Page 10 of Something’s Brewing

But why?

Well. Pure strategy, obviously, she told herself. Four perfectly good reasons.

She ticked the reasons off in her head. Reason #1: The bachelor auction was raising money for veterans, which was always a good cause. She’d researched Deer Creek Falls before coming, and it was clear that the new veterans’ center provided a much-needed service for recovering vets. Bidding was just being a good citizen.

Reason #2: Garrett would hate it—which, frankly, made it even more appealing. Watching him squirm while being paraded in front of the town? Absolutely priceless. She couldn’t fathom the Garrett she knew agreeing to be anywhere near the spotlight.

Not that she knew him well. The only time she’d seen him was when he came back to Minneapolis for a few days to see Mason and talk business. He’d avoided her like the plague. She’d tried to carry on a conversation, but he wasn’t interested in making nice.

Reason #3: She could use the date she would win as leverage. She’d make him a deal. She’d worked hard to learn the cider-making process when she had needed to keep busy. And she was proud of what she’d accomplished.

Reason #4: She looked too damn good to stay home.

All four perfectly good reasons, but there was one problem. Somewhere beneath all the logical reasons, the ones that made sense, was a gut feeling that she couldn’t quite shake.

As she got in line at the auction site for her paddle, heart pounding a little too fast, she had a sneaking suspicion that her rational reasons were only half the story.

Garrett Reid entered the large white canvas tent staked to the pavement near the Eagle’s Nest Bar & Grill. The auction had already started. He looked around for his sister, Chloe, and spotted her near the stage. He hurried toward her. “Hey.”

“You’re late. Are you ready?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really,” Chloe said, smiling up at her brother.

Garrett watched as Nate Bishop, another of the bachelors up for auction, made his way to the stage to stand next to Elsie Reynolds-Turner, MC of the event, former mayor, and one of the town’s best-known grandmothers.

“Okay, ladies,” Elsie said into the mic, “do I have a treat for you. Nate Bishop is the owner of the local hardware store, and can fix just about anything.”

Tuning out Elsie, Garrett asked his sister, “How did you get Nate to volunteer for this meat market?”

“He’s supporting the town. Raising money for the veterans. And dear brother, it’s not a meat market. You aren’t expected to sleep with any of the women. I mean, that’s your choice after the fact.” She scrunched her face. “What you do is none of my business.”

“So, all I have to do is take the lucky lady”—Garrett winked at his sister—“to dinner?”

“That’s it. Now, if Cole were here, he’d be repairing someone’s house or building a shelf, but since he’s in Hawaii with Tory and left us high and dry, you’re it. Not that you aren’t handy with a hammer.” Chloe gestured toward his arm cradled in a sling. “But I thought you’d be able to handle dinner.”

Loud, upbeat dance music filled the air.

“You’re up,” she said. “Make me proud, bro . . . and flex those muscles—we need to hit our goal!”

The moment Madison saw Garrett standing on the stage, the easy justification fell apart. Garrett’s broad shoulders filled out his T-shirt in a way that made it clear he didn’t skip workouts—or manual labor. The slight smile as he raised his good hand in a salute made the women scream and wave dollar bills in the air. Her reaction wasn’t much better; she bit her lower lip, holding in the take-me-now reaction bubbling under the surface. She felt her face flush. How could she be so insanely attracted to Garrett Reid? She loved the way his eyes crinkled at the corners, and the way he relaxed in front of his small-town community, like he was trying not to enjoy the attention.

It was the fact that, for all his grump and grumble she’d encountered in Minneapolis, he was here under a tent raising money for veterans. Maybe it was family obligation like Eve mentioned, but he still showed up.

And something about that endeared him to her.

Because as much as she’d love to torment him for the sheer fun of it, as much as she wanted to use the auction as a tactical advantage, there was a tiny, annoying voice in her head whispering, You don’t want anyone else to “win” him.

Madison squared her shoulders, shaking off the thought. Ridiculous.

This wasn’t about Garrett. This was about fundraising, business leverage, and a little harmless mischief. Keep telling yourself that, Madison!

Garrett climbed the two steps onto the stage. Elsie reached out her hand and grabbed his good wrist. She probably thought he’d take off if she didn’t hold on to him. The thought did cross his mind.

“With great pleasure,” Elsie announced to the crowd, “I’d like to introduce you to Garrett Reid. He’s a renowned architect who came home to Deer Creek Falls last year and transformed the old armory into a second location for Northern Lights Brewery, and it’s spectacular! Tell us, Garrett, when is opening day?”

She held the mic close for him to answer.