Brenda Harlen - Bring Me A Maverick For Christmas!

But only the tiniest bit—not nearly enough to be willing to risk putting his own heart on the line again.

Thankfully, he was saved from responding by the sound of—

“Is that dogs barking the tune of ‘Jingle Bells’?” Eva asked.

“That’s gotta be Serena’s phone,” Bailey noted.

Luke picked it up from the table, his brows lifting when he looked at the case. Then he turned it around so Eva and Bailey could see the image of a bulldog wearing a Santa hat.

Bailey wasn’t going to judge her for loving Christmas as much as she loved her dog, especially when the call had provided a timely interruption to an increasingly awkward conversation. He took the phone from his brother and went to find Serena.

“This would send Marvin into a frenzy of joy,” she told him, gesturing with the pen in her hand to a Canine Christmas basket filled with toys and treats that had been donated by Brooks Smith and his wife, Jazzy.

Bailey glanced at the bid sheet. “Looks like there’s already a bidding war between Paige Traub and Lissa Christensen.”

“And now me, too,” she said, as she scrawled her offer on the page.

He lifted his brows at the number she’d written. “You doubled the last bid.”

“It’s for a good cause,” she reminded him.

“So it is,” he agreed.

“Is there anything here that’s caught your eye?” she asked.

He knew she was referring to the auction table, but the truth was, he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her since she’d arrived.

“I’m still looking,” he told her. But as he’d very recently reminded his brother and sister-in-law, he wasn’t looking for happily-ever-after.

“There’s a lot to look at,” she said. “Everything from kids’ toys and knitted baskets to a weekend getaway at Maverick Manor.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, the bids on that are already out of my price range.”

And yet she was willing to overpay for some dog toys to support a good cause and make Marvin happy.

“Is this Marvin?” he asked, holding up her phone.

She smiled. “No, it’s a stock photo, but I bought the case because it looks a lot like him.”

“Well, you might want to check your messages,” he said. “Because you missed a call.”

Serena finished writing her contact information on the bid sheet, then took her phone from him. “I can’t imagine who might be calling me. Almost everyone I know is here tonight,” she told him, as she unlocked the screen with her thumbprint.

He was surprised to see her expression change as she scanned the message. The light in her eyes dimmed, her lips thinned. She texted a quick response, then said, “I have to go.”

“Now? Why?”

“My mom’s at the Ace in the Hole.”

“And?”

She just shook her head. “Long story.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” he asked.

She seemed surprised that he would offer. “No,” she said, but softened the rejection with a smile. “I appreciate the offer, but it’s not necessary.”

He took her phone from her again, then added his name and number to her list of contacts. “Just in case you change your mind.”

“Thanks,” she said, and even managed another smile. But he could tell that her mind was already at the bar and grill down the street—and whatever trouble he suspected was waiting for her there.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.