LITMIR.BIZ

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were strung from the pergolas. Two towering trees decorated with gorgeous ornaments dominated the area. Poinsettias, elegant red bows and white lights decorated the space, giving it a glowing, ethereal feel. The garden managed to be both romantic and festive. The kind of setting that almost made you regret not having someone to share the night with.

      He sipped his Jack and Coke and glanced around the vicinity. Everyone who was anyone was in attendance. He made his way through the room, mingling with Carter Mackenzie and Shelby Arthur, Matt Galloway and Rachel Kincaid, Austin and Brooke Bradshaw, and all of the other members of the club who’d turned out for the event. Several of the bachelors moved around the space, drumming up anticipation for the auction and doing their best to encourage a bidding frenzy.

      But Tessa was nowhere to be found. Had she changed her mind? He was looking forward to hanging out with her tonight, but he’d understand if she’d gotten cold feet. Hell, there was a part of him that was relieved to think that maybe she’d bailed.

      Then again, Tess had said she’d be coming from somewhere else. So maybe she was just running late.

      He resisted the urge to pull out his cell phone and find out exactly where she was. For once in his life, he’d be patient. Even if it killed him.

      “Ryan, it’s good to see you.” James Harris, president of the Texas Cattleman’s Club, shook his hand. “I hate that we couldn’t convince you to be one of our bachelor’s tonight, but I’m glad you joined us just the same.”

      “Didn’t see your name on the list of bachelors either.” Ryan smirked, and both men laughed.

      “Touché.” James took a gulp of his drink and Ryan did the same.

      “Looks like y’all are doing just fine without me.” Ryan gestured to the space. “I wouldn’t have ever imagined this place could look this good.”

      “Alexis Slade outdid herself with this whole romantic winter wonderland vibe.” James’s eyes trailed around the space. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure exactly how her vision would come together, but she’s delivered in spades. I’m glad we gave her free rein to execute it as she saw fit.”

      “Judging from everyone here’s reaction, you’ve got a hit on your hands.” Ryan raised his glass before finishing the last of his drink.

      “Let’s just hope it motivates everyone to dig deep in their pockets tonight.” James patted Ryan on the back. “I’d better go chat with Rose Clayton.” He nodded toward the older woman, who looked stunning in her gown. The touch of gray hair at her temples gleamed in the light. “But I’ll see you around.”

      “You bet.” Ryan nodded toward the man as he traversed the space and greeted Rose.

      “Ryan, how are you?” Gail Walker took a sip of her drink and grinned. “You look particularly handsome tonight. But I see Alexis still wasn’t able to talk you into joining the list of eligible bachelors.”

      “Not my thing, but looks like they’ve got plenty of studs on the schedule for you to choose from.” Ryan sat his empty glass on a nearby tray. “And you clean up pretty well yourself.”

      “Thanks.” She smoothed a hand over the skirt of her jewel-tone green dress. “But I’ve got my eye on one bachelor in particular.” Her eyes shone with mischief. “And I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to get him.”

      “Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to be the woman who has to run up against you.” Ryan chuckled. “Good luck.”

      “Thanks, Ryan. See you around.” Gail made her way through the crowd, mingling with other guests.

      Ryan accepted a napkin and a few petite quiches from a server passing by. Ignoring the anticipation that made his heart beat a little faster as he considered the prospect of bidding on his friend.

      Tessa paced the space that served as the bachelors’ green room. Everyone else had spent most of the night mingling. They came to the green room once the start of the auction drew closer. But she’d been stuck here the entire evening, biding her time until she was scheduled to make her grand entrance.

      “Tessa Noble? God, you look...incredible.” Daniel Clayton shoved a hand in his pocket. “But what are you doing here? Wait...are you the surprise?”

      “Guilty.” Her cheeks warmed as she bit into another quiche.

      She tried her best not to ruin the makeup that Milan had so painstakingly applied. The woman had assured her that she could eat and drink without the lipstick fading or feathering. But Tess still found herself being extra careful.

      “Everyone will definitely be surprised,” he said, then added, “Not that you don’t look good normally.”

      “It’s okay, Daniel. I get it.” She mumbled around a mouth full of quiche. “It was a surprise to me, too.”

      He chuckled, running a hand through his jet-black hair. “You must be tired of people telling you how different you look. How did Tripp and Ryan react?”

      “Neither of them has seen me yet.” She balled up her napkin and tossed it in the trash. “I’m a little nervous about their reaction.”

      “Don’t be,” Daniel said assuredly. “I can’t imagine a man alive could find fault with the way you look tonight.” He smiled, then scrubbed a hand across his forehead. “Or any night...of course.”

      They both laughed.

      “Well, thank you.” She relaxed a little. “You already know why I feel like a fish out of water. But why do you look so out of sorts tonight?”

      He exhaled heavily, the frown returning to his face. “For one thing, I’d rather not be in the lineup. I’m doing this at my grandmother’s insistence.”

      “Ms. Rose seems like a perfectly reasonable woman to me. And she loves you like crazy. I’m pretty sure if you’d turned her down she would’ve gotten over it fairly quickly.”

      “Maybe.” He shrugged. “But the truth is that I owe my grandmother so much. Don’t know where I would’ve ended up if it wasn’t for her. Makes it hard to say no.” A shadow of sadness passed over his handsome face, tugging at Tessa’s heart.

      Daniel had been raised by Rose Clayton after his own mother dumped him on her. It made Tessa’s heart ache for him. She couldn’t imagine the pain Daniel must feel at being abandoned by a woman who preferred drugs and booze to her own son.

      “Of course.” Tess nodded, regretting her earlier flippant words. She hadn’t considered the special relationship that Daniel had with his grandmother and how grateful he must be to her. “I wasn’t thinking.”

      They were both quiet for a moment, when she remembered his earlier words.

      “You said ‘for one thing.’ What’s the other reason you didn’t want to do this?”

      The pained look on Daniel’s face carved deep lines in his forehead and between his brows. He drained the glass of whiskey in his hand.

      “It’s nothing,” he said in a dismissive tone that made it clear that they wouldn’t be discussing it any further.

      She was digging herself deeper into a hole with every question she asked of Daniel tonight. Better for her to move on. She wished him luck and made her way over to the buffet table.

      “Hey, Tessa.” Lloyd Richardson put another slider on his small plate. “Wow, you look pretty amazing.”

      “Thanks, Lloyd.” She decided against the slider and put some carrots and a cherry tomato on her plate instead.

      There wasn’t much room to spare in her fitted pantsuit. She wore a jacket over the sleeveless garment to hide the large cutout that revealed most of her back. That had been one idea of Rachel’s for which she’d been grateful.

      “Hey, you must be plum sick of people saying that to you by now.” Lloyd seemed to recognize

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