Weekend With Her Bachelor (Bachelor Auction Returns Book 4) (5 page)

As quick as he appeared, he was gone. And once Gavin went into Grey’s, Ally went back to the position she’d been in when he first walked outside. She leaned against a lamppost and curled forward. She felt like she was going to throw up.

*

Gavin tuned out
the people calling his name, and shot right up the stairs, seeing Nick and Cassidy on the way down. There was a story there. Code and Hayley? Jesus. This night was turning into a fucking nightmare, just like Colt said it would. At that point, all Gavin knew was there wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to talk to anyone until he could process what had happened. Of all the people to walk back in his life, Ally was the last one he expected to see.

And, man, had she changed.

Slender and sophisticated, she still possessed her razor sharp wit, but it was delivered with an indifference he’d never noticed in her before. Ally had always cared. About everything. She might have been a little shy, but it was that genuine sweetness that he liked the most about her. Now she was practical. Focused.

The dreamer was gone.

In her place was a successful, pragmatic businesswoman with long, wavy cinnamon colored hair, deep brown eyes, and legs that went on forever. He’d seen gorgeous women before. Hell, they were bidding on him ten minutes ago. But there was always something special about Ally, a sexy vibe that drove him to distraction as a teenager. He thought it was gone, the attraction—but when he shook her hand, the jolt that went through him told him otherwise. She may have looked different, but his girl was still in there. Fancy clothes, perfect make-up, and a few pounds weren’t going to change that.

Spending time with her was definitely playing with fire. And Gavin had no desire to be burned again.

“Holy shit, Clark.” Gavin didn’t know who said it because Code and Colt burst into the upstairs room at the same time and slapped him on the back.

“Twenty-five grand?” Code said. “That girl must be doing all right for herself if she can drop twenty-five-large on your sorry ass.”

“Her fiancé dumped her last year. She sold the ring and used the money for the auction.” The minute he said it, Gavin regretted giving up Ally’s secret.

“Creative,” Colt added. “And a nice burn to the asshole. Cheers to the little lady.” He lifted his beer bottle in salute.

“Yeah.
Cheers
. She’s an event planner,” he volunteered. “Wants me to go to a destination wedding in a couple of weeks because the ex is going to be there.”

“Wow. I guess she wants her money’s worth,” Code chuckled.

“She won’t hold me to it. If I don’t want to go, won’t press the issue, and will let the donation stand.”

The guys went silent, meaning they were impressed, or they were trying to think of something funny to say. He hoped it was impressed, because they were rarely funny.

“What are you going to do?” The question, serious and not the least bit sarcastic, came from Colt.

“I’m thinking about it.”
He didn’t know how he was going to tell Ally he couldn’t be alone with her for a long weekend.

“She is
hot
. She wasn’t that hot in high school,” Colt muttered.

Gavin really had to keep his temper from flaring because punching one of his best friends wouldn’t be a good way to end the night. But Colt wasn’t wrong. Her geeky charm had gone to high level gorgeous, and she didn’t even look like she was trying.

Coach D and his wife entered the room, misty eyed, stopping the conversation. “You boys made it happen. We are over our fifty-thousand-dollar goal. The hospital will get the helipad, possibly before next winter.”

Mrs. Downey hugged all of them, giving Gavin a pat on the cheek for good measure. “I had no idea that was Allison Beaumont until she wrote her check. I remember how sweet you two were with each other. She’s lovely, and so generous. I hope you have a wonderful time with her. Where are you going on your date?”

That was why he did this. He had the gratitude of one of the nicest women on Planet Earth, he’d helped his former coach, and hopefully the addition of the helipad would make sure no one would have to lose a child simply because of timing.

“A destination wedding in the mountains,” he said. “She doesn’t want to go dateless.”

“That will be fun! And very romantic.”

Romantic. Right. He was dead. “It will be nice to catch up, and I hear the ranch resort is pretty spectacular.”

The entire Downey clan joined them, including Troy’s mother, who knew Gavin from the night Troy died. She gave him a hug, and whispered her thanks, adding, “
For everything
.”

It was and emotional meeting, and it woke Gavin up to one thing. Any petty problem he had with Ally could be put aside. He’d help her out.

Once Coach and his wife left the room, Gavin took out his phone and opened a text.

It’s Gavin. I’m in.

The response didn’t take long to come back.

Really?

Yes, really.
What an attitude she had.
Let’s meet for lunch to discuss details.

Okay. Diner tomorrow? Around noon?

Sure. See you then.
Right in the middle of town, where there was no hiding from the nosy bodies. The gossip would be flying.

Just what he always wanted.

*

He said yes.
It could all go to hell, Ally knew that, but staring at her phone, she wondered what made him decide in her favor. She was standing at the bar, sipping celebratory champagne. Not only had the auction beaten the one the previous year, but the fundraising goal had been surpassed by thousands. Rowan raised her glass.

“To our glorious bidders. We wouldn’t be making improvements to the hospital without your generous donations.” Rowan gave her a big hug. “I never would have suspected you to throw down that kind of cash.”

Ally nodded. That’s because back in school, only a few people really knew her, Gavin being one of them. And thinking about it, even he was surprised. “I guess I’ve gotten bolder. But it was a good cause.”

Vivi sidled up to her at the bar. “So where are you going on your date? Tell us.”

Ally didn’t want to be pushed, especially not until she’d had a chance to talk to Gavin tomorrow. “We haven’t decided. I guess we’ll know soon enough.”

She wasn’t going to be railroaded, and she wasn’t about to gossip. Nope. If she knew anything about Marietta, it was that the walls had ears, and anything she said would get back to Gavin before she had a chance to feel him out.

Her heart was still pounding from their quick encounter. The man was potent, serious, and not about to take any shit. There was a reason he said yes to the date, and she figured it had very little to do with her.

If he wasn’t going to make it work, Ally was ready to tell him to forget it. She wanted a date, but she had no intention of being humiliated, nor did she want him miserable. This wedding was her firm’s crowning glory, and she wanted people to have fun.

Hopefully, Dr. Clark would be on board. If not, she’d manage on her own, just like always.

A
lly wandered into
the kitchen of her family house and felt the warm fuzzies wash over her. Her parents, married thirty-five years, were holding hands at the breakfast table. They were chatting about something Dad was showing her mother on his tablet, and Mom was giggling and asking questions.

They were her example for a good marriage. It wasn’t perfect. They’d had their ups and downs, but they never gave up on each other. No matter what.

“Oh! Ally! You’re up. I made a breakfast pie, it’s keeping warm for you. Do you want coffee?” Her mother fussed. She loved to fuss.

“Mom. I can make a cup of coffee. Sit.”

Settling back in her chair, she knew the questions would come any second. They would give it some time, let air swirl around a bit before asking anything There was no doubt her parents had heard about her massive bid at the auction. But she had no idea if they knew anything else.

They weren’t talking. Ally pressed the button on the brewer and waited for her coffee.

Still nothing.

She doctored the contents of the mug with a little sugar and a heavy dollop of cream.

Still nothing.

It was driving her nuts.

“So how was the auction?”

Finally
! Her father opened the conversation. They wouldn’t understand about the amount of money she dropped. Well, they might. Neither of them had liked Lars, so selling his ostentatious ring probably would have been fine with them. But the number was, as Gavin said, obscene.

“Anything unusual?” Mom pondered.

“Why are you asking when you already know?”

“Why do you think that?” Her father said innocently.

Something about being homemade Ally channel her inner teenager. She rolled her eyes. “Dad, this town is wired. Whether it’s pure gossip, or some kind of cosmic woo woo, everyone knows everything.”

Her parents exchanged one of
those
glances. She hated that.

Her mother grinned. “Your winning bid was
something
.”

Ally shuffled her feet, as she sipped her coffee. More inner teenager.

“It’s not a problem,” her dad added. “It’s just not really like you. It was very… forward.”

“Forward. Right.”

“Did you talk to Gavin?” Her mother always liked Gavin, and even though Ally had tried to keep her feelings about him between her and her two close friends, her mom always knew. Which meant her dad knew.

“Yes. He was annoyed. And he says he wasn’t, but I think he was embarrassed. I’m meeting him for lunch later to talk about the date.”

“Why was he embarrassed? It was for a good cause. And he gets to spend time with you.” She loved how her dad jumped to her defense.

“I’m guessing because it was me. And history, you know.”

Not listening to a word that was said, her mother continued. “Do you have something in mind? For the date?” Mom was probably ready to suggest something. The woman was a fountain of ideas.

“I do. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

Her father rose from his chair and kissed her mother on the cheek. “I’ll bring home something for dinner.” He smiled at Ally. “Will you be joining us?”

“Sure thing, Dad.”

Rob Beaumont, her father, was a sweet man. Loyal. Hardworking. Devoted to his family. He taught science at the middle school, and was the boys’ hockey coach. Her mother, who had just retired from teaching, had taken a part time job in the children’s room at the library. Apparently, today was a late day because she was having after school story time; so since her dad’s season was over, he happily picked up the slack around the house.

They worked as a team. They always had. And as corny or nosy as her parents were, they loved each other and her fiercely.

“When are you seeing Gavin?” Mom asked.

“Lunch. At the diner.”

“Oh, perfect. Pop in at the library so I can debrief you.” Her mother winked, but it wasn’t funny and Mom’s face sobered. “You’re nervous, Miss Ally. Aren’t you?”

“Very. I put him in a bad spot. That wasn’t my intention. He’s angry.”

Mom rose and kissed her forehead. “He won’t stay angry. That’s not in Gavin’s nature.”

“He’s not the same guy he was back in high school. He’s harder.” Grabbing her coffee, she walked onto the screen porch, attempting to make sense of the man she met last night. The view from the back of the house was beautiful, and one of the things she enjoyed as much as possible when she came home.

Her parents’ house was on the outskirts of town. Not far out, like some of the ranches, but they had about ten acres of pasture and a barn where they kept a few horses and a couple of small goats.

Orange Cat, who’d just shown up one day and took up residence in the yard with Fuzzy, their big gray calico, was stalking something by the western wall of the stable. Ally worried it was some poor little field mouse that had gotten into the feed room. It could also have been Fuzzy on the other side of the wall, teasing his partner in crime.

Dad had turned out all three horses before he left for work, and she could see them grazing by the hill stream. What struck her was the quiet. There was nothing like the peacefulness of morning on a farm. Watching her favorite gelding dash around the paddock, she had in her mind to take a ride later on.