“I have two hundred,” Shannon said.
“I’ve got the same,” Tempe said.
The murmurs of the crowd filled her ears, and her heart raced like it never had before. She loved the way his sisters rallied and came to his rescue and quickly debated her next move. If she won him, everyone here would expect her to go out with him. Oh, how she wanted to!
She glanced at his ex-girlfriend, who was sending silent hate messages her way, then to Cole’s father, whose thick dark brows were knitted, his hands clenched tightly around the paper he was holding, and finally, she shifted her gaze to Cole. The look in his eyes made her warm all over, pulling words she never expected from her lungs.
“One thousand dollars.”
The other woman’s jaw dropped open, and there was a collective gasp among the crowd.
“For charity,” Leesa added with a nervous smile.
Every muscle in Cole’s body flexed, but it was the way his smile reached all the way to his eyes that made her heart flip in her chest as his father announced, “And we have a winner!”
Ace took Leesa’s hand and pulled her toward Cole. She nearly tripped over her feet as Cole gripped her hand in his and pulled her into his strong arms.
“Thank you. Thank you so much,” he said before pressing his lips to hers.
When he kissed her with those soft, warm lips, she had a feeling it took him by surprise as much as it surprised her. It was only a few hot, perfect seconds, but it was enough to make her entire body ignite, not to mention short-circuit her brain. It had been so long since she’d had anything wonderful happen in her life, and this one moment, being cocooned in Cole’s arms, feeling his lips against hers, his heart beating as strong and fast as hers, was absolutely marvelous.
When their lips parted, Cole gazed into her eyes, holding her tightly against him. It took a moment for her brain to kick into gear and for her to realize that everyone in the place was clapping and whistling and calling out congratulations. Everyone except his ex-girlfriend, who stormed out the front door.
Holy shit. She’d just bid a thousand dollars to win a date with this man.
And after that one perfect kiss, she knew she’d do it again, and again, and again.
Chapter Five
THERE WASN’T A chance in hell that Cole was going to let go of Leesa’s hand. He laced his fingers with hers and held their clasped hands up between them, taking a bow and bringing Leesa with him before pulling her trembling body against him and leading her over to the side of the room.
“You’re shaking. Is that from the kiss or nerves from being in front of the crowd?”
“Both.” The sweet, nervous smile he’d seen earlier reappeared. “I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing, but Jewel said…and your sisters…”
It felt natural to pull her in by her hips and hold her against him. Oh, those incredibly sexy hips! He finally got to touch them, and the way they filled his palms was even better than he’d imagined. She felt so right in his arms, her softness against his hard muscles, and that kiss…Her lips were supple and moist and so delicious that it had taken all his restraint not to deepen the kiss right there on the stage. But he’d been lost in it for too many luxurious seconds as it was, risking her embarrassment, and he knew he needed to release her.
“You did the absolute right thing. Thank you again. Come on, I’ll get your cash.” He took a step toward the hallway where the ATM machine was located, and she stood stock-still.
“No.” She shook her head. “I wanted to bid. Your sisters offered me money, too, and…No. This was my bid. I’m paying for it.”
“Leesa, I’m not going to let you spend four hundred dollars to go on a date with me.”
“It’s for charity.” She searched his eyes, and he didn’t know what she thought she’d find, but he hoped she saw how much what she’d said had touched him.
“You’re not only beautiful, but you’re generous, too. That’s an appealing combination.”
Leesa’s eyes darted nervously around them. “Oh gosh, I need to get back to work. I…I’m sorry.” She unlinked their hands and took a step away.
He reached for her. “Wait. What about our date?” He noticed his mother heading their way. Leesa must have thought she was coming to ask her to get back to work, but Cole knew by the smile on his mother’s face that that wasn’t the case.
“We’ll figure it out. I have to get back to work.” She disappeared into the crowd just as his mother arrived by his side.
“Wow, honey. A thousand dollars?” His mother touched his cheek the way she had since he was a little boy when she was happy for him. “I didn’t even know you knew Leesa.”
“We just met yesterday.” He spotted Leesa taking an order from a table a few feet away. The auction was still going on, and women cheered and clapped as the final bachelor was brought up to the front. When Leesa was done taking the order, her eyes darted right to Cole, and he felt the attraction simmering through his veins.
“Uh-huh,” his mother said with a knowing look. “There’s only one thing a look like that tells a person.”
“What’s that, Mom?” Cole slid an arm around his mother’s shoulder.
She patted his bare stomach. “That my boy is growing up.”
“I thought that’s what I’ve spent the last ten years doing.”
“Honey, see Sammy over there flirting with the tableful of girls? And see Jon entertaining all those young women who are eyeing him like he’s the cat’s meow?”
Cole laughed. “That’s because he and Sammy are the cat’s meow in our little town.”
“No, honey. It’s because Sammy and Jon haven’t found their forever person yet, so they expend all their energy searching, reaching, entertaining, hoping. Oh, they’ll never admit it, but one day, you’ll see.” She turned so they were facing Nate and Jewel, snuggled together in a booth, sitting with Shannon and Tempe.
“See Nate?” she said, ignoring the auction sounding off around them. “He grew up when he was in the military, but it wasn’t until he finally let himself fall fully in love with Jewel that he really took that final leap into manhood. They’re so perfect together. She pushes him in all the ways he needs, and she doesn’t let him get away with hiding one single emotion. And he helps her remember how brave she really is. They’re so well suited for each other. Your father and I knew it years before either one admitted it.”
“I’m thrilled for them. I’ve never seen Nate so happy.” His brother had loved Jewel from afar for many years, and after his best friend, Jewel’s older brother, Rick, died, Cole worried that Nate might never tell Jewel how he felt about her.
“And I’ve never seen your smile look so…full.” She leaned over and kissed Cole’s cheek. “It’s a nice look on you.”
“I’ve got to admit, it feels good, too.”
***
BY THE TIME the restaurant cleared out, it was nearly midnight and Leesa was second-guessing herself for bidding all that money for a date with Cole in front of the whole town while she was trying to remain invisible. Truth be known, she’d been jealous—wicked jealous—of his ex, who had been eyeing her like she’d eat her alive. Leesa had never been one to cower before a challenge, but now that she’d had time to think about what she’d done—and had been congratulated by just about every person in the place—she worried that she looked desperate for a date.
Since winning the auction, she’d been given more information about Cole from strangers than she’d ever hoped to know about a man before their first date. She knew he’d dated Kenna for two years and there was speculation as to why they broke up, though no one was sure. Rumors seemed to range from Kenna cheating on him with a handful of men to Cole not wanting to be tied down.
Leesa signed her time card and leaned on the counter in the kitchen for a moment before heading out. She breathed deeply, thinking about all the money she’d blown in one moment of jealousy.
A warm hand touched her back, startling her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Ace took a step back. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, sorry. I’ll get out of your way.” She’d already told them about what had happened in Baltimore, and they’d been kind enough to still hire her. The last thing she wanted was to make them think she wasn’t okay.
“Leesa, you’re not in our way, and after spending a thousand dollars to win my son, I’d think that if you were in my way, well, I just might let it slide.” Ace flashed that warm smile of his, which looked so much like Cole’s. “How are things going for you here in Peaceful Harbor? Are you managing okay? I know this came on the heels of a difficult time, and if there’s anything we can do to make it easier, Maisy and I are here for you.”
“Thank you. That’s really kind of you to offer. I’m managing okay.” She was surprised that the owner of a microbrewery would be so kind to a new employee. Then again, she’d seen Ace with customers. He was sincere and warm with everyone.