bed for a change.” I didn’t even bother trying to force another smile. My job was done.
“You sure?” Lacey squeezed my hands. “You don’t want to get a good night’s sleep and leave in the morning?”
“No.” My original plan for the night had been to spend the evening in Jasper’s arms, joined together in every way that mattered. But that had been dashed as I watched him get put into the back of a squad car. “I think it’s best to get on the road tonight.”
“If you’re sure . . .”
