Page 16 of Love Songs

Sam:It’s your money.

I laughed. Chris might be a sheriff’s deputy, but I was a lieutenant firefighter. And Iwaseligible, although not for the town’s single women. Sorry, ladies. I wondered what my chances of there being a single gay man in the audience were.

I texted back:Nope. It’s going to be YOUR money.

The texts that followed delved into a collection of laughing emojis, silly gifs, and good-natured smack talk. Grinning, I tucked my phone back into my pocket as I crossed the street. Nothing like a side bet with the guys to make the night more fun. I’d win too, because March was the most popular month in the Annual Firefighter’s Calendar, featuring yours truly in my turnout pants, suspenders, and no shirt.

There was a sandwich board outside Lucy’s on the sidewalk, announcing the charity bachelor auction, including photos of us fools who’d volunteered or had been voluntold. Underneath was a cartoon cat, dog, and bird for the Harmony Lake Animal Rescue League, the charity tonight’s fundraiser was for. I shook my head for the millionth time, wondering why I’d let tiny Mamie Aubert strong-arm me into this. But then, one didn’t say no to Mamie. Plus, I loved animals.

I stepped into a packed house at Lucy’s, but considering how small the pub was to begin with, filling it to capacity wasn’t much of a feat. They’d set up a makeshift stage along the far wall by moving some tables and chairs out of the way. Gold and white streamers and banners hung from the ceiling, and another placard sat at the foot of the stage with the bachelor order—I was going up last. Under each bachelor’s name was a brief description of the date and when. At least I didn’t have to plan what my winning bidder’s date was going to be, especially since I didn’t date. I wouldn’t have any idea what do to.

Mrs. Jennings from the community center and Mamie had set up a card table at the front entrance, and were checking people in and selling tickets, because Lucy deserved some extra cash for hosting the event, too.

Mamie’s bright eyes lit up behind her trendy square glasses when she saw me.

“Conor, darling,” she cooed. My name always sounded like Con-air in her French accent and made me smile. “I’m so happy you volunteered for this. You’re going to bring in so much money for the rescue.”

Volunteered. I snorted, but I wasn’t about to argue with Mamie. Nope. Not me. She might be a petite silver-haired seventy-year-old, but she was feisty as all get out. One did not get on Mamie’s bad side if they knew what was good for them.

“Indeed,” Mrs. Jennings agreed, giving me a once-over. She wasn’t as petite as Mamie, but she was just as feisty, with natural red hair to boot. “The rescue will be able to afford their expansion to help more animals.”

I laughed, because what else could I do? When these two ladies were in charge, we were all at their mercy. They were right, though. The rescue league could use all the help it could get.

“Just doing my civic duty, ma’am,” I said, flashing my flirtiest grin.

“Oh, you,” Mamie fluttered a dainty hand at me.

With a wink, I made my way into the bar and spotted a few of my fellow bachelors downing some liquid courage, including Chris and Rebecca. I could use a cold beer right about now, too, and I had a bone to pick with those two.

“So,” I said as I wedged between the barstools to stand beside Chris. “I hear you two are betting against me for the highest bid tonight. And uh, how is it you’re an eligible bachelor at all?”

Chris held up his hands, a half empty beer bottle in one. “It wasn’t my idea.”

Rebecca harrumphed. Her eyes, the same warm brown as Ryan’s, narrowed. “According to Mamie, unless he’s legally married, he’s eligible.AndI’m not allowed to bid.”

I burst out laughing as Lucy’s niece, Grace, who was bartending tonight, handed me a cold Gansett.

“On the house,” she said with a wink as I reached for my wallet.

I raised my bottle with a thanks, then tapped a cheers with Chris and settled in shooting the shit with our fellow bachelors.

Mamie came over a short while later and clapped her hands, drawing our attention.

“Okay, boys,” she said. “The auction is about to start. Time to go and get dressed in your finery.”

Ugh. I hated wearing a suit. I always felt so claustrophobic all buttoned up, but this was for a good cause, and I loved giving back to the community. Which was why I’d also been posing for the annual firefighter calendar every year since I’d joined the department. Not to mention, I got a kick out of people’s reactions when they saw each year’s photo.

A few minutes later, I was all dressed up and gathered in the corner by the stage with the rest of my bachelor brethren. I spent a lot of time sitting in the wings waiting to be auctioned, but the audience kept me thoroughly entertained. Bidding was fast and furious, and so far, everyone had gone over a hundred dollars. If we kept this up, we were going to have a nice donation for the rescue by the end of the night.

Sam, Ryan, and Haider kept messaging me to see who was getting what, cracking jokes, and placing side bets on who I’d be bringing to the Stonebridge Maple Farm, where my date was going to be. They were tied between Harriet Thompson, the town librarian who was also Ben Marshall’s great aunt, and who was always giving me the eye, and Margret Madison, who always had some sort of “emergency” she needed the fire department for.

Chris was up next, and I was a little surprised by the wild bidding. Especially since he wasn’t technically single, and the town knew that. Less than a minute had passed before the high bid hit two hundred dollars. And it was still climbing. When Mary, Lucy’s wife—as well as the pub’s cook and tonight’s emcee and auctioneer—called the last bid, Chris had set the bar high for me. He stepped off the stage, grinning.

“Top that, Holliston,” he dared.

“Count on it,” I shot back with a laugh.

I pulled out my phone to send a quick message to the guys.

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