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“Twenty-five hundred,” another woman says excitedly, jumping up and waving her paddle.
“Mellie, I will pull weeds in your garden for the rest of the summer. Just do something. Please!”
Suddenly, from behind us, we hear, “Five thousand dollars,” and Kristi, who I recognize from one of the restaurants in town, waves her paddle around like a wand. Like she’s daring anyone to go up against her.
A gasp and a bunch of murmurs fill the crowd. “Five thousand for our hottie lawyer. Going once, going twice... sold!”
“She probably just has salad in her picnic bucket,” a nasally voiced older lady says, looking back at Mellie suspiciously.
Mellie snorts and pulls me into a hug. “You did it! You got your jerk.” She giggles.
“What do you mean?” I ask as I pull back and look at Preston, who’s looking at me with those deep whiskey eyes. I can feel the heat coming off him from across the room.
Kristi saunters up and claims Preston, and they exchange a few words. He gives her a hug, and I feel gutted. Does he like Kristi? Do they have something going on that I’m not aware of? My heart sinks.
The auction continues, but I’m coming down off my adrenaline high and taking in the room. People are willing to come out to support my future business, and they believe in me. I may have been gone for several years, but they remember Harry. Several of them came over to ask about him and let me know that they miss seeing him and Pancake around town.
Now Sasha comes up to me holding a picnic basket. “Can you take this out to the gazebo for me?”
“Sure...” I say hesitantly. I head out of the community center and into the town square, which is lit up with lights. The fragrance of summer flowers permeates the air. I carry the basket down the sidewalk, where people are clustered, talking and eating from plates of food from the potluck.
The crowd parts, and there’s Preston, standing in the middle of the gazebo with a grin on his face. My heart sinks. This basket is for Preston and Kristi. How humiliating!
I take a deep breath, then approach him. I hand him the basket, and he sets it down, then pulls me into a big hug.
Confused, I hug him back and ask, “Where’s Kristi?”
24. preston
Love That Burns
I askedKristi to bid on me so that I could have this time with Paige. I told her I’d cover the bid, no matter how high. It was fun watching poor Paige squirm when she thought I was going to have a picnic with Kristi. And truthfully, I’m relieved. I want Paige.
She looks hesitant and nervous. It’s cute.
“Shall we?” I guide her to the blanket spread on the floor of the gazebo.
“This basket is for us, Paige. I wanted to have a date with you, so I had Kristi bid on me for you. I wanted you, Paige.”
“I had no idea she was doing that,” Paige admits. “I was so mad.”
“I could see that,” I tease. “But she’s actually with Toad.”
“Why did you want to have a picnic with me?” she asks.
“Well, if that’s not obvious, I’ll have to make it a little more clear.” I take her hand in mine, intertwining my fingers with hers.
She stares at me and leans forward and kisses me softly. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” I murmur, then nod to the basket. “What did Sasha pack us?”
“I have no idea what’s in here, but it smells delicious,” she says, then flips open the lid.
Music plays softly, and the sun is starting to go down. Paige smiles at me. Not her usual ornery smile, but a sweet one. It’s... nice.
“Why didn’t you tell me you knew my grandpa, Harry?”
“I honestly didn’t know Harry was your grandpa until recently. I put two and two together with the wooden birds, and then Allie mentioned something that made me realize.” I carefully set out the containers of food, thankful for something to focus on, because all of a sudden, I feel like I’m in high school again. Like I’m on a first date with a girl I have a crush on.
