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1

THATCHER

Friday night

I was the last single man standing. All the others had been sold off like bulls at the county fair. Bought by the highest bidding woman, who most likely wanted a wild ride with a prime stud. I was sure that wasn’t what Reverend Abernathy had in mind as he MC’d the charity bachelor auction. A coffee date. Maybe lunch or a summer evening ice cream cone.

Alice, our family housekeeper and the woman who’d volunteered me and my brothers for the event, probably agreed. But she wanted us paired off and knew it wasn’t going to happen playing Scrabble. Maybe naked Twister. Now that could be fun.

“Last but not least,” Reverend Abernathy said, clapping his hands once, joining me backstage. “This has turned out to be a bigger success than we ever imagined.”

The glee on his face at the sum being raised to help the youth program at the community center couldn’t be missed.

“I’m glad it’s working out,” I replied.

“You can do it again next year,” he encouraged.

Next year? Hell, no. I’d been debating an offer to run a bar in Cozumel for the winter while my buddy Kent went on a once in a lifetime trek across Africa. Kent had called a few weeks ago, giving me time to consider. I had the job qualifications. Besides needing a lot of sunscreen and buying a pair of swim trunks, I could easily take over. But the reverend’s suggestion of me being in another bachelor auction had me in Mexico before the first frost and maybe staying longer than just the winter.

I hadn’t made a final decision yet, but the man of God sure was helping.

He tapped his lip with a finger. “I have a feeling the pool of eligible bachelors may be a little smaller.”

“You mean Huck and Sarah.” My brother and Sarah O’Banyon had been sweethearts years ago, but they’d broken up. Hadn’t talked since. Until just now when Sarah had bought Huck in the auction. I had no idea why she’d done it, but she’d put in the only bid, and a high one, so she had a reason.

He shrugged. “There is hope they will have their happy ending.”

I hoped I could have a happy ending with my date, and not the permanent kind. A quickie that left us both sweaty and satisfied was just fine with me.

With that eager thought in mind, I set my hand on the reverend’s shoulder and gave him my patented smile. “Let’s do this.”