A Man for All Seasons by Heather MacAllister Page A

known Marlie was so visual. “I meant interacting in person.”
    â€œI’m all for that.” She sighed at the picture.
    â€œThen volunteer for something other than computer work,” Ty said. “Something that gets you out of the house.” He got an idea. “In fact, why don’t you come with Axelle and me to the auction on Friday? You’ll get a chance to see everything first hand.” And maybe Axelle could set her up with someone. Axelle knew everyone. Yeah, they could introduce Marlie to as many men as possible. One of them was bound to ask her out. Brilliant. Tyler Burton, you are brilliant.
    Marlie’s ponytail brushed against his arm and he looked down. She had an appealing casual vibe, but maybe Axelle could give her some tips about her hair before Friday. Figure out a way to contain it. Maybe lend her some lip gloss.
    â€œI can’t go,” Marlie said. “We’re streaming the auction live, remember? I have to monitor it from here.”
    Too bad. He’d practically had her married off.
    â€œI’ll get to see everything Friday afternoon when Randy and I set up the webcams.”
    â€œRandy?”
    â€œComputer geek.” Marlie clicked through to Nine Lords a Leaping.
    A guy in a black Dominion of Zartha T-shirt posed against a stone wall, crossed arms displaying biceps not normally associated with computer geeks. At least he was clothed.
    â€œHe’ll have a laptop down front at the auction. Our computers will be networked so I can control the webcams from here and Randy will be able to relay the online bids to the auctioneer.”
    â€œAxelle,” Ty supplied.
    â€œShe decided to do it herself?” Marlie made a sound. “I thought she was going to ask someone else.” Her eyes met his.
    â€œMe?”
    Marlie shrugged. “She wasn’t specific.”
    Axelle had never come out and asked him. Had she expected Ty to offer to be the auctioneer? “I’ve never done anything like that before. This is a big deal. She should have gotten someone with experience.”
    â€œWhatever.”
    Did Axelle feel that he’d let her down? It was hard to figure out what she was thinking or wanted from him.
    Marlie turned back to the computer. “By the way, she’s coming here to change clothes before the auction. It’ll save you a trip to pick her up.”
    â€œSounds good.” At least Axelle would be able to introduce Marlie around during the afternoon before people got dressed up. A casual setting was more Marlie’s style, anyway.
    There was a knock on the door jamb and one of the carpenters stuck his head in. “We’ve got it all, Marlie. We patched the holes where the brackets held the frame to the wall. I’d give it a day to dry before you paint over it.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œAnd thanks again!”
    She gave a distracted wave and he let himself out.
    â€œYou’re taking this very well,” Ty said. “Where are you going to sleep tonight?”
    â€œMmm?”
    â€œYou don’t have a bed.”
    â€œIn here.” She stared at the monitor. “On the loveseat.”
    She had to be working on Eight Maids a Milking. He couldn’t help it. Ty looked at the computer screen where a man wore a milk mustache, his arms crossed over a beefy chest, if one could mix food groups. Enough already.
    As Ty left, he heard Marlie sigh as the keyboard clicked. “Milk. It does a body really, really good.”

4
    W HEN A XELLE AND T Y CAME downstairs dressed for the auction, Marlie was glad, glad, glad she couldn’t go with them. Even she, who had the barest passing acquaintance with fashion, could tell that Axelle’s simply-draped, one-shoulder, floor-length gown was wickedly expensive.
    As for Ty, Marlie’s preference for men in jeans changed right then and there—Ty in formal wear was something to behold.
    Classic, elegant—two traits she hadn’t