Shit, shit, shit. How could I get five grand between now and the twenty-second walk to the office?
Everyone filtered out, but I took my time, lingering in the pews, avoiding others’ gazes. People were stopping to congratulate me as if I’d won Teller for life and not for the duration of the bar repairs. Some people even gushed about my generosity, shocked, like they didn’t think I’d ever donate a dime. I’d never had money to give away. So I edged toward the side of the room, leaving others hanging mid sentence.
After a long stretch of time, the sanctuary cleared out. Auction winners exited the hallway on their way to discuss terms with their bachelor.
I had fifty grand. I could pay most of my bid. Would Wilna let me make payments on the last five grand? There was only a little more money in the bar’s name, but that had to go toward supplies and materials.
Dammit. My feet were leaden as I walked down the hall. I passed the room of bachelors. Even that had emptied out. I didn’t bother to look inside.
Tate waited outside of the pastor’s office. “Hey, Madison.”
Teller was close to forty with a good eight years on me, and Tate was the oldest Bailey. He’d never talked to me. Our paths had never crossed. I’d made sure of it. “Uh, hi, Tate.”
“Good bidding out there. I didn’t think you were going to get it.”
My laugh was nervous. What did he think of my triumph? Had he been hoping Riley would win his brother? Her project would be easier and probably include less clothing. “Neither did I.”
I walked past him to turn into the office, and he leaned forward. “Make him earn every cent.”
Startled, I looked at him, but then the big man bending over the desk snatched one hundred percent of my attention. Teller’s wide back was to me, but his ass was on display. Blue denim molded around a perfectly muscular butt. One knee was bent as he wrote something on the desk.
I stopped in the doorway. What now? I gawk at him while I wait to pay fifty-five thousand dollars to make him my bitch at the bar?
Wilna spotted me. “Hello, big spender. Come on in.” Her face creased with her wide grin. “Your generosity tonight is astounding. It dwarfs even this man’s.”
Teller looked over his shoulder, his dark gaze pinning me. “I’m throwing in my own share.”
“What?”
Wilna nodded. “He’s kicking in some of your bid. Isn’t that nice?”
“Excuse me?” My emotions were poised on the edge of a precipice. Stark relief on one side, utter humiliation on the other. “Why do you think I need help?” I did, but I was tired of being underestimated, and that it was by this guy stung more.
“It was the least I could do. Since you were so gracious as to keep bidding.” He tossed the pen back into a cup on the desk.
“You seriously paid for some of my bid without asking?” Indignation choked me. I should be relieved, but of course the mighty Teller Bailey would assume I couldn’t cover the total.
I was supposed to finally have some leverage, and he was taking it away.
“Why would you do that?” I snapped.
He gave me a confused look. Wilna watched us, and Tate was probably outside the door listening in.
Teller stepped closer to me. I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze, and god, why was that so hot?
He didn’t move away. Neither did I. “Why don’t you settle what’s left and then we can talk?”
“Oryou can answer me instead of expecting me to jump to do what you say.”
He leaned a little closer and my traitorous body wanted to sway forward and close the distance, to feel how warm that big, hard body was. “I’ll wait outside the office, Madison,” he finished on a purr.
My thighs quivered. Then he was gone, taking that delicious heat and his enticing woodsy citrus scent with him. My world tipped sideways, and I covered the dizziness by facing Wilna. The sooner I was done dealing with this payment andthat man, the better.
I’m supposed to dislike him, but my hormones hadn’t gotten the message.
I’d never wired money before, but Wilna walked me through everything. The nausea returned through the process. For a brief, blissful moment, I’d had over fifty grand in my account. Now I was back to twenty bucks until payday.
I’d had less before.
