Weekend with her Bachelor Read online

  “Maybe she’s moved on,” he said hopefully.

  Dan chuckled. “Think again.”

  “Shit.” Gavin regretted it the minute he said it, just like he regretted asking Jenny to dance at a school party. It happened once. They were both fifteen at the time.

  “Language, Gavin...” His mother had no tolerance for strong language in her presence, even from her adult sons.

  Finishing his meal, he excused himself to do some chores in the barn. He was hoping he could clear his head, and get his nerves under control. Good, hard physical work always seemed to do the trick. The April air still took on a chill at night, so he wanted to make sure all the horses had blankets and plenty of bedding.

  He was giving some attention to a just foaled mare when he heard footsteps. If he had to guess, it was a couple of his friends, if not all of them. None of them were too happy about the auction. It just wasn’t something they’d have done. If ever the phrase ‘take one for the team’ applied, this was it. Because when Coach asked, there wasn’t a chance they were saying no.

  “Are either of you nervous? I’m nervous.” Nick Palotay sat on a farrier’s stool that was in the aisle, and Colt Ewing leaned into the wall.

  “This sucks,” Colt said. “I heard it’s going to be packed. Desperate women all waiting to bid on us. A fucking nightmare.”

  “For a good cause,” Gavin added. “A very good cause. And you don’t know that they’re all desperate.” Jenny was desperate. And crazy.

  “What do you have to wear?” Nick wondered. “My sister has been on my ass about every detail. She’s trying to make me look like a magazine ad.”

  “I have a very expensive suit. I can thank Rowan for that,” he grumbled. “I think I’ve only worn a suit ten times in my life—on job interviews, to a couple of weddings and a funeral. I wear jeans or scrubs.” Gavin didn’t know what to expect, but he’d heard the same as the other guys—that Grey’s would be standing room only. Good for the fundraiser, bad for his ability to walk through town without getting shit for being a pretty boy.

  “If we don’t raise a butt load of money, we’re never going to hear the end of it,” Colt added.

  That was another shitty truth. The four of them had led their high school football team to the state championship. It gave them some minor local celebrity status, and brought the same amount of scorn from those in town who had dubbed them “entitled”.

  The three of them settled into silence, the only sound came from the horses in their stalls, settling in for the night. That was until his mother came into the barn and gave them a good once over.

  “My goodness. The three of you look like your best horse died. Why the long faces?”

  Colt and Nick tipped their hats to his mother.

  “Evening, Miz Clark,” Colt said. “We were just talking about the auction. It’s got us all a bit on edge.”

  “You’re all going to be fine. Stop worrying about the darn auction, and have some fun with it.”

  Christine Clark was the perfect rancher’s wife; a mix of sweetness and toughness, she handled her men like a pro. Taking no bull from any of them, she kept their lives on track, raising her sons to be good, responsible men. And while she kept a beautiful home, with her husband she also managed a successful business. “Now, why don’t you boys come to the porch? I made a cake. It’s chocolate.”

  Without another word, she turned, leaving the barn and the three men with a directive. Gavin chuckled. He guessed they were having cake.

  Nick rose from the stool. “I never turn down your mother’s cake.”

  Colt grinned and pushed off the wall. “Yeah, me either.”

  Colt had spent a lot of time sleeping on the floor of Gavin’s room when they were growing up. Living with his uncle had been hell and the Clarks always made a place for him whenever he needed it.

  Gavin stroked the nose of his favorite mare and moved to his friends.

  Nick shrugged. “I wish I knew what we were in for. The only good thing is that I didn’t keep the date open-ended. Not like you idiots.”

  “Yeah. That was a mistake,” Gavin agreed as they exited the barn. “But we’re in it now, and I’m not going to say anything that might make Coach or his family feel bad. I just hate surprises.”

  “Yeah.” Nick slapped him on the back, chuckling. “I remember.”

  Chapter Two

  She’d never seen Grey’s so crowded.

  Ally hadn’t been home very much since she graduated from college and moved to Seattle, but she’d never seen the popular watering hole this crowded. But based on the way Lisa had talked about the auction, she imagined people had come from neighboring towns to be part of the event.

  Earlier, as she walked through Marietta, she loved how the place hadn’t changed. It was a little harder to find a place to park, but overall, the warm brick buildings lining Main Street and the familiar family owned shops made her think about the years spent growing up in a place like this.

  Everyone was connected. Even people who didn’t know each other that well, and there were some, considered one another neighbors and friends. Newbies to town always remarked on the friendliness, the neighborliness, of the residents. It was hard to feel lonely in a place like Marietta, and for that reason alone Ally had missed it.

  Seattle was a friendly city, and she had a group of friends and her business, but it wasn’t like here. When she walked into Grey’s tonight, she’d been greeted by at least twenty people, and she was sure at least half of them didn’t recognize her. The other half couldn’t believe how much she’d changed.

  Finding Lisa and Vivi in the crowd wasn’t easy, but giving the room a slow turn, she finally saw them in the second tier of tables. They were close enough to the stage to see, but not so close that the bachelors would be able to get a clear look at who was bidding. She hoped they couldn’t. She wasn’t all too certain how Gavin was going to feel about her bidding on him. The two of them hadn’t parted on great terms, and most of that was her fault, but she was counting on one thing: that his willingness to raise money for the hospital outweighed his animosity towards her. Then again, he may have forgotten all about their little falling out.

  Nah. She’d never have that kind of luck.

  Stopping at the bar, she saw Rowan Palotay, another longtime friend, and grabbed her arm as she walked by. “Hey!”

  “Oh my GOD!” Rowan squealed. “Ally! I can’t believe you’re here!

  “I am! I can’t believe how packed this place is. It looks like there’s going to be some hardcore bidding.”

  “I hope so. We’ve worked really hard on this event. We have a bet going with Lily Taylor that we’ll raise more money than she did at last year’s auction. But you! You look amazing, Ally. Are you going to bid?”

  “Ah, maybe.” Ally knew how close Rowan was to her brother, and Nick was one of Gavin’s best friends. Best she kept her plans to herself.

  “Well, your favorite tight end is number four out of the gate.” They used to joke about how Gavin’s position on the team was descriptive of one of his best attributes. “He’s looking fine, if I do say so myself.”

  “I’m sure they all look great. That was never their problem.”

  “Nope. Never was. Look, I have to go, but we’ll talk later.” Rowan gave her a quick hug. “Eeep! I’m so glad to see you!”

  Rowan dashed off, and Ally weaved through the crowd, settling herself in a chair between Lisa and Vivi. “Together again!” Vivi cried, as she threw her arms around Ally. The three of them hadn’t been together in the same place in over five years. They just couldn’t get their schedules to align. So, even if she didn’t end up with the winning bid, Ally was glad that she’d come home to see her friends. It had been too long.

  “So, are we bidding? Who are we bidding on?” Vivi asked, sipping her drink through a tiny straw.

  Vivi, with her boundless enthusiasm and big personality, was going to exhaust them before the night was over. Her friend, a freelance assist
ant, kept the lives of very busy people organized, and she was doing well enough to buy an apartment for herself in one of the prettiest areas in Chicago. Fantastic as it was, Ally didn’t know how she kept her energy up.

  “So, Lisa told me you might be bidding on Gavin,” Vivi wondered. “That’s brave after what happened.”

  “Nothing happened.”

  “Sure it did.”

  “No, it didn’t.”

  “Did...” Vivi teased.

  “Stop. I’m not doing this.”

  “Hmmpf,” Vivi snuffled before going back to her drink. “Did.”

  Ally pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. She spoke the truth, regardless of what her friend thought. To her great regret, nothing had ever happened between her and Gavin, save one very slow, sweet, perfect kiss the night before he left for college.

  “We’re still the geeks,” Lisa said as she scanned the room. “Look at the crowd of A-listers rolling in here. I even heard Hayley is back in town.” Hayley Dawn O’Malley had gone to school with them, but left town right after graduation to make a name for herself in Hollywood. The combination of talent, looks, and brains proved unstoppable, turning Hayley into a bona fide movie star.

  Ally also remembered her as being very sweet. “Didn’t her grandma just pass?” Ally asked, hoping to redirect the conversation. “My mom filled me in. Says Hayley’s been working at the old house.”

  Truthfully, Ally couldn’t care less about what people thought about her. Neither should Lisa, who was five-ten, well educated, a successful lawyer, and stunning to boot. High school was a long time ago, and people changed. Hell, Ally had changed. A lot.

  Done with thinking, or in this case over-thinking, it was time for a drink. “Hey, Mardie?” Ally flagged down the waitress and ordered a glass of white wine. She wished she could order a really big glass of white wine, like an extra-large coffee, but that might sound desperate. Can I have an extra-large Pinot Grigio? You know, super-sized? You only have one size? Damn.

  “Anything else, ladies?” Mardie tilted her head at Vivi and Lisa, whose glasses were empty. And any empty glass at Grey’s was unacceptable.

  “Bring them another round,” Ally said before they responded. If the three of them were going to have a good time in this madhouse, they’d need all the help they could get. The bar was electric, but Ally had to admit her own personal rush was being fueled by the money she had sitting in a bank account in Seattle, just waiting to be spent.

  This was, without a doubt, the craziest thing she’d ever done. Allison Beaumont didn’t take stupid risks with money. She was practical, thorough, but never reckless, and this was pretty reckless. She could just donate the money. There were two or three charities, including the Marietta fundraiser, that could benefit from Lars’s tremendous ego. And that’s all the ring was. He hadn’t listened to Ally’s preferences for size or cut, he just went out and bought a big ring. Bigger meant better.

  It was the beginning of the end for them.

  In the long run, Lars dumping her just days before their wedding wasn’t a bad thing. Ally had seen the marriages that were built around excess and self-absorption unravel. It happened more often than not. Everything appeared perfect, until it wasn’t. The imperfection eventually took over the relationships, seeping out one drop at a time. Couples who relished the small things in life, the flaws and challenges, did a lot better in the long run.

  That’s what Ally was holding out for, and looking back, she hoped that she would have walked away from Lars on her own before it was too late. But who knows. She was blinded by the white dress.

  It had been over a year since her life fell apart. But she’d pushed forward, giving everything she had to other couples looking for a happy ever after. Her business took off like a rocket.

  Mardie delivered their drinks and before Ally realized it, she was downing another. Liquid courage, her mother always called it.

  The bar was standing room only. Looking around at the folks gathered for the event, she could see by the way everyone was talking to Coach Downey and his wife that this was more than social. This was support, and it was the thing she missed most about her home.

  Ally glanced up to see the four bachelors looking down at the crowd from the landing above the main room. Damn they were hot, and each in their own way. But Gavin? There was something about him—strong, quiet, brilliant—the man had it all, and it was nicely wrapped up in a dark-haired, hazel-eyed, six-foot-four-inch package of gorgeousness.

  There was a squeal from a table near the stage, and Ally saw Mandy Pryce and her mean-girl friends looking over the program and then glancing up at the landing. Jenny Gaston was with them, but she wasn’t looking at the guys. No, her wicked baby blues were trained right on Ally. Honestly, considering the trouble she caused, Ally was surprised Jenny even made eye contact. But always having more nerve than conscience, Jenny was behaving as she always had—like an entitled brat. She lied and manipulated people to get close to Gavin, and Jenny didn’t care who was hurt in the process.

  Looking up at the guys one more time, Gavin was surveying the crowd, and Ally’s breath caught just taking him in. He was thirty-one to her twenty-nine, and once upon a time she’d dreamed of being with him forever.

  Gavin had that effect on women. He was probably doing it right now, without even knowing it, casting his spell over the crowd. Ally—practical, focused Ally—was falling deep into the romantic well. Just looking at Gavin made her ache.

  Some things never changed.

  Without warning, Gavin turned his head and his eyes locked on hers. He froze. She could see his posture go rigid right where he stood. His face, stony and hard to read, made Ally reconsider her entire plan.

  The last thing she needed was an angry cowboy on her hands.

  No. She couldn’t second guess herself.

  Ally needed him, and there was no one else she could trust to play a convincing boyfriend, while keeping things platonic between them.

  He was still staring at her, and in the excitement of the moment, she smiled at him. She couldn’t help it.

  The problem was he didn’t smile back.

  “Shit,” Gavin muttered.

  Code Matthews looked over the rail and Gavin saw him scanning the crowd. “What?” Code asked. “Is crazy Mandy looking up here? She was scoping out Palotay earlier. And Jenny is here. You knew that, right?”

  He’d seen Jenny; and he’d found out she intended to bid on him, just as his brother said.

  Damn. “No. Not Mandy. It’s...it’s nothing. There are just a lot of people here.”

  One person in particular, though, had his attention. She looked different, but there was no doubt the redhead sitting near the stage was Ally Beaumont. When she flashed her million-dollar smile up at him, Gavin was eighteen again.

  What the hell was she doing here? The last he heard, she was running an event planning business in Seattle and she was engaged. His mother made sure to fill him in on that news; the guy’s name was Sven or Jan or some such shit like that.

  Gazing down while she looked up, Gavin’s heart pounded. Women had come and gone in his life, but none ever stuck. In the back of his mind, he always secretly compared them with Ally. Never had anyone else been his friend, someone he could tell anything to. Maybe that made him a candy ass, but to him a woman was more than a warm body.

  Ally had always been more than that.

  “Okay,” Code said. “So the redhead who’s looking up this way is hot. Do you know her? She looks familiar.”

  Gavin kept his eyes fixed. “It’s Ally Beaumont.”

  He knew the silence from his friend was shock. In high school, Ally was the wallflower. The geeky girl who wasn’t petite and perky. Instead of being a cheerleader, she was in the band. Instead of going out on a Saturday night, she stayed home and read books. She was funny, and sweet, and there were times he’d have rather been with her than his boys.

  But in true high school fashion, the mean girls got involved
and preyed on Ally’s insecurities, making her second guess their friendship. She might have thought he considered her a pity case back then, but he didn’t. Gavin really liked her, and just when he thought they might have a chance for something more, she let him down in the worst possible way. He hadn’t ever considered having to see her again.

  But there she was, and while he had no idea what she was planning, the look on her gorgeous face told him she meant business.

  “I don’t remember Ally being so... uh...” Code didn’t know what to say. “She’s really hot.”

  “Yeah. I need some air,” Gavin groaned.

  “Air?” Rowan was behind him, hands on her hips. “Oh, no. You’re going to run for it.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous—”

  “Go! In there!” She pointed to the storage room where the food and beer had been set up. “There’s a window in there. But don’t even think about jumping and making a getaway. I will find you.”

  “Jump? Are you nuts? I’m not jumping, Ro.”

  “I don’t put anything past the lot of you.” With those words, she stormed off.

  Colt looked straight at Nick. “Your sister is nuts.”

  “This isn’t news to me. Just don’t get her mad or I’ll hear about it forever.”

  “Come on, Cody,” Mrs. D said. “Let’s go.”

  “First. Effing perfect,” Code mumbled, heading down the stairs with Mrs. Downey. All Gavin could think was that it was like a dead man walking. The hoots and catcalls started before his friend even hit the stage.

  This was going to be a long, long night.

  Ally was getting nervous; some serious money had been tossed around tonight, and she just wasn’t used to being in the spotlight. Her bid, if she threw the whole thing on the pile of money already raised, would be the most forward, bold, and garish thing she’d ever done.

  It could backfire in a big way. But it would get her a date. Gavin’s offering in the program was simple and direct. “Your wish is my command...”

  It was also complete crap.