Page 195 of Tessa and Nash

She glances between Maeve and me with obvious delight. “We were just talking about you.”

Maeve mutters under her breath, “I bet you were.”

Clara continues cheerfully. “You’ve missed all the early bidding! Someone paid two hundred dollars for a date with Virgil.”

Virgil raises his cup proudly from across the room.

Maeve leans toward me again. “See? Harmless.”

I take a slow breath.

Maybe she’s right.

The room gradually settles back into something that resembles its usual rhythm, but it’s thinner now. People return to their conversations, though I can feel the occasional glance drifting in my direction like a curious breeze.

We move toward the drinks table.

“You survived the entrance,” Maeve says.

“I feel like a zoo exhibit.”

“That’s just Buckhorn adjusting to the idea that you’re hot.”

I give her a flat look.

She grins.

The auctioneer climbs onto the stage a few minutes later, clapping his hands together with the theatrical enthusiasm of a man who has waited all year for this moment.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Back to bidding.”

The crowd cheers.

Maeve leans against the table beside me. “Here we go.”

Cowboys climb onto the stage amid laughter and exaggerated introductions. The bidding starts low and quickly escalates as people compete for trail rides, dinners, and ranch tours.

Despite everything, the room feels… lighter than it has in days.

Buckhorn may thrive on gossip, but it also thrives on ridiculous community events, and eventually, the laughter starts to feel contagious.

Maeve nudges my elbow. “You’re smiling.”

“I’m not.”

“You absolutely are.”

I glance toward the stage again as another cowboy tips his hat dramatically to the crowd.

The tight knot in my chest loosens slightly.

Maybe tonight will be manageable.

Maybe Nash won’t even…

The auctioneer’s voice booms through the hall.

“Next up…” The crowd quiets with anticipation. “Nash McCoy!”