“This is just taking me in circles.” Donovan closed the file and sighed.
“Welcome to my world.” I slammed the file I was looking at closed. “Just one false lead after another.”
“I guess we need to go get ready for the charity auction.” He leaned back in his chair. “They can’t start without us.”
“Well, they can—they’ll just have to stop after January.” I ran my hand through my hair and exhaled sharply.
I went home, showered, and put on the uniform that I was supposed to wear to the auction. It was a firefighter uniform that had been created for the auction. The uniform was much tighter than the one I normally wore when I was on duty, and it came with a vest instead of a jacket. Once the auction was done, I would be changing into a tuxedo for my date with whatever woman decided to bid on me. I might not have been looking forward to the auction itself, but since I had to go through with it regardless, I planned to at least try to show my date a good time. The funny thing was, my pretend date with the auction winner was going to the first one I had been on since becoming an arson investigator. Things had been so busy that I didn’t even have time to get laid—that definitely needed to change. It was probably why my asshole side was on full display most of the time. After I finished putting on my uniform, I grabbed my tux and headed to the location of the auction, which was being held in an upscale art gallery downtown.
“I feel like a piece of meat.” Donovan walked up to me in the backstage area as soon as I arrived. “February was apparently a very popular month.”
“You might get the high bid then.” I cut my eyes in his direction and scowled.
“I hope not.” He shuddered, and his lip twisted into a look of disgust. “I do not want to go out on a date with that crazy chick from Livingston Capital.”
“Why not?” I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
“You didn’t hear about last year?” He tilted his head inquisitively.
“I didn’t hear the full story. I know that Mike is still traumatized.” I shrugged and nodded.
“It was a nightmare. She turned the date into a photo shoot for her company website and he spent the whole night getting yelled at.” Donovan shook his head in disbelief. “I don’t know if I could put up with that.”
“Livingston Capital does sponsor the event—and they always spend the most money. I guess one of us has to be the sacrificial lamb.” I exhaled sharply.
Hopefully it won’t be me—I just want to go on a nice date and get back to work.
The main room of the gallery where the auction was going to be held filled up pretty quickly as we waited for the host to start the event. Most of the women in attendance were gawking, pointing, and whispering like a bunch of high school girls. Some of them seemed to have lust practically dripping from their lips as they looked us over. I tried not to make eye contact, because I didn’t want to give any of them the impression that I was going to be their one-night-stand. A few of the guys were looking forward to that opportunity—and willing to do anything that their date wanted. It might have been a long time since I got laid, but I wanted something with a little more substance than being someone’s wet dream for the evening. Although that might not have been a bad thing considering the dry spell I was on. There were definitely a few women in the crowd that I could see myself throwing my inhibitions out the window for.
Especially her—wow, she’s gorgeous.
There was one girl in the crowd that caught my attention from the first moment I noticed her. She didn’t have the same sex-starved look in her beautiful amber-colored eyes that the others did and appeared to be quite nervous. She was wearing a form fitting black dress that accentuated every one of her gorgeous curves. When she nervously started to chew on the top of her pen, I couldn’t help but imagine those pouty lips wrapped around something much bigger than an ink pen. She looked my way—and our eyes locked together for a moment. The edge of her lip twitched into a slight grin and she blushed before looking away. I scanned the crowd a few more times, but my eyes kept drifting back to the beautiful brunette. I watched as she shifted in her seat, uncrossed her legs, and immediately crossed them in the opposite direction. Her legs went on for days—and I wanted to see them pointed at the ceiling.
If she ends up bidding on me, I might have to rethink my position on one-night-stands.
My dry spell was sending my libido into overdrive—and I was definitely going to have to do something to take the edge off soon. The serial arsonist had consumed all of my time, and that was a good thing after my last relationship ended, but I still had needs. Needs that the beautiful brunette could definitely satisfy. I deserved one night of fun, especially considering all of the stress I was under. It wasn’t like I was going to find anything new in the case files. I had been over them a hundred times. A distraction would be nice and perhaps I would have some new clarity if I looked over the files with fresh eyes. I kept sneaking glances at the brunette as I waited for the auction to start. She was definitely the one that I wanted to bid on me, but there were eleven guys in front of me that she could bid on first.
Just wait until December baby, I’ll make it a month you never forget.
Marissa
I felt out of my element at the charity auction. I was surrounded by rich and powerful people. Some of them were even celebrities. Ms. Stone said none of them would outbid me, but they definitely looked like they could. I wondered if I should have picked out a couple of other guys—or chosen someone besides Mr. December as the second one on my list. What if I didn’t win that auction? Would Ms. Stone view it as a failure? She hated failure. At least she would have a date if I won the auction for Mr. February. My nervousness went into overdrive as I stared at the line of guys waiting to be auctioned off. The double date needed to be a success—it was critical for my future at Livingston Capital. I might not get another opportunity to spend time with Ms. Stone outside of work.
I should just bid on the first two guys—but Mr. December—he’s so freaking hot.
Mr. December was the one I was leaning towards for my date if Ms. Stone gave me a choice. I was able to sneak a few glances at him, and seeing his gorgeous physique made me feel a little warm inside. I knew he was attractive from his picture in the Heated Hunks calendar but seeing him in real life—that was something else entirely. He was built like a Greek god and could have easily replaced any of the hulking figures in the paintings that hung in the art gallery. He was a work of art on his own, and his beautiful ink was just as amazing in real life as it was on the page of the calendar. My eyes drifted his way, and our eyes met. I tried to suppress a grin, but my lips betrayed me. I immediately blushed and looked away.
I need to focus on someone else, otherwise he’s going to think I’m a freak that can’t stop staring at him.
Mr. February seemed to be playing to the audience a little bit and smiling when people pointed at him. I wasn’t brave enough to point, or even talk about the guys on the stage—not that I knew anyone at the auction anyway. I had a very well-dressed man on my left who was enthralled by the woman he was with, and a girl a little older than me on my right who was lost in her cell phone. I kept my eyes focused on my lap, and nervously chewed on my pen when I was brave enough to look up. I couldn’t keep from looking back at Mr. December. He was just—captivating. I felt entranced and unable to look away for long. I wondered what it would feel like to have those powerful arms around me—to look into his steel-colored eyes as he prepared to crush my lips beneath his. I probably wasn’t his type, but at least I could pretend a guy like that was interested in me for one night—it wasn’t like anyone else was asking me out.
Okay, they’re getting started. I just need to buy two extremely hot firefighters—I can do this.
Mr. January walked up to the front of the stage and flexed a little bit, which got the attention of the crowd. Someone started the bidding at ten thousand and then the place erupted with multiple people raising their auction paddles. The auctioneer talked so
fast I could barely keep up, and the bids came in pretty quickly until someone bid one hundred thousand dollars. After that, most of the paddles went down and only a few people kept bidding. They appeared to be high rollers, because they started bidding in higher increments and before the last one dropped out, the bid was nearly three hundred thousand. The older woman who won jumped up and ran to give him a hug once the auction was complete. He posed for a couple of photographs with her and then headed backstage while she went to the window to complete her transaction.
Well, if they stopped at three hundred thousand, I should be able to get Mr. February for a million dollars—I still can’t believe I’m going to spend that much money, even if it isn’t mine.
“Okay ladies and gentleman, we’ve got a hot one for you now. You know him as the Valentine’s Day treat—Mr. February!” The auctioneer motioned to the gorgeous firefighter.
“One million dollars!” I jumped to my feet and held up my paddle.
Was I supposed to be that enthusiastic? Why is everyone looking at me?
“Well then—one million dollars from the lovely young lady from Livingston Capital!” The auctioneer smiled and pointed at me.
I looked around the room and I felt my stomach twist into a knot. I wasn’t used to being the center of attention and everyone was turned around in their seat to look in my direction. I waited to see if there was going to be another bid and held my breath when a few people started to murmur. No other paddles went up, so the auctioneer declared me the winner. I looked at Mr. February and smiled, but he didn’t seem to be as enthused about the purchase as I expected. I quickly sat down in my seat and he walked towards the backstage area. I didn’t have to go to the window to complete my transaction since Livingston Capital was sponsoring the event, so I just sat there and waited for Mr. December to walk across the stage.
“You work for Veronica Stone?” The girl next to me looked up from her cell phone and turned her head towards me.
“I do, yes.” I looked at her and nodded.
“Is she as ruthless as people say?” Her eyebrows raised inquisitively.
“I like working at Livingston Capital.” I shrugged and looked back towards the stage.
I’m sure not going to say anything bad about my boss in front of a complete stranger—that’s not a good way to get a promotion.
I watched the rest of the firefighters walk across the stage one-by-one, until it was time for Mr. December to take his spot on the auction block. He looked directly at me as he walked out to the end of the stage and flexed for the crowd. There was no doubt that he was a crowd favorite. I heard comments about his tattoos, his physique, and some of the comments were dirty enough to make my eyes bulge out of my head. People were already on the edge of their seats and ready to bid before the auctioneer even started. I was about to crush all of their hopes and dreams once the auctioneer started taking bids, because I was going to lock him down just as fast as I locked down Mr. February.
“Okay ladies and gentleman. You know him as the Christmas fantasy that could definitely keep you warm—Mr. December!” The auctioneer motioned with his hand and started taking bids.
“One million dollars.” I stood up with a little more confidence than I did when I bid for Mr. February.
“Well—this is unexpected. It looks like Livingston Capital is going to be walking away with two firefighters this year.” The auctioneer smiled.
“One point one.” A voice echoed from the other side of the room.
What? No!
“Ah, it seems that we’re about to have some competition for Mr. December. I’ve got one point one—do I hear one point two million?” The auctioneer, and everyone in the room, looked directly at me.
Well there goes my confidence.
The woman that had bid against me was Olivia Adams. She was the CEO of Sanderson Investments, which just happened to be one of Livingston Capital’s biggest rivals. I was only authorized to bid one million—Ms. Stone didn’t give me permission to spend more than that. I had no idea what to do. My future was on the line. Would Ms. Stone be upset that I waited until the end of the auction to try and get the second guy? Would she hang me out side of her office by my toes because I didn’t win the auction? She hated losing—and losing to Olivia Adams? That would have been a slap in the face. I swallowed hard and raised my paddle, increasing my bid to one point two million dollars. There was a damn good chance I would get fired for going over the budget I was given, but I couldn’t lose the auction to one of our biggest rivals.
“One point three.” Olivia Adams looked at me with a stare so intense it could have melted my soul right out of my body.
Ms. Stone is going to fire me—maybe kill me—maybe both.
“One point four.” I nearly choked on my words as I raised the paddle again.
“Two million dollars.” Olivia Adams raised her paddle and the room went quiet—so quiet that it was an eerie silence.
I can’t bid again—that’s way too much. Oh god. Why is my hand raising?
“Two point—five.” I narrowed my eyes at Olivia Adams and watched as the color drained out of her face.
Did I say two point five million? Oh my god!
“I’ve got two point five—do I hear two point six?” The auctioneer looked towards Olivia Adams, but her paddle didn’t move again.
I won—but I wasn’t sure what winning was going to cost me. I needed to call Ms. Stone before she heard about the auction from someone else. If I was going to get fired, then I might as well find out before she showed up for our double date—there probably wasn’t even going to be a double date. I would be lucky if I wasn’t banned from the building. Mr. December tried to motion for me to come join him at the front of the room for a photograph, but I couldn’t even think about him. I ran to the edge of the crowd, pushed my way through the people standing near the door, and pulled my phone out of my purse. My fingers fumbled against the front of my phone and started to tremble as I hit the button to call Ms. Stone.
“Livingston Capital—Ms. Stone’s office. How can I assist you?” It was Hannah’s voice.
“Hannah! Hannah, I need to speak to Ms. Stone immediately.” I felt my heart racing in my chest.
“Marissa? Hold on. Let me see if she’s available.” The phone went silent for a second and then the hold music started.
Please don’t fire me—oh god, please don’t fire me.
“Marissa?” Ms. Stone’s voice echoed on the other end of the line. “I’m busy—I told you, I’m dealing with an emergency situation with one of our biggest accounts!”
“I know, Ms. Stone. I’m so sorry—please don’t hang up.” I walked further away from the crowd and tried to fight back tears.
“Please tell me that you didn’t fuck up a charity auction. I’m not even sure how that would be possible.” Her voice raised, and I could hear a hint of annoyance in her tone.
I started blabbering as fast as possible, and most of what I said was incoherent until I got to the part about Olivia Adams. I barely understood the words coming out of my mouth, but somewhere in the mixture of muttering and apologizing, I told her what I did. My stomach twisted into a knot and I thought I was going to throw up when I told her that I spent two point five million dollars of the company’s money. Except I wouldn’t have been able to throw up, because there was a knot that had practically sealed my throat shut. All I could do was apologize and hope for the best. There was silence on the other end of the phone for what felt like an eternity. Did I literally render Ms. Stone speechless? That would be a first. Suddenly, the silence was broken—by laughter. Ms. Stone was laughing? She never laughed.
“I can’t believe I wasn’t there to see that defeated look on Olivia’s face.” Her laughter settled into a chuckle.
“You’re—not mad?” I blinked a few times in surprise, even though she couldn’t see my face.
“No.” Her tone settled back into the ice-cold one I was familiar with. “Good job.”
Good job?
Oh my god—a compliment? Two in one day? This can’t be real life.
“Thank you, Ms. Stone!” The nervousness faded, and I started to gush with excitement. “I knew we couldn’t lose to Olivia Adams—I was just so scared that I spent too much money!”
“Fuck the money.” Ms. Stone exhaled sharply into the phone. “Knowing that a room full of people watched Olivia Adams get thoroughly dominated by Livingston Capital is worth every penny.”
“Okay, so—what now? Do you want me to arrange a dinner somewhere? What time will you be free?” I immediately snapped back into secretary mode.
“Well, here comes the bad news.” Ms. Stone sighed. “I’m not going to be able to leave the office. I’m probably going to be working late into the night.”
“Um…” I felt the nervousness return. “What do I tell the firefighters?”
“I guess you’re just going to have to go out with both of them.” The phone slammed down before I could respond.
What? Both of them?
Donovan
“At least I’ll have a passenger on my ride to hell.” I looked up at Kincaid as he walked backstage.
“Yeah.” He muttered under his breath and sat down. “I guess we’re both going to be put through the ringer tonight so Livingston Capital looks like the most charitable company in the world?”
“Look at it this way. All of the shit you’ve been asking the chief for in order to assist with your investigation? You just get an opportunity to earn it.” I chuckled and sat down beside him. “Man, I really don’t want to go out with Veronica Stone.”
“It’s too bad we’re not going out with the girl who was doing the bidding. She was hot.” Kincaid leaned down and started removing his boots.
Arson & Ache: A MFM Firefighter Romance (Surrender to Them Book 8) Page 2
