“Spend it wisely,” the bank manager said as he handed Gwen the thick envelope with three-thousand dollars inside. “This is the last loan you’ll be able to get for a while. Your credit is tapped out.”

Gwen gulped as she took the three grand and slid it into her purse.

That little mistake last night was an expensive one. She had called her insurance company this morning, and unfortunately, her coverage had been cut off. She complained to the manager, but there wasn’t anything he could do. There rarely is when the customer goes six months without paying their bills, the manager not-so-helpfully pointed out.

Gwen thanked the bank manager and then walked out with a heaviness weighing on her shoulders. She had enough money problems without having to add a brand new commercial grade stove to the pile of bills. If that wasn’t bad enough, she had black marks on her wall and all of her clothes smelled like a campfire.

At least it was a beautiful summer night in Colwood, Montana. She had been leaving her van at home as much as possible lately and traveling on foot whenever she could. She used to drive it around with pride, but now all she could think of was the penis on her cartoon face, and that just made her want to leave it parked in the back of the muffin shop where no one could ever see it again.

Colwood really was beautiful, and it was even better than Gwen had hoped for. It was an adorable picturesque town nestled in the mountains that had such a cozy feel. It had felt like home immediately.

The town wasn’t much more than a quiet road with some inns, a couple of stores, a bar and a few cute shops for tourists. What made it jaw-dropping was the scenic background. The Absaroka white-capped mountains jutted out into the pink sky dwarfing the little town in their spectacular presence.

Outside of the town were acres of open land that stretched for miles, wild animals, forests, ranches, rivers, mountains, and lakes. The people were happy and down to earth, living off the land, and quick with a smile or a joke. They weren’t too fond of muffins, though. Unfortunately.

The bar in town, The Call of the Wild, was busier than normal. People in cowboy hats and blue jeans were standing outside—talking, laughing, and drinking the bartender and owner Jack’s signature brew.

The auction. She had been so busy cleaning up the fire, dealing with the insurance, and trying to get a loan for a new oven that she had forgotten all about it. She grinned as she crossed the street, wanting to see her neighbors get sold on the auction block.

Her stomach hardened when she pictured Zane standing on the stage with tons of women fighting over him. She still didn’t know how to feel about the sex last night. Yes, it was the best sex of her life, but it had been with Zane. He was hotter than the fire that melted her kitchen, but he wasn’t boyfriend material. They couldn’t be in the same room without fighting and that wasn’t what she wanted in a relationship.

She held her purse to her ribs, telling herself that she was only there to laugh at him. That’s all this is. Ammunition for later.

The men in Colwood worked long physical days on their land, and as a result were huge. Gwen wormed her way through the packed crowd in the bar, ducking under elbows, and around the massive men.

“Hey, muffin lady!” one of the smaller men called out when she accidentally bumped into his chest.

“Hey, Rory!” Gwen said, smiling at the man with the cowboy hat on. He was her best customer. His obsession with her buttermilk chocolate chip muffins had almost paid for her truck.

“Why were you closed today, Gwen?” he asked. “You know I need my buttermilk fix.”

She apologized and explained about the fire in the kitchen. With no oven, she had to close for the day.

“Where were those lazy fireman neighbors of yours while this was happening?” he asked with a grin. “I’m going to bug them about this.”

“Zane came to my rescue,” she said, surprised to hear herself defending him. “And anyway, they have enough to worry about right now.”

She glanced up at the stage that was set up for the fireman auction. It was a charity fundraiser, and all of the proceeds were going toward a program that brought poor inner city kids to Montana to experience nature and another way of life for a week. Draven had set it up, and he had pledged to match any donations they raised.

The bar was kicking in a dollar for every drink sold, and there was a draw going around with some nice prizes.

“I’ll be up and running soon,” she promised Rory before sneaking away to find a quiet corner to hide in. She recognized some people in the crowd, like the two twins, Slate and Karl, who were always joking around when they came into her shop. She saw Khan Vega, the huge man with the scary scar down the side of his cheek. He always grunted his order—usually a dozen strawberry cheesecake muffins. She would always watch in wonder as he sat in her shop and quietly ate the entire box without saying a word.

The lights on the stage flickered on, and the crowd started buzzing with an excited energy. The crowd cheered as Julius Vega stepped onto the stage, except for the guys from the Clawed Ranch who were playfully booing.

“Put your hundred-dollar bills back in your purses, ladies,” Julius said into the microphone, grinning as he flashed his bright green eyes and blond hair to the crowd. “I’m not for sale.”

“Can we pay you to turn that microphone off?” Slate from the Clawed Ranch shouted.

“You couldn’t afford that,” Julius said with a laugh. “Believe me, my wife has tried.”

Gwen laughed as she watched him pace up and down the stage, taunting the guys, and flirting with the ladies. He mentioned how all of the money will be going to a good cause, and when the crowd was all hyped up, he started the show.

“Who’s ready for some hot and hunky firemen?” he shouted into the mic.

The single women in the crowd went nuts, jumping up and down waving money in their hands. Even Gwen was getting excited, feeling her heart pumping away.

“Too bad,” Julius said, shaking his head. “The hot fireman are two towns over. We only have some mediocre ones for you. But they’re single!”

The women cheered again, including Gwen who was getting caught up in the excitement of the crowd.

“First up,” Julius said, grinning as he looked back at the huge red curtain hanging behind him. “He’s as hot as a forest fire in the middle of July. Get too close and you may get burned. Can you handle the heat of Axel Young?”

Gwen burst out laughing as dance music suddenly blared through the speakers, and Axel exploded through the curtains in his firefighting gear. The women in the crowd went nuts as he danced around the stage like a stripper with a late mortgage payment, grinding his hips in his fireman pants. He opened his fireman jacket and the girls screamed. They were practically panting when they saw that he was wearing nothing underneath. Just abs, abs, and more abs.

“Who wants to buy a sizzling night they’ll never forget?” Julius asked as Axel ground his hips. “Who wants to feel the sweet burn of Mr. Axel Young?”

“I do!” a blonde girl shouted, thrusting her hand in the air. She was with a group of other girls who looked like they were from out of town. “Fifty dollars!”

Julius grinned. “Fifty big ones to the girl with the big ones.”

“One hundred dollars!” another girl shouted from across the bar. Gwen stood on her toes to try and see but the tall heads were blocking her view.

“Three hundred dollars!” another called out from the crowd.

But the blonde girl wasn’t giving up. “Five-hundred!”

“Seven!”

“Eight!” the blonde shouted back.

“Eleven hundred!”

The blonde counted her money and held up a wad of cash. “Seventeen-hundred dollars!”

“Do I hear eighteen?” Julius asked, scanning the crowd. “Come on, ladies, look at these abs.” Julius held Axel’s jacket open as he ground his hips to the music. “He’ll let you wash your wet panties on these things.”

“Eighteen!” a voice shouted from the crowd.

The blonde started grabbing money from her friends. “Nineteen-hundred and sixty-three dollars.” She took a second to count the change in her hand and looked back up. “And twelve cents.”

“Wow, that’s specific,” Julius said. “Do I hear, nineteen-hundred, sixty-three dollars, and thirteen cents?”

The crowd was silent. “Going once,” Julius warned. “Twice. Sold to the girl with the big ones!”

Everyone in the bar erupted in cheers as she rushed onto the stage and kissed Axel’s cheek. He was still grinning as he disappeared behind the curtain.

“Keep those wallets out,” Julius said with a grin. “Because up next, we have the latest red-hot firefighter to join the Colwood, Firehouse. Get the oxygen tanks ready because this scorching fireman will take your breath away. Give it up for, Gunner Reed!”

The crowd of ladies screeched and hollered as Gunner stepped onto the stage, looking a little uncomfortable with all of the attention on him. He was shirtless, wearing only his fireman pants and the yellow helmet.

“Look at these beautiful blonde locks,” Julius said. He yanked off Gunner’s helmet and his long wavy blonde hair tumbled onto his shoulders, making the women in the crowd groan with delight. “Almost as nice as mine,” Julius said with a shrug. “Let’s start the bidding at five hundred.”

An older woman with long gray hair and skin as wrinkled as a rotting peach stood up on her stool. A lit cigarette hung from her leathery lips, but it was mostly composed of ashes that were defying gravity by clinging on. “Two thousand dollars,” she shouted. “Five thousand if he puts out!”

“Dial 911 because this ladies’ panties are on fire!” Julius shouted. “Luckily, we have a hot fireman to put them out!”

Gunner gulped.

“Can anyone beat that?” Julius asked, scanning the crowd. “Five thousand dollars?”

“Two thousand!” Gunner corrected, shaking his head in panic.

“Fine,” Julius said with a roll of his eyes. “Can anyone beat two thousand?”

Gunner’s eyes widened as he desperately looked around the bar, begging someone with his eyes to outbid her.

Julius could barely contain his laughter. “Going on three. Two. One. Sold to the woman who will give Gunner a night he’ll never forget. No matter how hard he tries. Enjoy.”

“Oh, I will,” the old lady said with a creepy grin on her face. “Every single pennies’ worth.”

The crowd grew silent as Gunner stepped forward and whispered something into Julius’ ear. “Okay, okay,” Julius said, pushing him away.

“Do it!” Gunner warned.

“I’d like to remind everyone that they’re bidding for a dinner with the firemen,” Julius said as Gunner fled from the stage. “Anything beyond that must be consensual.”

Gwen’s stomach hardened as she waited for the next guy to come out. Was it going to be Zane? Which one of these women would bid on him? Would she be pretty? Would there be any consensual anything?

Her jaw was aching from clenching it so hard.

“Next up,” Julius continued, “we have a smoldering mountain of a man. He’ll climb your fire escape and ignite your bed with love.”

“No, I won’t,” Jax called out from behind the curtain.

Gwen laughed. She was just relieved that it wasn’t Zane’s turn yet.

“We’ll talk,” Julius said with a smirk. “Introducing, Jax Holt!”

The crowd cheered as Jax stepped onto the stage, but the cheering quickly died down when they saw his sullen face. He was standing in his firefighting suit, glowering at the crowd with an intimidating scowl. He crossed his arms over his massive chest as he narrowed his eyes at the ladies, daring them to bid on him.

“Oh, Jax,” Gwen muttered trying not to laugh. She knew that he didn’t want to be up there, and now so did everybody else.

Julius covered the mic and turned to him. “How about a smile?” He whispered it, but the microphone picked up the sound and everyone heard.

“I don’t smile,” Jax grunted back.

He looked so rough and intimidating with the way he was looking at the crowd that Gwen couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to go on a date with him.

“Come on, man,” Julius muttered to him. “It’s for the kids.”

“I hate kids,” Jax grunted, giving the MC nothing to work with.

“Okaaayy,” Julius said, turning back to the crowd with a cringing face. “Who wants to bid on the unsmiling, kid-hating, possibly serial-killing bachelor? Anybody? Anybody?”

Jax just continued glaring at the crowd.

“Was that a cricket that just made a bid?” Julius joked. “Let’s start the bidding at a nickel. Nobody? Come on, ladies. None of you want to go on a nice romantic date where you’ll possibly get murdered? Nobody?”

Some people in the crowd laughed nervously, but most just stared at their shoes.

“Okay,” Julius continued, starting to sweat. “We’ll drop the price to a penny. A penny anyone?”

Still, no one spoke up.

“Anyone have some pocket lint they want to hand over? No?” Julius shrugged. “All right. We have our first undateable bachelor.”

Jax gave the crowd one last scowl, and then stomped off the stage, disappearing behind the red curtain.

“All right, ladies,” Julius said, trying to revive the crowd. “Get your wallets back out, and your legs back open, because the next hunky fireman will tame your fire, and leave you sopping wet. Give it up for Zane Green!”

Gwen swallowed hard as she stood in the crowd that was erupting in cheers. She kept her head low as she watched with a jealousy that was starting to consume her.

Zane strutted out with no shirt on. He was wearing his firefighter pants held up by suspenders over his round muscular shoulders.

He smiled at the crowd and the women started going nuts. Gwen darted her narrowed eyes on each one of them, wanting to shove the money they were holding up down their throats.

“Six hundred!” a stupid bitch shouted out. Gwen wanted to claw her eyes out.

“Eight hundred!” another skank yelled as she waved a wad of bills over her head.

The bidding continued between about a dozen girls. Gwen stood there, fuming with jealousy as she crossed her arms over her chest, watching with a quiver in her stomach. One of these girls was going to go home with Zane.

Her Zane.

“Fifteen hundred!” the pretty girl with the straight black hair called out. There were only three bidders left, and one of them looked like she was about to drop out.

“Sixteen!”

The third bidder dropped out, leaving only two.

Gwen took a deep breath as she tried to keep her eyes off Zane.

“Seventeen!” the girl with the black hair shouted.

The other girl stayed silent, leaving the pretty black-haired girl grinning.

“Anyone else?” Julius asked.

Gwen swallowed hard, squeezing her eyes shut. She couldn’t stop picturing Zane sitting at the restaurant with the pretty girl. She would flick her hair off her slim shoulder and dramatically throw her head back as she laughed at his jokes. The bitch.

They would probably start dating, and then Gwen would be forced to watch her come to the firehouse every day as she became friends with the guys. She would probably even stop at her shop, to buy her muffins, to bring to her friends, and her man. This girl was pure evil, and she had to be stopped.

“Three,” Julius warned. “Two.”

“Two thousand!” Gwen shouted, shooting her hand in the air without thinking.

“Whoa!” Julius said, spinning on his heels and pointing at her.

Gwen gulped as every head in the crowd turned to her, including Zane’s. He was smiling.

“A latecomer to the match,” Julius said. “Were you sleeping?”

“Two thousand-one hundred,” the black-haired bitch said, glaring at her.

“Two thousand-two hundred,” Gwen shot back.

They went up and up, but around twenty-six hundred, she could tell that the girl was about to break. It was time to put this auction to an end.

She reached into her purse and swallowed hard as she grabbed the three-thousand dollars she had taken out for a new oven. This was the last thing in the world she should have been doing, but she just couldn’t stop herself. She didn’t want to stop herself.

“Three-thousand dollars,” she said, holding the cash over her head.

The crowd cheered as Gwen glared at the girl, daring her to outbid her. She just shook her black-haired head and frowned.

“Three-thousand dollars!” Julius shouted, pointing at her. “Sold!”

Gwen gulped as the crowd roared. Her stomach was in knots as she walked up to the stage, and handed the thick wad of money over.

“The kids thank you,” Julius said as he took it.

She almost threw up. She still needed a new oven, and she’d probably never see three-thousand dollars again. She was screwed.

But the little smile that Zane gave her before disappearing behind the curtain made it worth every penny.