Page 28 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

Kristy plopped onto her office chair.

“Well, that’s the thing,” Ariel continued. “It’s actually a dance auction.”

“A dance auction?” None of this was making sense.

“The idea is that you’re the Wild West outlaw behind bars, and someone is going to bid to spring you so that you dance with them…”

He rubbed his chin, hoping this was not leading to the place he feared. “Who is it that will be dancing?”

Kristy sighed. “She’s trying to ask you if you will be one of our outlaws and let the good single women of Gillette bid on a chance to dance with you.”

“Why would some stranger bid on a having a dance with me?”

“Because…”

Before Kristy could say more, Ariel jumped in. “You’re a good-looking guy and have that sexy-cowboy thing going on.”

He smiled. So at least Ariel thought he was sexy. He looked over at Kristy. She was blushing.

“I don’t think I’m your guy for something like this.” The only woman he wanted to dance with was standing behind the desk. “Who would want to bid on me?” And the fact that Kristy was promoting this was not a good sign for him either.

“Plenty of women if they knew you were available,” Ariel said. “Your face will be on a wanted poster so that the single women of Gillette will know you’re in the auction, and then when it’s time, we put you in the jail cell, which will be on a raised platform near the dais. And the bidding will begin,”

The thought of strange women bidding on him in public, or worse, not getting any bids, made his skin pebble, like when he’d faced down an armed enemy. “Seems right up there with getting a tooth pulled. I mean, how many single women are going to be at this shindig anyway? What if no one bids?”

“That’s not going to be a problem. I guarantee it.” Kristy sounded a lot more confident than he felt. “I mean, I’ll bid if no one else does.”

Had she really said that? He didn’t figure many strange women would want to dance with him. He didn’t exactly look light on his feet, though he could do a mean two-step. Her offer could be the silver lining and maybe the only way he’d get to be with her.

“The more who agree to participate, the more money we’ll make for the charity,” Ariel said, not waiting for his response.

Kristy leaned forward. “And that’s what this is all about, Rusty. This is for charity. Will you do it for the people who depend upon the county foundation?”

She was playing the sympathy card.

“How many other people have said yes so far?” None of his friends had mentioned it, and they definitely would have. It would be right up Colby’s alley for sure. That guy loved being the center of attention. Rusty did not.

“You’re the first person we’ve asked,” Kristy said.

“But we are asking a lot more people.”

“You’ll bid if no one else does?” He looked at Kristy. Her face was serious, but her eyes held amusement. Apparently she liked seeing him squirm.

“Yes. Absolutely. Will you do it?”

There was desperation in her voice. And he wasn’t above taking advantage of it.

He looked directly into her beautiful, sparkling sapphire eyes, the same color of the water in the lake on his family’s former ranch. “Come out for lunch with me, and I’ll think about it.”

“I…”

“She’d love to,” Ariel answered for her. “And while you’re thinking about it, do you think Mel and Stetson would do it? We’d like to get people from all walks of life.” Ariel shot a look of desperation at Kristy.

Kristy sighed. “I guess I can go for a quick bite.”

His pulse quickened. “Ready and waiting.”

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