Page 14 of Love, A Curvy Girl's Guide

Haley rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. "Focus. We need to make sure I have enough to win this."

Verity tilted her head, her expression growing more serious. "How much did you bring?"

"Five hundred," Haley said, her stomach tightening. "That's all I could spare."

Verity winced. "That’s not going to cut it. Have you seen the bids?"

Haley’s gaze swept over the stage as one of the firefighters strutted across it to a chorus of whistles and cheers. The bids were already climbing past six hundred, and they weren’t even halfway through the lineup.

"Great," Haley muttered, running a hand through her hair. "This was a terrible idea."

"Don’t panic," Verity said. "I’ve got another hundred on me. We’ll figure it out."

Before Haley could respond, a familiar voice called out from behind them. "Looks like you two could use some help."

Haley turned to find Ian’s brothers approaching, their grins identical and full of mischief. Dennis, the oldest, led the group, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd before landing on Verity. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, his gaze lingering before he cleared his throat and gave a nod of acknowledgment.

"What are you guys doing here?" Haley asked, caught off guard.

"What do you think?" Dean replied, his tone casual. "We’re here to make sure you win."

Haley’s eyebrows shot up. "You’re kidding."

"Not at all," said the third brother, Derek, tossing an arm around her shoulders. "We pooled some cash together. Figured you might need it."

Haley blinked, completely taken aback. "Why?"

Dennis shrugged, his gaze flicking to Verity again before he answered. "Let’s just say we have a vested interest in making sure Ian ends up with the right bidder."

Verity raised an eyebrow. "You mean you don’t want some random cougar with a fat wallet snatching him up?"

Dennis’s lips twitched. "Something like that."

Haley’s heart swelled with a mix of gratitude and nerves. "Thank you," she said, her voice soft. "I mean it."

"Don’t thank us yet," Dean said, winking. "You still have to outbid half the town."

The auction rolled on, the crowd growing louder and more animated with each firefighter who took the stage. Some played up their performances, flexing their muscles or tossing their shirts into the crowd. Others kept it simple, offering shy smiles that somehow earned even more enthusiastic bids.

When Ian finally stepped onto the stage, Haley’s breath caught in her throat. He looked… incredible. His broad shoulders, sculpted chest, and easy confidence drew whistles and cheers from the crowd. But it was the way he scanned the audience, his eyes landing on Haley, that sent a jolt through her.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the emcee announced, "our next bachelor is none other than Firefighter Ian Johnson! You’ve seen him save kittens, lift weights, and drive the fire truck like a champ. Now’s your chance to win a whole day with this local hero!"

Ian smirked, leaning into the microphone. "A whole day, huh? I’m going to need a schedule."

The crowd laughed, and the emcee grinned. "Bidding starts at five hundred. Do I hear five hundred?"

Haley’s hand shot up, her heart pounding.

"We’ve got five hundred from the lovely lady in the front row!" the emcee called. "Do I hear six?"

Another hand went up, and Haley’s stomach sank. She was already outbid, her initial amount disappearing in seconds. Verity nudged her. "Don’t give up! We’ve got reinforcements."

Haley nodded, raising her hand again. "Seven hundred!"

"Eight!"

"Nine!"

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