Page 4 of The Trouble With Attraction (Rock Canyon, Idaho 6)

“Gracie?”

Realizing she hadn’t moved, she climbed up the stairs with an apologetic smile, pushing thoughts of Eric and his stupid face from her mind. She looked out across the town hall as Buck took her hand and kissed it.

She gave him a small curtsy in return, smiling widely. She’d spent four years in drama and starred in more plays than she could count. She knew how to address and play a crowd.

“This lovely blonde pixie is not just a pretty face. As the owner of The Local Bean Coffee Shop, she makes the best coffee and pastries in town, if you couldn’t tell by this—” Buck motioned to his slightly rounded belly and the crowd laughed “—but she also helps bring a smile to our faces with her bright, and cheery demeanor.”

“Let’s start the bidding at $25. DoIheartwentyfive? Twentyfivetwentyfivethirty!”

The numbers started running together as Buck motioned to each raised hand. Gracie’s stomach fluttered as men began furiously bidding for the right to take her to the Sweetheart Dance that always followed the auction. The bidding was up to two hundred and fifty dollars, and Dillan Thompson, the highest bidder, shot her a wink.

Dillan was cute. She could do worse than to spend the night dancing with Dillan. He was tall, he was cute, he-

Then she remembered. She’d danced with Dillan before in high school. He couldn’t dance for shit, but didn’t know he couldn’t dance. And when he sweated, he smelled…as if he never wore deodorant.

Please, someone else needs to bid here. Please, I’ll do anything, just please, anyone else-

“Four hundred.”

Gracie’s gaze snapped towards the voice and her heart sank as Buck’s gavel fell with a thunk seconds later.

“Sold.”

Gracie watched as Eric Henderson made his way towards the stage, a smirk stretching his full lips. When he climbed up onto the stage and stood facing her, she could tell he was laughing at her surprise and horror.

He held out his hand to her, but she didn’t take it.

“There is no way I am going anywhere with you-

Suddenly, his hard shoulder was pressing into her stomach as he picked her up. His arm clapped down over her skirt and legs to hold her in place as he started moving. Her head band fell off onto the stage and despite the blood pounding in her ears, she could have sworn she heard cheers and clapping. Turning her head to the side, she saw a sea of smiles and laughing faces, and her skin burned as she realized he had planned this. He had wanted to humiliate her.

Tears pricked her eyes and eyelashes, but she wasn’t going to let him win. Screaming and pounding on his back, she meant to inflict bruising at least, but shit if his muscles weren’t rock hard.

“Damn it, you bastard, put me down!”

He ignored her and pushed the door open, heading down the street. The cold wind hit her bare back and shoulders and she shivered. There was still snow and frost on the ground, and it had to be at least thirty degrees outside, but Eric ignored her protests, no matter what she said.

“I am freezing, you idiot! Put me down!” She tried to pull herself up off his back and a sharp smack on her backside made her cry out. “Hey!”

“Just hold still, Gracie Lou. We’re almost there.”

Just to even the score, Gracie brought

her hand down hard on his ass, but all he did was grunt. She rubbed her stinging palm, cursing him.

Gracie’s head was starting to spin when he finally pulled another door open and the warm air hit her chilled skin like a thousand needles poking her at once. She looked to the side and saw what appeared to be a kitchen, and then she heard the click of a door as Eric stepped into a dark room.

He flicked on the light and closed the door behind them. When he stood her on her feet, she weaved a bit, and he actually put his hand under her elbow to steady her.

The asshole.

She jerked her arm away, and smoothed her hair. It looked like a storage room.

“Where the fuck did you take me?”

“I thought before we headed into the dance, we could clear the air. Talk.”

“First of all, I am not going to the dance with you. Second, this is called kidnapping, and I’m pretty sure you’ll see jail time, so you better get the hell out of-”

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