And as more and more people bid on baskets, the bigger our group grew.
“The bookstore is coming along,” Brooks said to the few people sitting close to us. “Poet is making me build her custom bookshelves.”
“Making you?” I said with a laugh. “You offered.”
“Yeah? You need any help?” a cowboy asked. “I’m good with my hands.”
The petite brunette next to him opened her lips to say something, but he quickly covered her mouth with his palm.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Thanks, Stratton,” Brooks said. “I appreciate the offer.”
“I do too,” I said.
Stratton lowered his hand from his wife’s mouth, and she grinned at him.
“Are you going to behave?” he asked her in exasperation.
“Never,” she tossed out. “Where’s the goat cheese?”
Hadley rose from her chair and arched her back. “I thought I could do this, but I’m miserable.”
“Let me take you home,” Declan said as he popped the last of his carrot stick into his mouth.
When Hadley and Declan were gone, Salem looked at Muddy and asked quietly, “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” Muddy assured her.
“They’re going to miss the announcement for the winner of the gourd-carving contest,” Cas said.
“We’ll tell her. And then gloat because we won,” Salem said.
“You seem awfully sure of getting the blue ribbon,” I said with a laugh.
“We had a plan going into this,” Salem said.
“Oh yeah?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know,” Muddy said. “Yours is good. But did you see Brooks’?”
“Brooks didn’t carve anything,” I said. “But I did.”
“Oh, he carved something alright,” Muddy said with a smile. “You were busy with yours and didn’t notice he’d snuck away to carve his own.”
I looked at Brooks. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said.
“Well, I’m surprised.”
“You haven’t even seen it yet.”
I scrambled off the ground. “Show me!”
“Now? We’re still eating,” Brooks said.
