When Sienna picked me up, she had a mischievous look on her face that I was going to ask about it until she interrupted me with her squeals. She went on and on about my dress. I looked down at myself and smiled. The white A-line dress with a ruched, V-neckline is trimmed with red and the skirt has a red filigree pattern on the hemline. I complete the outfit with red satin ballet flats and a matching clutch.

My short hair is straight and slicked back to one side with a red flower clip. I did a light smoky eye with red glitter shadow and a red lip tint.

When our Uber arrives, I can’t help the nerves that are bubbling into my belly. Do you ever get that feeling like you’re about to experience something monumental, possibly life-changing, even? Yup. That’s where I’m at. I’m not sure if it’s woman’s intuition, or the huge glass of wine I downed before I left the house. Whatever it is, it has me uneasy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really excited for this event, the silent auction alone is going to bring in a lot of money, but eight eligible bachelors mean that even more veterans will get the services they so desperately need.

I knew that I would be spending a ton of money tonight. Given where my brother is, I spare no expense trying to help our vets and active military.

Looking through the program, my eyes fixate on the date with bachelor number five. It’s an amusement park date with dinner on top of the Ferris wheel and I know that’s my date. Something light, active, and fun which will be perfect for something as awkward as going out on a date with someone you paid for.

When bachelor five walks out on that stage, I know I made the right choice. He is tall with dark hair and a five o’clock shadow. His apprehension at first puts a smile on my face and when someone yells out ‘three hundred dollars’ before the auctioneer even starts the bidding, something overtakes me and I know I need to win this date. I get into a bidding war with this big boobed, fake blonde, trampy-looking woman with determination. Whoever this man is, he won’t be taking her on any date if I have anything to do with it.

When I’m announced as the winner, bachelor number five takes off his mask and my mouth drops open. “Holy shit!” Sienna says tugging on my arm in disbelief and excitement.

“Did you know that was him?” I ask her and she smirks in response.

“Sienna!” I whisper yell. “Why didn’t you stop me from bidding?”

“I wasn’t one hundred percent sure and who am I to get in the way of fate anyway?”

“I’m going to kill you,” I seethe. She just smiles back.

“He’s headed this way, see you later.” She tosses her black hair back, giving me a wink. I roll my eyes, take a breath, and turn around to see Colton right in front of me.

“Hey Colt.” My voice is breathless and the swarm of butterflies start taking flight in my belly the way they always do when he is near.

“Hey Ev.” His voice is laced with apprehension as he bends down and kisses me on the cheek. My eyes close and I breathe in his musky scent. The chaste kiss sends a warmth to my cheek and a shiver down by spine.

“Well, this is awkward.” I force out a laugh and look down.

He laughs, and I look up to find amusement in his bright eyes. “Knowing the winner makes things a little easier,” he admits.

“True.” I smile up at him, shifting on my feet.

If only he knew how hard this actually is for me. Him being within my reach yet unable to pull him to me is already torturous and we haven’t even gotten past simple pleasantries.

“So, the date is set for next Saturday, I take it you’re available?” he muses.

I can’t help but roll my eyes at him. “Of course.”

His smile is wide “I’ll be in touch then, Everleigh.”

All I can do is nod and watch him walk away towards where Jacoby’s brother, Floyd, is.

I scan the room for Sienna but she’s nowhere in sight, so I decide to browse the silent auction items.

I bid on several items ranging from a new top of the line, fully loaded laptop to a year’s supply of beef jerky, which would be a great addition to my brother’s care packages. Then I see the holy grail – a basket of signed paperbacks and two full VIP packages for an indie author event taking place here in Norfolk in a few months. I pick up one of the books and I can’t help but smell it. There’s nothing in this world like the smell of a book – new, old, paperback, hardback – it doesn’t matter. I wish they would bottle that up or make it a scent for one of those air fresheners for the car. With my eyes closed, I inhale taking in that unique smell of fresh pages.

“What are you doing?” A deep voice startles me from my trance and I yelp. Losing my balance from the scare, I start to fall. Fearing another broken bone or a bruise, I brace myself to hit the ground and for the embarrassment of falling in front of a room full of people, I close my eyes. They snap open when a pair of strong hands grip my waist, the touch causing an electrical tingle to course through my body. I meet Colton’s worried baby blues and give him a sheepish smile.

His hands linger on my waist and he mumbles something I can’t make out before setting me on my feet.

“Thanks,” I say looking up at him.

“No problem.” He bends down to pick up the book that I dropped.

I can feel my cheeks turn pink as he looks at the cover of a shirtless man and flips it over to read the back.

“You read this stuff?” he smirks.

I snatch the book from him, inspecting it to make sure it isn’t damaged.

“I read all kinds of books, but romance is my favorite,” I say, turning to face him.

“I didn’t know you were into porn, Everleigh,” he muses, rendering me speechless. Is he flirting with me? He never, in all the years I have known him, has he ever made any kind of suggestive remark towards me. Sure, there have been times where I’ve caught him looking at me or checking out my legs but nothing as blatant as this. I shake my head in an attempt to stop my thoughts from running rampant.

“It’s not porn.” I roll my eyes. “It’s romance. Sure, there is sex in some romance novels but not all. I can’t read a book that is nothing but sex. The story needs to have substance and the sex necessary in pushing the plot forward,” my voice is defensive and he throws back his head in laughter. His Adam’s apple bobs and I just want to lean up and lick it.

The heat returns to my cheeks and I look away.

“I was teasing,” he says placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I bust Sienna’s balls about what she reads all the time.”

I laugh because I know it’s true.

“Speaking of my sister, do you know where she went? I’m going to need her to give me a ride home, I’ve had way too much to drink.”

I scan the room and spot Sienna flirting with a tall man with a full beard. He’s wearing a blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up displaying a myriad of colorful tattoos.

“She’s right there but we took an Uber here. You can ride back with us though,” I smile and he nods.

Just then Sienna walks over to us with a big smile on her face.

“So, my best friend and my brother…” She starts to tease but Colton and I both give her looks and she puts her hands up in surrender, giggling.

“Sienna,” Colton warns, his blue eyes blazing.

Sienna waves her brother off and grabs my arm.

“I’m stealing my friend,” she tells him as she starts pulling me in the direction of the ladies’ room.

We manage to say goodbye and as I’m being pulled across the room, I look back towards Colton. He is hunched over the auction table with a pen in his hand. He turns his head towards me giving me a sweet smile before going back to what he was doing.

My nerves are doing flips, Sienna’s still gripping my arm, and I feel like I can’t hold it together. I’m going on a date with the man I have had eyes for, well, forever.

“You need to Uber home yourself,” Sienna commands as we reach the ladies’ room.

“That guy I was talking to? That’s Brant. The one I was telling you about earlier.” The pitch of her voice changes to that of an excited school girl. “I’m going home with him tonight.” She looks in the mirror and starts messing with her hair.

“Do you really think that’s a good idea? His daughter is in your class.”

She shrugs. “Maybe not, but it will be the best bad idea I ever had. I can feel it.”

“I get what you mean.” I agree, and I do. Maybe coming to this auction was a bad idea but spending time with Colton in a different capacity than we have in the past, makes it all worth it.

“If you’re talking about my brother, cut it out. I see the way you both look at each other. This auction was not a bad idea, Ev. You guys will go on some rides, have a nice dinner and who knows what else can happen? It’s fate that you were his winning bidder,” she smiles.

“You really didn’t know it was him?”

“Like I said, I wasn’t one hundred percent sure but if I did know, I wouldn’t have stopped you,” she laughs, I take in a breath.

“Well, I’m locked into it now. I’m just going to go into it as two friends hanging out” I say with a new-found confidence.

“Good! As for me, I’m going into tonight with the hopes of being ravaged” she giggles.

“Just be careful,” my tones soften.

“I will. I need to get back to Brant. Can you tell Colton I’m leaving and not to wait up? I don’t feel like getting the third degree from big brother tonight.”

“Of course. Go find Brant and I want details tomorrow.” I give her a hug.

“You’re the best!” She gives me a squeeze before leaving the restroom.

I look at myself in the mirror, noticing my cheeks are still stained pink. I fuss with my hair, apply some lip gloss, and give myself a mental pep talk.

It’s just Colton. It’s an Uber ride home and a fun night at an amusement park. What could go wrong? Knowing me, a lot.