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Kenzie pushes off the table, sauntering toward me with a cocky smirk. “Don’t be so confident, Cowboy.”
Chapter Nine
MACKENZIE
I’m not sure what the hell came over me or why I agreed to Grayson’s ridiculous offer but knowing the pranks would stop was too good to pass up. Getting him back always takes tons of planning, and I’ve been anxious while I wait for him to retaliate. As long as he keeps his word, it’s a good deal.
However, bidding on him will make everyone think I want to go on a date with him.
Spending the weekend with him at a family event will only add to the speculation.
But it’s just once, and then I can put this all behind me. Hopefully.
Grandma’s been in charge of the annual bachelor auction for decades, and I’ve been suckered into going and bidding on someone since I turned eighteen. I’ve never bid on Grayson, so it will seem odd. While I’d love nothing more than to tell him to eat shit and go to his family’s event alone, I’m a sucker for a challenge. And not pushing Grayson off a ledge after one of his smart-ass remarks will be one.
“You hear Harper’s in labor?” Hadleigh comes up and asks. She rakes her fingers through her curly strawberry-blond hair, then pulls it up and out of her face.
“Really? Guess they won’t be making it tonight. That’s exciting. Another second cousin in the fam!” I smile wide as I walk closer to the stage that’ll be filled soon.
“Yeah, they’re so excited. I hope to go to the hospital as soon as the baby’s here.” Hadleigh follows and scans her eyes around the room. She’s already told me she plans on bidding on the twins, and she’s ready to throw elbows if another woman gets in her way. Though she swears they’re just friends, we all suspect there’s more to it than that, but I don’t ask.
Ten minutes pass, and the place is packed with eager women ready to win themselves a bachelor or two. Feels like the whole town is standing in here waiting for it to start.
“Welcome to another bachelor auction. I hope y’all brought your wallets because every penny raised tonight is goin’ to the local food pantry,” Kiera finally says into the microphone, grabbing our attention. She’s the emcee this year. “I’ve been to my fair share of these, and it’s safe to say, the selection gets better and better.” She winks at the audience, causing a roar of giggles.
“Excuse me, woman?” Jackson steps on stage. “Better than me?”
“Who gave you that?” Kiera looks at the mic in his hand.
Jackson smirks, walking closer until he’s standing next to her. “I have my ways.”
She shakes her head. “Well you’re no spring chicken, my darlin’. But I would’ve spent all my money to win you.”
Jackson wraps an arm around her, pulling her into his large chest. “You tryin’ to sugar me up now?”
“Oh my God.” I hear Kaitlyn groan next to us. “Is there anything more embarrassing than your parents nearly making out in front of everyone?”
Hadleigh and I chuckle as they continue bantering until Kiera finally shoves Jackson off stage and tells him to stop stealing her spotlight. Kaitlyn’s face burns with humiliation.
“I think it’s adorable,” Hadleigh says. “We’d all be so lucky to have a long-lasting love like that.”
“It’s all fun and games until it’s your folks.” She groans.
“You gonna bid this year?” I ask her.
She shrugs. “Not much of a selection other than the few ranch hands I’m not related to.”
I chuckle at her bored expression. Before I can respond, Kiera introduces the first bachelor.
“I may be biased as his mother, but this first guy is a looker. At six-foot-three, Knox Bishop is tan, muscular, and will keep you on your toes just like his daddy.”
“Mom…” Knox scolds as he saunters down the runway in tight, dark-wash Wranglers and a black cowboy hat.
“But he’ll also keep ya laughing for days.” She winks at him. “Let’s start the bid at fifty.”
A dozen paddles fly up at once, including Hadleigh’s. She looks around in horror.
“Do I hear seventy-five?” Kiera says as a few paddles drop. Hadleigh keeps hers flying high in the air.
“One hundred?” Kiera looks around. “Only one lucky lady can claim this cowboy. One fifty?”
“Dammit,” Hadleigh hisses. “I should’ve brought more cash.”
“Two hundred?” There are still four paddles waving, and Hadleigh’s sweating as she stays persistent.
“Alright, two fifty?” Kiera asks in surprise.
Knox gloats with a shit-eating grin at the way he’s being fought over. Typical Bishop boy behavior.
“Three hundred!” a woman shouts. Hadleigh and I jerk our heads and see Sarah Cooke.
“That bitch!” Hadleigh hisses under her breath.
No one likes Sarah and for good reason. She’s constantly trying to steal people’s men. Even if Knox’s single, there’s no way he’d really be interested in dating her.
