Jake groaned.
Rayah elbowed him in the ribs. “Do your part for your town.”
He groaned again. “It’s fine. But we’re not having a sleepover in there again. You wouldn’t believe the things I found when we cleaned up.”
“I probably would.”
“You probably left them there.”
“Hmmm. Did you find a bottle of strawberry flavoured lube?”
He groaned, ignoring his sister and focusing back on Marley, who had a flipchart out and was writing the gig idea on it with a pink marker.
“How about an auction? We can hold it in person and virtually to maximise bids.”
Jake sat up straighter. He knew that voice. Heard it in his nightmares and when he woke up every morning.
“What would we auction?” The glare he gave her should’ve been enough to see her moving into the next town. “I’m not sure you’d be that profitable.”
Lainey Green’s smile was dazzling. “I’m sure local businesses would donate. A stay in Sorrell’s guesthouse; a tasting session at the distillery; a day’s rock-climbing experience; horse riding lessons or a hack – I’m pretty sure we can offer some unique experiences, even if an auction isn’t an original idea.”
“Didn’t Underwood have an auction a couple of years ago?” Jake raised his voice so he’d be heard over the mutterings of the crowd. “It might be too soon to hold another.” Underwood was the town a few miles over.
Lainey turned to him, her blonde hair looking even thicker than normal. “If the lots are different it shouldn’t matter. I can ask my cousin’s wife to help with the publicity, and if we run it online the reach will be much bigger.”
“I’m sure Vanessa will help.” It was Gran who chirped up. “Vanessa is married to Lainey’s cousin. She lived in Severton before she went to university.”
Jake felt it before he heard it: a change in the air in the room as a batshit crazy idea began to be formed in Gran’s mind.
He groaned. He was doing a lot of that tonight.
“How about we auction some of our good-looking search and rescue heroes.”
And there it was. The bat shit crazy idea that Jake just knew he’d end up centre of.
There were more mutterings, a few laughs. Scott was offered up to be auctioned by Keren, his wife. Zack tried to hide in the shadows.
Jake started to tune out when someone suggested a dog show. He was bracing himself for the expectation that he’d be auctioned off for a date or something, no doubt making himself an easy target for Lainey’s mirth.
Marley brought the meeting to a close, several pieces of flip chart paper now filled with ideas, the name of a designated organiser on each one. Jake had the gig, unsurprisingly. Lainey had the auction.
He stood up and stretched, Rayah having scuttled over to where Sadie had made a fort out of stolen coats, her big eyes peering out at the crowd like an owl watching from its nest. Jake was pretty sure she would have some contraband sweets in there too, but that would be his sister’s and Jonny’s problem.
Maud, one of the Coven, was manning a table serving tea, coffee, gin and locally brewed beer, which Jake felt was now necessary. He’d walked down from the farm with the intention of calling in Scott’s bar afterwards. Tomorrow was his day for a lie-in and he was intending to make the most of not having to be up before dawn.
“Beer, Jake?” She gave him a smile that he knew was far too innocent.
“Please.” He took out his wallet and put a five-pound note in the money box. The profits went straight back into the search and rescue fund. He avoided any more eye contact with Maud, knowing full well that once he did, she’d put some sort of spell on him that made him agree to everything, including things like posing in their charity calendars when he wasn’t wearing very much.
But Maud’s attention wasn’t on him any way.
“Lainey. It’s lovely to see you here!”
Jake didn’t look up. If he clicked his heels, he wondered if he might end up in Oz and not having to be polite with his neighbour.
“Thank you. I’ve been looking forward to getting involved more in the town. This is ideal.”
Lainey’s voice scoured his soul.
