Hunter put his arm around the back of Sabrina’s chair and leaned our way. “Famous last words.”
Chapter 7
Clay
“You look like a completely different man,” Melanie said, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe it. She was in her early forties and also happened to be the organizer of the annual Christmas auction. We were backstage, and in a few minutes, I would have to make my debut.
“I almost don’t recognize myself, to be honest.”
“You’re striking. You should have done this a long time ago. Women will be pounding down your door to get your attention.” She paused and smiled coyly. “I know I would if I didn’t have a fiancé already.”
I ran a hand over the smooth skin of my jaw, and it felt strange not to feel my whiskers when I did that. Honestly, I couldn’t believe I’d agreed to this madness, but Melanie Shupe had pleaded with me to participate in her charity auction, stating that a couple of men in the line-up dropped out at the last minute. Normally, I wouldn’t feel bad or pressured to do something I didn’t want to do, but then Jazmin challenged me to move beyond my comfort zone, and said if I did, I would have her respect.
The first night I met her, I’d said the exact same thing to her. I’d dared her to do the chicken dance at a wedding, and she was a good sport that day. I wasn’t the type to ask others to break out of their comfort zone when I wasn’t willing to do the same.
Besides, Jazmin had assured me she would bid on me and we would have a nice dinner afterward. I was counting on that to get me through this.
I cleared my throat. “I don’t want women pounding at my door. I only want Jazmin.”
Melanie’s eyes softened, and she smiled. “I think it’s great you found someone, especially since it’s the holiday season. She’ll be pleasantly surprised when she sees your new makeover.”
Not only had I gotten a haircut and shave, but Melanie had insisted I wear a black suit. I didn’t own one, so I had to go out and buy something specifically for this event. I’d thought about asking Jazmin to accompany me but decided against it, wanting to surprise her instead. I’d taken my friends, Derek and Callie, along and they’d helped me pick out a classic suit that I would probably never use again. It just wasn’t my typical style, but I hoped Jazmin enjoyed it.
Melanie clapped her hands together and looked at one of the other men. “Jake, you’re up!”
Jake nodded and headed out on stage. He was a man in his early thirties, and from what I gathered, women thought he was good-looking, or at least, that was what I’d heard. I didn’t have an opinion on the matter. My assumption was confirmed when screams and whistles abounded, and the bidding commenced.
Butterflies tumbled around in my stomach as I pictured standing on stage in front of so many women. They wouldn’t react the way they had with Jake, but I didn’t want that, anyway. I wasn’t the type to need attention or praise. As long as Jazmin was somewhere in the crowd, I would be fine.
The bidding went on for quite a while, and then the auctioneer finally announced a winner. I broke out into a sweat, knowing I was up next.
Melanie gave me a sympathetic look as she straightened my collar. “Relax, you’ll be great.”
“I’m not one to strut my stuff. That’s just not me.”
“You don’t have to. All you have to do is stand there and smile.”
Smiling would be difficult, but I could probably keep from frowning. “All right.”
“You’re the last participant, so let’s hope the evening ends on a bang.”
“Great, no pressure or anything.”
There was loud cheering and then the master of ceremonies announced my name. “Good luck,” Melanie said, hands clasped together as if I were her pet project.
I strode out on the stage, my heart pounding so hard I felt it in my ribs. Turning, I faced the crowd and adrenaline pumped through my veins when I saw a sea of women, eyeing me like I was their next meal ticket. I’d always hated getting up in front of a classroom when I was in high school, and twenty-plus years later, nothing had changed.
There was more screaming and whistling, and it went on and on and on. My face heated, and I chuckled, embarrassed and not sure how to respond to the attention. I hadn’t expected that reaction from all those women.
“This is Clay Drover, ladies. From what I’ve been told, some of you may not recognize him because he recently cut his hair and shaved off his beard.”
The screaming escalated for three long seconds and then the bidding began. I scanned the room for Jazmin and finally found her in the back row staring at me in disbelief. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, but I decided it probably wasn’t bad.
A lady sitting in the front row, appearing in her mid-fifties, held up two fingers. “One hundred dollars.”
“Two hundred.” That came from Roberta, in the center of the crowd. She smiled, clearly pleased with herself.
I tried not to roll my eyes because it wouldn’t have been very gentlemanly of me, but she was the last person I wanted to end up with.
“Three hundred.” The voice belonged to Jazmin.
There was my girl. I smiled at her, and she grinned back at me. She wouldn’t let me down. The bidding continued to climb to my dismay, and I sucked in a breath.
I planned on reimbursing Jazmine for whatever money she had to dish out for this thing. I inwardly kicked myself for not mentioning that to her earlier, but I had seriously doubted anyone would bid that high. Almost all the men before me were young guys in their prime, and while I wasn’t exactly old and crusty, I was no spring chicken.
“Six hundred.”
“Seven hundred.”
“Seven hundred and fifty,” Roberta yelled.
My eyes widened as the bidding continued. Suddenly, I realized that most of the women in the room were forty and older, and I broke out into a cold sweat. What if Jazmin couldn’t afford to place the highest bid? I hated the idea of taking another woman out on a date.
“Eight hundred dollars,” Jazmin said. She winked at me and smiled, and I instantly relaxed. She hadn’t given up yet.
“Nine hundred,” Roberta said.
Nausea washed through me, and my back stiffened. I didn’t want to spend one-on-one time with her, but I would have to if she outbid Jazmin.
Jazmin held up two fingers, appearing concerned. “One thousand.”
Roberta stood to her feet, a look of victory on her face. “Two thousand dollars.”
There was an audible gasp in the room, and I had a feeling that was the highest bid of the evening. My lips tightened, and a sensation of dread washed over me. How did she have that kind of money to spend on a charity event? She worked as a cashier at a local grocery store, and I’d never seen her throw cash around. She had to be dipping into savings.
Jazmin frowned and shook her head, indicating she couldn’t afford to go above that. I mouthed, don’t worry, and kicked myself for the umpteenth time for not mentioning that I would pay her back.
“Two thousand going once…”
My stomach clenched at the thought of walking out of here with Roberta, the woman who didn’t understand boundaries. Lord, please help! Do something to get me out of this mess.
“Two thousand going twice…”
“Twenty-five hundred,” Jazmin yelled.
A smile broke over my face. She was back in the game.
Roberta stood to her feet again, her face as red as a lobster, and she lifted a trembling hand, clearly ticked off that her efforts were being challenged. “Three thousand dollars!” She glanced over her shoulder and glared at Jazmin.
Jazmin looked defeated, and I wanted to pull her into my arms and tell her it was okay. I didn’t want to go to dinner with Roberta, but I would find a way to get through it.
And then suddenly, a woman with graying hair pulled into a loose twist, stood to her feet. “Four thousand dollars.”
The room went deathly silent, and everyone turned to look at the wo
man. She had a regal air about her, and if I had to guess, I would say she was in her late sixties to early seventies.
The master of ceremonies looked as stunned as I felt. “Four thousand dollars going once… Four thousand dollars going twice…” He paused and when no one challenged that amount, he continued. “Sold. Come to the backstage at the end of the auction to collect your date.”
Chapter 8
Jazmin
The auction had just ended, and the winners were heading backstage to collect their prospective dates. An older woman a few rows up had outbid me, and now Clay owed her a dinner date. I’d done my best to win, but once the bid reached three thousand dollars, I couldn’t go higher, though I was tempted to push the limit. With all the wedding expenses, I couldn’t afford to bid twenty-five hundred, but I’d done it anyway, hating the idea of Roberta winning and attaching herself to Clay during one-on-one time with him.
Sabrina eyed me with concern, the corner of her mouth lifting up on one side. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Honestly, I’m relieved Roberta didn’t win, but even if she had, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I trust Clay.”
“He doesn’t want to go out with anyone but you,” Hunter said, “but he’ll follow through because he made a commitment.”
“It’s my fault, really. I challenged him to get out of his comfort zone, and he took me up on it.” I smiled, trying to remain positive. “This is a good thing. Four thousand dollars will go towards helping low-income families, and that’s the main point of this event.”
“True,” Sabrina said.
We followed the crowd as everyone began to leave. Suddenly, a man tapped me on the shoulder. “Excuse me, are you Jazmin Campbell?”
I turned around and looked at him, surprised. “Yes, can I help you?”
“You’re wanted backstage.”
My eyebrows flew up. “I am?” My voice sounded way too hopeful and excited to my own ears.
“Yes, follow me.” He left without another word, not glancing back to see if I was behind him.
I glanced at Sabrina and Hunter with a half-smile. “Maybe Clay wants to talk to me before he goes on his date.”
Sabrina gestured for me to follow the gentleman. “Go ahead. We’ll wait in the car.”
I nodded and took off, not wanting to lose the man in the mass of bodies all heading in the opposite direction towards the exit. I had to say, “excuse me” about ten times before I finally made it to the stage, and it reminded me of a cartoon where a fish had to swim upstream. The guy came to a halt near the left side of the stage. He gestured for me to continue following him as he made his way down a corridor and then to a back room where Clay and the woman who outbid me waited.
I smiled at her as I approached and offered a hand. “Hi, I’m Jazmin.”
She took my hand and clasped it between both of hers. “Thea.”
“Nice to meet you, Thea.”
She released my hand and glanced at Clay. “Do you want to tell her or should I?”
I glanced from one to the other, confused as to why they both wanted to speak with me.
“I’ll tell her,” Clay said, stepping closer. He put both of his hands on my shoulders, and the contact made my body hum with approval. A smile broke out over his features, making him appear even more handsome than he already was.
“You look amazing,” I said, caught up in his eyes. “The haircut and shave do wonders for you, and that suit… You’re so GQ.”
He laughed, amusement breaking out over his features. Clearly, he wasn’t used to a clean-cut appearance and found the style entertaining. “We’ll see how long it lasts.”
“I like your other style too, don’t get me wrong. You’re a handsome man all around, no doubt about it.” He beamed at my words of praise, and I had to add one more thing. “When you walked out on stage and all those women were screaming, I kept thinking, he’s mine, ladies. He’s all mine.” I suddenly realized how that must have come across to Thea, and I winced a little. “I mean, except for tonight. Tonight, you belong to Thea.”
Thea laughed outright. “Honey, he’s all yours. It’s evident in his expression, and if I’m being frank, on yours as well.”
Clay’s grin stretched so far over his face that it couldn’t go any further. “That’s right.” He stepped so close I could feel his warm breath, and it almost seemed as if he might kiss me.
I suddenly felt very awkward knowing we weren’t alone. “What did the two of you want to talk to me about?”
Clay glanced at Thea and turned back to me. “So, Thea here informed me a little earlier that she planned on contributing a sizeable donation to the cause regardless of whether she won the bid or not.”
“That’s kind of you,” I said, glancing at Thea. “That money will make a huge difference with needy families.”
She nodded, the apples of her cheeks brightening. “It’s my way of giving back, and I’m happy to do it.” She smiled. “And even though Mr. Drover here is quite the catch, I didn’t do this so I could go on a date. When I found out he had a girlfriend who bid on him, I felt a little guilty for winning.”
“Oh, no, please don’t feel bad,” I said. “It’s all for a good cause.”
“Yes, it is, but regardless, I want you to take my place for the dinner date. I’m visiting my daughter from New York, and my visit will be over soon. I’d like to return to her home so we can make the best of the time we have left.”
“I understand, and that’s very gracious of you.”
Clay nodded. “We’re both very thankful.”
After she left, Clay held my hands and looked at me as if I were his reward for enduring what he’d gone through. “You’re so beautiful. I can’t wait to take you out this evening.”
“I feel like I’m being given a gift. I’m happy to go anywhere as long as it’s with you.”
Clay stared at me for several moments, his eyes warming with affection and anticipation. He cleared his throat. “Melanie gave all the guys gift cards to use at a steakhouse in town. After that, I thought it would be nice to join a group of carolers if you’re up for it.” He glanced at me uncertainly as if not sure I would like that type of activity.
Involuntarily, the corners of my mouth curved upward. “I’ve always wanted to go caroling, but hardly anyone in my circle does that kind of thing.”
“So, you wouldn’t mind?”
“Are you kidding? I would enjoy it very much.”
He took my hand and led me past the others who were still standing around, discussing their upcoming dates. We strode out the back door and headed to his vehicle, parked not far away. The air was so cold we could see our breath, and I was glad I had brought an extra warm jacket. The snow crunched beneath our feet as we walked to the car, and I inwardly jumped for joy that I wouldn’t have to give Clay up for the evening. I texted Sabrina and told her what happened. She was as overjoyed at the turn of events as I knew she would be.
Clay drove us to the steak place and a hostess sat us at a corner table, away from most of the other guests. He ordered a huge plate of food with steak and potatoes, and I ordered barbeque ribs with macaroni and cheese. Once our waitress brought our food out to us, we both dug in as if we hadn’t eaten in days.
After a while, Clay leaned back in his chair and surveyed me with a gleam in his eye. “You’re starting to feel more at ease with me. I like it.”
I bit into an oversized spoonful of macaroni and cheese and couldn’t say anything since I had food in my mouth. Clay waited for me to chew my food and gulp it down, amusement all over his face.
“What do you mean?” I forked another noodle.
“You’re not trying to act dainty or pretend you only eat salads. You picked barbeque ribs, for one thing.” He gestured to the corner of my mouth and then the other, indicating I had sauce on my face.
I used a napkin to clean it up. “Is it gone?”
He nodded. “Yep.”
“Guess I do feel at ease, consi
dering you’re not the type of man to care what a woman eats or how she eats it for that matter.”
He chuckled. “See? You already know how I operate.” He put his fork down and took a sip of his iced tea and then he gave me an amused look, the humor in his eyes flickering like fireflies lighting the night sky.
“What? Why are you giving me that look?”
He paused for a long moment and then cleared his throat. “Just enjoying the fact that my future wife has an appetite and can enjoy a good meal with me.”
My jaw dropped open a little. “Future wife?”
“Yep. That’s what I said.”
“You can’t just refer to me as your future wife.” I pointed my fork in his direction. “We barely just started dating.”
“Doesn’t matter. I know you’re the one.”
My heart instantly warmed at his words, making me feel all melty on the inside, like the chocolate fondue used for strawberries and other sweet treats. “You can’t know that.” But I really hoped he did.
“I can and I do.” He laid his arms flat on the table and leaned forward, his expression completely serious now. “I’ve never had trouble figuring out what I want, and you, Jazmin, are exactly what I want.” He fell back against his chair and crossed his arms at his chest with a look of determination. “Unless you have a deep dark secret you haven’t told me about.” He laughed as if the idea was preposterous and the furthest thing from his thoughts.
My skin tingled, and I felt the blood rush from my face, my pulse speeding up like someone had dropped a firecracker right behind me. Little did he know there actually was a secret, and while it might not be dark or horrifying, it was strong enough to cause a rift.
Suddenly, I couldn’t go on like this anymore, pretending we were perfect for each other when I knew I wasn’t what he was looking for. He wanted a woman who could bear his children, and that would never happen as long as he was with me.
The moment I realized I couldn’t wait until the two weeks were up to tell him about my infertility issues, my heart began to ache and tears burned my eyelids. I ducked my head and studied my food so he wouldn’t notice, but it was no use. Everything I did caught his attention and today was no different.
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