Chapter 29
Ben’s heart skipped a beat when he spotted Amy weaving her way through the crowded high school gym toward their table. He stood and pulled out the chair next to him, hoping she’d sit beside him, instead of across the table in the only other available seat.
The Fall Festival was in full swing, and this was the first he’d seen of Amy, except when she’d served him spaghetti, earlier. He’d managed to hold her gaze for a full three seconds before being jostled along in line.
His feelings for her had intensified over the past two weeks since Cassey came home. He’d wanted many times to tell her again how much he loved her, but he wasn’t sure how to prove to Amy he felt more than gratitude. He ached to pull her into his arms and kiss her again, like he had weeks ago.
Sharing parenting responsibilities with Amy made him long to be a real family with her, Kallie and Cassey. There seemed to be a solid bond between him and Amy, but she held back, and he couldn’t figure out why. He was certain she was attracted to him, but he suspected she avoided being alone with him. Which wasn’t difficult, considering their two daughters and his parents all lived in the same house.
Amy gave Ben a smile before sitting in the chair he held out. “Thank you.”
Paige, who had come home for Providence’s first ever bachelor auction, started talking before Ben could even greet Amy. “Riley and I took the girls to the cafeteria for the kids’ games, but it was so crowded and noisy, I think it overwhelmed Cassey.” Paige patted her niece’s head. “They’re too young to understand most of the games, anyway.”
Each girl sucked a lollipop, sported a butterfly on her cheek, and had a balloon tied to her wrist.
Ben watched Cassey, who seemed to be handling the large crowd in the gym surprisingly well, considering they’d only taken the girls out in public a few times. She’d come a long way. She now spoke one and two-word sentences—mostly mimicking Kallie.
He recalled with satisfaction the first time Cassey called AmyMommyfive days ago. Ben couldn’t wait to make Amy Cassey’s mom. And he’d bawled like a baby last night when his daughter called himDaddyfor the first time.
But Amy had been talking about moving out. She’d even asked Charity if the apartment above the garage was available to rent. Ben hated to think how Cassey might react to Amy leaving. She let him put her down for her naps now, but she always wanted Amy to put her to bed at night. He didn’t mind—he enjoyed the few minutes of one-on-one with Kallie. He loved that little girl like she was his own.
No, he couldn’t let Amy move out and take Kallie with her.
Ben itched to take Amy away from this noisy, crowded gym to a quiet classroom where he could convince her not to leave. Convince her to take a chance on him. But the specialty baked-goods auction would start soon, and he had every intention of winning Amy’s chocolate cake. It was the best way he could think of to publicly stake some sort of claim on her. Never mind that desserts from the bake sale tables already littered the center of their table.
The auctioneer stood at the pulpit just as Amy finished eating. “Thank you all for coming out and supporting our community tonight. We’ll be starting the baked goods auction soon, followed by something I know all the single ladies have been anxiously waiting for—Providence’s first ever Bachelor Auction! Be sure to get your auction paddles at the table in the front right corner.”
As half the gym migrated to the auction table, Ben was glad he’d gotten his paddle before sitting down to eat.
“Oh, Amy, I picked up your paddle for you.” Paige slid an auction paddle across the table.
Ben doubted Amy planned on bidding on the specialty baked goods, so that meant she planned on bidding on the bachelors. Oh, how he wished he could blame the sudden tightening in his chest on indigestion.
Ten minutes later, the auctioneer again took the stand. He wasted no time in starting the bidding on the first specialty baked good.
Ben’s leg bounced as he waited for a tray of Aunt Charity’s Big Ol’ Cinnamon Rolls, and Annie Tucker’s famous pecan pie, as well as a dozen other equally delicious desserts to be auctioned. Most items sold for fifty to a hundred dollars. This was why he loved this small town—they were very generous.
“And our final item up for bid tonight is a triple-layer, triple chocolate cake made by Amy Lawson.”
Finally.Ben picked up his paddle, and so did Robert and Jake. A few others joined in for a while, but as the bidding approached two hundred dollars most of them backed out.
A low murmur rippled throughout the gym, and Amy’s cheeks grew rosy as her name was linked first with Robert’s name then with his. A dull ache settled in Ben’s jaw from clenching it.
Debbie raised her voice in disgust from two tables away. “It’s only a cake. What’s the big deal?”
It was a big deal to Ben.
Amy squirmed in her seat as Ben fought Robert and Jake for her cake. The bidding soon passed three hundred dollars, but Ben was not about to back down to Robert.
“Let’s combine forces, so we can keep Ben from winning,” Robert told Jake, loud enough for most of the gym to hear. Jake nodded and laid down his paddle.
Robert and Ben continued bidding.
Amy leaned toward him. “Stop bidding. I’ll make you your own cake.”
Ben inhaled her floral scent and grinned. “But it’s for a good cause, and I’m having fun.”
“Stop, please. You’re embarrassing me.” She put her hand on his arm and warmth seeped into him.
