“We were four and playing in a kiddie pool, but still, I’ve seen it.”
“I’m sure it’s… bigger now,” Irene commented, trying very hard to keep a straight face.
Sarah Jane and I looked at each other then burst out laughing.
“Oh look, Delilah’s bidding,” Irene said.
Sarah Jane and I turned at the mention of the preschool mother. She was just as put together as the other day on the playground although her top was a little tighter and her eye makeup a touch heavier.
“Isn’t she married?” I asked, picking up my plastic cup for a drink. This was an alcohol-free event, so there were water stations in the corners of the room.
They shook their heads. “Never put a ring on it,” Sarah Jane commented.
“She’ll probably hold out for one of the Manning boys,” Irene added, taking a glance at her cell phone then sitting it on the table.
My heart leapt at the name, and I coughed on the sip I’d just taken. She eyed me with concern but continued. “Rich and gorgeous. A double draw for Delilah.”
“For most women,” Sarah Jane added. “I heard they’re being auctioned tonight, too.”
Irene nodded. “They’re good boys. I’m friends with their housekeeper. She volunteered all three of them for the event. I wish I’d been a fly on the wall when she’d told them.”
I thought of Sawyer Manning. How big he was. How gorgeous. “There are three of them?”
Sarah Jane fanned herself. “Yup. Sawyer, Huck and Thatcher.”
“From Mark Twain?” I asked.
Irene nodded. “Nice job. Not everyone picks up on that. Their mother had a thing for his books.”
“They’re all equally gorgeous,” Sarah Jane added then bit her lip. “I might have to bid on one of them. Not sure which.”
“Dark, fair or ginger?” Irene asked her with a sly grin.
Sarah Jane considered, tapping her chin. “I wish the Mannings were like ice cream scoops, and I could have all three.”
I was totally confused, and I set my cup down, held up my hand. “Hang on. One of them is Claire Manning’s father.”
They nodded.
“But he can’t be in the auction. He’s married.”
“Sold!” the minister shouted, and the ladies clapped. Owen blushed and grinned from the stage. The woman who won him—not Delilah—stood, and he went down the steps to meet her. I watched but didn’t pay them any attention. My mind was on the fact that there were three Manning brothers. If the other two looked like Sawyer… wow.
“No. Huck’s not married. Not sure the scoop there but—”
I gripped Sarah Jane’s arm, stared at her wide eyed. “Huck?”
She frowned, looked down at my hold. “Yeah. Huck Manning is Claire’s dad.”
I licked my suddenly dry lips. “Then… then who’s Sawyer Manning?”
Cocking her head to the side, she looked to me then her eyes brightened. “The oldest. Oh, you met him at pickup the other day. He’s Claire’s uncle.”
Uncle. Not father.
“And he’s… a bachelor?” I squeaked.
Irene laughed. “All three of them. Huck never married. Alice wants them to settle down.”
Holy shit.
Sawyer Manning was single. He wasn’t married. And his turn was just called by the minister.
Ladies clapped, a few catcalled as the tall, dark and handsome cowboy walked out on stage. My blood pressure went to stroke point just staring up at him. Yeah, this was the guy I’d kneed in the balls. For no reason.
Oh my god.
“What do you ladies think of this fine bachelor?” the minister asked the crowd, and they responded by even louder clapping and shouting. I agreed with them completely. He was a stunning example of a red-blooded cowboy.
Sawyer Manning, in jeans, polished work boots and a crisp blue shirt, took off his Stetson and ran a hand over the back of his neck. While he was smiling, he didn’t seem too thrilled about all the attention. Or eager for a date like Owen before him had.
Sawyer had been into me the other day.
Oh my God.
He’d asked me out. I’d kneed him in the crotch.
I had to apologize. To make things right.
“Shall we start the bidding?” When the applause died down, the minister said, “Let’s begin with fifty dollars.”
The bids began, fast and furious, one after the other.
“He’s the oldest of the three,” Sarah Jane commented. “I’ve met him once. Super nice. I’m not sure if I’d pick him or Thatcher. He’s the red head. He’ll come up next or last, I assume.”
I vaguely nodded but watched the women bid from all around the room. Including Delilah.
My gaze returned to Sawyer. He stood tall and… huge, holding his Stetson against his chest. Looking at him now gave me the same thrill as the other day. My heart raced. My mouth watered. There was something about him that called to me. That made me want.
Every time Delilah called out a bid, his jaw ticked. While he stood casually, I couldn’t miss the way his fingers clenched then released. He wasn’t happy.
“This just might be the way she’ll get that date she’s always wanted,” Sarah Jane said, pointing to Delilah. She was smiling, a predatory gleam in her eye I couldn’t miss even from across the room. “It’s telling that she has to pay to do so.”
“You’re right,” I told her. “I heard her talking about him the other day at pick-up.”
Sarah Jane frowned. “No fun for Sawyer.”
Sawyer had told me he didn’t like her. Said he’d known her his whole life, that he hadn’t been into her all this time. If he was right that Tamara took after her mother… a date with Delilah would be miserable. And if she got those manicured talons into him…
It wasn’t fair.
“Three hundred!” Delilah called, raising the bid another fifty dollars.
The minister looked around the room waiting for other bidders. It had tapered down and petered out at that large amount for one date.
Sawyer remained still, his body tense. He’d volunteered for this, his time given freely for a good cause. Hundreds of dollars to the kids’ program was amazing, but while it would come from Delilah’s bank account, it would be costly to Sawyer to spend the time with the woman he didn’t like.
“Going once.”
I couldn’t let that happen.
“Going twice.”
I owed it to Sawyer Manning for what I’d done.
“Five hundred dollars,” I shouted.
Every head in the room turned to look at me.
Irene gasped, and Sarah Jane stared at me wide eyed. Her mouth even hung open. I’d surprised them, and it seemed every other person in the auditorium.
Sawyer Manning’s gaze whipped to mine. Met. Held.
My nipples went instantly hard.
“Sold!”
Everyone clapped, but I didn’t hear it as I stared at Sawyer. My heart was in my throat, and my hands were clammy.
“Um, Kelsey,” Sarah Jane murmured then shook my arm. I wasn’t turning my gaze for anything. “What… why… you just won Sawyer Manning.”
“I know,” I said, equally thrilled and panicked. What had I done?