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Marley laughed and rested a hand on my arm. “I think he likes you.”
I shook my head, and then my gaze snagged on Sebastian’s concerned one. “No way.”
She nodded. “Yes way. Why else would he protest so much?”
I frowned as I remembered how it had played out. “Emmett didn’t like it either.”
Marley waved a hand. “Emmett doesn’t like any of our ideas. He shoots them all down.”
I knew that was true. Sebastian was the level-headed one, the one who looked at the numbers. But I’d never known him to get involved in these kinds of decisions. He let Emmett take the lead and only interjected if his financial advice was needed. “If that’s true, why hasn’t it come up before?”
“I don’t think he was ready. He was busy with Ember, and you were always there. He wasn’t worried about you dating because you weren’t.”
I usually didn’t discuss dates that went well with Sebastian. Was that because, on some level, I knew he was interested in me? My brain was starting to hurt.
Marley lowered her voice. “I don’t know for sure. It’s just my intuition. He was too upset not to be invested in you.”
The idea warmed me from the inside out. “Do you think I should back out?”
Marley stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “Absolutely not. Don’t worry about anything. I’ve got this. He’s not going to want you with anyone else, and the only way to do that is to be the highest bidder.”
“I don’t know.”
“Trust me. After that little display in there”—she gestured toward the living room—“I think we’ve got this.”
“Thank you for organizing it.” Even if it didn’t work out, it was a step in the right direction.
“We have to stick together with these stubborn men, or we’ll never get what we want.” She gestured around at the guys.
I laughed, feeling freer than I had in a long time. I loved the idea of being closer to the women here. “They are pretty grumpy about change.”
Marley’s eyes widened comically. “Right? They’re literally impossible. Especially Emmett. I just hadn’t anticipated Sebastian’s reaction. That’s why I think it’s you. He never gets riled up about anything. At least not since I’ve been around.”
“I have to agree. I’ve never seen him upset, unless he’s talking about Ember’s mother.”
Marley growled. “What mother could just leave her child? Do you know what happened?”
“Not really. My understanding is that she didn’t want the responsibilities that came with being a parent.”
“I hope he doesn’t let her near Ember if she ever comes back.”
“You think she will?”
Her nose scrunched in distaste. “My mom did when I inherited the inn. People always return when you have something they want.”
Sebastian told me that Marley had paid her mom a certain amount of money to not contest her grandmother’s will. I knew Sebastian was financially comfortable, but neither of us had that kind of money to throw around.
There was something about Sebastian’s brothers settling down with these women and creating a home here that warmed my heart. I wanted to fit in the same way, but that was wishful thinking.
Even if Marley thought Sebastian was jealous, I wasn’t going to fall back into my crush. I needed to move on. If he wanted me, then he needed to make it clear. I wasn’t going to wait around on him anymore.
My focus needed to be on me and getting back out into the dating world. What better way to do that than with a bachelorette auction and a pre-planned date? It sounded amazing. “What if no one bids on me?” I leaned over to ask Marley.
She tipped her head back and laughed. “There’s no chance of that. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. If anything, you’re going to create a bidding frenzy.”
“What are you two talking about down there?” Sebastian asked, his voice low and even.
“Oh, just about how many guys are going to be bidding on our girl here. I told her she’s going to create a bidding frenzy.”
