AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A fan had been pulled from somewhere and was now pointed in my direction. The air cooled my heated cheeks and molded the dress to my frame.
“Holly is an amazing artist. She created the beautiful hand-painted ornaments that you’ll find in the holiday shop in the red barn. She’s also been a friend of our family for many years.”
I swayed on my feet, wondering if I was going to faint like Hanna. Unfortunately, I was all too aware of the lights on me, the stares, and the whispered conversations. I wondered if they were talking about my ill-fated relationship with Talon.
“Holly enjoys reading and painting—”
I sounded like a crazy cat lady minus the cat. Would anyone want to bid on me? Panic gripped me. That was something I hadn’t considered before now.
There was a crowd of men near the stage, but they could have been interested in one of the other bachelorettes.
Marley grinned at the men. “Remember, the hot tub date is still up for grabs.”
A ripple of anticipation went through the crowd.
“Let the bidding begin,” Marley said. She pounded the gavel on the podium, sparking a headache. “We’ll start at five hundred dollars.”
I hadn’t paid attention to the numbers for the last two auctions because I was so nervous about standing on the stage. But now that I was in the spotlight, time seemed to have slowed down. I licked my lips, forcing myself to look at the men bidding on me.
There was Brad from high school, who was maybe a year or two ahead of me. He’d been a jock and not someone I’d spoken to at the time. Why was he bidding on me? I hadn’t drawn his attention back then. But then again, I only had eyes for the soft-spoken Talon, who wasn’t in the academic classes. He spent all his time in the tech buildings.
Then there was Brian, who was tall and lean. I remembered him going into some kind of science field. There was a third man, who was big and brawny. I recognized him as one of the Calloway brothers who ran Pine Valley Farm, possibly the eldest, Teddy.
I refrained from wiping sweat from my brow as Brian, Brad, and Teddy volleyed ever-increasing numbers like it was a tennis match.
My ears were pounding, and my stomach rolled. I didn’t particularly want to spend time with any of them. They were attractive, but I preferred the dark and broody type. I preferred Talon Monroe, and nothing in the past ten years had changed that fact.
Another voice rang out from the back of the room. “Five thousand dollars.”
Sweat trickled down my spine. Was it Talon?
Marley motioned him forward.
When Talon stepped closer, his gaze was fixed on mine, and it reminded me of when he’d communicated silently in school with just a look. I’d always interpreted it to mean something akin to I’ve got you.
I let out a breath, hoping he was doing this to save me. I shouldn’t want that, but I did. I couldn’t imagine slipping into a hot tub with Brad or Brian. I didn’t know either of them well enough to wear a bikini with them on a first date.
Brian and Brad stepped back, but Teddy’s jaw tightened, and he bid higher. The back-and-forth went on for a few minutes, and I wished I could sink into the floor. I hated being the center of attention. I couldn’t think of anything worse than two men fighting over me.
The crazy thing was, I wasn’t even sure one of them wanted me. Talon was just trying to save me from an intimate evening with a man who was a stranger to me.
Then Talon said ten thousand, and the room quieted. He raised a brow at Teddy as if challenging him to go higher.
I bit my lip. Please let this be over. Ten thousand was an insane amount to spend on a date, but I was positive Talon wasn’t doing it because he wanted to rekindle our relationship. I’d broken things off when we were eighteen and hadn’t provided any opening for a reunion.
After a few tense seconds, Teddy finally shook Talon’s hand, congratulating him. Had Talon just spent ten thousand dollars to go on a date with me?
Talon moved toward us, stepping easily onto the stage between me and Marley.
Talon placed a hand on my lower back and pulled me closer, effectively claiming me in front of everyone. I am his for the night.
A tingle ran through my body. I used to revel in being his girl. In high school, he’d pick me up in his Monroe Christmas Tree Farm truck every morning and drive me to school, where we’d hold hands while walking down the hallway and steal kisses in dark corners.
Talon glanced down at me, and something flashed in the depths of his brown eyes, concern and something else. Before I could place the emotion, he’d pulled me to his side, and I placed a hand on his chest to steady myself. His heart beat a steady rhythm under my palm.
Despite the years we’d spent apart, it was like no time had passed. I reveled in the feel of his strong arm as it wrapped around my waist, the heat of his body, and the faint smell of evergreen that lingered on his clothes.
Marley was saying something to us, but I couldn’t focus on her words. Talon guided me off the stage and toward a side door. He opened the door, and I sucked in the cool air.
