I giggled. “I should’ve put a pride pin on you,” I said, trying to hide my face from all the heat blushing up my cheeks.
“Daddy’s got to let everyone know who you belong to,” he said, kissing my cheek again. “A lot of these are in the closet, I don’t want them trying to slip you a note asking you to meet them in some water closet.”
“Water closet,” I giggled.
“You know where I mean.”
In all the years coming here, I hadn’t been hit on once. Although I had been too preoccupied with the alpacas, every single time, and while most of the vendors were repeat, I like coming across the new ones, because they might have at least been selling their alpacas for cheap.
“The only guy you’ll be seeing in there is me,” he said. “And that’s a promise, baby.”
“What’s got you all frisky?” I couldn’t stop all the giggles coming out.
“Nothing, just that I love you.”
Those words, I’d never get tired of hearing them ever. It made it even more special that he was saying them here, setting an example, I hoped to some of the other stone-faced cowboys.
32. LORENZO
Seeing the way Jace flocked to the alpacas was sweet, I wanted to surprise him immediately with the news, but I was still going through all the information, making sure I had a good deal and trying to figure out if it would eat through all the food budget if we added two new alpacas to the ranch.
As a ranch, we’d been mostly together, looking at horses, spreading news about the horse riding school and how Vermont was such a great place, and I absolutely agreed, it was magical, especially the winter I’d spent there, but I had been warned that was a milder winter, some other winters were a whole lot more cruel.
There were a whole lot of people here, and I wasn’t here with animals, so it was a new experience for me. I was able to sit around and watch the rodeo, and we were able to try out all the different chilis and pies that were being offered out for the competition. Jace had taken one of the small stalls right by the people offering out chili from large pots.
It was right then when I tried one of the best chilis of my entire life. A guy named Cam was serving it up. I had to get a second bowl of it for Jace, even if he wasn’t too much of a chili guy.
“Try this,” I said, looking down at the empty pie containers on his table. “All that pecan pie gone already.”
“Is there a bathroom close?” Jace asked, peering into the pot. “Because I don’t want anything too spicy. It will just come right out the other way.”
“Just try it.” I took a spoon full of it and did the airplane method to get him to suck it down.
He finished the pot off, which was a shame because I hoped I was going to get a second serving from his. It was surelygoing to be the winner, we weren’t judges, but even we knew that it was going to sweep the win.
“This is why I could never do the chili comp,” Jace said. “Plus, mine would be far too sweet.”
“Just like you,” I said. “Can I get a little serving of the pie?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“On how much you want it.”
If we weren’t surrounded by people, I might have shown him just how much I wanted it. Instead, I pulled my hat away, placing it to block view of our faces and gave him a little smooch. “Does that tell you how much I want it?”
I was glad he’d decided to go for the pecan pie as opposed to the cherry pie since there were two others submitting their cherry pies. The pecan stood out a whole lot more, and just like him, I could eat it all day.
Jace stayed close to me after all the pies were eaten and he was filled with worry about what he would place. I told him they’d love it, and even if they didn’t, I would make him his own certificate with a ribbon if it came down to it.
We occupied ourselves with the animals, trying not to let the man I was buying the alpacas see us. I didn’t want him ruining the surprise before I could tell Jace the news. All I had to do was confirm with Olivia and Tom, his father, on the food costs.
Then everything happened all at once.
The ribbons were called, the winners announced, and Jace didn’t win. He came in second place, which he was ecstatic about. He was given a ribbon and a small slip of paper to congratulate him.
“I basically won,” he said, all giddy showing off the ribbon.
