“She will. Now piss off and let me read.”
He shook his head, half shocked, and half just in need of caffeine. Who knew what today would bring?
There wereover fifty tables set out in the village hall, each one catering for six people, a cheese and charcuterie board on each with two bottles of wine. All three hundred tickets had been sold, as well as another two hundred online tickets for those who couldn’t attend but still wanted to watch.
Somehow, between Keren, Lainey and Sorrell, they’d managed to turn an auction into a wider event, with food and cocktail boxes that could be ordered for those with virtual tickets and drinks packages for those in attendance. Already, Jake was told, they’d hit the target. And that was without any on the night bids.
Some lots were online only, another dozen were part of a secret auction, including a painting from an anonymous donor, whose style was identical to the masterpieces that went up illegally around Severton. Then there were the in-person ones.
A local girl who’d become a pretty decent comedian was the master of ceremonies, donating her time for free. Jake had already spotted both Ollie and Will trying to make a play and both getting very nicely shot down. He’d resisted the temptation to rib them about it because there was something that was more important for him to do.
Someone who was more important for him to find.
There was a fuss being made in a corner where Gran and the rest of the Coven were setting up a table with calendars and gin for sale; Sorrell and Keren were debating where to sit the town’s mayor, as she was known to get a little too excited after a few drinks, and Sorrell’s friend Gwensi was trying to keep Ollie and Will from making complete fools of themselves.
He’d have just let them.
“If you’re looking for Rayah, she’s taken Sadie Grace home to get changed.” Sorrell walked past him, carrying a bunch of balloons.
He wasn’t, but he wanted to know what his niece had done. “Why?”
“Sadie fell in a cake.”
“I shouldn’t have asked.”
Sorrell shrugged. “No, but Rayah took a photo when she was screaming her eyes out and has said she’s going to save it for her eighteenth birthday. We’re wondering whether we need to start a therapy fund.”
“For us or Sadie Grace?”
“Good point.”
“Have you seen Lainey?” May as well as just come out with it. He doubted Sorrell would even question why he was asking.
“She was in the ladies’ toilets last time I saw her. Jake, can you let Zack know Edith’s going to look after Phoebe?” She was halfway back to the stage by the time she’d asked the question.
“I’ll try to remember.”
“Never mind. I’ll do it myself.” She sounded pissed off. He left her to it – he had a toilet to visit.
Lainey was exactly where Sorrell had said. She was plastering the walls with pictures of the Severton Search and Rescue team across the years. There were donation boxes set out next to the sinks and leaflets about what was included in the raffle. But there was only one thing he could see properly, and that was Lainey. She was already dressed for the evening, wearing a deep blue dress that clung to her curves, going over just one shoulder. A slit up one leg exposed tanned, toned skin, and he itched to slide his fingers up it and beyond.
She didn’t notice he’d come in, she was so engrossed in her display. “Lainey.” He said her name calmly, not wanting to make her jump.
Her hair shimmered as she turned towards him. “You realise this is the ladies?”
Locking the door from the inside seemed like a good idea at this point. Jake was grateful to whoever was in charge of health and safety for not having done their job properly and making the locks safe.
“I saw the sign.”
She smiled a little nervously. “You ready to be bid on?”
“Always. But I wanted to talk to you about that.”
“Oh.” She put down the picture she was holding. “It’s live bidding.”
“I know.”
“You’re just doing the meal and drinks.”
