One by one each couple entered the medium-sized conference room. I stood backlit by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the city behind me waiting for them each to take a seat so we could get started.
With an assessing eye, I evaluated each grouping.
As expected, Savannah McAllister and Erik Johansen sat next to one another, looking bright, sunny, and well-rested. Erik eased his chair closer to Savannah’s after he made sure she was settled but didn’t go so far as to take her hand or lean into her space. A proper gentleman. I had high hopes for the pairing. There was something unbelievably sweet and rather innocent about them.
Next, sitting rigid as a ruler, eyes to his phone was Nile Pennington. Ruby Dawson sat between him and his twin, Noah Pennington. While Ruby chewed on a cuticle, glancing around the room trying not to be seen at all, Noah was to her right. He was tapping out a beat only he could hear on the wooden table, as if being here or not being here was all the same to him. I often wondered what it was like to have so much money that you hadn’t a care in the world. His aloofness and easy-going nature could also come back to haunt him. What he may not have realized about Ms. Dawson was that she was far smarter than the average blonde beauty he was used to wooing in his plethora of nightclubs. This woman had been through hell and wanted a future. She had a set plan and rationale for being in the auction. She wasn’t in this for love; she was in it for money. He would be wise to remember that fact.
Next to Noah sat Joel Castellanos and Faith Marino. Joel sat focused, eyes to me, all business, neither his face nor body language giving anything away about his emotional or mental status. Though Faith, on the other hand, appeared awash with emotions. Biting her lip, twisting her fingers, crossing and uncrossing her legs as though ready to bolt at any moment. She kept glancing down at her phone, then at Joel as though seeking some type of relief from whatever was bothering her.
I focused on them for a moment as the last part of our group had yet to arrive. Much to my surprise, Joel turned to Faith, whispered something, then grabbed her hand and set it within his, resting them both on his thigh. Instantly, her agitation disappeared, and she let out a long breath, relaxing into the leather chair.
So far this was the most exciting discovery of the pairings, that is until Sutton stormed into the room, dragging a flustered Dakota behind him with one hand. He pulled out a chair and led her straight into it. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her shirt was inside out, the small tag visible at the hem at the neck. Her eyes were bleary and her skin tone rather green. After she sat, she leaned over and rested both her elbows on the table and clutched at her head with a groan, pressing her forehead to the flat surface. I glanced at Sutton and noted the red-rimmed eyes, the unshaven face, black eye, split lip, and a quarter-sized bruise, or should I say hickey, at the side of his neck. He plopped his Stetson on the table and ran his fingers through what I could now tell was wet hair, likely straight from the shower.
“Clearly, the Goodalls have had quite the evening. Would you like to update the group on the comings and goings?”
“I’m not a Goodall!” Dakota moaned, slapping her hand on the table weakly. “And do you need to holler?”
I pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t laugh at the display they made.
“We got hitched last night, folks,” Sutton shared grinning.
A few gasps and grumbles ran through the group, but I held up my hand until everyone went silent.
“A few announcements and reminders, then I will release you. Congratulations are definitely in order to Dakota and Sutton. I wish you both many years of happiness to come.”
Dakota snorted. “Happiness. Yeah, right,” she mumbled but didn’t lift her head.
“You were pretty happy last night on the table, and against the wall, in the shower…” Sutton parried.
That caught her attention. She lifted her head and glared at her husband. “Want another black eye?”
I jolted at her comment. “You gave him that black eye?” I asked, horror coating my tone.
Her eyes widened, and she looked around for help. “Um, yeah, well, it was kind of an unusual response…ish. It’s hard to explain. Things got a little crazy yesterday.” She stared at Sutton, who was nothing but wide smiles.
“Madam Alana, we had a disagreement. Some words were said… and we’re working through those. She didn’t mean to punch me in the eye. It was an accident. Right, honey?” Sutton’s cheeks turned dark as he lied, giving her an out. Excusing abhorrent behavior as though it were nothing.