Page 100 of Taming I Do
Helmut narrowed his eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Jasper held up both hands. “I’ll make myself a burger.”
“Clean the grill when you’re done.”
“Yes, sir.”
I took another bite and smiled. I didn’t know what to call Helmut yet. Dad felt too big and important to force before I was ready. But sitting between him and Jasper, I knew one thing forsure. For the first time in my life, I understood what it felt like to feel like I was home.
CHAPTER 25
JASPER
I wokeearly on the first day of the Fall Festival. I’d made my lists, checked them twice, and couldn’t wait to get through the last event on the calendar before I could have that heart-to-heart with Delilah that I’d been waiting for.
It was so obvious to me what she ought to do. Leave her mom in Dallas, move to Ido, and spend the rest of her life working with the kids she so desperately wanted to help, and loving on me.
But with all of the other curveballs life had thrown at her lately, I wasn’t about to add another. So I’d vowed to wait until the contest was over before asking her about the future. Maybe she’d even be willing to help me with the wedding barn if Ido won the title.
“Ready for today?” Dad asked as I entered the kitchen.
“I hope so.”
“Weather looks good.” Dad lifted his head from his habitual scan of the morning paper. “Did you see this bit about that damn dog-fighting ring? Says they think they’re getting close again to finding out who’s behind it.”
“Oh?” I tried to come off nonchalant. I hadn’t heard from Colin in weeks, not since the day he’d disappeared. With anyluck he was long gone again, hopefully for at least another three years. “I thought that whole thing had settled down?”
Dad thumped the paper. “Says here there’s been some new activity. You’d best be careful out there tonight. Fall Festival can bring a lot of squirrels out looking for nuts, if you know what I mean.”
I eyed my dad, not really sure what he meant, but also not willing to ask for clarification. “We will.”
I’d promised to pick Delilah up and take her on a quick run-through of the day’s events. It was hard to believe that she’d be leaving the next day. I didn’t want to think about that yet. One day, one hour at a time, that’s how I’d get through.
She was sitting in one of the chairs in front of the trailer when I stepped out onto the front porch. I’d filled a thermos with coffee and wrapped up a few of the blueberry muffins my mom made. With a day packed full of events, I wanted to have her to myself for a bit before everything got underway.
“Good morning.” I would have swept her up in a kiss right then and there if we hadn’t promised to keep things on the down low. That was another reason I was ready to put the contest behind us. I wanted to be able to hug her and kiss her in public, not always be wary of who might see us.
She grinned up at me. “Good morning. Are you ready for today?”
“I’ll be more ready for the day after that gala.”
“I know. But it’s only another week away. We can keep up pretenses until then, can’t we?” She stood and brushed off her backside. “What’s in the bag?”
“Blueberry muffins.”
Her tongue darted out and swept along her lip. “For me?”
“Maybe.”
“What do you want for one?”
“What will you give me?”
Her eyebrows rose. “How do you do with delayed gratification?”
“Recently, I’ve been handling it fairly well, I think.” I held up the thermos. “I’ve got coffee if you want to walk with me for a bit.”
“Sure.”
