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Quinn and I haven’t left the house in days, but today, we dressed and headed to The Grizzly Grove for the auction. I’m responsible for organizing it, so I need to ensure everything goes as planned.

Quinn is in the back, applying her expert make-up and hairstyling skills to everyone who signed up to be auctioned off. Fuck, that girl is a dream. Every second of every day, I need to pinch myself. I always dreamed of going from friend zone to end zone with her, and now it’s finally happening.

“What happened to you?” I hear someone ask me.

I look up from my papers to see Grizz standing next to me. “What do you mean?”

He grins at me and winks. “You’re all smiles and happy vibes, man.”

“Yeah, love will do that to you.”

“Love? You finally told your best friend how you feel about her?”

I frown. “How do you know about that?”

“Come on, man. Only a fool would miss how you look at her with pure passion and love.”

I shrug. “Guilty as charged, I guess. What about you? Ready to sweep some girl off her feet?”

He shakes his head. “I’m only here because you asked me. No way I’m going to participate.”

“We need one more single man to bid on a woman,” I tell him. “Do it for the animals at the wildlife center. Please?”

Grizz cocks his head. “Are you serious, Bear? I don’t want to get involved.”

“You’ll change your mind, man, so you might as well sign up now.”

The door to the bar opens, and a woman walks in. I’ve never seen her before, but I guess the auction also attracts people from out of town. I turn back to Grizz to say something, but he keeps staring at the mystery woman.

He grits his teeth and holds his hand out, still not tearing his eyes from the woman. “Give me that form. I’m signing up.”

“I knew you’d come around eventually,” I tell him as I hand him a pen and the sign-up forms.

As soon as all the paperwork is done, I hand everything to Sloane, who was kind enough to lead the auction. I’m more of a behind-the-scenes man myself.

Well, except for one thing.

Quinn joins me by the bar, listening to Sloane explaining the rules.

“Now, before we start, our one and only Wildfire wants to say something,” Sloane says.

“That’s my cue,” I tell a confused-looking Quinn.

I step onto the stage and take the microphone from Sloane. “Thanks for coming, everyone.”

“Are you entering the auction?” Rosie from Hiker Haven shouts.

I shake my head. “I’m sorry, but I’m already taken. By a gorgeous, amazing, sweet, and talented woman. Jellybean, why don’t you join me up here?” I ask, my heart beating out of my chest.

I realize she’s not prepared, but the crowd chants her name, and she reluctantly steps up onto the stage.

“What are you doing?” she whispers, her face nothing but nerves.

“Quinn. Jellybean. We’ve known each other for years. You were the one person in the world I could always count on. We got lost in our own lives for a while, but I’m so happy we found our way back to each other. I couldn’t imagine my life without you. My best friend. My girl.”

I let my fingers trace the velvet box in my pocket and take a deep breath. “I want to spend every day of the rest of my life with you, Quinn. We’ve waited long enough, right? We know each other through and through, so I didn’t have to think about this. I know I want this, and I hope you want it too.”

“What are you talking about, Bear?” my sweet girl asks.

I drop onto one knee, and the crowd goes wild. Quinn’s hand flies to her mouth.

“Quinn, will you do me the honor of making me your husband?”

A tear rolls down her cheek. “Yes, yes, yes, I want to marry you.”

I slide the diamond over her trembling finger before wrapping her in my arms. I kiss her full on the mouth, not giving a rat’s ass that tons of people are watching until Sloane puts a stop to it.

“Get a room. Again,” she says with a chuckle.

Quinn and I happily bounce down the steps of the stage. I want to make love to her, but that’ll have to wait until later tonight.

“I love you, Jellybean.”

“And I love you, Wildfire. Or should I say, fiancé?” she asks, admiring her engagement ring.