Page 54 of Hope's Highest Bidders

“What? No, she didn’t leave with me. She should be there at the office. I saw her walk back inside.”

My sister’s voice rises. “Ben! This is not like her. She wouldn’t just leave. She’s responsible and always does what she’s supposed to do. She wouldn’t just bail without telling someone.”

I turn on my heel, ready to get back in my truck to go find her. “I’ll come back into town. Give me fifteen minutes.”

“Wait! I have a text,” she says, and her voice is muffled as she takes the phone from her mouth. “Oh, she’s home. She said she had a migraine… she’s lying. If she’s with you there, Ben, it’s fine. I won’t be mad; I just need to know she’s okay.”

I blow out a breath as I pace next to my truck, debating if I need to head back into town or not. “She’s not with me. And how do you know she’s lying? Maybe she does have a migraine.” I swallow hard before I ask the next question. “Where’s Cole? That was her date’s name, right?”

Impatiently, Elana huffs. “Cole is here dancing with Clara from accounting, and the reason I know she’s lying is because she gets migraines all the time, and they are bad. There’s no way she was able to drive with one.”

I get into my truck and start to head back down the mountain. With the Bluetooth on, I tell her, “Send me her address. I’m going to go by her house and make sure she’s home.”

“What? No, it’s okay. I’m closer. I’ll just leave here and go by her house real quick.”

“No!” I yell into the cab of my truck. “I’m already on my way. What does she drive? I’ll let you know if I see her car outside.”

“Oooh, good idea. Okay. I’ll send it to you. Thank you, Ben. You’re a good man.”

I wince at the guilt her words bring because I’m not a good man. If anything, from my actions earlier tonight, I’m a pretty shitty man actually. “I’ll let you know,” I answer her gruffly before hitting disconnect on my dash.

Shortly after hanging up, Elana’s text comes through. Maggie’s house is at the base of the mountain, and it won’t take me long to get there. I feel as if I hold my breath the whole way into town. I pull to the side of the road in front of her house, andsure enough, her little Honda is parked in the driveway. I shut off my engine and pull my phone from the cupholder to send my sister a text. “She’s home. Her car is in the driveway and there’s a light on inside.”

“Thank God. Thank you again, Ben. She texted me that she was fine and going to bed. I’m sorry… it’s just not like her, and I freaked out a little. Thanks for helping me out.”

“Sure, no problem. I’m going home. You did good tonight, sis. Love you.”

I drop my phone into the cupholder and look at the small house where Maggie is inside, probably cursing my name as I sit here. I should drive away, but I don’t. I stare up at her house for the longest time, wishing I hadn’t said what I said earlier and that things were different. For the first time in a long time, I wonder what life would be like if I could open my heart again.

7

MAGGIE

Iorder a shot of whiskey. It’s either that or I know Elana’s going to give me a hard time about being a stick in the mud. Usually, I can withstand her peer pressure, but with the talk we’re about to have, I need a little bit of liquid courage.

“Ooooh, whiskey. It’s that kind of night? I’ll take one too,” she says excitedly.

I laugh and watch as the bartender pours our drinks and slides the glasses in front of us. In one gulp, without any fanfare, I throw back the shot that burns the whole way down my throat.

Elana is a little slower, and when she sets the half empty glass down, her face is puckered up. “I swear, that’s like drinking fire. Why would you order that?”

I shrug, not ready to drop my bombshell just yet. For one second, I thought I’d keep it to myself, but I tell Elana everything. Well, everything except the kiss and words I exchanged with her brother a few weeks ago. Nope, I’ve kept that all to myself.

But this… this is big, and I know I need to talk to her about it. I need to tell someone, and who else would I tell if not my best friend?

“So there’s this guy…” she starts, and I cut her off.

I hold my hand up. “Nope, not interested.”

She was searching on her phone, probably trying to find a picture to show me, but I cover her hand with mine, blocking the screen. “Forget it, Elana. I’m not going to let you hook me up.”

For just an instant, the image of Ben with his dark eyes and long beard filter through my brain, and I have to force the memories out. “But I do have something I need to talk to you about.”

She lays her phone down on the bar top. “Shoot. You have my full attention.”

I take a deep breath. “I need Friday off… I need a long weekend.”

Her eyes round in surprise. “Sure, I mean you have worked overtime every week since you started with the company. Of course you can take a day off if you need it.”

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