"Let's talk business." Aaron motioned everyone to take a seat.
Chairs scraped and everyone settled in. Stevie's heart quickened when Aaron covered her hand with his own, then squeezed her fingers. "When the event planner caught the flu, I thought this weekend would be cancelled. Thanks for stepping in and pulling it all together."
"She's worked hard," Jacy said in praise of her friend. "You owe her. Big time."
Aaron traced Stevie's fingers. "I've ways to repay."
Repay me how? Stevie wondered. A walk down memory lane? A slip between the sheets? A marriage proposal?
Happiness seduced her until Zen's frown brought her down. She couldn't understand his disapproval. Yet it was there, evident in the visible tic in his jaw, the narrowing of his eyes.
"Tell me about the donations. The player auction." Aaron drew her back to the weekend events.
Stevie was proud of the items collected. "Bidding starts with tickets to Disney World and Sea World, a weekend at the Fontainebleau in Miami, deep-sea fishing in the Keys, and a brand new Mustang. The auction ends with the players going on the block."
Aaron brought her palm to his lips and kissed it lightly. "Which players?" he asked.
The moist press of his mouth proved distracting. She tried to stay focused. "You and, uh, Risk, Zen, and the Bat Pack. We're expecting a huge turnout. The auction will take place on the high school football field."
"Whoa, back up a sec." Zen's eyes were now wide. "I'm to be auctioned?"
Risk looked unrepentant. "Sorry, man. Guess I forgot to mention your participation."
"Strike two." Zen held up two fingers. "My kidnapping, now the auction. No more surprises."
"We're tight," Risk assured him.
"You owe me a change of clothes."
"You've got the run of my closet," Risk stated before turning to Jacy. "I'm expecting you to bid on me. Take my checkbook and raise the bid until you take me home."
"What happens after the bidding?" Zen asked.
"A grandfather, child, or lovely lady could win you for the evening," Stevie explained. "Drinks, dinner, playing catch, talking baseball, are all entertainment options. The Twilight Drive-In Theater will run a double feature starting at nine. Sleepless in Seattle followed by Die Hard"
Stevie looked from Risk to Aaron. "Someone needs to remind Romeo if a hottie wins his body, there's no tucking her into bed. Couples part at the door."
"I'll have a word with him," Risk said.
Aaron looked at his cousin. "What are you auctioning, Jacy?"
"Coffee with me every morning for a week might bring in a dollar or two."
"More than a few bucks, babe," Risk drawled. "Frank Stall would sell his orange grove for your morning sugar."
Jacy pointed to Stevie. "Baseball trivia with our own Stevie Cole will be a highlight. One hundred dollars per question."
"Update me on the golf and Softball tournaments," Aaron pressed.
"The Shadow Woods Course will host the golf tournament, and the softball game will be played on the high school diamond," Stevie told him. "Major league players versus Frostproof's Finest."
Risk looked at Jacy. "You playing ball?"
"Center field."
He rolled his eyes. "You're not that athletic, babe."
She pinched his arm. "I've been practicing. Hit a ball my way and I'll catch it on the fly."
"The country club dance?" Aaron's last question wrapped up all the details for the weekend.
"We hired Day's Night." Stevie awaited his reaction.
Aaron's expression softened. "One of my favorite groups."
She had banked on his liking the band. That was why she'd booked them. To trigger the good times and draw him back into her life.
"What time should I pick you up tonight?" Aaron asked her. "Sponsor and chairperson should arrive at the auction together."
"Let's make it six," Stevie suggested. "I just moved into the Blue Heron Condominiums on South Ninth. The condo with the lime green shutters."
"Lime green?" Aaron looked at his cousin. "From Jacy's palette?"
Stevie nodded. "She gave the place a little color."
"I'll find you." Then as an afterthought, he asked, "Do you have something presentable to wear?"
Presentable? She slid her hands down her sides, felt the slight bulge at her waist. Was he embarrassed by her weight? Her size sixes had evolved into tens and twelves over the years, and the occasional fourteen. Though she would have preferred a little black dress, she'd be squeezing into a conservative rose silk suit. With elastic inserts around the waistband of the skirt.
"New outfit," she assured Aaron.
Aaron rose and Stevie returned his suit jacket. "Tonight is very important to me." He instructed, "Everyone be on time."
Jacy scrunched up her nose. "I'm never late."
Aaron disagreed. "You're always late when Risk is in town." He sent Risk a pointed look. "Keep it in your pants."
The ring of his cell phone cut off further conversation. Sliding it from the inside pocket of his jacket, he checked the number, then signaled his departure. "Later." And Aaron was gone.
Jacy stretched, stood. "I need to get back to work. Caramel rolls won't glaze themselves."
"I'll help." Risk rose also. Shooting Zen a look, he promised, "Thirty minutes and we're off." He patted Stevie on the shoulder. "Keep him company, sweetheart?"
"Yeah… sure. Why not?" It would be the longest half hour of her life. She knew more glaze would go on Jacy's fingertips and into Risk's mouth than would ever reach the rolls.
Absently, she glanced around the coffee shop, which was nearly empty. Her gaze strayed to Zen who sat silent, looking as if he were still assessing the weekend ahead. "So…" She glanced at the clock above the counter. Four-thirty.
"So…" He reached for a magazine. "Don't feel you have to entertain me. There's lots here to read."
She'd do her duty by Risk and give Zen five whole minutes. Then split. "You read a lot?"
"Whenever I have time."