What The Heart Finds

by Gadziala, Jessica

  “You're on,” Liam said, smiling a disarmingly genuine smile.

  It wasn't long before the gym was filled, voices rising to almost deafening levels as everyone crowded around each game table, cheering people on, and applauding anytime money went into the charity collections. It didn't seem to matter if the donation was fifty cents or fifty dollars, the person who donated got cheered regardless. Liam beat her two games in a row before she finally won and watched as Liam good-naturedly put twenty dollars in the collection before they finally gave up the table for the next group of players.

  “So are you being auctioned off?” she asked as they made their way over to a refreshment table offering mint lemonade and sun-steeped iced tea.

  “Why? You thinking about putting in a bid?” Liam asked, smirking.

  “You kidding? I cant buy someone who can beat me in backgammon. I need someone stupid and pliable,” she said, laughing.

  “Yeah,” Liam said, looking amused. “you'd crush that poor devil.”

  “Hey,” Lena broke in, shaking her head. “I'm not that bad.”

  “No,” Liam agreed, visibly wincing when over the loudspeaker they asked all the bachelors to make their way behind the stage. “But you need someone stubborn enough to call you on your bullshit,” he said, shrugging. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go get sold to some lady who is going to spend the rest of the night trying to paw at me.”

  “Think that highly of yourself, do you?” she asked as he walked away, rewarded by a smile over his shoulder.

  “I cant believe they asked Eric to be in the auction,” a middle-aged woman said from her side to another younger woman.

  “I know,” the other woman agreed, shaking her head. “I guess they were desperate for bachelors this year. No one is going to bid on him. I mean... their mothers would kill them.”

  “Or he already slept with them and tossed them aside,” the first woman said as they started walking away.

  Lena felt a momentary stab of empathy. It sucked to be gossiped about. Even if he did bring it upon himself with his whoring. Hell, she had even fallen for it and she had only been in town a few days. She couldn't imagine the kinds of walls a woman would need to put up to deal with Eric O'reilly on a daily basis.

  “Ladies, if you will gather around the stage,” a familiar voice called from the stage. Lena looked up to see Maude in a long deep blue gown, her hair braided in the usual way with a stunning assortment of beaded necklaces hanging from her neck. “Gentlemen,” she added with a sly look in her eye. “if you would please avert your eyes and stifle your jealousy... we are about to get started.”

  The men were called onto the stage, each of them wearing a suit with different colored dress shirts underneath. Liam with his gray shirt, Devon from the inn with a pink shirt only he could pull off, Alec in green, and Eric in all black. There were six other young men she didn't recognize line up as well in blue, purple, yellow, orange, white, and red.

  “Alright ladies, get your wallets out. We are starting bidding,” Maude said, moving toward the podium at the end of the stage. All the men filed backstage and the lights went low. A loud, thumping, sexual song started playing from the speakers and Maude picked up the mic again. “We are starting with Devon,” Maude said and Devon took the stage, looking confident and natural. “Devon is an amazing graphic artist and mediocre inn attendant who enjoys music, museums, and networking,” she said as Devon started strutting down the catwalk, winking at various women along the way. “We are starting the bidding at twenty dollars.”

  The bidding quickly went up in a frenzy, women calling out numbers until a bid of five-hundred dollars went up suddenly and everyone fell silent. Anna, Sam's wife, stood there, cash raised above her head as she took the stage with a wink at Devon. “He's mine, suckers,” she said quietly and everyone burst out laughing.

  “For those of you who weren't here,” Maude broke in, taking the cash. “two years ago at our Spring Into Summer dance, a nineteen year old Devon broke up the bidding war between two of our male residents by calling out a five-hundred bid.” Everyone clapped, their smiles acknowledging the memory.

  Lena looked around and Sam was leaning against a wall in the back, laughing and smiling at his wife.

  “Next we have Liam,” Maude called and the music started bumping again. Liam took the stage looking sheepish and wholly uncomfortable, his eyes looking off at the back wall as he walked down the catwalk.

  Liam was sold off to a woman in her fifties with fire engine red hair and a tight blue dress. She led him off stage, arm-in-arm, talking about a candlelight dinner at her house.

  “And now, the other O'reilly brother,” Maude called over the music and Lena could swear there was a hushing of the crowd. “Eric O'reilly is our sexy mechanic who enjoys action movies, classic rock, and long walks around town at inappropriate times,” Maude said, smiling. “What do you say ladies, anyone need a tune up?” Maude asked, her voice full of innuendo.

  “Twen...” a young woman with blonde hair and a loose fitting peasant dress started to call. Her arm was grabbed by an older version of herself who quietly whisper-yelled at the younger girl for a moment, then shook her head at Maude.

  Eric shocked everyone by winking down at the girl.

  The silence fell then, long and awkward. Lena felt a tightening in her chest and recognized the empathy she felt for him, spreading and making her feel uncomfortable in her skin. She couldn't imagine how he must have felt.

  At least someone on the counsel should have called out a bid. Or one of his friends.

  Maude's eyes went out across the crowd and Lena could swear her gaze fell on her with a lifted brow.

  She had to do something. It felt like time was suddenly slow, like every second was long and excruciating. She looked up at Eric, cool and confident as ever. Seemingly unphased by his rejection. But inside he must have been embarrassed, uncomfortable, something.

  Lena took a deep breath. She had to place a bid. She really didn't have much of a choice. She couldn't just let him walk off stage without some kind of bid. It would be too harsh a punishment, even if he brought it upon himself.

  She had to bid. But she didn't have to give him the satisfaction of a fair bid.

  She reached into her purse and raised the money above her head. Her voice came out strong and sure all the while, inside, she felt like she was drowning. “One dollar,” she called above the music.

  The music lowered and everyone's eyes turned and fell on her, their eyes curious and surprised. She carefully made her way toward the stage when, breaking the nerve-rattling silence, Eric threw his head back and let out a loud, roaring laugh.

  “Looks like I'm sold,” Eric winked at Maude and made his way to the end of the stage, bending down, and grabbing Lena from around the waist and hauling her onstage. He kept his arm tight around her as he brought her over to Maude to hand over the money. “So where are ya taking me, baby?”

  Eric pulled her down the stairs as Maude called Alec onto the stage and a few women whistled as he took to the catwalk. Lena looked back over her shoulder and watched as Alec pulled his hair out of its usual bun and the bidding went up in a frenzy.

  “Eyes forward, sweetheart,” Eric said, his tone lazy and unaffected. “you're stuck with me now.”

  “Oh, joy,” Lena said, her tone dry.

  They walked past Emily who gave her a wry, knowing smile, as she raised her hand for another bid on Alec.

  “Awe come on, Emmy,” Eric called, shaking his head. “leave him alone. The poor guy has escaped your grasps for this long.”

  “Which is more than can be said of poor Miss. Edwards,” she shot back.

  “Hey, she chose me,” Eric insisted, his smile knowing otherwise.

  “I'm sure you'll be worth every dollar,” Emily said, her tone teasing.

  Eric reached out, tugging at a strand of Emily's hair playfully. She watched them with a sort of fascinated detachment. They acte
d like siblings. Like people who had played on playgrounds together as children. Even though she knew from Eric that Emily hadn't shown up in town until they were teenagers. Maybe it was because they were so similar. Both exuded a sort of raw sexual energy and had very dry, sarcastic senses of humor.

  Or maybe they had dated.

  The thought crept up on her suddenly, grating and unwelcome. They would have made a good couple- light and easy going. No pressure. Both too detached to pull off an actual long term thing. It would have been fun and passionate and over quickly.

  She looked at Emily then, really looked at her as a woman, not just an innkeeper. She was tall. Taller even than herself. Her body was slight, waifish, the kind of body models starve themselves for. She wore a black cocktail dress, form fitting like her own, and short, showing off her long legs. But it was her face that was mesmerizing with it's sharp features and piercing blue eyes. Her shiny auburn hair was loose for the first time since she had met her, flowing straight past her shoulders. The kind of hair that was begging to have someone's fingers run through it.

  “Earth to Lena,” Emily said, her brows furrowed.

  Lena shook her head, hoping she hadn't been caught gawking. “Sorry. I was just...”

  “Considering all the ways that taking this one,” she said jerking her head in Eric's direction. “on a date is a horrible idea?”

  “Exactly,” Lena agreed, smiling. “Sorry you missed out on Alec,” Lena said, watching him get led off stage by a girl who couldn't be much older than eighteen.

  “Oh, him,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “we have been playing this game for years. I'm gonna get him one of these days.”

  “Heaven help any man who thinks they can turn Emily down,” Eric said, smiling at her kindly.

  “You turned me down,” she added with a raised brow as she took a sip of her iced tea.

  “But just because it wouldn't be fair to the other townspeople if we got together. I mean... just think of the children,” he said, his eyes bright. “Future generations would be helpless to defend themselves against Emily-Eric offspring.”

  “True,” Emily smiled. “they would be too gorgeous. See?” Emily said, turning to Lena. “we would never work out.”

  “Apparently,” Lena agreed, her ludicrous jealousy slipping away. What was wrong with her? Eric's hand felt heavy on her hips, possessive.

  “Go on,” Emily said, nodding toward the door. “get him out of here before the hens decide to organize and come at him with pitchforks,” she said, letting her gaze fall for a long moment on a group of young, pretty women who were starting at them, and especially Eric, with open malice.

  “She'll protect me,” Eric said, his fingertips digging into her hipbone hollows in a way too intimate way.

  “Or throw you to them, already trussed up.”

  “You want to tie me up, baby?” Eric asked, his voice low and sensual.

  “Oh my god. You're impossible,” she said, pulling away from him and quickly making her way toward the door.

  Eight

  She was barely ten feet out of the gym doors when she heard Eric running up behind her, reaching down and casually grabbing her hand, and falling into step beside her.

  “What is with you and physical contact?” she asked, feeling uncomfortable with the uncertainty that was the rest of their night.

  “What is with you and your aversion to physical contact?” he countered, his tone without any emphasis. His fingers squeezed hers. Reassuring, almost.

  “So what are we supposed to do now?” she asked as they walked out the front doors of the school. The night air hit her, blessedly cool against her overheated skin.

  “Well that depends,” Eric said, looking down at her with mischief in his eyes. “Ladies choice,” he said with a shrug. “Some ladies choose to have you back to their house for a quick dinner and sheet mussing,” he laughed at her disbelieving look. “Scouts honor,” he said. “I've only ever been in one other bachelor auction. When I was about Devon's age. I didn't have... quite as bad of a reputation then.”

  “So who bought you?” she asked, finding she was genuinely curious, not just trying to fill the silence.

  He laughed then, the sound short and amused. “The same woman who bought my brother tonight.”

  “No way.”

  “Yes way,” he said, his thumb rubbing down the side of her hand. “I guess she wanted to compare brothers. Unfortunately for her, Liam doesn't have as varied an appreciation for women that I do.”

  “You didn't..” Lena said, thinking back at the woman who must have been at least fifteen years older than Eric.

  “Oh yeah I did,” he said, smiling at her outrage. “I was curious about what they said about older women,” he shrugged. “They weren't wrong. Plus, she had no interest in trying to lock me down which was great.”

  “What about... younger women?” Lena asked and closed her eyes at her own words. Just because a teenager bid on him didn't mean anything.

  “Depends,” he said, reaching out and touching the side of her face. “Younger like you? Perfect. Younger like Mellie,” he said nodding his head toward the gym and apparently reading her mind. “not my thing.” He let a silence fall for a second before adding. “I leave those ones to the fumbling, bumbling younger guys. They need to get some too.”

  “Just when I think you're a decent human being,” she said, pulling her hand out of his and taking a step back.

  “Oh come on,” he said, shaking his head. “You're a rational experienced woman. You know that the main purpose of interaction between the sexes is to lead to one goal.”

  “Maybe not all men are as... base as you are.”

  Eric rolled his eyes slightly at her word. “No, honey. Other men just aren't as honest as I am.”

  He was right. And she hated that he was right. She had yet to meet a man who was kind just for the sake of being kind. They always wanted something in return. And nothing was more infuriating than thinking one was different only to have to fight off his unwanted advances. It was much better to have it all right there up front.

  My name is Eric. And I want to sleep with you.

  “So you never really answered my question. What are we supposed to do now?”

  “Well... there are the usual town spots: the diner, the inn...”

  “Seriously? Women take their dates to the inn to eat?”

  “Well if by 'eat' you mean...”

  “Not,” Lena broke in, feeling flushed. “what I meant. Yes. Well. The inn is out.”

  “Tell you what,” Eric said, reaching for her hand again. “how about I take you for a walk to the old fishing stream?” He looked at her arched brow and dropped a kiss on the top of her head quickly. “It will be quiet. You can play around in the water.”

  “Isn't there some kind of pond...”

  “Yeah,” Eric interrupted quickly. “but I'm not taking you there,” he said in a strange, final kind of way.

  “Alright,” she said, shrugging. “the stream it is.”

  They walked out toward the inn, sneaking off into the woods to the side of it, just a few yards away from where the walking trail turned in an opposite direction. Why the stream wasn't on the trail was beyond her.

  That was until they started walking, the ground underneath uneven and steep, covered in overturned trees and massive root systems.

  “Oh to hell with it,” she burst out, stopping on top of another stump and kicking out of her shoes. One of the heels had knocked slightly loose as she had climbed down a hill, her feet pushing too hard into the dirt. Eric turned and went to stoop to grab them. “Don't bother,” she said, grabbing them herself and putting them on top of the stump. “they're broken. We can grab them on the way back. I'd rather have my hands free so I don't fall on my face scaling this mountain.”

  “Not much of an outdoors type, huh?” Eric asked, reaching for her as she tried to jump down off of the stump.

&n
bsp; “That's not true,” she objected. She might be annoyed about her shoes and her too-tight, unforgiving dress, but she was actually enjoying herself. “I run in Central Park every weekend.”

  “For the exercise,” he said pointedly. “not the nature.”

  Lena pulled away from him, jumping down another hill easily. “If I just wanted exercise,” she said defiantly. “I could use the treadmill at my apartment complex.”

  “Touche,” Eric conceded, watching as she stood and pulled her skirt down again. Trekking through the woods had definitely been a good choice.

  “So you hike through the hills a lot,” she half-asked, half-declared.

  “Yeah,” he said, kicking a branch out of the way. “there's actually a lot back here if you take the time to look around.”

  “Like the stream. And the pond.”

  “Yeah,” Eric nodded. “And a massive rock formation a little further up. You can go in and out of the caves.”

  “Aren't there bears out here?” she asked, suddenly surprised she hadn't thought of that before.

  “Yup,” Eric said, his tone almost excited at the prospect. “but what's nature without a little danger?”

  “Okay there, Huck,” Lena laughed.

  “Except I'm not a twelve year old boy,” Eric said, laughing at her surprised look. “My brother owns a bookstore. Did you really think you were going to sneak a Twain reference by me?”

  Lena turned her head away from him, seeming to put all her effort in moving things out of her path. She really hadn't expected him to get it. Nothing about him seemed to imply he liked to spend his idle time curled up with a book. He seemed too active, too physical to spend days reading. It was another piece of the Eric O'reilly puzzle. Not that she was trying to figure him out. That was totally not the case. She was just trying to have a somewhat decent evening.

  But even as she was trying to convince herself of that, she knew it wasn't true.

  “Shit,” she yelped, jumping backward and bumping into Eric's chest. “what the hell was that?” she pointed out in front of her where something had brushed up against her bare foot.