“I asked her not to,” Marc said, still watching the game though little was happening. The score was zero to zero and there was only one out at the bottom of the first.
Conner hadn’t paid much attention to baseball since he lost his dad more than a decade ago. The game had never been the same without him to watch it with. That the Cubs had been his team—their team—should capture some of his attention. But too much lingered on his mind. Especially when it came to Sadie Evans.
“She tends to do the opposite of whatever I ask, though.” Marc twisted the cap off a bottle of beer. “Just wanted to make sure she’s leaving you alone.”
It wasn’t Conner’s place to pry. He’d reminded himself of that for weeks. But he hadn’t gotten enough of an answer out of Chase, so the question slipped out anyway. “What happened between you two?” When Marc’s eyes fell shut and stayed that way as he sucked in a breath, instead of apologizing for not minding his own business, Conner added, “The rest of your family seems to get along so well. It’s hard not to notice the tension between you two.”
“I give people a lot of chances,” Marc answered, his voice low. Not that anyone else was listening. Ryder and Denver were deep in conversation at the opposite end of the couch while Liam, Ford, and Chase explained a double play to Eli. “I gave my sister more than I give most. If Judy wasn’t out of town on an emergency—”
“Sadie seems to be picking it up well enough,” Conner offered once more, treading as lightly as he could. But something inside him stirred to life. The urge to defend the bold redhead who took up residence in his thoughts more often than he’d liked to admit. He cared more than he ought to. Thought about her constantly. He told himself the picture of Boomer he sent before coming here was a check-in. A subtle reminder that he was there if things went sideways. If she were ever in any danger. He wouldn’t break his promise to keep his mouth shut where her ex was concerned, but it wasn’t an easy feat. If Marc only knew what was really going on—
“She’s smart,” Marc said. “I’ll give her that. She just doesn’t put it to good use most of the time.”
“Maybe she’s changed?”
Marc pointed his uncomfortable gaze at Conner, worry etched in his stern expression. “She hasn’t come on to you, has she?”
“Of course not.” But that didn’t stop his pulse from racing. As if he wished the answer were different.Where is that coming from?He blamed Edith and Katy for their overzealousness when it came to his love life. No one woman had caught even a flicker of his interest, but he knew without a doubt if hehadto pick one, like at gunpoint, he’d pick Sadie. He didn’t linger too long on thewhyof that scenario.
“You’d be wise to keep your distance. She might come off as sweet and innocent, but she tends to leave a path of destruction when she leaves. And shewillleave. She’s not fooling anyone.” Marc took a pull of his beer. “I don’t want you to go through some unnecessary crap because of my sister. You’ve been through enough.”
“Have you considered—”
“Marc, where you hiding thegoodbeers?” Ryder called from the opposite end of the U-shaped sofa. “I didn’t see any of those in the fridge.”
Marc pushed out of his seat, leaving Conner to dwell on everything he said. His warning should have no bearing on him. He had no intentions of getting involved with anyone, let alone his buddy’s little sister. But he knew darn well he was fooling himself if he tried to pretend any of the protective feelings he was having toward Sadie were brotherly in nature.
They were not.
He pulled out his phone, intending to search for information on the upcoming Blueberry Festival. If his sister in Texas knew about the bachelor auction, it stood to reason it was readily available. He hated the thought of making himself a spectacle. But itwasfor a good cause. The animal shelter desperately needed some upgrades.
It had nothing to with moving on from Sadie.
There was nothing to move on from.Right?
Participating in the bachelor auction and agreeing to go on a date with someone else might help keep Sadie in the friend zone. Marc couldn’t fault them for being friends. At least he hoped not.
Except, instead of clicking the link for information on the bachelor auction, Conner found himself texting Sadie.
Conner:How did you know?
Conner:Guess I owe you ten bucks :)
He hit send before he could delete the smiley face. What had gotten into him? He was walking a tightrope when it came to Sadie on a day-to-day basis. But texting her from Marc’s place? He might as well be walking that tightrope chased by a bear breathing fire.
After waiting several embarrassing seconds for a response that didn’t come, he shoved his phone back in the safety of his pocket.
“I’d offer you one—” Marc said to Conner.
“But I’m on call. All good.”
“You doing that bachelor auction?” Conner asked Marc, already certain he knew the answer. “The one for charity.”
Marc grumbled. “I don’t want to, but considering they’re raising funds for the animal shelter . . .” He finished his thought with a pull of his beer. He didn’t have to say the rest out loud. Conner got it. If they opted out, it wouldn’t look good. They were the local veterinarians and both single. Both great candidates to raise money for a worthwhile cause. And the only two in the room who qualified since Eli was too young.
“I’ll do it if you do,” Conner said, not wanting to mean it. Why did the words feel like a betrayal?Unless Sadie makes the winning bid.Nowtherewas a thought. A date not even Marc could argue with because it was for charity. Oh, boy. He was in deeper than he thought.
7
