“A goat, chickens, couple of dogs.”
“What’s the goat’s name?”
“Tie Dye.” He glanced down at me. “There’s a story behind that.”
“I’d expect nothing less with a name like Tie Dye. Are you going to tell me how the goat got that name?”
“Later. Right now I’d like you to meet the Wicked Washboarders, our very own eclectic bluegrass-country-polka band.” He reached out to shake hands with an older man who held a strange-looking musical instrument in his hands. “Kirby, meet Delilah Stone, the reigning Miss Lovin’ Texas.”
Kirby took his cowboy hat off his head and bent into a low bow. “The pleasure’s all mine, Ms. Stone. The fellas and I were about to get started on our set. I do hope you’ll stick around to watch for a bit.”
“Just a few minutes,” Jasper said. “Ms. Stone’s been traveling all day, so I promised her an early night.”
“I’d love to.” My gaze swept over the variety of instruments they’d set up.
“All right then.” Jasper pointed to a few round tables gathered around the perimeter of a small dance area. “Should we grab a seat before the music starts?”
“You let us know if you have any special requests.” Kirby nodded before turning his attention back to tuning a few strings.
I let Jasper lead me over to the table. “What kind of instrument does he play?”
“Kirby hasn’t met an instrument he can’t coax a tune from, but that’s a steel guitar. Don’t you like country music?”
I bit my lip, not wanting to admit that the last time I’d listened to country was probably at a high school dance.
“You’re kidding me.” Jasper grinned. “Please tell me you know how to two-step?”
“Of course.” I smiled at his good-natured ribbing.
“Whew. I thought for a second there we might have to vote you out and get a new judge. Hey, would you like a lemonade?”
“Maybe just a water instead?”
“You got it. I’ll be back in a second. Save my seat?”
I nodded and watched Jasper walk back toward the refreshment table. It was odd having such a good-looking, charming hospitality host. We’d gotten off to a rocky start but there was no denying our involvement had taken a turn toward something much more pleasant. I’d have to do my best not to mix business with pleasure. It wouldn’t do me any good to let my attraction to Ido’s main man get in the way of my doing my job.
No good at all.
Jasper
“How’s it going?”Lacey snatched my arm as I approached the refreshment table.
“Good. She met Zina and Alex. And I introduced her to Kirby, too. I think she wants to tour For Pitties’ Sake while she’s here. Maybe she can help us spread the word about the rescue.”
There had to be some benefit to catering to the beauty queen’s every need for the next month. Especially if Ido didn’t waltz away with the title. I’d done some research on the twoother towns in the brief amount of time I’d had between my talk with Lacey and Delilah’s arrival. Hartwood oozed romance from every street corner. They had a huge Valentine’s celebration every year and a wine trail that catered to long couples’ weekends and picture-perfect wedding settings.
East wasn’t quite as polished. Their website spoke to romantic dude ranch stays and communing with nature in the state park that bordered the town. I was fairly sure we could put on a better show than East but was still struggling to figure out a way to best Hartwood.
“Have you given any more thought to our big event?” Lacey asked.
“I’ve been trying. It’s not like I’ve had a lot of time.”
“None of us have. I wish we’d had more notice. How about playing up the Fall Festival this year?” She snagged a cup of lemonade and tried to keep it away from the grabby hands of baby P.
“That would work. I was thinking we could make it bigger. Maybe add a pumpkin thing where we float lit-up pumpkins down the river?” I’d been trying to come up with an idea that would foster community spirit and show Ido in a romantic light. “Do you have any themed weddings coming up in the next month?”
Lacey’s brow furrowed. “I’ll go through the reservations again. The only thing that comes to mind is the bride who wants to build her whole wedding around butterflies. She even sent over boxes of caterpillars. Thinks they ought to turn into butterflies before her wedding, and she wants us to release them all right after they take their vows.”
