event,” she said. “Perhaps a runway could be constructed? The ladies could sit on either side while the bachelors walk back and forth?”
“Oh, a runway would be perfect.” Leeann said with a grin. “Let the buyers get a good look at what they’re spending their money on.”
“Hey, you sure about this?” Bobby reached for his wife’s hand and held fast. “I wouldn’t want the auction to bring back any memories...you know, a runway? Modeling?”
“Don’t worry, honey. I’ll be fine.”
Dean was glad to hear Leeann say that, even if his buddy didn’t look entirely convinced. In her former life, Leeann had been a famous fashion model, but a terrible experience at a photo shoot had made her give up her career. She’d eventually returned to Destiny and worked as a deputy for the sheriff’s department, but had left the force just before Bobby and Dean came to town. Now she was committed full-time to the camp.
“I’m serious,” Leeann continued, punctuating her words with a kiss for her husband. “That’s behind me now. Let’s concentrate on the fund-raiser, okay?”
“You know, you could also involve some of the other local restaurants.” Priscilla scribbled in her notebook again. “Perhaps they could have a special menu in place for the week following the auction geared toward the winners and their dates. Or provide a coupon for a two-for-one dinner or a discount.”
“That’s a great idea. We’d have to get the okay from Racy—she’s the owner of the Blue Creek— but if anyone will jump on board with this idea, it’s Racy,” Leeann added. “But when do we hold the event? I believe Racy books her bands a few weeks in advance, so we might be looking at August. That would give us plenty of time for planning and advertising. Can you stick around that long?”
“Stick around?” Priscilla asked.
“Sure. We’ll need you here to coordinate the entire event, since it was your brainchild.”
Dean had been listening to the back-and-forth about this crazy idea, waiting for the right moment to remind them that without the men agreeing to participate, this whole thing was going nowhere. He’d been about to say something when Leeann’s question caused the conversation to fade into silence.
“I—ah—I hadn’t thought that far,” Priscilla finally said before she dropped her gaze to the notebook on her lap and flipped it closed. “I was just sharing a few thoughts off the top of my head.”
“And the auction is the best one! We wanted something new and different, something that everyone in the town could be involved in. But we need a person with your experience to pull this together and to be the master of ceremonies.”
“Oh, no, that’s not my style.” She looked up, her pen clenched tight in her fist. “I’m very much a behind-the-scenes kind of person.”
Her words were softly spoken, but firm. Dean found her argument hard to believe. Someone as beautiful as her not wanting to be the center of attention?
“The host for the evening should be a person familiar with the locals, both the bachelors and the ladies doing the bidding,” Priscilla continued. “Just in case either group is a bit shy about getting the ball rolling, which can happen at auctions. An added bonus would be someone who is also a big part of the camp. You would be perfect for the job, Leeann.”
“Me?” Leeann flattened one hand against her chest. “Well, yeah, I guess I could...but only if you’re here to help me. Please? You did say your plans for the summer changed. Do you have the free time? Can you stay?”
Dean found himself holding his breath, waiting for her to answer. Realizing how dumb that was, he purposely released it and took another long pull from his beer. Still, he couldn’t look away, and when Priscilla released a soft sigh, he felt it all the way to his bones.
She was staying.
“Yes, of course I’ll stay.”
Leeann clapped her hands, joyous that she’d gotten her way. Not
“Oh, a runway would be perfect.” Leeann said with a grin. “Let the buyers get a good look at what they’re spending their money on.”
“Hey, you sure about this?” Bobby reached for his wife’s hand and held fast. “I wouldn’t want the auction to bring back any memories...you know, a runway? Modeling?”
“Don’t worry, honey. I’ll be fine.”
Dean was glad to hear Leeann say that, even if his buddy didn’t look entirely convinced. In her former life, Leeann had been a famous fashion model, but a terrible experience at a photo shoot had made her give up her career. She’d eventually returned to Destiny and worked as a deputy for the sheriff’s department, but had left the force just before Bobby and Dean came to town. Now she was committed full-time to the camp.
“I’m serious,” Leeann continued, punctuating her words with a kiss for her husband. “That’s behind me now. Let’s concentrate on the fund-raiser, okay?”
“You know, you could also involve some of the other local restaurants.” Priscilla scribbled in her notebook again. “Perhaps they could have a special menu in place for the week following the auction geared toward the winners and their dates. Or provide a coupon for a two-for-one dinner or a discount.”
“That’s a great idea. We’d have to get the okay from Racy—she’s the owner of the Blue Creek— but if anyone will jump on board with this idea, it’s Racy,” Leeann added. “But when do we hold the event? I believe Racy books her bands a few weeks in advance, so we might be looking at August. That would give us plenty of time for planning and advertising. Can you stick around that long?”
“Stick around?” Priscilla asked.
“Sure. We’ll need you here to coordinate the entire event, since it was your brainchild.”
Dean had been listening to the back-and-forth about this crazy idea, waiting for the right moment to remind them that without the men agreeing to participate, this whole thing was going nowhere. He’d been about to say something when Leeann’s question caused the conversation to fade into silence.
“I—ah—I hadn’t thought that far,” Priscilla finally said before she dropped her gaze to the notebook on her lap and flipped it closed. “I was just sharing a few thoughts off the top of my head.”
“And the auction is the best one! We wanted something new and different, something that everyone in the town could be involved in. But we need a person with your experience to pull this together and to be the master of ceremonies.”
“Oh, no, that’s not my style.” She looked up, her pen clenched tight in her fist. “I’m very much a behind-the-scenes kind of person.”
Her words were softly spoken, but firm. Dean found her argument hard to believe. Someone as beautiful as her not wanting to be the center of attention?
“The host for the evening should be a person familiar with the locals, both the bachelors and the ladies doing the bidding,” Priscilla continued. “Just in case either group is a bit shy about getting the ball rolling, which can happen at auctions. An added bonus would be someone who is also a big part of the camp. You would be perfect for the job, Leeann.”
“Me?” Leeann flattened one hand against her chest. “Well, yeah, I guess I could...but only if you’re here to help me. Please? You did say your plans for the summer changed. Do you have the free time? Can you stay?”
Dean found himself holding his breath, waiting for her to answer. Realizing how dumb that was, he purposely released it and took another long pull from his beer. Still, he couldn’t look away, and when Priscilla released a soft sigh, he felt it all the way to his bones.
She was staying.
“Yes, of course I’ll stay.”
Leeann clapped her hands, joyous that she’d gotten her way. Not
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