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We’re halfway through the bidding, and that reclusive cowgirl Casey has already bid on and won a date with that rodeo star Tanner, whom everyone is supposed to hate. Whitney, that quiet girl who works at the gas company, came out of nowhere and bid a considerable amount on some guy in flannel and shitkickers who nobody knows except Maisy. Maisy approves the match, though, to be honest, she’s three glasses of red wine in. She’s got the Warner wedding at her place tomorrow, and she evidently needs to blow off steam.
Charity is here to bid on her husband, Jonas, who entered simply to spice up their relationship. They’re so cute I can’t stand it.
And to think I wasn’t even going to come to this thing tonight after having my confidence destroyed by Nate standing me up last night. But this is turning into a fun night. And besides, it’s fun to spend time with girlfriends. I love hearing about their growing families and about them having snatched up what seems to be the last decent men in existence. Tonight, though, the three of them are full of questions about me and Nate’s dad. Even though there’s nothing to tell. It was a business transaction.
“And then he bought the entire tipsy carrot cake,” I say.
“He likes you,” Charity says, her eyes sparkling.
“Or maybe he wanted to feed a bunch of hungry cowboys,” I tell her.
Serena shakes her head no. “No, he sold off his cattle a couple years ago to us, as a matter of fact. He turned his land into a hospitality ranch. There’s a lodge, cute little cabins, zip lines, canoeing, and fishing. They even have free concerts out there in the summertime.”
I shrug. “That’s it then. He has a huge staff to feed. And he wanted to make up for what Nate did.”
Serena nods. “His intentions were pure, showing up to the bakery. But now that he’s talked to you, he’s into you.”
I scoff too loudly, and the three women with me all exchange a look.
I wish my immediate reaction to talking about Nate’s dad wasn’t to blush and protest in such an obvious way. Besides, it’s wrong, isn’t it? Jesse is so much older. And he’s the father of the guy who stood me up. How weird will that look to everyone?
The truth is, the fit of Jesse’s ropers featured heavily in my dream last night. Those jeans were the same rich color as his eyes. His crinkly, gorgeous eyes. Not fair. I may be blessed with a baby face at 26, but I can already tell where the lines on my face are planning to come in, and it’s not going to be a glamorous Helen Mirren look. Jesse’s wrinkles are indisputably hot, and therefore he sucks.
He sucks doubly so for having eyes the same rich blue color as his perfect jeans.
Then there was the rugged canvas jacket and the sagebrush-colored Stetson hat. The overall look was a lot more put together and clean-shaven than the average legit Montana cowboy, but I can’t fault someone for putting thought into his appearance. And, sure, he might resemble Timothy Olyphant in the proper lighting, but that’s an actor. It’s safe to drool over celebrities. Someone’s much older dad who lives in my town is not a safe person to fantasize about, no matter how fluttery and stupid I get around Jesse. Jesse. Even the name is too Western and too sexy for me.
Dammit, stop it, brain. You can’t lust over Nate’s dad. It’s weird.
Also, I don’t have to date anyone to be happy, despite my childhood hard wiring that I can’t seem to escape, even hundreds of miles away from home.
Since opening my bakery here in Darling Creek, everyone has been interested in my love life. That’s life in a small town, I suppose.
Serena pouts sympathetically and squeezes my shoulder. “Well, don’t turn around because Nate’s here.”
Ugh. But why should I be surprised? This event is the biggest spectacle I’ve experienced since moving here.
“And he’s with someone,” Maisy hisses.
God.
I don’t want to turn around. I shouldn’t turn around. But I do, anyway.
And there he is, with his arm around a tall, blonde bombshell who exudes ten times my confidence. In a body-con dress, no less. I console myself with the fact that Nate clearly touched up his online photos. It’s him, but not exactly what I would have expected.
As I’m about to turn around and bolt out the door, he glances past the girl on his arm and sees me staring. My blood runs cold. I want to run. Hide. Go home and eat cookie dough and forget my humiliation of waiting at the Corner Café for over an hour, dressed up in my cutest flirty dress while Jenny, the waitress, served me cup after cup of coffee. And then started bringing me free bottomless milkshakes out of sympathy.
Agreeing to meet an online date in public is great until they stand you up in a small town, and every damn person witnesses it.
And now, I don’t even feel an ounce of attraction, just total embarrassment. Nate knows it. He knows what he did. And that’s why he turns around, resuming his conversation with the tall blonde. As if I don’t even exist.
“Do you want to go?” Serena asks when I turn around, and she sees my face.
I do, but then again, I don’t. All these mom friends are enjoying a rare night out on the town. I’m enjoying the spectacle of this dating auction. And on top of that, if I leave? Nate wins. I shouldn’t care what he thinks, but it’s more about the principle of the thing. He can’t make me leave when he shows up in a town this size. I’d never be able to go anywhere in this town.
As the bidding continues, I try to enjoy myself. But everything feels tarnished now. It’s me. I let Nate get up in my head.
Gingerly, I run my fingers over the petals of the small boutonniere I bought with my auction paddle registration. Worst case scenario, the money goes to charity, and I can put the flowers in a bud vase at the bakery tomorrow.
