“I’d say this VFW hall looks pretty good all dolled up,” Tracy stated when she joined Serena over at the punch bowl on Saturday night at seven o’clock. “It’s going to look even better when we get the money to spruce it up some, too.”
“The new tile floor is sorely needed.”
“As is landscaping outside,” Tracy mused. “Of course my favorite purchase is going to be the tree we’re going to plant in honor of war veterans.”
Serena liked the idea of knowing that she’d had some part in that memorial. “I sure hope we get enough money for everything on the list.”
“I think we will. Veronica called up a bunch of her Dallas girlfriends, and they brought some friends. Every one of them seems to think one-hundred-dollar bills are the same as ones. They’re spending like crazy.”
“At least someone has money to spare,” Serena said drily. “How’s the silent-auction part going? I’ve been manning the refreshment table for the past half hour since I got here. I haven’t been able to take a look.”
“It’s going great. So far, there’s at least two hundred dollars bid on everything. Some have as much as a thousand.” Her eyes lit up. “And the regular auction is fixing to start. That’s what I came over to tell you.”
An uneasy flutter filled her stomach, though she didn’t know its source. Was she nervous about Jarred not doing well—or anxious that he was about to get what he wanted?
She supposed only time would tell.
Looking at the punch bowl and the bottles of soda, she reached down into the plastic crate by her feet and pulled out a few more glasses. “I’ll just get this a little more organized then see if someone can take my place.”
Tracy slipped an arm through hers. “Don’t worry so much. This area is fine. If there’s anything this crowd knows how to do, it’s how to serve themselves drinks. Come sit down.”
“All right.” She supposed her nonalcoholic punch wouldn’t get overrun by takers anytime soon, anyway. Everyone present was lining up at the cash bar and drinking Lone Star and Budweiser as if it was going out of style.
After filling four more glasses, she put the ladle down and followed Tracy to the third row of white fold-out chairs. As Serena looked around at the seating arrangement, she had to smile. It looked almost exactly as if it was set up for a wedding—eight rows of chairs on each side of a wide aisle.
In front of everything was a raised dais for all the people offering services to stand on. The Boy Scouts had built it. They’d hung up an extra-large bulletin board behind it, as well.
Mayor Earl was standing behind a podium over to the right. Standing tall and proud as ever, he experimentally banged his gavel for silence and spoke into the microphone borrowed from the Presbyterian church. “Let’s get ready to rumble!” he called out in his best sports-announcer imitation.
“Oh, brother,” Tracy said. “I swear, our mayor gets a little more eccentric with every passing year.”
As Mayor Earl started tapping the microphone and tested the volume, Serena smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Moments later, the gavel rang out again. “I hereby proclaim this auction begun! Let’s take a look-see at item number one.” He shifted his gaze to the left. “Paula, show this crowd what we’ve got.”
Tracy giggled. “He sounds like Bob Barker.”
“Almost,” Serena agreed, then tamped down her overactive sweet tooth as she watched Paula present her offering, a dish of ice cream every week for two months.
“Two months! Why, that’s eight free ice creams, y’all,” Mayor Earl proclaimed.
Tracy giggled. And then the bidding began.
AN HOUR LATER, SERENA looked at her program. Jarred was almost the last thing to be auctioned. He was listed under Bonus and Once in a Lifetime Experiences. There in black and white, Serena saw that A Week with Jarred Riddell was number forty-nine, smack between an all-expense-paid trip to Kauai and the chance to be the lead story on the front page of the Electra Enquirer Newspaper.
She shook her head wryly. It was a sure bet that Jarred’s ego was having a field day with that one!
As Mayor Earl started bidding on item number twenty-five—cookies for a year by Mrs. Anderson—Serena looked around.
She knew most everyone. There with her mother was Veronica Snow. She was looking like a model out of a magazine, dressed as she was in a gorgeous sundress with tiny spaghetti straps. Not too far off were Cal Jr. and Trent Riddell. Sitting with them was Gwen. On her lap was little Virginia.
Near the front was Jean Claude Valentine. She knew he was auctioning off a free dinner at the Golden Dove. The Hendersons were there from the bakery, and now that her item was bid on and signed, Paula was back at work, scooping ice cream for the crowd.
Finally, in the back of the room she spotted Jarred. The sight of him took her breath away. He looked drop-dead gorgeous in his tuxedo. Honestly, for a man who hardly ever wore a clean shirt, he sure looked like a movie star in a tuxedo. It fit him so well, one would think it had been designed and tailored just for him.
He wasn’t smiling. No, he was standing quietly, sipping a glass of water.
She wondered what he was thinking.
“Serena, stop squirming and look at the mayor,” Tracy whispered. “He’s about to auction off a whole assortment of Mary Kay!”
Obediently, Serena turned to the front. But though the makeup in its pretty pink boxes looked nice, she couldn’t help but wonder about Jarred. And wonder what was going to happen to him. When she looked Veronica’s way again, Serena noticed that there was an empty seat next to her. Serena decided to claim it. Just in case ol’ Veronica needed some coaxing where Jarred Riddell was concerned.
Because the only thing worse than seeing Jarred take Veronica out on dates for one whole week was to have him not get the girl of his dreams at all.
AS BAD IDEAS WENT, LETTING himself be an auctioned bachelor had to be one of his very worst, Jarred decided as Mayor Earl called him to the front of the room.
Remembering Serena’s instructions about walking slowly, he ambled down the center aisle.
Hell. He felt like a freakin’ bride.
Two old guys from the hardware store guffawed as he passed. So did Chrissy from the Pizza Whiz. He’d never felt so humiliated.
He didn’t dare let it show, though. He playfully gave the old guys the finger and winked at Chrissy when she whistled at his butt.
“Step right up, Jarred!” Mayor Earl proclaimed. “Ladies, if you were ever wondering if Electra could compete with those cheesy bachelors on the television, I’m asking you to look no further. This guy has it all—good looks, fun personality and that impressive Riddell name. And did I mention that he’s rich?”
If the crowd hadn’t been going wild before, it sure was now. And the suggestions the boys from Ed’s Feed and Seed were calling out had to surely come from too much Budweiser.
“That ain’t physically possible, Ed,” he sniped right back…even as he felt his ears turn red. Virginia really shouldn’t be hearing such things.
But the ribbing continued.
“How do you know it ain’t possible?” Trent yelled from his chair.
Oh, Lord. He was going to kill his little brother. “’Cause I’ve tried it, that’s why!”
Laughter erupted and he posed and grinned. Playing along as though he was having the time of his life.
But he wasn’t.
Actually, Jarred didn’t think he could feel more of a fool if he was standing there stark naked. He was half surprised the mayor didn’t ask him to show off his teeth.
“Jarred, why don’t you tell the women out here what you plan to do with the winner.”
“Anything they want,” he drawled. When a whole assortment of hoots and hollers accompanied that, he felt his cheeks heat. “I mean, within reason.”
He scanned the audience, intent on finding Veronica. But when his eyes lit on Serena, he couldn’t seem to look away. She was gazing at him with enough trust and comfort to make
him feel as if he could do anything.
And it served to settle him, too. He knew how to play up his good ol’ boy roots. And, if he were honest, standing in front of the town in a too-hot tuxedo was a whole hell of a lot easier than facing the wild-eyed glare of an ornery bull with a hump on its back in Cheyenne.
Because it was expected, he lifted his chin and deepened his drawl when the mayor prodded him to talk some more. “One thing I was planning to do was take the lucky woman to dinner at the Golden Dove. I also hope to take her horseback riding down in the valley, and finish off the day with a picnic by the river.”
With a knowing glance at the audience, Mayor Earl said, “And what about that famous Corvette? Any rides in that?”
“Of course.” Thinking quickly, Jarred said, “We’ll go anywhere she wants in that car. As long as I’m driving, of course.”
As the room filled with whistles and good-natured laughter, the mayor tapped his gavel on the podium and announced, “Let’s start the bidding at one hundred dollars. Do I hear one hundred?”
Jarred scanned the crowd and looked at his brothers, who were grinning ear to ear. Looked at his other friends sipping longnecks and giving him the thumbs-up.
His gaze found Serena and their eyes locked. And found a little thread of warmth glide through him when he read her lips, telling him “good job.” Everything was going to be just fine. And then he realized—much to his surprise—that she was keeping company with Veronica Snow.
Chapter Seventeen
Mayor Earl banged on the gavel again. “Hey, y’all. The fire chief needs to ask me a question. This is just going to take a sec. Jarred, cool your heels for a moment, why don’t you?”
As the mayor left the stage and Jarred stood there all alone, the butterflies in Serena’s stomach fluttered nervously.
Oh, this was going to be a disaster.
Serena felt like a nervous mother at her daughter’s first dance. Her palms were sweating, her pulse was accelerated and her stomach was in knots. Everything that was most important to her was on display.
With some dismay, she realized that though some things changed, others stayed completely the same. Jarred Riddell still had her heart—and she loved him enough to hope that he was about to get everything he ever wanted.
It was just a shame that what he wanted was Veronica Snow.
With a sinking heart, Serena watched Veronica hop up from the chair beside her and go talk to some of her friends. As Serena watched Jarred watch Veronica, she mentally started practicing all the things she was going to tell Veronica in order to encourage her to bid.
“Serena, you look worried enough to burst into tears, right here in row number five. You’ve got to settle down,” Tracy said as she scooted closer.
“I’m just trying to come up with the right thing to say so she’ll bid on Jarred.”
“I doubt you’ll need to worry. If she’s not thinking about all the fun, private things she could do to Jarred Riddell’s person, she’s surely the only person with two ovaries who isn’t! Every woman between twelve and ninety-two is staring at Jarred and salivating.”
It didn’t help that she knew exactly what a good kisser Jarred was. Yes, some lucky woman was going to have quite a time cuddled in his arms.
But though jealousy was threatening to make her crazy, Serena couldn’t help but feel a real case of pride as she watched Jarred grin on that stage. He looked confident and, well, debonair! She’d earned every penny of what he paid her. “He does look good, doesn’t he?”
“Good enough to eat.”
“I wish Mayor Earl would come back. Don’t you think he’s been gone long enough?”
“Patience, little sister,” Tracy said in parting as Veronica returned to take her seat.
It was time to plant some seeds.
“Having a good time, Veronica?”
“Definitely. You?”
“Of course. Um, I was just sitting here, thinking about Jarred. He looks real good, doesn’t he?”
Veronica turned to stare at the man of the hour. “He is handsome.” She leaned in and lowered her voice. “But between you and me, I don’t understand why anyone would even want to pay a dollar for his time.”
Uh-oh. “Veronica, I’ve been friends with Jarred for years. I’ve got to tell you, you’ll never find a better man than him.”
“You really think that, don’t you? Don’t you think he’s a little rough around the edges?”
“Only enough to make him interesting. I mean, who would want a guy who was too polished, you know?”
Veronica stared at him again. This time a little bit longer. With a little bit more interest. “You might have a point there.”
“You know, I think it’s also great that it’s just for a week. If you don’t like him, there won’t be any of those awkward breakups.”
“That’s true. I never thought about it that way.”
Jarred was still standing all by himself like a target. Everyone was staring at him and whispering. Whispering so quietly, she couldn’t overhear much at all.
“I’m back. Sorry about that,” Mayor Earl boomed. “Take your seats, please, and direct your attention back to Electra’s own Jarred Riddell. For those of you who don’t know him personally, let me just say he’s a former rodeo star, semiconfirmed bachelor and all-around good person.” A sly grin lit his face. “And, we sure can’t forget that he’s a great addition to any party. I’ve never met a man more able to schmooze and booze than Jarred.”
Serena’s stomach sank as she watched the muscles in Jarred’s jaw jump. She knew for a fact that he hated being reduced to nothing more than a party guy.
“You ready, Jarred?”
Her student lifted his head and looked out into the audience. Their eyes met once again. His were blue and piercing. Her own tried their best to convey her hopes for him—and that she was sure this little bit of humiliation was going to be totally worth it.
Then he turned to the mayor and grinned that trademark smile of his. “Absolutely.”
“Then let’s get this show on the road.” Mayor Earl cleared his throat. “Don’t forget, this is for charity, y’all. Your monies are going to benefit everyone young and old. We’re going to fix up this VFW hall and maybe even help the firehouse a bit. So…do I hear one hundred?”
Now it was so quiet everyone could hear old Mr. Palmer snoring near the punch bowl.
Mayor Earl tapped the microphone. “Fifty, anyone?”
Serena gulped. Fifty? She had been sure women were going to be throwing money the mayor’s way. Diverting her eyes to Jarred, she saw that muscle in his jaw twitch again.
Oh, but he was agitated.
Oh, but she was up a creek. Nothing she’d done had worked! Not her lessons, not her reconnaissance!
The mayor tapped the microphone experimentally. “Forty?”
A muffled voice in the back row called out, “All right, Earl. I’ll bid. Forty.”
People clapped and cheered.
Serena turned quickly and half rose out of her chair, trying to figure out who called out the bid, but there was so much commotion, she couldn’t tell.
Mayor Earl smiled. “Forty it is, to the lady in the back. Do I hear fifty?”
“We’ll bid one hundred dollars, Mayor,” one of the gals from the Burger Shack called out. “But Jarred’s going to have to work for all three of us. That is, if he can handle us.”
Trent Riddell whistled raucously.
Jarred winked. “I can handle ya’ll just fine.”
“Be still my heart,” one church lady behind Serena murmured. “What a man that is. I bet he’s heaven in bed.”
Serena gasped. That woman had to be almost ninety! She certainly gave a new meaning to the term cougar. Kind of meanly, Serena began to think of other names to describe her such an old cat.
But Mayor Earl didn’t look shocked by the bid—or the crazy comments bandied about—at all. Actually, he started to look a whole lot happier.
�
�A hundred it is! Now, do I have another bid?” Looking around, his eyes sparkled. “Come on, ladies, our Jarred is surely one of the finest that Electra has to offer. Look at that physique!”
Dutifully Jarred flexed a bicep.
A couple of guys in the audience whistled and called out all kinds of things that really shouldn’t be said in mixed company.
That darn lady behind her made little gasping noises.
Serena delicately nudged Veronica. “He’s a good guy, Veronica. The best. You ought to bid.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
Mayor Earl spoke again. “Once more, your money will go to help all kinds of needs in the community. Think how nice this place is going to look with new carpeting. Think of the orphans!”
Orphans? Oh, brother. While Serena certainly didn’t begrudge a cent going to anyone needy, she happened to know for a fact that there was no orphanage within a hundred-mile radius.
Whether it was the idea of Jarred getting farmed out to groups of women—or the sympathy factor in full force because of the orphans—bidding started picking up.
Mayor Earl’s voice got peppier and louder as bids came in from all over the crowd. “One-fifty. Two hundred. Two-fifty. Five hundred.”
Two rows over, Hannah fanned herself. “Five hundred dollars is a lot of money to spend on a man.”
“It is,” a few others agreed.
“I wonder what a person would get for that much? I wonder what ol’ Jarred would do?”
Serena turned to Veronica one last time. “Are you going to bid? Or is a date with Jarred going to be just another thing you wish you would have done?”
Veronica blinked. “I have wasted a lot of time with regrets.” She leaned forward.
Serena nodded. “Go on, Veronica. Bid.”
But right as Veronica looked as if she was about to bid, the rest of the women in the audience went berserk. In a space of ten seconds, offers started pouring in.
“I have five-fifty! Six hundred. No, wait…seven hundred. One thousand! One thousand dollars. Woo-wee!”
It was thrilling. Jarred had to be excited about the money being raised. But as she caught his eye, she knew his smile was merely pasted on.
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