What a Bachelor Needs (Bachelor Auction Book 4)(6)

“Mardie!” Someone held up a twenty dollar note. “Tip.”

Mardie collected it with a wide, wicked grin. It was good to see her again, Jett decided.

It was especially good to see her standing on her own two feet and brimming with attitude and confidence.

If anything, it was a relief.

He turned back towards the table of two men and four women, and offered his handshake all round. “The pleasure’s all mine, people. Who bought me?”

“I did,” said the blonde with the cornflower blue eyes. “I’m Ella Grace Emerson, soon to be Ella Grace Emerson-Sawyer.” She gestured to the big guy sitting next to her. “This being Sawyer.”

Jett nodded. “Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials.”

Sawyer offered up an easy smile. No lack of confidence there. No posturing either. Both of which were good things if Jett was going to be taking them into the backcountry on skis.

“So what can I do for you? Ski trip?”

“Tempting,” Ella said. “But right now we’re a little more interested in your handyman abilities.”

“Even better.”

“And here’s why,” she continued as Jett stepped back to allow Mardie to pass by with a tray full of empties.

“Mardie, hold up,” Ella said, and Mardie slowed to a stop and turned towards them with the same kind of I’ll-smile-for-anyone expression he’d seen on waitstaff the world over. Did she even remember him from that night?

Maybe not.

“Hey, Jett. Looking good up there,” she offered, and she sounded almost friendly, except for a slight tremor in her voice her voice and a faint hint of something that sounded a whole lot like fear.

“Mardie.” For once in his life, he didn’t know what to say. “Been a while.”

“Yes. I haven’t seen you since school.” Don’t, her eyes said. Don’t go there.

“Something like that,” he offered carefully, and watched her relax just a fraction. He didn’t know what to make of it, other than, yes, she did remember him from that night. And didn’t want him talking about it.

“I’m pretty sure the bar can spring for a drink,” she offered. “What’s your preference?”

“I have a beer somewhere. Just a matter of finding it.”

“Mardie, how do you feel about letting Jett and his handyman skills loose on your place for a week,” Ella said.

“Wait! What?” Mardie looked…unwilling. “But, you can’t.”

“Why not? It’s not as if he’s going to lack for things to fix.”

“But.” Mardie shot him a swift glance, her cheeks suffused with soft color that hadn’t been there earlier. “He’s yours.”

“Yes. And I need to give him something to do next week. You were the one who told me to buy him. You said he was good people. It’s perfect. He might even be able to get your front porch to stop swaying in the breeze,” Ella coaxed. “Then you could use your front door to get inside your house and not have to clear a path around to the back every time it snows. Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

“Ella, I know you mean well but I can’t take him. Please… can we talk privately about this?”

Mardie didn’t wait for Ella’s answer, just grabbed her by the hand and dragged her off; drinks still balanced effortlessly on the tray in her other hand. Jett watched them stop about ten feet away, before turning back to find every set of eyes at the table fixed on him.

“Just so we’re clear,” he said. “If I don’t have Mardie’s permission to do the work, it’s not happening.”

“Agreed,” said Sawyer easily. “Mardie said you helped her once.”

“Yeah, I’m a regular boy scout.” Jett returned his attention to the two women deep in heated conversation. “How bad’s the house?”

“It’s a dump.” Sawyer had an accent. Australian, Jett guessed. “Mardie’s little girl, Claire, has just started walking. If nothing else, the place needs toddler-proofing.”

“She still married to Prescott Junior?” Try as he might he couldn’t keep the contempt from his voice.

It earned him a sharp glance from Sawyer. “No.”

Good.

“Boyd Prescott doesn’t live in Marietta these days, said the brunette sitting opposite Sawyer. “He’s moved on.”

“What about the rest of the family?”

“They’re a little harder to shift. Apparently they belong.”

Pity. Jett locked gazes with her momentarily, pretty sure they were of the same mind, because the brunette suddenly grinned.

“Liking you more and more,” she said.

Jett smiled and turned his gaze on Mardie and Ella Grace again, just as Mardie shook her head to signal no, hell no, and Ella started talking even faster.

“They could be a while,” Sawyer said. “Ella likes getting her way. Mardie’s stubborn and independent.”

“So what’s their relationship?”

“They’re old school friends.”

Funny. Jet didn’t remember Ella from school at all.

They bickered like sisters. Or, like the way he imagined sisters might bicker, given that he didn’t have any in order to know this firsthand. “They could be there all night.”