Page 64 of Taming I Do
“You know, it’s never too late to do the right thing.” She lifted a shoulder. “Not sure if that helps, but it’s one of the principles I try to live by.”
“Thanks. I’ll pass that along.” I lifted our hands to my lips and kissed the back of her hand. “There’s just been a lot on my mind. Work on the orchard is going well though.”
“That’s good. Your mom said you’ve got a lot to do still. I figured I could be in charge of my own schedule over the next few days to give you a chance to get caught up.”
I let our hands rest on my thigh. “I don’t mind driving you to events.”
“I know. But with everything you’ve got going on, it might be easier. Plus, the sooner you get the orchard cleaned up, the more time we’ll have to spend together, isn’t that right?”
She looked so happy at the idea, I didn’t want to ruin it. But somehow the thought of spending the next few days without her put an even bigger damper on my mood. “If that’s what you want to do.”
“Good. Now that’s settled, give me the scoop on the assisted living facility on the outskirts of town. Lacey has me scheduled to be the hostess at their fall dance this week.” She reached out and adjusted the vent. “I think it’s great they’re still encouraging romance, but how romantic can it be if they’re cramming it in between lunch and the afternoon nap hour?”
I had skimmed the big binder Lacey gave me. She had Delilah booked with events at places I’d never even heard of, and I’d been a lifelong resident of Ido. “Tell me where else she has you going.”
“Well, there’s the Sweetest Day bake and take. Jojo is going to be teaching a cupcake-baking class and I’m her assistant. We’ll be making cupcakes and candy for people to take home to their sweethearts.”
“Mmm. I could get on board with that.” I licked my lips. “I still owe you that chocolate bourbon pecan pie cupcake. I should be able to drop some pecans off at Helmut’s this week, so I’ll ask him to make up a batch.”
Listening to Delilah go on and on about all of the romantic things she’d be doing during her time in town made me wish the two of us didn’t have to downplay our attraction. I’d love nothing more than to be able to take her out to dinner somewhere in town, not sneak off to the Mexican restaurant two towns over so we wouldn’t be recognized.
“Here we are.” I turned into the parking lot. At least tonight we’d be able to hold hands and not have to pretend I was nothing more than her driver.
“Hey, isn’t that Helmut’s bike?” Delilah pointed out the window.
A line of Harleys sat in front of the restaurant. Either Helmut was dining in tonight or someone had stolen his motorcycle. He was the only person I knew who drove around with a sidecar. So much for having a night away from prying eyes.
“Well, we might not be able to treat this like a date, but at least they have amazing enchiladas.” I rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand.
Delilah gave me a wistful smile as I got out of the truck and went around to open her door. “Maybe one of these days we’ll be able to go out to dinner without it being a show.”
“Maybe if I quit as your hospitality host, that day would come a whole lot sooner.” I held the door as she brushed past me and entered the restaurant. With so little time together, I needed to decide. What was more important... making sure she saw the most romantic side of Ido, or having the freedom to make sure she saw the most romantic side of me?
Delilah
I spentthe next week and a half calling bingo numbers at the ladies’ luncheon, decorating the sidewalks around the town square by drawing hearts with the local day care kids, and leading a small group of Abby’s classmates in some basic pageant-training classes.
I’d been having an absolute blast, except for having to save the kid who’d shoved a piece of chalk up his nose. We’d managed to avoid a trip to the emergency room thanks to the set of tweezers in various sizes and shapes that I carried in my emergency kit.
While Jasper spent his days working on the orchard with his brothers, I’d been given the royal treatment by the town. Kirby even took me on a tour in his custom limo.
I was blown away by the hospitality the townspeople had shown me, but there was one man I didn’t seem to get enough of... Jasper. If absence made the heart grow fonder, I felt like I could have been head over heels for the hazel-eyed cowboy by now.
The last time we’d been together I hoped we would have a chance to see what it would be like to be on a real date. But that dream had been dashed to bits when I realized we’d never be able to get far enough away from Ido to completely avoid the residents.
I had started to wonder if I’d imagined the attraction between us. Maybe Jasper and I were destined to just be friends. But then I remembered the way it felt to have his lips on mine, to feel him moving inside me. Which is why I decided to takematters into my own hands and surprise him with a homemade dinner.
I’d gone to the farmers’ market his mom had mentioned and picked up some fall vegetables. He never seemed to lock his front door, so I let myself in and got to work in the kitchen.
“Hey, Buster.” The dog didn’t even bark when I entered. He probably remembered that the last time I was there I’d fed him bits of pancake straight from the griddle.
As I chopped peppers and peeled carrots, feeling more and more comfortable in Jasper’s house, making myself right at home in his kitchen, I let myself imagine what it might be like if we ended up together.
A lightness filled my chest, and I danced around the kitchen as I searched for a can opener for the beans I wanted to add to my vegetarian chili. Finally, with it simmering on the stove, the smell of cumin and chili powder lingering in the air, I sat down at the kitchen table.
“You know what would really surprise Jasper?”
Buster laid his head on my lap, and I scratched behind his ear.
