Page 59 of Reckless Harmony

“You’re single!” Rayna said.

“I’m not. I’m dating someone.”

“Since when?”

“For almost four months now. She’s from… Willington,” Zuri said.

“Oh, gross,” Arianna said. “Is she, like, super rich or something?”

Zuri ignored her as Rayna said, “Wren! Wren is single!”

She stared desperately at the tiny blonde woman who hovered near the bachelors and surreptitiously eyed Deputy Ian like he was a tasty snack.

“She has a total crush on that deputy guy, right?” Arianna said to Emma. “She looks at him like she wants to ride his face like a pony.”

Emma burst into laughter as Zuri said, “I already asked Wren. She can’t afford to take someone on a date. It’s your rescue, Rayna. You need to take one for the team.”

“I’m wearing a t-shirt and jeans,” Rayna said. “I didn’t do my hair, and I’m not wearing any makeup.”

“You never wear makeup, Ray-Ray,” Arianna said. She eyed Rayna up and down before reaching out and tugging out Rayna’s hair elastic. She sighed dramatically and handed it back to her. “You really need to do something other than a ponytail for your hair. It’s, like, permanently indented from the elastic.”

She gave her another critical look as Rayna scooped her hair back into a ponytail. “Okay, so I can’t do anything about your hair or your clothes, but I can work my makeup magic.”

“No time,” Zuri said, taking Rayna’s arm and tugging her toward the other bachelorettes. “You have a natural beauty, Rayna. Don’t worry about it. Now, think of an idea for your date. You have three minutes.”

“Zuri, I…”

Her voice died when Zuri gave her a fierce look. “I need you to do this, Rayna. Okay?”

She sighed. “Yeah, okay.”

“You look like you’re going to throw up,” Emma said.

“I might,” Rayna admitted. She fidgeted nervously, staring at James as he waited for Zuri to call his name. He stood on the other side of the stage, hidden behind the pulled-back curtains, and he looked just as nervous as Rayna. He was the last bachelor to go on stage, and he nodded distractedly to Wren when she patted his arm a bit timidly and said something Rayna couldn’t hear.

“I don’t want to do this,” she said to Emma for what felt like the thousandth time.

“I know,” Emma said patiently, “but I promise it will be fine.”

“No one’s going to bid on me,” Rayna said. “I’ll look like an idiot.”

“Of course someone will bid on you,” Emma said. “Rayna, you’re funny and smart and gorgeous.”

“I am wearing jeans and a t-shirt and my worse-fitting bra,” Rayna said. “My girls look like they fell off the back of a potato truck.”

Emma laughed so hard that it drowned out the sound of Solomon Whittaker’s voice as he called out for a final bid for the current bachelorette.

“The back of a potato truck?” Emma said, still wheezing laughter.

Rayna waved her off. “You know what I mean.”

“I don’t. I really don’t,” Emma said. “Besides, your boobs look amazing even in that bra. I’d kill for mine to be that perky.”

She suddenly paused. “Oh, just a second, I want to see who wins the bid for Cora.” She cocked her head, listening intently as Solomon shouted, “And the winning bid goes to Brent Davidson at three hundred dollars. You’ll be enjoying dinner at the Windmill followed by indoor rock climbing with the gorgeous and talented Cora.”

There was a loud whoop, and Emma grinned. “Oh my God, Brent has had a crush on Cora for months. He comes into the store all the time.”

“Is three hundred bucks our highest bid?” Rayna asked.

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