Page 71 of Taming I Do
“Stella!” I appreciated where my mother was coming from. Reputation and public persona meant everything. But what I’d been experiencing in Ido was bigger than that.
Stella turned her steely gaze on me next. “If you want to see this contest through, you’d better get yourself cleaned up. Now.I’ll catch up to you after I’ve had a chance to finish my talk with the mayor.”
Jasper gave my hand a squeeze. “Actually, I think Stella’s right.”
I opened my mouth to try to talk some sense into both of them. “But?—”
“I’m glad we can agree. At least on my daughter’s well-being.” The look Stella gave Jasper could have taken down a weaker man.
But Jasper held my gaze. “Delilah’s happiness and safety have always been my top concern.”
“Then get her the hell out of here before someone sees her like this,” Stella muttered, her jaw clenched tight.
Jasper started the truck and backed out of the parking spot.
“Don’t I get a say in this?” I asked. Since when did Jasper and Stella have enough in common that they’d gang up against me? “What are you doing?”
“I’m getting you out of here before someone takes advantage of the situation and snaps a picture of you that will haunt you forever.”
As much as I wanted to argue with that, it was the best thing to do. And now it looked like I had my mother on my hands. Any chance of seeing where things might go with Jasper disappeared.
CHAPTER 17
DELILAH
I gotmyself cleaned up and moved my things back into the trailer. I was grateful to the Taylor family for hosting me, but now with Stella in town, I needed to get back to my own space. At least my mom had found a room at the local motel. She wasn’t sure she could stomach sharing the trailer right now—not with how disappointed she seemed.
I’d gotten used to riding shotgun with Jasper, maybe too used to it. Pulling into the motel parking lot in my hot-pink contest truck, I realized how much I missed him chauffeuring me around. Based on our conversation earlier, I probably wouldn’t get another chance. He seemed pretty sure about ending whatever had started between us. Even though I’d been the one to say it was the right thing to do, it wasn’t going to be easy.
Before I could exit the truck, Stella stormed out of her motel room. “I need a drink. Please tell me there’s somewhere in town where I can get something stronger than a beer.”
I hadn’t been to many places, but I remembered Jasper talking about a bar over in Swynton. “I think I might know of a place.”
“Take me there. I need a cosmo with top shelf if I’m going to survive the night.”
I did as I was told. Any minute Stella would start in on me. The sooner she did, the sooner it would be over.
“What were you thinking?” Stella yanked the visor down and flipped open the mirror.
“I wasn’t. Lacey needed help and everyone pitched in. There’s a big wedding this weekend with butterflies, and?—”
“And it’s none of your concern.” Stella lined her lips, then filled them in with her signature color. “What happened to your face?”
I checked the rearview mirror. I’d done a halfway-decent job of covering the bruise with some of the heavy pancake makeup Monique had taught me how to apply. “You won’t believe me if I tell you.”
“Try me.” The visor snapped shut.
“I got kicked by a goat.”
“Try me again.” Stella scowled.
“That’s the truth. I was trying to put him back in his pen and he got spooked.” I glanced at my reflection again. “At least the bruising has faded.”
“I told you I booked Franco to come and take pictures for the cosmetics line.”
“That’s right.” My shoulders slumped, and I tilted my head back against the headrest. “I’m sure he can edit out my black eye. He’s a god behind the camera.”
Stella pursed her lips. Franco had been her find, and I knew she was pretty proud of herself for securing his services. He didn’t come cheap, but he was one of the most talented photographers I’d ever worked with.
