His scowl deepened. I almost felt sorry for him.
He worked his jaw back and forth. “I’m giving away one free project. I’m not a date.”
“No one’s going to care,” I said, starting to enjoy his discomfort.
His gaze sharpened. “Are you saying you’d rather buy me for a date?”
His voice was almost a purr and his little gotcha smirk slammed my guards back in place. I’d almost been congenial with him. I’d had empathy for him. And he was teasing me again.
“You’re welcome to come bid on him,” Wilna said. “I’m retiring. It’s the last auction, so it’ll be a full house.”
There was no way I was fighting a bunch of women for Teller. Besides, every cent I had needed to go into this place.
“Two weeks.” Wilna patted the papers Teller clutched to his chest. Her gaze jumped around me, trying to see inside.
Teller witnessing the mess was bad enough, but I was used to being inferior around him. I didn’t need Wilna spreading the word about what little I’d done so far.
“Thanks, Wilna. Good luck, Teller.” I shut the door in their faces.
I put my back to the door and sucked in a long breath. Teller showing up at my door had been unexpected, to say the least. My fingers tightened around the grocery bag. I still held on to the flyer. His brooding face stared back as if Wilna had surprised him like a paparazzo.
He’d brought me candy. Had he felt bad about choc-blocking me?
I giggled. I liked chocolate too, but days like today called for straight sugar. Looking inside, I gasped.
Holy crap. I hadn’t registered the weight, but he’d loaded up. Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, gummy bears, and a bag of Trolli. No Jelly Belly, but my mouth was salivating.
A smile tugged at my lips. Not even my ex had been this generous when I’d asked him to pick up something sweet for me. I mulled over which bag to devour first. The decision took my mind off figuring out why Teller had dropped it off.
Sour Patch Kids first. Then... whatever I had time for. I dug my phone out of my back pocket and checked the time. Shit. I had to get ready for work.
I tapped the back of my head against the door. So. Much. To. Do.
If only I could hire someone. Who could I trust not to screw me over? Between Scott and my mom and my dad when he’d been alive, my last name didn’t garner trust, and I could not afford to fuck around. None of Scott’s old customers were in construction, and I wouldn’t trust them sober any more than I had when they’d been drunk.
I needed a boost in my income, like yesterday. I had to get Flatlanders back in business.
If only I could get some help. Someone who was trustworthy. Someone who wouldn’t waste my last two cents. Someone who the town didn’t scorn for their last name.
I went to stuff the flyer in the bag, paused, and then stared at it one more time.
CHAPTER TWO
Teller
The collar of my shirt chafed. This room was too damn hot. Wasn’t the church’s AC working? “Stop looking at me like that,” I snapped at Tate.
He was grinning like a cat who’d got the chubbiest mouse in the barn, only we were tucked into a little room off the front of the church. I wanted to crawl under one of the three round tables. Hide next to the bookshelf. The other nine bachelors ahead of me lounged in office chairs and scrolled through their phones.
Deputy Nordstrum was auctioning off a day of yard work. He was in his fifties but newly divorced. Yard work was probably a euphemism. Then there was a delivery driver for the distillery and his buddy from Livingston. They were clear about wanting dates. The pastor always auctioned off a day of work. I recognized the others but had tuned out when numbers started getting pinned on.
I was ten. The last bachelor. My stomach would eat through itself before that happened.
The din from the sanctuary reached me. Feminine laughter and chatter. I cringed. I hated this. I didn’t want to date. I had no idea who would buy me—or why. I offered one project and it didn’t include orgasms.
I liked orgasms. Fucking loved them. But if I wasn’t alone, they always came with trouble, and I was tired of the drama. I hated getting fought over like a prized stallion.
I wanted peace and calm, and a strong woman who didn’t feel like she needed to parade me around.
