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Paige’s voice is loud and clear. “Three hundred and seventy-seven.”

Devlin’s face reddens.

He hisses in frustrated rage. “Three hundred and eighty.”

But that was a small jump.

“He’s close to his limit,” I murmur in Paige’s ear. “He can’t afford to go much higher.”

Paige licks her dry lips. “Three hundred and ninety-one.”

The Sheriff’s head swivels back to Devlin in expectation of a counteroffer.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Devlin rages.

Have we done it?

Angel and Luca crowd closer around us.

“Please…” Angel chants under his breath. “Please…”

Devlin crushes his document folio to his chest. “Three hundred and ninety-five.”

“Four hundred thousand.” Paige’s voice wavers.

That’s it, all I have.

My heart is hammering.

The silence draws on, as the Sheriff stares at Devlin along with the rest of the crowd.

No one else has bid.

How much pressure has Devlin put on the rest of the investors to pressure them out of bidding?

“I have four hundred thousand.” The Sheriff writes it down on the clipboard. A murmur races through the crowd. “Do I have any more?”

He raises his brow at Devlin.

Devlin balls his hands into fists but looks away.

“Anybody else?” The Sheriff asks. Are we about to do it? “Last opportunity?”

Devlin is staring at the ground. He looks like he’s about to hurl.

He gives a small shake of his head.

The Sheriff smiles. “Then ma’am, come up here with your paperwork.”

“You did it.” Angel whoops, dancing around Luca.

Luca appears bewildered. “That was one of the worst experiences of my life. Nobody ever ask me to bid in an auction. Did we win?”

Paige’s eyes gleam.

She smiles. “My inn is mine. I’m safe. My home…Beau and Evan…the Dream Tree…you. We won it all.”

Before we can move toward the steps, however, Devlin explodes in fury.