Page 79 of Sheltered By Love

I grip the water bottle tighter as Jaxson appears beside me. “Just got off the blower with Garrett. There’s been some movement at your house. Garrett thinks he’s gotten a license plate. He’s tracing it now. I was hoping to catch Levi before this started. Garrett needs him.”

I glance at him. “Can you stop it? He looks terrified.”

Jaxson spreads his hands. “SAR needs the money. These bachelor auctions and balls are how we fund things here.”

My eyes dart from one woman to the other, each looking more and more furious as the other keeps outbidding them.

Zane’s staring ahead, expression blank, and arms behind his back, looking every inch a soldier.

Beside me Thelma mutters. “We’re going to hit two thousand. As I live and breathe, that’s a record.”

My palms are clammy, and my heart is now thumping painfully in my chest.

In what can only be described as a moment of hysterical madness, I close my eyes, take a breath, and raise my hand precisely as I yell. “Three thousand dollars.”

Zane’s head snaps in my direction, then Levi’s and every single woman in the hall. For the first time all night, Levi looks flustered.

Zane’s eyes are locked on me as Thelma quietly giggles behind her hand. “Oh dear,” she says.

Levi casts a look in Jaxson’s direction as if calling for backup. Jaxson looks down at me. “Do you even have three grand?” he asks quietly.

I swallow and nod. “Yes,” I mutter.

Beside me, Jaxson nods in Levi’s direction.

Levi gives him an imperceptible nod in return. “Sorry ladies. Our lovely barmaid just moved here, but her bid is a legitimate one.”

The crowd boos and jeers, all aimed in my direction. I shrink back, hoping they aren’t angry enough to start throwing things.

Fortunately, Levi manages to gain their attention again by tapping on the microphone. “Zane isn’t the only eligible bachelor in the Bay.”

After a few grumbles, Levi flashes a grin and gestures to himself.

A woman whoops, then another one cups her hands around her mouth. “Take off your shirt, honey. We want to see some flesh!”

Jaxson groans beside me, but Levi just laughs and asks for some music.

As a sultry song starts to play over the speakers, Levi tosses the microphone to Zane who still looks ready to stab the next person he sees.

My already elevated heart rate raises a notch as Zane speaks to Jaxson, nods, rips the sash off, and grabs my hand. “Time to go,” he says.

Zane

The second I’m out the door, I call Garrett, and press it to my ear as I steer Felicity to Levi’s car.

Leaving my truck here means at first glance, it looks like I’m still inside. My ears are ringing from the noise in the town hall, so I have to turn the volume up.

“Jax said you saw the same vehicle?”

Garrett's voice sounds stressed. “White Van. Out-of-town plates. Drove past Felicity’s place twice in ten minutes. If you’re—”

I already know what he’s going to say. I glance at Felicity as I wind my way around the extra cars in the parking lot. “I’ll ditch Levi’s car at the park,” I say.

Felicity’s nose wrinkles but she waits until we’re inside Levi’s messy Diesel Nissan to speak. “Did you see the reporter or her crew?”

I shake my head. I was too busy trying to avoid people to spot a woman I’d only ever seen on TV.

Garrett answers as I push the key in the ignition and wait for the light to disappear. “We’re too close to solving this for her to find any reason to place a spotlight on us,” he says.

---