“Well, now you’re included.” Wynter squinted at the grill where Teller chatted with Lane and Cruz. “Now we just have to find someone for Teller.”
“Teller doesn’t want to be found.” Teller could be married tomorrow if he wanted to be. There were plenty of willing tributes in town.
Wynter didn’t take her eyes off our brother. “Wilna’s hunting for him. I bet she’ll convince him to be a bachelor.”
I laughed. “No.”
Ruby looked between us. “Wilna?”
“She runs the bachelor auction.” Wynter propped her hands on her hips. “The fate you saved Tenor from. But I don’t think Teller’s going to be so lucky. I’d bet a hundred on it.”
“I’m going to take that bet.” I dug out my wallet and flashed Wynter a hundred.
Her face turned smug. “You’re on. I’m going to ask the others if they want in.”
“You guys are betting on Teller?” Ruby asked.
“I’m betting on Wilna,” Wynter said. A kid called out and she twisted her head to find Myles and Elsa. “I’d better see if she’s hungry.” She started walking away. “Let me know how it goes with Madison,” she called over her shoulder.
Ruby turned into me. “I’m glad you weren’t in the bachelor auction. I never could’ve outbid anyone.”
“I would’ve paid someone to bid on me for me. I’d have cashed in my retirement.” I shuddered. “The deal between us benefits me too.”
“Glad I could help. So how are we fake dating next weekend?”
“Let’s go to Curly’s.”
Her smile fell. “You don’t have to.”
I took her hand. “I want to. Others are going to talk, and I’m not that insecure kid anymore. I have to quit acting like it.”
“If you want to back out before then, I won’t take it personally.”
“I won’t back out.”
Her lips curved up. “It’s a date, then.” She touched the tip of her nose and winked.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ruby
I spent my Friday shift at the bar waiting for Tenor to walk in and help me close. Closing time was fast approaching and he was nowhere to be seen. Teller’s pickup was still in the lot, but where Tenor usually parked next to him was empty.
Two guys were at a corner table. I’d served them before. They usually talked quietly together before leaving ten minutes before close.
I washed some glassware and stocked behind the bar. Before long, everything was tidied and ready for the next day. The scrape of chairs announced the customers’ departure. Just as they were walking out, the door connecting the tasting room to the lobby swung open.
Teller entered and he nodded when he saw me. “Hey. Just gonna make sure you get everything locked up okay. Tenor’s helping Lane fix some hydraulics.” He scratched his beard. “We’re haying soon.”
“Oh. Okay.” Acute disappointment hung heavy on my shoulders. Tenor was busy fixing a tractor on a Friday night when his girlfriend was supposed to be arriving at his place?
I wasn’t his girlfriend. Tenor wasn’t Brock ignoring my arrival. But the new handkerchief dress I had bought with my tips from the last month was wasted on regulars who were all either married or not interested. Nor was I interested in them.
“Thank you,” I said, regaining my composure. Even if I were Tenor’s girlfriend, I wouldn’t pout because he hadn’t helped me close. I’d get on with what I was doing. He wasn’t avoiding me. It’s that we weren’t really a thing. “I just need to cash out and clean that last table, then I’ll be done.”
“No rush. I got the table.”
He grabbed the rag while I counted the small amount of cash that had come in tonight. When we were done, I sent the shift reports to Tenor and tucked the tablet away under the bar.
