Jasper’s eyes went wide. “You picked Ido?”
I moved to the edge of the stage and squatted down as best I could in the tight yellow dress I’d picked to wear that night. “You missed it. I did pick Ido. You could have saved yourself the trip.”
“Delilah, what you saw in the barn that night, it’s not what you think. I was trying to save my family from finding out the truth about my brother. I should have come clean when I’d had the chance, but I didn’t want my folks to get their hearts broken.”
My mouth went dry and I tried to swallow but the emotion welling up in my chest made it almost impossible. “I know.”
“How?” Jasper’s gaze searched mine.
I took in a breath, trying to stabilize my pulse. “My dad called and told me.”
“Helmut.” Jasper’s shoulders rose and fell. “But why, after everything I put you through, why would you pick Ido?”
I didn’t want to look at him, didn’t trust myself not to lose it when I saw the hope and love shining in his eyes. But then he put his finger under my chin and nudged my head up, forcing me to meet his gaze.
“Because that’s where I fell in love. And what’s more romantic than that?”
“Come here.” He reached out and swept me off my feet, cradling me against his chest before he set me down on my feet in front of him.
“Ask her, Jasper.” Abby came close and I slowly shifted my gaze from Jasper to see his family had joined us.
“What are all of you doing here?”
Suzy stood next to Abby, her hands covered in those black lacy gloves she’d been wearing the first day I met her. Mitchell, Trent, and Davis had all cleaned up. I almost didn’t recognize Jasper’s brothers without their cowboy hats and jeans. And there was an extra. I assumed that was Noah, the only Taylor brother I hadn’t met in person yet. He must have driven down from college. He stood next to Lucas, who held little Maggie in his arms.
“Yeah, ask her.” Helmut stepped next to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, who smiled like they’d just won the lottery.
Jasper got down on one knee in front of me. “Delilah Stone, I know I’m not an easy man to love, but I’m also not a man who love found easily. That’s why I know in my heart we’re meant to be together. You bring out the best in me, and I hope you’ll let me do my very best, every single day for the rest of our lives, to bring out the best in you.”
“Get to it,” Stella said. She’d joined Helmut at the edge of the circle, her eyes taking on a kind of shine I had never seen before.
“That’s why I’d like to ask you...” Jasper looked up at me. The light in his eyes shut out everything else in the room.
“Will you marry us?” Abby shouted, jumping up and down.
“Abby!” Jasper jerked his head toward his sister.
“What? You were taking too long.” She shrugged, her cheeks flushing pink.
“Us?” I asked.
Jasper stood and took both of my hands in his. “Yes, us. You told me once you’d always wondered what it would be like to have a big family.”
I nodded. “That’s true.”
“Well, here we are.” He glanced around at his brothers, his sister, his parents, and his aunt. “If you say yes, you’ll be getting more than a husband. You’ll be getting all of us.”
It was too much. I’d never known the kind of love that seemed to pour from the Taylors, wrap around Jasper and me, and fill me so full of happiness I felt like butterflies were beating their wings against the walls of my chest.
I looked straight into his eyes. “Yes.”
He stood and immediately caught my lips in a kiss while his family clapped and shrieked around us.
I had gone into the contest with no expectations, but I was leaving with everything I’d ever wanted.
Ido may have won the title, but there was no doubt in my mind that I was the real winner.
CHAPTER 32
