Louisa knew this was part of her job. She’d even practiced some of what she would say in the midst of agonizing over her dress, her shoes, her hair. She was ready.

She scanned the beach and landed on Cody. And beside Cody—McKenzie Palmer. And just behind the two of them—Eric, standing with her parents, who’d made a late entrance.

Okay, maybe she wasn’t ready.

Was there a single person there who didn’t think she was a total disaster?

McKenzie threw back her head in a laugh so loud Louisa wondered if she was going for the world record in guffawing. Was she laughing at something Cody said (unlikely) or at her own joke? Louisa groaned. It didn’t matter. She had a job to do. She couldn’t get caught up in any of this. They were expecting large bids tonight, and it was up to her to get them. She was a professional. A business owner. A grown-up. It was what she’d been trying to prove all along. Here was her chance.

She made her way to the stage, drew in a deep breath, and looked out over the crowd. Some of the people quieted at the sight of her, but the low hum of chatter still filled the air.

From the back, Ally gave her a quick thumbs-up. Ally believed in her. That was enough, right?

Then she looked at Cody, which was a grave mistake because Cody was one of the people who’d quieted at the sight of her, and he was steadily focused in her direction.

She locked on to his gaze, trying to ignore the fact that at his side, McKenzie Palmer was still rambling. He seemed not to notice. He seemed only concerned with throwing her equilibrium off with his intense stare.

How was it possible that Louisa felt that stare all the way down to her toes?

“Are we ready?” Duncan had emerged from the crowd and stood on the stage beside her, drawing her attention.

When she looked back at Cody, his eyes were no longer on her.

Drat.

Louisa gave Duncan a nod, then took the microphone, welcomed everyone, thanked them all for coming, and explained who they were raising money for. She described the details of the regatta and did her very best to make the whole event sound like the kind of thing they would all want to be a part of. Because it would be, she was sure of it. Once she figured out the details.

Then it came time to open the bidding.

Most of the guardsmen were no longer out in the audience. As she’d instructed, they’d headed to the backstage area to prepare for their debuts. Apparently the whole event had created a healthy competition in these boys, and they were about to see who brought in the biggest payday.