Page 78 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 1

My father handed Jack the towel he still had hanging over his shoulder from when he was cooking. “Here, son.”

Jack wiped at the worst of it. “Sorry everyone. I guess I’m a bit off kilter. It’s been a long day.” He shifted the chair, turnedaround, and moved to sit back down. Somehow he missed the mark, and the chair fell backward as he hit the floor.

Well, he’d been warned.

“Helvete, what in the world is happening?” He barked what I believed was another curse word. I’d ask him later what those words meant in Norwegian.

Autumn went into full belly laughter. Through her giggles, she panted, “Like I said…don’t fuck with the fairies.” She burst into another round of laughter as I got up to help Jack. This time, I put the chair in the right place and held it there while he took a seat.

“Autumn, I swear if you don’t shush up, I will summon Hecate so I can spite your ass myself.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she growled.

“Try me!” I gave her my patented big sister, don’t mess with me look.

She rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair and, blessedly, kept her big mouth closed.

“You okay?” I ran my hand up and down Jack’s arm. “That had to hurt your tailbone.”

He firmed his jaw and gave me a fake smile. “I’m fine. Are you about ready to head out? I wasn’t kidding about it being a long day.”

“Totally. Let’s get you home and into bed.” I waggled my eyebrows playfully and started to pick up our bowls and silverware.

“No, no, you both go on ahead. Dad and I will take care of the dishes. Go get some rest. We’ll see you tomorrow.” My mom ushered us away from the table.

“It was really nice meeting all of you. The stew was delicious. Thank you.” Jack shook my father’s hand.

Dad clapped Jack on the shoulder. “Our family can be a lot on a new person, but I promise you’ll never meet a more devotedgroup of people. We back one another up in all things and share our woes and successes. It’s my honor to welcome you to the family.”

“Thank you, Bernie. I look forward to getting to know all of you better in the coming weeks.” He went over to Mom and leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for the hospitality and the…interesting card reading.”

“You’re welcome, son.” She smiled as she pulled him into a hug and winked at me, then fanned her face.

I grinned and shook my head as Jack shook my sister’s hand. “Until next time.”

“What do you mean next time? I need a ride home.”

“Autumn, no. Stay here,” I attempted.

“Sunny, I have to open the store in the morning. Come on, I’ll be quiet.”

“Fine,” I grumbled. “Let’s go.” I took Jack’s hand and led him back through the house. “Autumn lives in the connected guest house and storefront. Don’t worry, there’s a long breezeway to the main house, which will be bolted and chained,” I said louder than necessary so she could hear.

“Like I want to catch you and your new beau walking naked around the house, banging on every surface.” Then she glanced over her shoulder at Jack. “Actually, he is pretty hot…”

“Autumn…Hecate… Remember?” I warned for the second time.

She made the gesture of tying her lips into a knot, basically promising to keep silent. I doubted that promise, but she actually came through because the car ride home was uneventful.

Jack pulled up in front of my house, and squinted at the rather large Victorian home. It had been built on a corner lot and faced the ocean in the distance. The guest house and storefront were on the corner part where Autumn headed immediately. Shewaved over her shoulder. “Night-night. Glad you’re home and scored yourself a hot fiancé.”

I stood at Jack’s side and cuddled under his arm. He was staring at my house. “Is it my eyes, or is the entire house pink?”

I snickered. “It is pink. It’s called The Pink Lady, and I’ve been in love with her since I was a small child. The very second our business became successful and I could afford to buy her, I made the owners an offer. It’s been the love of my life ever since.”

“Guess I’ve got some serious competition for your affections then.” He rubbed my arm and stared at my home.

“Guess you do. Let’s head in.” I let him go and raced up the steps like I did every day. Jack got our bags out of the trunk and carried them up the stairs and followed me inside.

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