Page 65 of Highest Bidder
“She was the sweetest! Jess, you would love her. I can’t wait to see her again. She made him promise to bring me back. Right, Myles Alexander?” Hunter snickers.
JT covers his mouth with his hand to try to cover his amusement, and I give him a hard look.
“She middle-named you in front of your girlfriend? See what I mean? She’s the best,” JT exclaims.
“I love her, and I haven’t even met her yet,” Jess admits.
“Alright. Is everyone ready to go?” JT asks.
Hunter gives him a quizzical look. “Go where?” she asks.
I snake my arm around her waist and bring her right up against my chest.
“We’re heading to my favorite place, where I go every Sunday evening,” I say, giving her a hint. Her eyes light up.
“We’re going horseback riding to the creek?” she asks in an awe-filled whisper. I nod my head and kiss her forehead. She squeezes me and takes off running to the barn, grabbing Jess’ hand as she passes. JT and I slowly follow behind them.
“I’m glad to see you so happy, man. You deserve it,” he says and puts his arm around my shoulders.
“Thanks. Anything you want to tell me about you and Jess?” I give him a knowing look.
He smiles and rubs his jaw. “Not yet. But I’m hoping maybe soon,” he admits and looks down. I slap him in the stomach which makes him let go of my shoulders and give a little fake cough from the impact.
“Don’t wait too long. Take it from me, it’s way better to be happy with the girl than to be unhappy without the girl.”
He nods his head. “Yeah. You lucked out,” JT says.
“You’re fucking right I did.” I watch my girl kissing my favorite horse. She’s standing on the bottom board of the fence. The brown horse looks like he’s hugging her with his head draped over her back. Hunter looks over her shoulder at me and gives me the biggest and most beautiful smile, and I know I’m done for. I don’t know when it happened. But somewhere along the way, I’ve fallen for this short, feisty, wild-haired woman with the most beautiful green eyes. I finally understand what it feels like to be the highest bidder.
EPILOGUE
HUNTER
“Cheers!”We clink our glasses, crowded around a pool table.
“Miney.” Mama grabs Myles by his shoulders, yanking him to face her after taking her fourth shot of whiskey. “I’m just so damn proud of you, son.” Tears well up in her eyes.
“Okay, Mama.” JT gently unravels her white knuckles. “It’s your turn to kick my ass.” He gives her a pool stick. Her face morphs into glee.
Jess hunches over, putting her hands on the side of the pool table. “That woman has to be knocking back Coke or something, right?” Her glazed eyes meet mine.
It’s true. Mama seems to have a very high alcohol tolerance. She just shot back her fourth shot, while the rest of us only knocked back our second, in the past two hours. Myles’ eyes land on mine. He’s told me about all his memories growing up, when he’d attemped to get her drunk. He was never able to get her wasted enough to have a hangover the next day. I giggle when Mama winks at me. She let me in on her secret, saying she had to keep them on their toes. She had told the bartender to make hers half coke and half rum, heavy on the coke.
Myles grabs my hips, planting a kiss on my lips. Even afteralmost a year, his kisses still give me butterflies. It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since I moved here. I wasn’t sure I would like it, or if I would make friends. Now, I look around the bar and watch most of our work friends all hanging out an enjoying a round of pool together. Looking back into Myles’ eyes, a smile spreads across my face.
Myles tucks my hair behind my ear. “What?”
“You did it.” My hands tangle in his shirt, and I nudge him. “You finally have your own lane. You’re an auctioneer, Myles!” I can’t help but beam up at him with pride.
The auctioneer, Aaron, decided to take his family and move across the country. Each GM called Myles separately, offering him the job. I’ll never forget the look on his face. He’s waited so long for this and worked so hard. We invited everyone out to celebrate.
“Can you guys move?” JT pokes Myles with the pool stick. “I’m trying my best not to let Mama embarrass me too badly.”
Jess walks up, wrapping her arms around JT’s neck, and sways a little. “You’re so hot.”
I cover my mouth to stifle my laughter. Jess is such a lightweight, but I’ve loved watching their new relationship blossom.
“Thanks, babe.” He kisses her on the forehead. “Have you eaten the appetizers or had any water to drink?” JT stalks behind her to make sure she has something to soak up the alcohol rolling in her belly.
