“These two idiots are Joe Trainer and his friend Fin Hudson. They’re friends from Colorado.”
“Hi.” They both smiled, upping their hotness factor.
Lani nodded.
“Joe’s here to look over the Howler, as he runs a bar in his hometown, and we’ve managed to convince Fin to be part of the date night auction.”
Lani looked at Jake with a raised brow. “I almost don’t want to ask what a date night auction is.”
“Our one in Ryker Falls is far superior. We call it the bachelor auction. In short, you bid for the bachelor of your choice, and if you win you go on a date. I’m here as a ringer, because they don’t have enough available hot men in Lake Howling.”
Jake hooted with laughter. “That’s not the case at all, it’s because no one in your town will have you so you’re hoping to get a date here.”
“Maggie would have him if she wasn’t in London,” Joe drawled, which earned him an elbow in the gut.
“I did wonder about you and Maggie when I was in Ryker,” Joe said.
“There is no me and Maggie,” Fin gritted out.
“You people have an event every month, from what I gather. What’s the deal with that?” Lani said before the argument escalated.
“We like to celebrate stuff.” Jake shrugged. “And this is for a worthy cause, the church restoration.”
“I should be able to add a good chunk to the funds,” Fin said.
They continued to bicker, and Lani found herself enjoying the banter.
“What the hell are these two doing in town?”
And just like that, she was tense. Strange how she was standing here with three seriously good-looking guys and it was this one that made her melt. Attraction was a fickle thing.
“Noah Harris, how are you, bud?” Fin Hudson took the hand Noah held out and did a weird move, then a chest bump. Joe Trainer was next.
“Just telling Lani here that I’ll raise the most money come auction night.”
Noah scoffed like Jake had.
“How about you, Lani, you want to sign up? You just have to let someone put you in a dress and we’re good to go,” Jake said.
Lani shuddered at the thought of people looking at her.
“I’ll take that reaction as a no then.”
“You can bid for me.” Noah whispered the words in her ear.
“Why would I do that?”
“To save me from having to date someone else.”
“And I should care about this why?”
“Because you think I’m hot.”
She actually spluttered.
“So Faith is doing it, and Noah, plus other locals. There are a few ringers coming in from Brook.”
“Don’t tell me, let me guess who is running this,” Lani said.
