It goes on like that for half an hour. Sylvie brings up a bachelor—or bachelorette—the bidding starts small at twenty, and suddenly it’s jumping into the hundreds.
Vince went for two-fifty to the bookshop owner in the back. One of the Sterling boys, even though he’s engaged, got bid for three-hundred and was claimed by our town’s very own matchmaker. A doctor from the hospital went for four hundred by one of her colleagues, and we hadn’t even gotten to the firefighters yet.
“Okay, okay. Our next contestant is one of Willow Ridge’s very own firefighters from House 278. Finn Gates, brother of my partner in crime, currently volunteers with the brigade when he’s not helping mountain rescue. Wow, what a hero?!” Finn climbs onto the stage to the sound of cheers, grinning as he winks at Sylvie. I can’t help but grit my teeth.
My heart hammers in my chest, a total overreaction to watching my baby brother wrap his arm around Sylvie and plant a kiss on her cheek. There’s nothing romantic about it. They barely know each other.
So why does it feel like my insides are being twisted?
Sylvie smacks him on the chest with a laugh. “Finn here is one of the youngest firefighters left at the station still volunteering, and he claims it’s getting a little lonely. If you like hiking, spending time in nature, and then destroying all that hard work with pastries from Indigo Patisserie in town, then Finn might just be your guy! And because he’s our first strappingfirefighter for the night, our bids are starting at one hundred! Do we have a hundred?”
“Psst,” Opal hisses, claiming the chair to my left. “Spot me a hundred?”
I grimace and look over my shoulder as it gets claimed. “No.”
Opal pouts, twisting her lips. “Fine.”
“Doesn’t count as a fundraiser if you’re stealing funds from the old man running it,” Everette teases, sitting back.
I pass my old friend a glare, but he doesn’t seem to notice, because his gaze is locked on the stage. Suddenly, I hear Sylvie shout ‘sold!’ And once again, the crowd cheers with excitement.
“Congratulations, Loretta, you can claim your man at the desk in the back and drop your donation there with our lovely volunteers. I’m sure Finn can’t wait to show you his favourite picnic spot once the snow clears!” Sylvie claps Finn off the stage, and I watch him go to the older woman at the retirement home table in the middle of the hall.
But I can’t help it. As soon as my brother is out of sight, my attention returns to the blonde on the stage. “Okay, folks, we’re going to have a brief intermission. The lovely chefs and team at Jade Gardens will be bringing out your meals, and then we’ll get to the rest of your hunky firefighters and gorgeous ladies looking for evenings of fun!”
“You have to admit, she knows what she’s doing,” Everette says.
“Right?” Opal turns to him with a grin. “And Dad almost didn’t pick the auction idea. I had tobegfor him to do it.”
“Oh, is that so?” a sweet voice asks as the chair to my right is pulled out.
I stiffen, the smell of wine and florals hitting my nose. Sylvie has a flute of red wine in hand, which she sets down with a tight smile. When our eyes meet, she crosses her arms.
“I knew you were hesitant, but I didn’t realise Opal had to be my chief supporter.” Sylvie runs her eyes over me, lips quirking with a smile. “But tell me we’ve proved you wrong.”
A lump forms in my throat, one I try to swallow past. “The night’s not over yet.”
“Dad!” Opal admonishes, smacking my arm, while Sylvie rolls her eyes.
The blonde meets my stare, mischief twinkling in her dark brown eyes. “I’ll make a believer out of you yet, Hunter Gates. Maybe I should have let Opal put your name in the hat.” She leans forward, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. Not when all I can smell is her perfume. “Then you might have learned to respect my craft.”
I make myself swallow past the lump in my throat and remind myself she’s teasing me because she’s 26 and to her, I’m an old man. I might not yet be 40, but that probably doesn’t matter to her. There’s still an age gap of thirteen years, as well as a more obvious reason I can’t be having any thoughts about this woman.
And she’s sitting on my other side.
“Yeah, Dad.” Opal pokes me in the side, cutting through the tension with ease. “Anyway, did you put your name in, Sylvie?”
Those dark brown eyes leave mine as she turns her attention to Opal. I don’t know whether to feel disappointed or relieved over not feeling the weight of her stare on me any longer.
Sylvie smiles sweetly and shakes her head. “I can’t comment.”
Those words have something sinking in my chest. “And why not?”
“Because it would ruin the surprise,” she purrs without looking at me. “Anyway, I don’t see Everette or Maverick on there. Hmm?”
My oldest friends both look away. They might have convinced most of the young ones to toss their names in the ring, but neither added their own. At least they look ashamed. I know it’s for personal reasons, even though they’re both single.
Everette’s the first to shake his head. “Better let the young ones make fools of themselves than us.”
