This was my cue. This was why I’d come tonight.
I waved my sign in the air and the whites of his teeth flashed at me. Four thousand. I’d just bid four thousand dollars on a man. Little wrinkles appeared at the edges of those amazing eyes when he grinned.
The auctioneer’s voice pushed for more. “Four thousand five? Yes? Five thousand?” I waived my sign again. Holy shit. I took another sip of my martini and was disappointed to find my glass empty. Sweat broke out behind my neck. My dress suddenly itched all over.
“Five thousand, five hundred? Yes? Six thousand? Ah, to the lady in back. Six thousand, five hundred?” The bids came in quickly. Oh, my God! Before I could raise my sign again the auctioneer pointed to another lady on the opposite side of the stage.
“Seven thousand?” My hand shot up. Dizziness threatened my equilibrium as lights flashed in the background.
“She’s got it bad over here.” The auctioneer nodded at me. “Seven thousand five hundred? Yes. How about eight?” Music thrummed and my bachelor swung his gaze back toward me.
“Ten thousand!” I was on my feet. Was that me?
It was.
Mister Key West was holding the dog now and couldn’t have looked more pleased.
Neither could the auctioneer.
“Ten thousand going once, twice? Sold to the lucky bidder up front.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Holly
My knees were shaking so hard I nearly fell back into my seat.
“That’s my grandson!” Gert’s excitement broke through my alcohol induced haze. The spinning feeling clued me in to the fact that I’d drank far too many lemon drops. What was the saying? Martinis are like boobs. One’s not enough, three’s too many but two is just right. My eyebrows shot up as I counted three empty martini glasses in front of me. And that didn’t include the one I drank before sitting down. I nearly burst out laughing at the thought of me with four boobs.
Yep, I’d had a few too many.
Gert was talking to me though… what was she saying? Bachelor Number five was her Grandson?
“Your grandson is a senator?” I asked. My mouth had difficulty forming the words properly. I remember feeling this way when I’d been outside too long when the temperature was below freezing. My tongue refused to form words properly.
I ought to kill my friendly bartender.
Gert laughed. “Not that I know of.”
Not a senator? Darkness crept into the edges of my vision as I turned to face her. She was joking. Of course, she was joking. “Ha ha.” I barely managed.
Her smug grin couldn’t have held more pride if he were the president of the united states. “Oh, no, dear. Hunter is one of the pitchers for the Colorado Rangers. They nearly made it to the world series this year.”
I studied Star’s instruction. Number five? Or number six?
The auctioneer was announcing the next bachelor. “And we’re so lucky to have Senator Flint with us tonight as bachelor number six. Senator Flint is walking Fido, a sweet little boxer we found abandoned on Interstate seventy near Idaho Springs…”
Either I was gonna throw up or my head was going to explode.
I needed to get out of there but my legs were as paralyzed as my tongue. I’m not making this up, I literally couldn’t push myself up to stand, let alone walk. I’d just spent ten thousand dollars on the wrong bachelor!
“But,” I barely mumbled. “I thought…”
“Here he comes now!” I turned my head to see who Gert was pointing at and then nearly moaned out loud when I saw my bachelor, Mister Key West, sauntering toward our table. Except his name wasn’t Mister Key West and he wasn’t really my bachelor. He was Star’s.
And most unfortunately, he wasn’t a senator.
Butterflies, no, I’ve got to be honest, grasshoppers took flight in my stomach as I watched him approach. Because not only was I coping with this crazy attraction I had to him, but my mind was trying to wrap itself around the fact that I’d just thrown away ten thousand dollars on a freaking baseball player!
Star was going to scalp me!
“Hunter!” Gert reached out and squeezed his hand as he pulled a nearby chair up beside us. “What a lucky coincidence. Do you know Holly already? She’s been listening to me brag about you.”
That same masculine scent I’d relished earlier hit me again when he drew his chair closer, between his grandmother and me.
I could hardly look at him but my girly parts sang. Testosterone in a tuxedo would lead to my final downfall.
Maybe I could explain this to Star and she’d understand how such a mistake could happen.
I wish.
He was speaking softly to his grandparents… something about next year, going all the way… I could barely process the English language at this point.
Meanwhile, bidding was under way for the bachelor I’d been sent to win.
“Five thousand eight hundred!” The auctioneer spoke gleefully. How much was in my bank account? Nine hundred? Did I have enough credit on my MasterCard? “Anyone willing to bid six thousand?” I maybe had two thousand five hundred that I could get my hands on.
A lady in back bid six thousand dollars on Senator Flint.
A hand touched the back of my arm. I didn’t have to look to know it was him. Awareness zipped to my toes, and I lost my train of thought. “I would have bought you a drink earlier Andretti. Could have saved you ten grand.” I shivered when his breath skimmed behind my ear, where my hair was pinned up. My brain turned to mush. I wanted to say something clever, something flirty even, but my mind was going in circles and I was vaguely listening to the bids for bachelor number six.
I’d pretty much just thrown my job away.
“Sold for seven thousand five hundred dollars to the lady in back!”
Senator Flint had been purchased by somebody else.
A whimper made it past my lips. I turned my head and met those amazing eyes of his. “Gert says you play baseball?” Maybe this was all one big mistake. Maybe…
He shrugged. “My Gran thinks I invented baseball.” One side of his mouth lifted in a lopsided grin.
“She said Ralph wouldn’t let her bid.” I laughed. For all of a second I forgot about my ten thousand dollar blunder.
“Gramps is old fashioned that way.” Good looking and sweet to his grandparents? I didn’t stand a chance.
I glanced down at the paper in my hand and the horror of my blunder rolled through me all over again. “I’m in so much trouble,” I mumbled.
He looked as though he hadn’t heard me right at first, but whatever he saw on my face must have quickly convinced him that he had. His brows dropped in concern and he leaned toward Gert. “I’m gonna get Holly here some coffee, gram. I’ll see you guys at lunch on Sunday.”
Yes. Yes. I needed out of here. I leaned toward Gert. “Thank you so much for keeping me company tonight.”
And to Ralph. “Keep her out of trouble.”
He winked at me. What did they think of me? A harlot. They must think I’m some sort of a harlot to bid on their sweet grandson.
Said Grandson then somehow got me out of my chair, helped me gather up the huge bag of Star’s lingerie and steered me to an exit. I followed with no will of my own. My life was over.
Well my job was.
Could they take me to court for something like this? And oh, wow, I wanted to lean into Hunter forever.
“Did you know your grandparents almost didn’t get married?” Gert had told me the sweetest story over dessert. “Since Ralph had been married before, the Catholic church wouldn’t marry them. They were sitting in a bar one day and in walks the priest. After a few beers Ralph mentioned to the priest that his ex-wife had been married before he married her. The priest decided that Ralph’s marriage didn’t count so they paid their tabs, walked over to the church and married that afternoon.”
He looked at me funny. “Gran told you that?”
I nodded.
“Hunter? What’s your
last name, Hunter?” I mumbled the words as coherently as possible. We were in an empty hallway now, ah and then fresh air. How had he known this was here? A magical courtyard in the middle of downtown Denver. I tipped my head and stared up at the stars as he led me to a bench.
“DeLuca.” He pointed at the bench. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
Where would I go?
I nodded solemnly.
“Okay Hunter Deluca,” I sang my acquiescence. Definitely too many Lemon Drops.
After he left me alone I wondered if I’d imagined the entire thing. The bench felt pleasant but a patch of grass beckoned even more.
Oh, nice and cool.
And soft.
“Holly?”
“Over here!” I volunteered. I then rolled onto my back and slipped off my shoes. “This feels so good…” I stretched and then opened my eyes “… I’ll just stay here forever.”
He was standing on the grass, just staring down at me. Even in the dark his eyes sparkled. Like a Sea God, I imagined how he’d look walking out of the ocean, rivulets of water dripping down his chest.
So much yummy goodness wrapped up in a sexy tuxedo. I couldn’t help but imagine the yummy goodness hiding underneath.
“You said you were in trouble.” He tugged at his trousers and dropped onto the grass beside me. He then took hold of my hand and slapped a cold bottle of water into it. “Drink.”
I didn’t like being told what to do, but what with my brilliant bidding skills, he may soon be my only friend. I sat up and downed some of the cool fresh liquid before screwing the cap back on and opening my purse. Locating Star’s piece of paper, I unfolded it and held it out to him. “What number does that look like to you?”
He squinted and tilted it toward the light. “Six?”
I groaned. “But it could be a five, right? Look at it again.”
One corner of his mouth lifted and he shook his head. “The rounded parts are darker. Pretty sure it’s a six.” He scanned the note again and then the truth of my situation donned on him. “You bid on the wrong bachelor!”
And then.
The man of my dreams.
Mister Key West himself.
Burst out laughing!
“It’s not funny! It’s so not funny!” The reality of my situation was sobering me up rather quickly.
“I am pretty irresistible,” he joked.
“It was the dog that threw me. Cutest thing ever,” I grumbled.
“Tobey?” He pointed at the water. “Drink some more.”
I glared at him over the bottle as I tipped it to my mouth.
My obvious displeasure only vaguely registered with him. “Tobey’s a sweet enough little fellow, but don’t be embarrassed to admit you want me.”
At his words, I choked on the water, dumping half of it down the front of my dress.
My dress!
And he’d yet to wipe that ridiculous grin off his gorgeous face. Except, God, it wasn’t a ridiculous grin. I watched his mouth and had to admit it was a the sexiest – most-fabulous – grin ever.
He caught me staring and licked his lips. Kiss me, a voice in my brain chanted. Kiss me. Kiss me. Okay, maybe it wasn’t my brain talking. I’d truly lost it. I mean, shouldn’t I be thinking about how to get out of this mess?
He took a moment to try to be serious. “So… you didn’t really mean to bid for me? You wanted to bid for Senator Flint?”
Oh, I’d wanted to bid for him, for sure. “I was supposed to buy the senator – for my boss.”
His brows rose at my admission and he seemed to be looking at me like I was crazy. He wiped what I think was gonna be a smirk from his mouth.
“I got confused.” My face felt hot at this admission. “And the bartender kept sending me the most delicious Lemon Drop Martinis…”
Hunter wiped at his mouth again.
“What am I gonna do?” I groaned. I needed to try to fix this.
“I suppose you could find whoever bid on Flint… and–”
“I could see if she’d trade with me!” My heart raced at a possible solution to all of this. Showing no grace whatsoever, I crawled around and pushed myself to stand again. “Oh, that’s brilliant! And she’ll be getting a bargain! I paid three thousand more for you!”
“You’re way to happy to get rid of me. Heartbreaker.” His voice contained laughter and his gaze lingered on my legs.
“As if.” I tugged at my dress. I’d practically been flashing him.
Grabbing his wrist in one hand and my bag of lingerie in the other, I pulled him toward the entrance. “We need to find her. I think she was wearing a red dress. An older woman.”
Except he didn’t move. “Don’t you want your shoes?”
The thought of putting my puppies back into those stilts made me cringe. I scooped them up and tucked them, toes first, into my purse. I’d break my ankles if I tried wearing them at this point.
“Holly?” His low velvety voice halted my frantic motions. I couldn’t help myself. For five minutes, I want to pretend he’s mine. And the look he’s giving me confirms it.
I’d never done anything like this before but I decided then and there to take matters into my own hands.
I decided to kiss him. Before I could change my mind, I pulled his head down, stood on my tiptoes to get closer, and then–
Whack.
The heel of my shoe nearly took one of his eyes out.
He raised one hand to his face and stepped back.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Tell me I didn’t poke your eye out!” I dropped everything and tried to peel his hand away from his eye.
“I’m fine.” He laughed again. “Anybody ever tell you you’re dangerous?” He’d taken hold of both my wrists now.
If he only knew. I couldn’t think of this now. I swallowed hard.
“Hunter?” My gaze locked onto his eyes. Trading him would be something I’d lament for the rest of my days, but I had to try something! “You’ll help me?” I didn’t want to trade him away. I wanted to keep him.
I’d like nothing better than to go on a glamorous date with this man.
Except it was impossible on so many levels it wasn’t even funny.
He touched my bottom lip. “Okay.” He seemed reluctant. “But you owe me that drink.”
“Whatever you want!” Kiss him now! That little voice chanted.
“Shut up,” I told it. I realized by now this voice was coming from my lady parts. I needed them to quiet down. Already they throbbed obnoxiously. If they had their way, I’d be straddling his thigh about now, ripping his shirt open. To hell with Star. To hell with the senator.
“I think the auction’s over.” He handed over my bag and steered me back inside. I brushed a few curls away from my face and realized the clip holding my hair up had come undone somewhere.
I was literally falling apart before his eyes.
The doors to the ballroom opened and swarms of Denver’s elite poured into the foyer. Oh, god, I’d never find her.
“Is that her?” Hunter seemed to have spied the woman. “Over here.” With one hand on my back, he guided me into the throng of attendees.
“DeLuca” One of the other bachelors winked at Hunter. “How the hell did you get so lucky?”
“Could have used some of that luck last month.” From another one. Where had all these amazing looking guys come from? I needed to come to more of these shindigs.
“Your friends?” I couldn’t help asking. Hunter rolled his eyes and in an exaggerated gesture presented me. “Holly…?”
“Mercer,” I provided.
He continued. “This is Kevin Dustin, plays football for Denver, and this ugly dog over here plays catcher for the Rangers.”
“Nice to meet you Holly…” The football player took my hand and actually kissed my fingers. “How about you ditch this loser and come with me?”
Ignoring the hulky football player, Hunter ushered me though their little group without apology.
“Not in this lifetime Dustin,” he muttered as he marched me away from them. “Over there.” His chest rumbled behind me. If I walked a little slower we’d be touching. “That’s her, isn’t it?”
It was her! He’d found her! I ignored my more primitive urges and forced myself to walk faster. I could move at a pretty fast clip without the stilts.
“Excuse me!” I waived my free hand. “Ma’am!”
The woman looked to be in her early forties. Sleek blond hair piled on top of her head, not a strand out of place. She looked me up and down and lifted one penciled in eyebrow at the sight of my bare feet. She seemed vaguely familiar.
“We have a bit of a… situation,” Hunter began with a dazzling smile.
She happily gave him her full attention. “Mr. DeLuca!” She pretty much crooned his name. “Fabulous season! Absolutely fabulous! When are you coming on the show? My people have been trying to set something up for ages!”
Just my luck. Of course, she was familiar! She hosted the other Denver morning talk show. I needed to pay more attention to the people I worked with. Kelly something? Kylie? Karrie?
“Karen.” Hunter shook her hand warmly. “I’d like you to meet Miss Holly Mercer.”
“Such an honor to meet you Miss… Miss… Krapper.”
“Klapper,” she corrected me with gritted teeth.
“Miss Klapper.” I tried to smile obsequiously. I’d have curtsied to her if I thought it would help my case. “I’ve made a horrible mistake. You see, I was supposed to bid on Bachelor number six, and I mistakenly bid on Hunter here… He was number five.” I dropped my shoes and the bag onto the floor and dug through my purse. When I located the note, I held it out to her. “The five really looks like a six, don’t you think?”
She ignored me and stared at Hunter instead.
She seemed quite taken with him. Now was my chance.
“Would you be willing to trade bachelors with me?” I turned and ran my hands down Hunter’s chest and along his arms as though he were the featured showcase item on The Price is Right. “You can have Hunter DeLuca, Pitcher for the Colorado Rangers, in exchange for Senator Flint!”
I presented my deal proudly. How could she resist?
The Mile High Madness Page 3
