Amy bit back a smile. It was nice to know people rooted for her. The other woman dropped her paddle on the table with a sigh.
“Four hundred-fifty,” shouted the auctioneer. “Going once. Going twice. Sold! To Amy Lawson, our local heroine. Congratulations!”
Amy’s face flamed. She hadn’t gotten used to all the attention she’d received from the locals. Their praise felt ill-placed. Although she appreciated the generous tips she earned at the diner. How long would it take for the unsolicited fame to die down?
Ben left the stage and returned to his seat next to Amy. He gave her a devilish smile, his dimple making her stomach take flight.
“I’ve already told you I’d go out with you. You didn’t need to make a public scene.”
“Yes, I did.” His eyes never left her face as he took her hand. “I want everyone to know I’m only interested in one woman.”
Amy’s breath seized, and her pulse raced at his words. Her face grew warm again but for an entirely different reason this time. That’s why he’d stared at her the whole time? He was letting everyone know he was interested in her.
He really did love her. His actions tonight showed that. More importantly, it proved to Amy shewaslovable.
She itched to stand up and do a happy dance. Instead, she took a deep breath and grinned. “Well, it nearly backfired on you. Don’t complain if you have to wait a month for your cake. I’m broke now, so I’m not sure I can afford the ingredients.”
Ben laughed. “This whole auction was your idea, so it’s only fair you feel the pinch a little.”
“True. But it was meant to encourage Debbie to be generous.”
“It worked. But poor Jake.”
Amy grimaced. “Yeah, I feel bad about that—”
“Amy,” Fanny Tucker, from the Festival committee, grabbed Amy’s shoulder. “We made almost ten thousand dollars more than last year, thanks to the bachelor auction.”
Amy gripped Ben’s hand tighter—afraid he might pull away—before smiling at Fanny. “The women were very generous.”
“Yes, they were. I’m going to go thank everyone.” Her round figure bustled up to the stage.
Ben pulled Amy from her seat. “Come here.” He looked back over his shoulder. “Paige, keep an eye on the girls, please.”
* * *
Butterflies swarmedin Amy’s stomach as Ben led her from the gym and down the hall.
He opened the first door they came to. The janitor’s closet.
“No, I can’t do this here.” He closed the door again.
“Do what?”
Tugging Amy’s hand, he led her farther down the hall to the next door. Ben flipped the switch and fluorescent light illuminated rows of chairs with attached desks. He pulled Amy in and closed the door behind them. The scent of dust, pencil shavings, and paper reminded her of her high school days.
Ben drew Amy into his arms. “I can’t kiss you in the janitor’s closet.”
Amy’s heart raced. She’d waited two months for Ben to kiss her again. She didn’t care where it happened. She wanted him to kiss her already. A smile teased her lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “What a shame. It looked kind of cozy.”
“No. I’m going to do this right, this time.” Ben stroked her cheek with his index finger. “I stole a kiss from my first girlfriend in that closet.”
Amy’s smile faltered.
“She dumped me two weeks later for Robert.” He tilted her chin and pressed his lips to her temple. His voice dropped to a whisper. “I stole a kiss from you a couple months ago and I haven’t stopped thinking about you since.”
Amy’s breath caught in her chest and her mouth went dry.
“I kissed Melanie for the first time in a janitor’s closet. And she’s gone too.” Ben kissed the hollow below her ear. “I have to do it differently this time. I’ll take my chances in my old English classroom.”
