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Brady strutted to her and placed a kiss on her cheek and winked, causing her to laugh and the crowd to jeer.
Brady leaned into the microphone. “Our emcee is beautiful, don’t y’all agree?” Elizabeth turned redder than a rose and grabbed the microphone from him, hip-bumping him out of her way.
Jessica and Leila had tears streaming down their faces from laughing. Leila thought her side was going to split as the bidding on the guys got higher and higher. Finally, the bidding on their services was complete, and they strutted back off the stage, waving and playing the crowd.
"Okay, everyone." Elizabeth had her hand up, to get the attention of the crowd. “Our last item to bid on is a horseback riding lesson with the one and only Adler Warfield.”
Leila turned, wide eyed, toward Jessica.
"You should bid. He can't ignore you if you won the lesson,” said Jessica with a wicked grin on her face.
Adler walked on the stage, and Leila’s heart stopped. He looked better than she’d ever seen him—if that was even possible. He must have changed since she saw him earlier. He was wearing dark blue jeans, tight as usual in all the right places, and a light blue button-up shirt, tucked in allowing his belt buckle to be seen. He had on his normal cowboy boots, and his face was sexy with a day’s worth of whiskers. Leila turned to Jessica. “Yeah, I need to win my man back.” She pushed her head up and held tightly onto her card. She was ready.
Chapter 27
“This is Adler Warfield,” announced Elizabeth.
Adler forced the biggest smile as he strutted across the stage. He didn’t want to be there, strutting and being judged like cattle. The thought made him chuckle. Now he knew what it was like to be one of their steers on the auction block.I can’t believe I was talked into doing this.
He scanned the crowd. There was Desiree, looking hot as usual. He smiled a crooked grin her way and winked. At least she helped him see the fun in this.
He continued to scan the crowd. Maybe he’d be able to catch a glimpse of Leila. He didn’t see her, but close behind Desiree were Tom and Diane. Diane had Skylar in her arms, and Adler’s heart softened. Skylar looked sweet and absolutely adorable. Her eyes were wide. The noise and commotion must have been a little overwhelming for her. He thought back to earlier when he’d said hi to them. He was hoping to get an apology from Leila, or a little acknowledgement at least, but it didn’t seem like shehad anything to say to him. Elizabeth’s voice brought him back to the business at hand.
“Adler Warfield is offering his services to give horseback riding lessons, or if you already know how to ride and don’t need lessons, he will be your guide for a trail ride through the back country at Warfield Acres.” Elizabeth twirled her finger in a circle in the air. “Turn so they know what all they’re getting.”
He dropped his chin and glared at her.You’ve got to be kidding me.“Seriously?” he whispered.
“Of course, I’m serious,” Elizabeth said into her microphone. “Don’t y’all want to see what you’ll be getting for your money?”
There were loud cheers and claps throughout the crowd with cat calls coming from the front. Adler turned and shot daggers at the guys.Assholes.He moved his gaze toward Elizabeth, shook his head, and rolled his eyes. He stuck his arms out and gave a sneer to the crowd as he turned in a slow circle. Again, the cheers and cat calls continued. Adler wanted to choke someone, but whatever.
“So. Who will start the bidding?” Steve Gregor asked, and he started rambling in his auctioneer voice.
The bids started slowly. A little embarrassing. Adler couldn’t stand up here and listen as his services went slowly from $20, to $25, then $30—really? Okay, this was ridiculous. He was worth more than this.
He strutted to the edge of the stage put his arms out, palms up, and gestured to the crowd. “Come on people!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. “It’s for charity, and I’m worth more than this!” He turned again, slower this time, and made sure to flex when he was finished. The noise became deafening, and a loud “fifty dollars!” came from somewhere in the crowd.
The bidding was off and running. Adler couldn’t keep up, and luckily, he didn’t have to. That was Steve Gregor’s job, and he was a pro.
It seemed like there were at least four people causing a bidding war. One older woman who kept winking when she caught his eyes. That was little creepy, but he smiled at her anyway. Desiree was another. She could get his services for free, but he winked at her when their eyes met. One woman he didn’t know, but it looked like she was bidding for the teenage girl standing next to her, and the fourth person, Adler couldn’t see.
It was a battle back and forth, until finally there was a “five-hundred dollars” shouted above the noise. Everyone, even Steve Gregor, froze as silence engulfed the crowd. Steve’s eyes were wide. “Did I hear right? Five-hundred dollars?” he asked in his thick southern drawl as his gaze darted around.
Adler’s did also. Who would possibly pay that kind of money for a horseback riding lesson?
Then he caught the winning bidder’s eye. It was Desiree, but who did she outbid? Adler glanced around, searching for the fourth bidder. And the fourth bidder finally came into view. Leila lowered her head as she walked away from the auction.
Leila couldn’t believe it. She’d gotten caught up in the bidding and was actually excited about the possibility of winning. She could see how people got addicted to the adrenaline rush of gambling. Her heart was palpitating fast, and her body was alive. Then another bidder yelled out five hundred dollars. A crazy sum, and she immediately recognized Desiree’s voice.
Every muscle in her body tensed. She couldn’t compete against her, in any way. And she was tired of trying. As soon as that amount was said, Leila glanced at Adler, and she caught the wink he sent Desiree’s way. She was crazy to think he would ever be interested in her over Desiree. She deflated and had to getout of that tent. All those people made it so claustrophobic and stuffy. She needed air.
She pushed her way to freedom and fell on the bench of a picnic table. It was better out here. The noise of the auction was muffled, and the night was warm, yet comfortable. She sat staring at the mostly empty downtown, the lights in the trees causing a romantic glow over the streets.
I totally screwed this up. He was amazing and sweet.And so out of her league.Tears slowly carved a path down her cheeks.
“Hey. Leila, are you okay?”
Leila looked up. Stacey and Tristan walked toward her. Just what she needed, Adler’s cousin reporting back to him that she was out here crying. She turned her head away and wiped her cheeks. “Yeah, I’m good.” She gave them what she hoped was a believable smile.
