“Thanks for the soup.” She grips the door as if she’s contemplating slamming it in my face.
I flash a small smile and take a step back. “You’re welcome. Hope you feel better, Kenzie.”
With the long Labor Day weekend over, the bachelor auction is all everyone’s talking about. It’s an annual fundraiser event Rose Bishop hosts. She suckers the single men in town to be bid on for dates. Though I try to get out of it each year, I never do.
“Grayson, sweetie,” Grandma Bishop calls as I carry two large buckets of goat feed. Ethan needed an extra hand today, so after I did my regular morning duties with Diesel, I swung by the goat farm.
“Yes, ma’am?” I smile, tightening my grip around the handles. Thankfully, I’m wearing heavy-duty work gloves since they’re so heavy, and the metal handle cuts into my hands.
“Would you be a peach and pick up my catering order at the grocery store?”
“They aren’t delivering to the hall?” I ask, knowing all the food is for the auction tomorrow.
“Oh yes, they are. But I also got a separate order of sandwiches and snacks for Elisa’s first birthday party this weekend. I’d cook it myself, but with everything going on, there’s just no extra time.” Before I can agree, she holds out an envelope of cash. Saying no to Rose isn’t an option.
Setting down the buckets, I take it from her with a nod. “Sure. I’ll swing by there shortly.”
She smiles widely. “You’re a gem. Thank you. Just take it to the B&B kitchen, and Maize will put it in one of the big fridges.”
Rose walks away, and I stuff the envelope in my pocket before getting back to it.
“Alright, your dinner’s here, calm down,” I tell Cupcake, Cheesecake, and Cinnamon Roll as they scream at me. I’m surrounded by hungry goats, and soon, both buckets are emptied into the troughs.
Once I lock the gate, I walk back to the barn and find Ethan.
“Anything else, boss?” I stand in the entryway of his office where he’s sitting behind his desk with Harper on his lap.
“No, man, thanks for your help this afternoon.”
I tip my hat to him and smirk at Harper. “You gonna pop soon?”
“God, I wish.” She groans, rubbing her hand over her big belly. “Damn Bishops and their stubborn ways.”
I chuckle when Ethan scowls.
“Well good luck. I’m off to the store for Rose.”
“Ahh, you got roped into helping since I’m finally off the hook.” Ethan smirks, tightening his arm around Harper.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be stuck doing that auction for the next twenty years.”
“Not if you find yourself a wife,” Harper muses. “Or Kenzie gets her head out of her ass.”
My heart races at the mention of Kenzie. She never bids on me even though I see the way her nostrils flare every time there’s a bidding war for me.
“Probably not in this lifetime.” I groan, then wave before I leave.
I drive the fifteen-minute trip into town and park in front of the store. As soon as I walk in the doors, I set my eyes on the deli but am quickly interrupted.
“Grayson!” Sarah Cooke stands in front of me. “I haven’t seen you in a while. How are ya?”
“Just fine, thanks. How ’bout you?” I ask to be nice. She went to school with Maize, and from what I’ve heard, she tried to steal Gavin from her. Though I doubt that’s how it really happened, I do know most of the Bishop girls don’t like her. Sarah can be persistent, but I’ve never had any issues with her.
“I’m great! Lookin’ forward to the bachelor auction tomorrow. You’ll be there, right?” she asks eagerly.
“Yep. Until I’m married, I suppose,” I say.
“Perfect! I’ll be bidding on ya so we can finally go on a date.” She smiles wide, and my stomach flips. I’ll never hear the end of it if I have to take Sarah out, and I don’t want her to get the wrong idea since she’s already so flirty.
“Alright then, I guess I’ll see you there.” I grin, then politely walk away.
Fuck, what the hell am I gonna do? With most of the Bishop girls getting married, not many are left—Kenzie and Kaitlyn are the only ones available. Though Harper’s friend Hadleigh is single and will be there, she’ll most likely spend her money on the twins since she’s best friends with them both.
My head spins with thoughts about what I’m gonna do. I pick up the catering order and drive back to the ranch, already dreading tomorrow. I could ask Kaitlyn to bid on me, but she’s younger and we rarely see each other, so it'd be awkward. My only option is to beg Kenzie, but considering we’re still at each other’s throats, I doubt she’ll help me.
Unless I make her an offer she can’t refuse.