Page 15 of Beau & Autumn

I shoot my paddle straight up, unlike Eden, who amusingly made Brook sweat it out for a minute or two. “One hundred,” I call out.

The front row posse to our left all turn their heads to look at me and I give them a nonchalant shrug.

Hart gives me a little pat on the shoulder from behind. “Nice going, Autumn.”

“It’s dog eat dog.” I chuckle as I turn my head to look behind me. Acting more confident than I feel, I add, “someone needs to save Beauster.”

Hart and Skye give me a knowing smile.

“One twenty-five!” Verne calls, accepting another bid from across the way, stunning all of us. I snap my head around. Oh shit, it’s Dolly herself, trying to outbid her friend. They’re in fits of giggles, no doubt brought on by the rounds of drinks I saw them all having beforehand.

“One-fifty!” Teresa chimes back in.

Shit, these girls are hard-core.

Beau shifts a little and doesn’t take his eyes off me… Geez he really is cute up there in his tight jeans and ankle boots….

Carrie nudges me to get back in the game and I quickly shoot my paddle up. “Two hundred!” I sing out. My girls all laugh and giggle excitedly. But I keep my eye on the prize… and the prize is Beau’s smile when he looks at me. He’s so freaking adorable doing this for his sister and for charity.

I promised I’d see this through, and I meant it. Whatever it takes.

The bids fly back and forth. Someone else at the back starts bidding and we’re quickly up to two hundred and seventy-five dollars. Teresa has the holding bid and Verne is looking over at me, then her eyes lift toward the back. “Going once for two-hundred and seventy-five… Going twice…”

“Three hundred!” I chime an octave too high. My God, let’s hope that’s good enough to snag him! Beau did offer to pay… but still.

I don’t remember the bids going quite so crazy last year, but where men are concerned in this town, it’s slim pickings.

I see Beau’s shoulders drop a little and he looks momentarily relieved. But Verne hasn’t banged the gavel down. Just bang it already!

“Going once to bidder twenty-seven for three-hundred dollars, do I hear any more bids?” She pauses, looking around the room. Get on with it! “Going twice…”

Beau’s watching me, his lips pursed, his stare unwavering and I get a little lost in his cuteness for a second, at the same time Verne finally bangs the gavel.

“SOLD to the lovely Autumn Davenport from Autumn Leaf Photography. Congratulations!” Thunderous applause ensues, echoing around the room.

I’m aware of my heartbeat pounding away in my chest as my eyes are still locked on Beau’s. He wipes his forehead with the back of his hand and looks like he might faint. I give him a conspiratorial wink when he meets my eye.

I feel a nudge on either side of me, two elbows pressing into my body. “Way to go, Autumn!” Carrie gives me a little hug, followed by Eden. Everyone is acting very pleased for me, almost as if I need to remind them that this was planned.

Georgia’s beaming her head off and gives me an outstretched clap of her hands.

“We’re friends,” I mouth.

She taps her nose and I frown. What is Georgia up to?

Beau has been a shoulder to cry on lately and I haven’t taken that for granted. He’s been so sweet about everything with my breakup and had a hand in helping me get the job at the distillery.

I look up to the stage again as Beau is being escorted off the stage. I’m definitely not going to go up there and claim my prize like Eden did, but I watch as he turns and spares me an appreciative glance. His eyes are bright and his smile shows he’s happy. He mouths, “Thank you” and I say, “You’re welcome.” Then he disappears from view…

Georgia-Blue waves a hand in front of my face. “Earth to Autumn…”

“Oh, geez, sorry.” I flush beet red. Holy heck, I have to stop doing that.

“What were you just thinking about? Better be something good. Have you been having Witcher dreams again?”

No, but I did have a daydream about your brother and it was delicious.

My teeth press into my lip as I bite down on it. Shit. I almost forgot about that and it’s wildly inappropriate to think about it while his sister is present. So is Beau showing up in my daydreams, but I can’t exactly help it.

---