Page 15 of Taming I Do
“The town’s got a lot riding on this competition.” Lacey bounced her son on her hip, even as she pinned me in place with her glare.
“I know. So do I.” I glanced toward my boots, the ones I’d polished to a shine. “That’s why I don’t think I’m the best person to act as hospitality host. If we don’t pull this off, I don’t know what we’re going to do at the farm. Dad seems hell-bent on replanting, but it’s going to take years for new trees to start producing.”
“You may not be the best person, but you’re my only option.” Lacey shifted the baby and put a hand on my arm. “We’re in this together. We’ll make it work.”
I shook my head.
“Unless you want me to offer the job to Suzy instead.” Lacey shrugged.
My thoughts bounced back to Delilah’s reactions at Suzy’s place. I couldn’t leave the fate of the town or the farm to my eccentric aunt.
“Fine.” I let out a sigh. “I’ll do it.”
“I hoped you’d see things my way.” Lacey gave me a confident grin, like she knew she had me over a barrel the whole time.
At that moment, a loud noise caught our attention. Sounded like a dozen Harleys headed our way, right through the center of town.
“What the heck is that?” Lacey’s hand dropped, and she turned to face the incoming rumble.
I walked to the edge of the gazebo, straining to catch a glimpse of what might be causing the noise.
A motorcycle turned the corner. Followed by another. And another. I put my hands to my temple. So help me, if my aunt had done what I suspected...
“Please tell me Suzy isn’t involved in this?” Lacey’s lips were set in a straight line, but her eyes went wide.
“I don’t know.” I shook my head, my arms falling helplessly to my sides. I’d asked Suzy to make sure Delilah got to the event in one piece, but I should have specified how.
The local biker gang, if one could call it that, slowed as they reached the center of the square. I jogged down the steps and over to the curb, each step taking me closer and closer to my downfall. I could feel it in my core. Lacey would fire me for this. Delilah would be traumatized and tear out of Ido faster than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
But when I reached the curb, I caught a glimpse of Delilah’s wide grin. Her perfectly aligned, whiter-than-white smile hit mein the center of my chest. Helmut reached out and offered a hand, helping Delilah climb out of the low sidecar attached to his motorcycle and get her footing.
“What’s going on?” I directed the question to Suzy, who was in the process of climbing off the back of a bike.
“The boys showed up and wanted to give us a ride into town.” She waddled, slightly bowlegged, joining me on the curb. “Your friend seemed up for the adventure, so here we are.”
“Here you are?” I muttered through clenched teeth. “Are you deliberately trying to send me into cardiac arrest today?”
“Settle down, we’re just having a little fun.” Suzy swatted at my shoulder.
I turned away from my aunt, making a concerted effort to clear the frustration from my expression before facing Delilah. She stood on the curb, perfectly poised, not looking like she’d just ridden ten miles in the sidecar of a death trap on wheels.
“Are you okay?” I reached her and took in her appearance. Her hair flowed over her shoulders in soft waves. The light-yellow dress she wore practically glowed under the early evening sun. If she’d been traumatized by the ride into town, she was doing a damn good job of hiding it.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She peered up at me through full, dark lashes. My chest warmed at her attention.
“I just... I didn’t realize my aunt would be riding in with her club.”
“It’s a gang, not a club, Jasper.” Helmut approached, his fingers wrapped around the handles of Delilah’s bags.
“Sorry, Helmut. Aren’t you supposed to be doing the food?” I glanced over to the tables under the gazebo.
“Sure am. Deputy Phillips brought that generator over, and the team should be showing up with the vittles any minute.” He held up Delilah’s bags. “Where do you want me to put these for you?”
“I’ll take them.” I reached for the bags. “I’ll just put them in my truck until after. I plan on running you back to your trailer when we’re done here to make sure you get settled in okay.”
“Thank you.” Delilah nodded.
“I’m gonna show the guys where to park.” Helmut gestured over his shoulder. “Then I’ll start setting up.”
