Destiny's Last Bachelor?

“Yes, Mr. Zippenella and his dog were quite the welcoming committee,” she hastily added, hoping Dean wouldn’t mention the details of their run-in, both in the water and later at the inn.

“To say Daisy is smitten is a bit of an understatement,” the man added, walking toward the bar.

“Boy, I’d say. Look at her. She’s never been that friendly with me or any woman in town.” Leeann’s voice was still filled with awe. “What’s your secret?”

“I don’t quite understand it, either.” Priscilla found herself once again moving her fingertips along the dog’s neck. “I mean, I’m a fan of animals, of course, but even I was a bit surprised at how outgoing—”

“Yeah, speaking of animals, where’s that pint-size yip factory of yours?” Dean asked. “What did you call it? Snack?”

Priscilla glanced at her bag, surprised the pup hadn’t made an appearance yet. “Snake is taking a nap at the moment— Oh!”

His tiny pointed ears popped up first, and then seconds later, Snake hopped from his hiding spot and landed on the deck at Priscilla’s feet. The dog growled deep in his throat, causing Daisy’s owner to slide onto one of the tall stools situated in front of the bar.

And lift his feet well out of reach.

* * *

Dean’s favorite deck shoes had been through hell over the years, and they looked it, but they’d never been peed on. The last thing he wanted was for that rat to get a second shot at him.

“Snake. Hush!”

This time the pup listened to his owner.

Dean took a moment to pull in a deep breath, watching Priscilla lean over and easily lift her pet to her side.

The last person he’d expected to run into here was Miss Lennox.

When she’d told him yesterday she was in town to meet up with a man, he’d never thought in a million years it’d be Bobby. Of course, she did look like the type of woman his buddy had dated over the years once his racing career had taken off. Blonde. Beautiful. Bankrolled. That was before Bobby had returned to Destiny and rekindled his high-school love affair with Leann a couple of years ago.

You’re about eighteen months too late, honey.

Dean thought back to Bobby and Leann’s wedding, held right here in their home on New Year’s Eve. He’d stood up as best man for them, having gotten Bobby back on his feet with an innovative physical-therapy program that had led to Dean’s employment with the local veterans’ center.

Sticking around and becoming a permanent resident of Destiny hadn’t been in his plans. He’d always figured he’d head back to his native New Jersey, but he’d found something here in this quiet rural community that had been missing in his life.

“Well, I guess Priscilla’s dog doesn’t feel the same way about you, huh, buddy?” Bobby asked, then grinned.

“Tell me about it.” Dean looked back at Priscilla, who’d managed to quiet her pet. “You think I can get myself a beer without being attacked?”

“Oh, you’ll be safe,” she answered, her smile confident. She continued to pet both dogs as they played at rubbing noses before settling into curled balls of fur on either side of her. “As long as you stay over there.”

“Yeah, I bet.” Deciding it was best to move slowly, Dean eased off the stool and walked behind the bar. He pulled a cold beer from the refrigerator and popped the top as curiosity got the best of him. Would Bobby really invite an ex-girlfriend to town? “So, how do you all know each other?”

“Priscilla is visiting from Los Angeles. She’s got some great ideas for fund-raising for the camp.”

“I didn’t know you were looking into that.” Dean figured the princess could easily write a check to pay the camp’s bills for the next year without breaking a nail. “So, you’re a moneymaker?”

She lifted her chin and her blue eyes regarded him snootily. “I generate philanthropic support for a wide variety of nonprofit organizations, so yes, I guess ‘moneymaker’ is an apt title.”

There was that spitfire he’d caught a glimpse of yesterday. “So, what kind of support are you dreaming up for the camp?”

“Well, we just started talking about what Bobby and Leeann have in mind for an event.” She looked back at them. “Based on my experience, I could offer any number of ideas for an intimate gathering, from a plated dinner to an art auction, perhaps?”

“Plated dinners around here are potlucks, and the closest thing we have to art is the craft fair at the local high school.” Dean took a long swallow from his beer, wondering why he was goading her.

Maybe because she was one of Bobby’s former flames?

If so, thanks to the unwritten male code, she would be off-limits to any of the let’s-get-to-know-each-other-better ideas that had swirled around inside his head from the moment he’d met her. “You’re going to have to get more creative than that.”

Both Bobby and Leeann shot him dark looks, his friend’s laced with confusion, while Leann’s was downright pissed.

“Those are both great ideas, but like I started to say before we were interrupted—” Leeann’s tone softened as she turned to her guest “—we’re looking for more than just a standard fund-raiser. Everyone in Destiny has embraced the idea of the camp. Many are asking how they can help, but we don’t want to just take their money.”

“You want to accept their contributions during a specific event for the community that will earmark any funds as going directly to the camp. I totally understand that.” Priscilla finished Leann’s sentence, taking her attention off the dogs and scribbling on the notepad on her lap. “Give me a moment, won’t you?”

Silence filled the air and Dean could almost see the wheels turning inside Priscilla’s head. He caught his friends looking his way again, but he kept his gaze on Priscilla’s perfectly coiffed hair, deciding he preferred it long and loose around her shoulders like when he first saw her down at the river. Or wet and streaming down her back as it had been when she’d risen from the water.

He wondered what this society princess was going to come up with that would appeal to the folks of Destiny. Then she scratched over whatever she’d just written with firm strokes, repeating that three times and then circling the last item on her list.

“Now, I’m not sure how well this idea would work. It really depends on a variety of factors related to the town, starting of course with a willingness to go for something a bit unconventional....” Her words were soft, almost as if she were talking aloud to herself. She then looked up at Dean. “Are you a bachelor, Mr. Zippenella?”

Surprised by her question, the beer bottle almost slipped from his fingers. Did she really think he’d hit on her if he was married? He tightened his grip. “Didn’t I make that fact clear yesterday?”

A light flush colored her cheeks. “Yes, you did. My apologies.”

Bobby laughed. “Are you kidding? Zip will be one of Destiny’s last bachelors.”

One elegant eyebrow lifted. “Zip?”

For a reason he couldn’t figure out at the moment, Dean didn’t want her calling him that. “It’s a nickname. But call me Dean.”

She blinked once, the pink tinge on her face deepening as she focused her attention back on Bobby and Leeann. “Would you say that the single-to-married ratio is fairly balanced in Destiny?”

“I guess so,” Leann answered. “I never really thought about it much.”

“What about male versus female? I’m hoping Mr. Zipp—Dean—isn’t truly the town’s last bachelor?”

“Oh, yeah?” Dean asked. “Why is that?”

“Well, you would need at least a dozen to make this worthwhile.”

“I’m confused,” Bobby said. “A dozen what?”

“Bachelors,” Priscilla announced with a bright smile. “A bachelor auction, with the ladies bidding for a night on the town with the men of their choice, could be just the event you’re looking for.”

Chapter Four

The surprise in Priscilla’s blue eyes told him laughter was the last thing she expected in response to her idea, but Dean—and thankfully, Bobby was chuckling right there with him—couldn’t help himself. “Are you serious?” he choked out after pausing to catch his breath. “Okay, I’m sorry. I can see you are, but a bachelor auction? That’s—”