33. Grace #2
It takes him a second to realize he’s being spoken to. “What?” he asks a moment later, causing Whit and I to giggle like little girls.
“You need somethin’, or just came for the show?” Whit pokes him in the chest playfully.
“Oh, uh,” he trips over his words, “just wanted to check if y’all will be at the auction? And, uh, Carson, too?” His eyes dart toward the brunette beauty on stage, who’s currently singing her heart out, and that little flush of color paints his cheeks.
Whit opens her mouth to reply, but I cut her off. Poor boy doesn’t need a smart ass reply right now, as entertaining as it would be.
“Yeah, Rhett, we’ll all be there,” I respond with a warm smile. “Carson included.”
He jerks a nod, his eyes not leaving the stage.
“That’s good, that’s great.” With a tight lipped smile, he retreats, but not without one last backwards glance at Carson.
As if by divine intervention, there’s an instrumental break when Rhett looks back, and Carson glances toward us, her eyes meeting his.
She gives him a wink, and I swear he almost falls to his knees. Not a moment later, he darts off.
As soon as Carson exits the arena at the end of her set, Whit and I hightail it to the outdoor stage to make sure everything is in order for the Cowboy Auction.
When we get there, the boys are all waiting backstage.
They’ve all changed into fresh outfits since their demos, but most have put their chaps back on for maximum cowboy effect.
“You boys ready?” I ask, clapping my hands together with delight.
There’s varying responses from the small group. The Cartwright twins respond, “Hell yeah!” Tāne nods and claps the twins on the shoulder, and Rhett gives the briefest of nods I’ve ever seen.
“Right,” Whit says, clipboard in hand. “Order is as follows: Mason, then Elliott, Tāne after that, and closing out with Rhett.”
“Remind me why I have to go last?” Rhett grumbles.
“Because, brother, you’re kind of a cowboy superstar. The ladies seem to have a thing for the grumpy ones.”
Rhett shoots daggers at his sister and crosses his arms with a huff, which only proves her point further.
Hands wrap around my waist from behind, and I jump. I turn my head to find Tucker behind me, grinning.
“Hey, you,” he whispers against the shell of my ear, sending a shiver through me. When he nibbles on my ear, I whirl around.
“What’re you doing?” I whisper-shout, eyes darting around the group.
“Just wanted to see you up close,” he says as he looks me up and down. God, just the way he looks at me is enough to make my knees weak. He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “I was right, by the way. Beautiful.”
With his hand on the small of my back, he walks past me and toward the center of the group to address the guys.
“Break a leg, boys! I promise not to talk too much shit about each of you.” He winks and walks out on to the stage, grabbing a microphone from the AV team as he goes.
Whitney and I move through the wings and closer to the front.
“Well howdy y’all, and welcome to the highly anticipated Cowboy Auction.
Ladies, how we feelin’ out there?” The answering cheers from the crowd are louder than I’d expected.
Whit looks at me with a huge smile, “Shit, G. Look at all those people!” Unable to contain her excitement, she jumps up and down in place.
“Massive turnout for only four cowboys.” I glance behind me at the boys. “Man, this could be a battle.”
I lock eyes with Rhett, who looks like he’s somewhere between throwing up and storming out. “Think of the kids,” I say, doing my best to give him a comforting smile. I don’t enjoy his discomfort per se, but it’s amusing to say the least.
One by one, the guys get their turn being auctioned off, until only Rhett remains beside me. I watch as he silently searches the crowd—for what, or who, I don’t know.
“You good?” I ask, bumping him with my elbow.
“Huh? Oh yeah,” he looks at me briefly before returning his gaze to the crowd, “all good.”
“Can I help you find someone?”
He turns toward me, roughing a hand across his jaw and through his beard. When a pink tinge seeps into his cheeks, I have a feeling I know exactly who he’s looking for. “She won’t be far.”
He lets out a sigh of—is that relief?—and relaxes his shoulders. When I raise my brows marginally, he clears his throat gruffly. “I wasn’t looking for Carson.”
“My mistake,” I say, biting back a grin. “How much are you hoping to raise for the kids out there?”
“I’ll just be happy if I’m bid on,” he admits in a low voice. “Anything is better than nothing.”
“Do you really not see the way women look at you?” I’m at a complete loss.
Rhett might not be my Beaumont, but there’s no denying he’s incredibly attractive.
He has the same deep caramel eyes as Tucker, but his hair is just a tad darker and longer.
His beard and moustache are also more pronounced than Tucker’s.
They’re kind of like the same word in a different font, if you know what I mean.
He eyes me curiously, then shrugs. “Not really. But I ‘spose I’ve never really wanted to look before.”
The way he adds before leaves me wanting to ask so many questions, but I don’t want to spook him before he goes on stage—Lord knows he’s already shitting himself as it is.
“Thank you, Miss Sutton St. James, for your contribution to the Beaumont Rodeo School in exchange for a date with one Tāne Tuivasa!” The crowd cheers as Tucker goes on. “The future generation of rodeo stars thanks you for your generosity.”
As Tāne walks off the stage arm in arm with his highest bidder, Tucker glances over at Rhett and I and nods.
“Deep breaths,” I whisper to Rhett, clapping him on the back. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”
“Our final, and arguably most handsome, cowboy of the evening is the one, the only, Mr. Rhett Beaumont—let’s make some noise!”
Rhett walks out on stage, gaze still searching through the crowd as he smiles and waves, albeit uncomfortably. I haven’t laid eyes on Carson yet either, which seems odd. I shoot her a text.
Me
Where are you? Auction’s almost over.
She replies right away.
Carson
FUCK
We’re having some issues disconnecting from the sound system, so pack up has taken longer than expected.
Bid on Rhett for me, would you?
I choke on a laugh, immediately covering my mouth with my hand. Thankfully Tucker doesn’t look my way, so I don’t think it was too loud.
Me
Probably wouldn’t be a great look, Cars
Carson
Sure it would. Supporting your man’s business and whatnot
Me
Just get your butt over here and do it yourself if you’re so concerned
Twenty seven bids and $780 later—yes, I kept count—Rhett walks off stage with his arm linked through Kenny’s.
She approaches Whit and me with a devilish grin. “I feel like the cat who got the cream.”
“That’s an expensive new crush you’ve got, Kenny.”
“Yeah,” Whit chimes in. “When were you planning on telling me you had a thing for my brother?”
She waves a hand nonchalantly. “He’s not for me, don’t worry. Not quite my type, no offense,” she throws over her shoulder to Rhett.
“What’s that, Ken?” he calls over.
“Nothin’, hon,” she says with a chuckle.
“Where’s Carson?” Kenny asks us, and I see Rhett’s ears perk up at the mention of her. When he sees that I’ve seen him, he turns back around to his conversation, but I don’t miss the red blush that creeps up the back of his neck.
“Got tied up with stage stuff and missed the whole auction. I think she’s headed straight for the dressing rooms to get ready for tonight.”
“Man, she was incredible earlier, wasn’t she?” Kenny and Whit start gushing about Carson’s talent. I just listen, grinning from ear to ear with pride.
“We should get moving, yeah?” Whit asks, glancing at her watch.
“Certainly should. The hard part’s done, time to let our hair down.”