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Hanna shot me a grateful grin. “I’d love to join you. Just give me a few minutes to make myself presentable.”
She was dressed appropriately for what I wanted to do to her. But my daughter was present, and I needed to get my dick under control. It wasn’t the time or place for him to be at attention.
Hanna’s door shut softly behind her, and we continued downstairs. I grabbed the pancake mix, eggs, milk, and a bowl before going through my usual Sunday routine on a Saturday.
The TV in the living room clicked on. Ember was allowed to watch cartoons in the morning if she wasn’t helping me cook.
Since it was a snow day and I needed time to calm down after our encounter with Hanna in the hallway, I didn’t insist she help me this morning. Instead, I pushed play on a holiday music playlist and used the time to think about anything other than Hanna’s nipples.
Her breasts were full underneath that shirt, and I wanted to palm them, run a thumb over one hard nub, and suck on the other.
I shook my head, forcing myself to think about the bachelorette auction and the other men who’d be bidding on her. It worked to get my mind off her naked body.
When she padded down the stairs a few minutes later, I felt less distracted and was able to smile at her without feeling any guilt about my wayward thoughts. “Morning.”
“Morning.”
“Sorry about waking you up. We don’t get snow every day, and she was excited.”
Hanna waved a hand in my direction. “You already apologized, and there’s no need.”
“I bet you’ll be happy to move into your own place and have peace and quiet.”
Hanna slid onto a stool at the island, watching me crack the egg on the side of the bowl. “I kind of like it here.”
“You like being awakened every morning by a seven-year-old?” I asked, amusement tinging my voice. I found that hard to believe. It’s why I’d been so reluctant to date over the years. I was busy with Ember, but I also knew having kids was a lot of work, and it was too much to ask of someone who wasn’t already a parent.
“This place feels like a home. I enjoy waking up to the sound of your voices and laughter.”
Her comment warmed my chest. “Then you’re never going to want to leave.”
She laughed, but the sound was off. I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant. Would she be happy to move on from us? The thought left me feeling chilled.
I mixed the batter and poured it into the pan. I was so used to doing this, it had become routine, and I didn’t have to think about what I was doing. Instead, I was hyperaware of the woman sitting at my counter.
I was going to miss her when it went back to being just me and Ember. I enjoyed her company as much as she enjoyed ours.
“Are you ready for the bachelorette auction?” I asked, even as my heart picked up at the thought.
“Ireland and Marley are handling most of the details. We’ll help decorate.”
The guys were in charge of my idea, with strict instructions to keep the women away from the area and not to give away any details. “What’s the plan for the event and the dates?”
“We’ll hold the auction itself in the barn, the one you usually reserve for family events. Five women will be auctioned, including me and Holly. One of the dates will be the hot tub, a second will be the gazebo, the third will be a carriage ride and picnic meal at the pond, the fourth will be in the middle of one of the Christmas tree fields, and the fifth we haven’t figured out yet.”
“Did anyone sign up for the auction itself?” I would be surprised if anyone did.
“We had a ton of applicants. We had to limit it to those over the age of twenty-two to eliminate college students. Marley was worried if college kids came, they wouldn’t take it seriously. It would be an opportunity for them to have fun and party. Not find a significant other.”
I stilled as I watched the pancakes cook. “You think that one of these women could find a man they’d want to be with?”
“Absolutely. Why? You don’t?”
I turned to look at her. “I’m not sure. I guess you could find someone who was serious about a relationship, but you could get a lot of guys looking for a good time. One night with a beautiful woman.”
“Hmm. I just want to meet someone nice who has the potential of being something more.”
My heart pounded in my chest because I met that criteria. I felt the potential of something more like a fire simmering just beneath the surface of my skin. All she had to do was light the match to set me free.
