Bound to the Bachelor (Montana Born Bachelor Auction #1)(11)

And now Luther was trying to claim her, to be a part of her life again.

Well, it damn well wasn’t going to happen. She didn’t want his money. She might need it, but she wasn’t going to take it, not in a pink fit. Her chin came up as an idea hit her – she’d give the money to Molly and Josh. Ten thousand dollars would do amazing things for them, make a huge difference.

Satisfaction thudded in her belly as the idea took a hold in her mind. This was the perfect solution. Molly could put the money straight on the mortgage. Or she could put it toward the fund for Josh’s new wheelchair. Hell, there were any number of ways the Dekkers could use the money, and all of them were good and worthy and useful.

The only problem would be getting Molly to accept it. Lily had practically had to arm wrestle her friend into letting her organize the auction. As she’d said to Molly at the time, pride was all well and good, but sometimes she had to let people help her. That was what community was all about. Unfortunately, Lily suspected the argument wasn’t going to cut it with Molly a second time around. She could practically hear her friend arguing now.

No, Lily would have to find some other way to give the money to Molly and Josh.

Via the auction, for example.

The idea exploded in her brain like a Catherine Wheel, beautiful and fiery and perfect.

Yes. That was what she’d do – buy a bachelor with her unwanted legacy, because that way Molly couldn’t say no without saying no to everything they’d achieved here tonight.

Except the auction was nearly over, with just one bachelor still on the auction block. Urgency rocketed through Lily as she focused her full attention on the events unfolding on the makeshift stage. Relief hit her as she realized Buck was still talking, his hand pointing to bidders in the audience as buyers took their shots at securing Beau Bennett.

“Two thousand two hundred. Two thousand two-fifty…”

Lily took a step forward, her body quivering with a rush of adrenaline. “Ten thousand dollars,” she called out, her voice clear and firm and very loud.

A collective gasp rose up as everyone reacted to her outlandish bid. Heads turned, including Molly’s, but Lily steadfastly refused to look at her friend. She could see Andie staring at her, too, but she didn’t take her gaze from Buck’s.

“Did I hear ten thousand?” he asked, eyebrows raised.

“That’s right, ten thousand,” Lily confirmed.

“Do I have any other bidders?” Buck asked, his eagle-eyed gaze scanning the room.

Everyone was too busy being stunned to do more than breathe and stare.

“Sold, to Ms. Taylor for the mighty sum of ten thousand dollars,” Buck announced, banging his gavel down onto the podium.

The buzz of conversation and speculation filled the room. Lily was burningly aware of Beau’s laser-like regard from the stage, the intensity of his gaze a palpable thing, but she refused to look at him as what she’d done sank in.

She’d just bought her nemesis in front of the whole town for a huge wad of cash.

Luckily she was good at living things down, because this one was going to be a doozy.





Chapter Four





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Beau didn’t take his gaze off Lily as she slipped into the crowd. She might think she could disappear, but he had a good vantage point from the stage, and he used it shamelessly, tracking her dark head as she made her way slowly through the throng. Every few steps, someone stopped her to stay something, slapping her on the back or questioning her curiously. Lily kept a bright smile pinned to her lips and steadfastly refused to look his way, even though his gut told him she was aware of his regard.

She’d just paid ten grand for him.

Ten. Grand.

He still couldn’t quite believe it. He stepped off the stage the moment Lily started up the stairs to the second floor. He yanked at his tie and undid the top button on his collar as he excused his way past tables full of women, half of whom were now standing to go mingle with one another.

“You must be feeling pretty good right now,” McKenna Sheenan said as he slipped past her table.

The women sitting either side of her eyed him speculatively, all wearing big grins. Clearly wondering what he had that was worth so much money.

“It’s a worthy cause,” he said.

“Lily must want you real bad,” McKenna said. “Ten thousand is a lot to live up to, Beau.”

“Like I said, it’s a good cause.”

He kept moving, pretending he didn’t notice McKenna’s knowing smirk. He took the steps two at a time when he reached them. Upstairs was also crowded, and it took him a moment to spot Lily. She was making her way toward the short hall which led to the room where he’d changed. He went after her, determined to run her down.

Sure enough, she slipped into the room where he’d left his clothes, pushing the door shut behind her. He reached it seconds later, not bothering to knock before he followed her inside. Lily spun to face him as he entered the room, and for a moment they simply stared at each other, what had just happened hanging in the air between them.

“Want to tell me what that was all about?” he finally asked.

“Relax, it’s nothing personal. I wanted to donate some money to Molly, and I knew she wouldn’t take it any other way.”

“So you bid on me?”