Mayor Bartell whistled and drew our attention back to her as she was ready to get the show on the road.
“All right, gentlemen. Your dates are displayed around the room out there. Everyone should have plenty of time to decide who they want to bid on. Your job in the meantime is to go out there and help get those bids up. Then as the auction begins, you’ll all come back here. When I announce a winner, you and the lucky lady will head off for the night you planned. All dates should be returned here at the end of the night. You are not obligated to touch, be touched, be harassed or anything like that. If you feel uncomfortable at any time, you’re to bring your date back here and end it as quickly as possible. This is supposed to be good fun, nothing else. But if you make a love connection, more power to you. Anyone have any questions?”
Yeah. How was I supposed to watch Kate leave with one of these guys?
Spotting Kate when she entered the ballroom was easy. Keeping myself rooted to my place, talking with some fellow colleagues was the challenge. I wanted to be around her, in her space, pushing her up against the wall to finish whatever it was that started back at the house.
At least she seemed to be sticking with Maisie while they meandered through the room. Maisie was practically an old married woman now with Sean back in the picture.
I managed to move around the room enough to end up right next to them.
“Ladies,” I said, sidling up to them.
“Shouldn’t you be schmoozing?” Maisie asked.
“Shouldn’t you be obsessing on whether or not Sean is going to text or call?” I teased.
Kate was unusually quiet. I saw her glance up at me a couple of times, but she didn’t say anything. I hoped I hadn’t screwed everything up between us. Though, I wanted things to change. I wanted to somehow convince her to bid on my date. To be mine for the evening. But I didn’t think she’d go for it. Not with her badmouthing anyone with a dick, old enough to get in trouble with it.
And yet, I couldn’t seem to help myself. “You going to bid on someone tonight?”
“We’ll see,” Kate said flatly.
Maisie sighed. “She has high standards on a date.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Really?”
She looked up at me. “Yes, I know, it’s surprising I have standards.” Her tone was harsh, not playful.
“You should have standards. High standards, Katie. You deserve the best.”
She blinked at me and then looked away. “The best doesn’t look at women like me.”
“Then he’s not the best,” I growled.
Maisie and Kate’s gazes snapped to me.
“Have a good evening, Ladies.” I couldn’t stand here and not gather Kate in my arms. Not tell her she was the most incredible woman I’d ever met. I’d tried to make it work with women I was expected to be with. Clean cut, good families, spent time and money on their appearance, and did good things for humanity.
But they just never matched up to the woman I’d always had a thing for.
Kate marched to her own beat, followed her dreams and passions, and she stood up for herself. It was so difficult to see her so down, like a kicked puppy. She wasn’t like that the last time I saw her. And I wanted to mangle whoever had made her question herself.
“Sam, darling.”
I cringed when I heard the familiar annoyingly breathy and girlish tones of Lana Krank’s voice. I stole a deep breath, trying to gather patience before turning around. Why I’d ever given the woman any of my time was completely beyond me. If I was trying to find the anti-Kate, Lana was it. But all she’d done was torture me and waste my time.
“Lana, how are you?”
“I’m doing quite well, Sam, how are you?” She slid her hand over my chest, her bright pink manicured nails scraping the fabric of my shirt.
“I’m well. You here to bid on someone?”
She moved into my space further as if I’d offered an invitation. Lana was a slender woman with big, fake boobs, capped white teeth, bottle-blonde hair that only enhanced her natural color, and bright blue eyes that were always on the lookout for husband number three. She was looking for a doctor or a lawyer. She’d told me a dozen times; she wasn’t going to settle for someone who was broke just because he was good looking and good in the sack.
“You, honey. Wanna give me a hint on which date is yours?”
I shook my head, smiling. “That would be cheating.”
“You know you want me back. I would make sure you got off during our little date.”
If my dick could’ve gotten limper, it would’ve.
“You’ll just have to guess like everyone else.” At least I was confident I’d put together a date she wouldn’t be interested in. She always expected to be wined and dined, and I was sure that was what she expected me to put in for my date tonight too.
“I’m betting on the fancy dinner at Basil and Olive,” she gushed.
There were four of those, at least. She was looking for a hint and hoping to read my expression.
“Sounds like you’re onto something.” I side-stepped around her. “I’ll see you around, Lana.”
“Sooner than you think,” she threatened.
I couldn’t be done with her soon enough. Sometimes living in a small town was inconvenient.
“All bachelors report backstage.”
At least the evening was progressing. I glanced at my watch. It was just after six. The dates were supposed to start at seven, so hopefully we could get this night over with sooner than later.
I headed toward the stage and collided with someone.
“I’m so sor…” I was staring down at Kate, her hips in my hands, her breasts pressed against my chest, and her full red lips looking completely inviting.
Her dark eyes met mine and her hands on my chest didn’t move away. “I, uh, should’ve been…”
I couldn’t stand it anymore. Her intoxicating rose oil scent fluttered around me like spring butterflies. Her warm body pressed against mine was giving me all sorts of ideas. I didn’t have time to make good on all of them, but I could kiss her. My mouth captured hers before she could finish her thought. She gasped and my tongue plunged into her mouth, wanting to taste her. Her fingers tightened onto the suit jacket I was wearing over my Imagine Dragons t-shirt and her mouth moved under mine, her tongue dancing with mine, and her body pressing further into mine.
Mine.
I broke the kiss the second my cock decided it wanted inside of her right at this particularly badly timed moment. Public indecency and missing the bachelor auction were two things I didn’t feel would be good for either one of us.
Kate blinked at me, her eyes wide and her mouth now swollen, lips parted with surprise.
I leaned down and murmured against her ear, “Go on a date, don’t go on a date, do whatever you want, but tomorrow, I’m hunting you down to finish this.”
I disengaged myself reluctantly and frustratedly from her body and made my way to the backstage. The timing of all this sucked. Why was I acting on everything now?
I found myself in the middle of a crowd of men all dilly-dallying with idle small talk and fruitless jokes, waiting to see what the hell would happen tonight.
I couldn’t join in on the ribbing though. What if Lana somehow sussed out which date was mine? Or worse, Kate ended up on a date with someone who hadn’t repressed feelings for her for the better part of a decade?
What the hell did I do? I didn’t regret kissing her. I regretted not hauling her away somewhere private where I could keep her distracted and find out just how much more our chemistry sparked between us.
Griffin approached me handing me a napkin, with a smirk. “I’m not sure that’s really your shade, man.”
I pulled out my phone and checked in the selfie camera, I had red lipstick smeared over my mouth. I reluctantly wiped it away, hoping I’d get another chance to kiss it off her.
“Thanks.”
“Any time.”
One by one, men started to
disappear from backstage and head out to meet their dates. As much as I wanted to spy, I kept myself firmly away from the stage…until it was my turn.
3
Kate
Weren’t my panties supposed to be soaked after a date, not before? And what the hell just happened?
Why the hell had Sam kissed me? After cornering me in Maisie’s bedroom, I was really confused by his behavior, and now I was starting to think he was on drugs or something. What was going on?
Sam disappeared before I could ask him. Or demand more.
By the time I made myself find Maisie and listen to the auction, five dates had been bid and won.
“Where have you been?” Maisie asked.
“Um, nowhere.” My voice was still husky and trembling.
She looked over at me. “Are you okay?”
“Uh, yep. Just ready for this night to be over.”
“Your lipstick is smeared. Here.”
She handed me a mirror. I quickly fixed it the best I could and handed it back to her.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
Who did Sam think he was? What was he trying to accomplish? Was he playing a prank on me?
Anger was the only emotion I could identify. Fine, if he was going to kiss me and run, then whatever. I would just continue with my life like nothing had happened.
“This next one has to be Sam’s,” a woman said in front of me.
I shifted to get a look at her. I recognized her immediately. Lana Krank. The most popular girl in school. And Sam’s most recent ex-girlfriend. When I found out they were together, it wasn’t surprising. What was surprising was they never gotten past boyfriend/girlfriend.
Sam called it off, even though they’d looked so happy.
Mayor Bartell continued with the auction. “Our next date is for you ladies who like fancy dinners and romantic outings. The date will start with an arrangement of roses, dinner and dancing at Basil and Olive, then it’s to Cherry Blossoms Bakery for a private dessert and enchanting surprise.”
Lana’s arm shot up with her paddle. “One hundred dollars.”
And the bidding went up from there. Even Lana’s friend outbid her. But with as ruthless as she was being, it wasn’t surprising when Lana won. She went up to collect her prize.
I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I felt the pressure on my chest. I released and drew in a slow breath waiting for Sam to come out. Instead, Henry Manifold stepped out. Lana’s displeasure wasn’t concealed in the slightest. And I couldn’t seem to hide my smug smile.
“All right, ladies, if you’re more into a laid-back type of date, this one is for you. A night of bowling with your favorite beer and greasy food, hanging out and talking while knocking down pins. It’ll be dessert at the Bumblebee Café and a walk before returning to the ball.”
Oh my god. It was my date. It was the date I wanted. Sam’s insane kiss aside, maybe Cupid was looking out for me after all. Maybe he’d been making me crazy because the payoff would be so great.
My arm shot up before I could think. “One hundred dollars.”
Why I’d expected there to be a bidding war, I wasn’t sure, because it was nothing but crickets.
“Wow, looks like you’re going to win,” Maisie said. “I can’t believe someone put in your exact date. That’s crazy.” Her smile was off, like she knew something I didn’t know.
Mayor Bartell tried to get more bids, but there were no takers. Fine by me. I made my way to the stage and accepted the envelope from the mayor.
“Here’s your ticket, take that back there and they’ll collect your payment,” she said away from the microphone. She stepped back behind the podium. “Your date for the evening is Sam Turner.”
Say what now?
I turned around and found Sam staring at me with a crooked smile on his face. He reached for my hand and hauled me off stage.
“Pay the man,” he said, not letting go of my hand.
I handed my envelope to the man behind the table and quickly paid him, adding the extra funds I’d put aside for the charity event and then let Sam lead me out the side door and into the cool February breeze.
He opened the passenger side door of his brand-new black SUV. “In,” he barked.
I grabbed the “oh shit” handle and hefted myself up into the seat.
But before I could twist my legs around to the front, his hands clamped down on my thighs. “Did you know that was my date?”
I swallowed around the awkward lump of confusion in my throat and shook my head.
“Are you sorry it’s me?” His green eyes were so earnest.
I shook my head again.
He grinned. “Buckle up.” He waited for me to right myself and then closed the door.
Lucky Strike was just on the outskirts of town on the east side. I figured it had to be where we were headed as Sam pulled out onto the road.
“Since when do you bowl?” I asked.
I felt like this was a weird set up or prank. Did Maisie tell Sam what to put on the date? And why would he want me to win?
“I love bowling. I’m on a league with a bunch of staff from the hospital.”
I blinked at him. “Did Maisie put you up to this?”
“Put me up to what? You’re the one who bid on me.”
“I bid on the date and I happened to say something almost identical to this date to Maisie telling her it would be the perfect date.”
He flashed me another grin. “Then maybe it was meant to be. But Maisie had nothing to do with my proposed date. We had to send in our plans weeks ago.”
The underlying message being we were meant to be, which didn’t compute in my head.
“Why did you kiss me?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself.
“I wanted to.”
“Not an answer, Turner,” I snapped.
“What do you want to hear? That I’ve had a thing for you for a long time, and certainly before I should’ve had a thing for you?”
“Sam, don’t…”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I wouldn’t. I’m not.”
I stared at his profile while he drove, trying to understand what was happening between us. “Lana Krank bid for a date she thought was you,” I said.
“I figured she would. She basically tried to feel me up right before the auction started. I wish she’d grab a clue,” he grumbled.
“She wants you back?”
Sam shrugged. “She can want whatever she wants to, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to get it.”
He pulled into the parking lot and came around to open the door for me. I hoisted myself out of the seat and down to the ground. Sam closed the door behind me and then put his hand to my hip and pushed me back against the vehicle. He caged me in with his hands on either side of my shoulders, leaning into me, so we were eye to eye and our breath was mingling.
“We have a lot to talk about, Katie….”
I cringed when he called me that again.
“You really don’t like me calling you that?”
“The guy who assaulted me in New York and ruined my career called me Katie.”
His expression darkened. “I’m sorry, I really thought you were just giving me a hard time. I didn’t mean to…”
I put my hand on his chest. “It’s okay. I know you did it to tease me, and I guess I liked being teased…by you.”
He leaned in a little more, his fingers digging into my hips. His breath brushed against my lips right before his mouth touched mine. He didn’t fully kiss me; just the briefest of caresses and he moved along my jaw and down my neck.
“You’re killing me in this fucking dress. I would give anything to push you into the backseat and have you straddle me, so the skirt rides up over these perfect hips and ass. In my fantasies, you’re never wearing panties.”
My pussy clenched angrily around the empty space and my thighs squeezed together trying to relieve the sudden, gnawin
g ache of arousal. I didn’t think I’d ever been so aroused so quickly in my life. He fantasized about me?
I leaned my head back against the car as his lips traveled along my clavicle and over the swell of my breasts to the other side of my neck. The throaty moan that escaped my lips surprised me and Sam answered with his own groan.
“Sam, what if I told you your fantasy is real?”
He pulled back and looked down at me. His eyes were hooded with arousal and he was pressing his hard cock into my stomach.
“You can’t tell me you’re not wearing panties,” he breathed.
“Unlock your car, Sam,” I ordered.
“Kate, we don’t have to. I’m turned on as fuck, but we can…”
I pushed his jacket away from his jeans and dipped my hand into his pocket. My fingers grazed his dick and he grunted. I yanked out his key fob and hit the unlock. I pushed him back and popped open the backseat and pulled myself in. His SUV was enormous and while I didn’t feel petite back there, I hoped he really wanted to follow me.
Sam had backed into a spot near the back of the lot. We were blocked by the door and wall of the building behind us. Someone would have to come around the car to see anything, especially with the tinted windows.
“Kate, you’re playing with fire,” he growled.
“Then burn me.”
And just like that he gripped my ankle and wrapped his hand around my ass pulling me to the edge of the seat.
“What are you doing?”
Once he situated me where he wanted me, he slid his hands along my inner thighs, spreading me as he went. And I knew the exact moment he saw I wasn’t wearing underwear.
“Fucking hell, Kate. Why aren’t you wearing panties?” His hands continued their journey north until his finger barely caressed over my folds.
“I thought it would be fun.” I barely recognized my own voice.
“I was supposed to be a gentleman and having a really fun date, something unexpected. And you’re completely derailing this with the fact that I’m going to have to eat you out.” He moved his hands back out to the hem of my dress. “Lift your hips.”
His demand sent a thrill through me and I did as he said.
Bidding For His Heart Page 2
