1
Scarlett
The first atrocitymy two best friends committed was dragging me out on a Friday night. Bourbon Canyon’s population was in the low four figures. Except for the occasional street dance, football game, or Fourth of July fireworks show, there wasn’t anything to do on a Friday night. Even when there were events in town, I sat them out and happily tucked myself into the corner of the couch with my embroidery and murder shows.
Since I’d been single, I’d been impossible to guilt about my nonsocial adventures.
After a week of teaching a bustling class of rambunctious fourth graders, my sole focus was a quiet night. No negotiations. No standardized testing. No playground arguments over balls, whose turn it was, or who cut in line.
Summer break started last week, and though I tutored over summer vacation, the personal recharge was still valid.
The second atrocity Summer Kerrigan and her sister Autumn committed was bringing me to Bourbon Canyon’s Fifth Annual Bachelor Auction.
“Ladies, the auction is about to begin,” the announcer called through the church’s sound system.
Because didn’t all bachelor auctions take place where babies were baptized?
The auction was a fundraiser for the local food pantry and children’s resource center. Bourbon Canyon wasn’t the only town to participate, and the proceeds were distributed throughout the county. If I had money to donate, I’d have indulged.
Maybe.
I shoved my glasses up my nose. Probably not. I’d rather write a check and keep my pride intact. After what my last ex had said about me, no doubt the whole town thought I needed to buy a guy in order to date.
“Come on, Scarlett. We need a back-row seat.” Summer’s strawberry-blond hair fell over her shoulder as she nudged me toward a pew. People streamed around us to take a seat and watch the show. Was everyone here going to bid?
“Why?” I asked.
“So I can see who’s bidding.” Summer grinned at me, then bit her lip as her gaze skated toward the front. The bachelors would get marched out one by one. Did she have a bachelor in mind? Or did Autumn? Summer was the only one who’d registered for a bidding paddle. When we entered the church, she’d beelined to the auction table. A large84was emblazoned across the homemade cardboard bidding paddle.
Autumn slid in on the other side of me, sandwiching me in. She patted her auburn hair like she was nervous. Was there someone she also didn’t want to see auctioned off?
The whole thing was kitschy, but I had to admit the energy buzzing through the room was good-natured and fun.
Women of all ages were here, but not for the reasons one would think. The bachelor auction didn’t just put single men up for bid. Married guys offered their services for a day and those skills didn’t include romantic dinners and long walks. Only a few bachelors were actually offering a date.
Tate Bailey was one of them.
Summer and Autumn’s oldest brother. The four Kerrigan sisters were adopted. And while all three of their Bailey brothers were handsome, Tate was a standout,in my modest opinion.
A month ago, when I’d heard he’d agreed to do the auction, I’d fantasized for an entire week. I’d gone to school and had a hard time looking his son in the eye. The things I’d dreamed of doing to Tate Bailey…
A girl could dream, but one of my best traits was being realistic. Which was why I had wanted to stay far away from this year’s auction. I had only seen Tate when it was to inform him of the trouble his son Chance had gotten into. Tate had a glower that could incinerate the panties off a girl in all the best ways, but when it was aimed at me, my granny panties wanted to hang their head in shame.
I couldn’t cater to my infatuation with Tate. I’d been his kid’s fourth-grade teacher, and for nine months, I’d felt like the biggest tattletale alive while facing down those intimidating, narrowed eyes and big, bulging crossed arms.
While I was technically no longer Chance’s teacher, I didn’t delude myself. When Tate strode through town, I’d actually heard women sigh. He towered over me by a good eight inches, which was probably less than what was in his pants. But to that man, I’d be nothing but Miss Scarlett Breen, Chance’s picky teacher.
Before Tate had moved back to town, I would’ve claimed the whole mountain man thing wasn’t my type. Then I’d seen him in his worn jeans, cowboy boots, and flannels. Now I was a convert.
Half the allure was knowing he had a brain. He used to run the headquarters of his family’s Copper Summit Bourbon Distillery in Bozeman before he moved home.
Autumn had shown me a picture of his ex-wife. She was my opposite. I didn’t believe in rating people by their looks, but dammit, she was a ten. I was a…six. If I rounded up. Average, from my hair to my height to my clothes.
Even tonight, I was in jean capris and a yellow shirt with walking sandals. Autumn wasn’t dressed much differently, only she wore flip-flops. I needed more arch support. Summer dressed like her name. Light, flouncy summer dresses and wedge sandals that I’d break an ankle in.
A lady approached the podium with the mic. Wilna Whitecloud. She worked in the church office, ran the local animal shelter, and was involved in every Bourbon Canyon shindig possible. The auction was her brainchild.
She tapped the mic, and the thud rang through the chapel. “Everyone’s about seated. All right. We’ll go ahead and get started.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “Welcome to the fifth annual Bourbon Canyon Bachelor Auction, where our bachelors are as stiff as our drinks.”
