“I’d like to introduce everyone to our final bachelor for the evening.”
Brooklyn swallowed and gripped the auction paddle in her lap tighter as she watched Derek walk onto the stage. Like all the other men tonight, he wore a black tuxedo and looked as handsome as sin.
Rose glanced down at the cheat sheet she’d been reading from all evening before she spoke again. “Derek Sherbrooke was born and raised in Rhode Island. Today he lives in Newport and works here in Providence for Hale and Associates. For the winning bidder’s first date, Derek has a romantic day on the ocean planned.”
If that was indeed what he had planned for them and not simply what he’d said because he needed to come up with something, at least they’d be away from prying eyes and cameras, a definite bonus in her opinion.
“Again we’ll start the bidding at five thousand dollars.”
She lifted the paddle from her lap. Before it cleared the table, her hand froze. This is crazy. Brooklyn took in a deep breath. She’d promised him. He was depending on her. No matter what, she couldn’t let him down tonight.
“I have one bid for five thousand.”
Rose’s statement had Brooklyn looking around the ballroom for the first bidder. She didn’t need to look far. A few tables over, Tasha sat with several other women, a large smile on her face.
“Can I get eight?” Rose asked, causing a much older woman near the front to raise her paddle in the air.
Tasha didn’t wait for Rose to raise the asking price before she lifted her paddle again and called out, “Fifteen thousand.”
Not once during the auction had anyone announced a dollar amount and a look of confusion crossed Rose’s face as she cleared her throat, the sound echoing through the speakers. “We have a bid for fifteen. Can I get eighteen?”
Raise your hand, a voice shouted in her head, but somehow her brain refused to send the message onward.
A third woman seated at the next table over raised her paddle.
“We have eighteen—”
“Twenty-five,” Tasha called out before Rose finished her sentence.
Brooklyn saw Derek and Rose exchange a look before she readjusted the microphone and prepared to speak again.
“We’re up to twenty-five thousand, is anyone willing to go to thirty?”
Do it. Brooklyn didn’t stop to think. Clutching the auction paddle, she sent her arm into the air. Three sets of eyes turned on her, sending heat to her cheeks, but she kept her eyes trained on Derek. Later she’d deal with her mom’s interrogation. Right now, she just needed to survive the battle ahead. And judging by Tasha’s enthusiasm so far, it was going to be one heck of a fight.
He’d located Brooklyn and her family as well as Tasha Marshall the moment he walked out on stage. In his opinion, it was a good idea to know where your allies and enemies were at all times. When the bidding started and Tasha sent her paddle into the air faster than a bolt of lightning, he’d expected Brooklyn to follow suit. Instead, Susan Abington, a woman old enough to be his mother, countered Tasha’s bid. Unable to stop himself, he’d glanced over at Brooklyn. Despite the dim lighting in the room, he saw her well enough to spot the indecision and panic on her face. And for the first time since she’d agreed, he feared she wouldn’t go through with his plan. On cue, Tasha came back with yet a higher bid and Brooklyn still sat there. Come on, Brooklyn. Please.
Next to him, Rose again asked for a higher amount and a cute redhead he’d never met sent her hand up. Derek knew the woman didn’t stand a chance. And he was correct. Before poor Rose could finish her next sentence, Tasha interrupted her, causing Rose to look at him. In return, all he could do was give a little shrug and clench his jaw tighter.
“We’re up to twenty-five thousand, is anyone willing to go to thirty?” Rose asked, getting back down to business despite the interruption.
Brooklyn’s hand shot up like a rocket, and he relaxed his jaw. About damn time. Even from up on the stage, he saw her mom and sisters turn their gazes on her. Later they’d grill her, which he truly did regret. He already knew she didn’t have the closest relationship with her family, and if there had been any other way tonight, he never would’ve asked her to get involved. He owed her, and at some point soon, he’d make it up to her.
At the podium, Rose smiled out at the audience. Considering Tasha’s behavior so far, he suspected Rose already knew the bidding would go even higher, making the fundraiser more of a success than it already was.
“Thanks to bidder number eighty-two, we are now up to thirty thousand dollars. Is there anyone willing to go for thirty-five?”
Did she have to sound so cheerful about the situation? Couldn’t she close the auction and let him escape?
“Forty,” Tasha called out, her voice loud and clear in the ballroom.
Down at her table, Brooklyn lifted her paddle, but before she got it high enough for Rose or anyone not watching carefully to notice, the cute redhead from earlier jumped back into the fun. “Forty-two.”
Next to him, Rose gave a quiet squeal of delight. At least the night was turning into a grand success for someone. In a way, he was pleased for her, since this was the first fundraiser she’d organized for the foundation. He would have preferred if her success hadn’t involved his participation.
Unable to stop himself, he looked toward Brooklyn and waited for her counteroffer. She had permission to go as high as necessary. He wished she’d pull out all the stops now and drop a number no one else in her right mind would touch. Derek realized she’d never do that. One, it would raise even more eyebrows than her bids already were. And two, she’d let him know how uncomfortable she was spending his money, so she’d want to make sure she didn’t go any higher than necessary.
At the table behind Brooklyn, Zoe Laurent, perhaps the only other person in the room besides Tasha he’d rather not end up with, joined the bidding war. “Fifty thousand.”
“Wow, you are popular.” Rose’s comment caused the audience to laugh, or at least most of it. Even from the stage, he noticed Brooklyn didn’t crack a smile. But he guessed Rose had a point. So far, the highest winning bid had been forty-eight, and that had been for his cousin Scott, the seventh bachelor auctioned off.
Rose left the podium and moved closer to him, slipping an arm across his shoulders. “Ladies, I think we can do even better than fifty thousand. Is there anyone willing to go to fifty-five for the pleasure of having Mr. Sherbrooke all to themselves?” Another ripple of laughter filtered through the crowd.
Come on, Brooklyn. Time to pull out the big guns. Right now the ability to send another human being telepathic messages would’ve come in so handy.
On cue, Tasha answered Rose’s call, her auction paddle shooting up.
He expected Rose to clap her hands together and prance around like a little kid who’d come downstairs on Christmas morning and found a pony waiting for them. “Fabulous. We have fifty-five thousand. Is anyone willing to go to fifty-eight?”
Brooklyn remained stone-faced, her hands on the table. Both Zoe and the redhead from earlier kept quiet, and he spotted Tasha rising from her seat, prepared to join him on stage. The sight switched his flight or fight response on as he struggled to get enough oxygen into his body.
Rose patted his shoulder. “Going once.” Down on the floor, Tasha started walking toward the stage stairs, and all he could do was stare at Brooklyn. No, she wouldn’t let him down like this.
“Going twice.”
The invisible hand around his throat tightened as Tasha stepped up onto the first step, the most terrifying smile he’d ever seen on a woman spread across her face.
Then, as if he were watching a slow-motion scene in a movie, Brooklyn stood, her paddle with the large number eighty-two printed on it in her hand. “One hundred and fifty-eight thousand dollars,” she said, her voice loud and clear so everyone present would hear it.
A hush fell over the room and all eyes turned toward Brooklyn. On the stairs, Tasha stumbled and landed on her knee
s.
“One hundred and fifty-eight thousand?” Rose’s voice came out as a squeak.
Brooklyn moved away from her table and closer to the stage. “Correct.”
Openmouthed, Rose glanced his way before turning toward Tasha, who’d managed to stand back up. The smile she’d worn seconds before no longer remained. Instead, she appeared as shocked as the rest of the room.
“Would you like to make a counteroffer?” Rose asked.
Slowly, Tasha shook her head.
“Going once.” Rose paused, although he didn’t know why she bothered. “Going twice.” Complete silence continued as Brooklyn started up the stage stairs and passed an unmoving Tasha. “Sold to bidder number eighty-two for one hundred and fifty-eight thousand dollars.”
The invisible hand around his neck eased up, allowing him to once again breathe. She’d come through for him.
Brooklyn stopped next to him, a fake smile pasted on her face. Reaching out, he took her clammy hand and gave it a squeeze. Yep, he owed her big time for saving his butt tonight.
“Mr. Sherbrooke, I think our winner deserves a kiss,” the photographer said, his camera raised and ready. So far, he’d captured a picture of each couple exchanging a kiss when the winner came on stage to collect her prize. Not doing the same would stand out as odd.
“I believe you’re right,” he said. Pulling Brooklyn into his arms, he hoped she didn’t punch him in the nose for what he was about to do.
She didn’t resist him, but her body remained rigid against his. He didn’t let that stop him. Instead, he pressed his mouth against hers.
An odd combination of excitement and tenderness started in his chest and spread through his body. A small part of his brain sensed her arms slipping around his neck and her body softening against his, but most of his attention remained focused on the lips beneath his and the onslaught of emotions he couldn’t label. He’d kissed a lot of women, perhaps more than he should’ve, but never had he experienced anything like this. Needing to deepen the kiss, he tugged on her bottom lip, hoping she’d get the silent message and open for him. Instead, she pulled her mouth away, her face bright pink and her breathing rapid.
“Uh, he got the picture, I think,” she whispered so no one else would hear as she tried putting space between them. Rather than giving in to what she wanted, he tightened his arms around her waist.
He nodded, the only response he could give her because words required the cooperation of his brain, which at the moment was incapacitated.
“Derek, you can let me go,” she said, her lips inches away from his ear.
Again he heard her words clearly but couldn’t do much about them. Instead, all his attention remained focused on the citrus scent of either her soap or perfume and the warmth of her breath on his skin.
The pinch she gave him on the back of the neck broke whatever spell he’d fallen under. “That wasn’t nice.” He wanted to rub the spot, but in order to, he’d have to remove his hands from her waist, which was something he wasn’t ready to do yet.
“Then try listening to me.” Her voice came out as a low hiss. “I think Rose wants us to sit so she can bring the night to a close.”
Rose. The auction. Right, they were standing on the stage in front of a room full of people, including her mom and half of his female relatives. Not the time or place to analyze whatever just happened between them.
“Sorry,” he whispered before he turned and faced Rose, his right arm still securely around Brooklyn’s waist. “Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to interfere with your schedule. When I have such a beautiful woman near me, I sometimes get distracted.”
His comment earned him a smile from Rose, a chuckle from the crowd, and an elbow to the side from Brooklyn. The photographer snapped another picture and Derek thought he heard Brooklyn groan. Once the camera disappeared, he led them across the stage and down the stairs.
“I’m not sure, but I think I see some flames escaping from your mother’s head and I doubt Paris will ever be able to close her mouth again.”
“Please don’t say anything else about them or anything else about this whole night. Ever.”
“I won’t mention your family again, but we’ve got a few other things to talk about later. And I think you know what those things are.” He got them within a few feet of her table and then took a good look at her mother’s face. Perhaps sitting with Scarlet Novak wasn’t the wisest of moves right now. Glancing over his shoulder toward his own family, he met the stares coming from everyone sitting there too. “How does some fresh air sound?” While the ballroom took up most of the top floor of the hotel, a small garden terrace was set up off the main lobby.
“Great idea, but I need to arrange payment and my purse is at the table. Avoiding my mother isn’t possible for me.”
Once her mom got her claws into her, Brooklyn wouldn’t escape. “Stay here, I’ll grab it for you. You can settle the financial obligation, and then we can step outside. Maybe even stay out there until your family leaves.”
“Like that would stop my mom? If I don’t go over there, she’ll follow me out. It’s better if I get this confrontation over now. Besides, with so many people around, she may remain a tad more calm than she’d be at my place.”
Brooklyn had a point, although he needed to speak with her too. “Do you want me to walk over with you? Then we can escape here together.”
Brooklyn tugged her hand free before she answered him. “It’ll be better if you don’t. We can talk about getting the dates set up and over with this weekend. I know you want them done soon, but I think it can wait a day or two.”
If their upcoming dates and simple money were what he wanted to discuss, it could wait several days. That wasn’t the conversation they needed to have. “We’ve got more to talk about, Brooklyn.”
She’d already taken a few steps away from him, but she stopped. “Right, the money part. Call me tomorrow if you’re around and we can settle everything. I think I better deal with my mom now. The longer I make her wait, the worse it’ll be. If you’re busy tomorrow, call me on Sunday instead.”
Before he could agree, she walked away leaving him no other choice but to watch. When she reached her table, she received an earful from her mother. From where he stood, he couldn’t hear Scarlet’s comments, but considering her facial expression as well as Brooklyn’s, she didn’t have anything pleasant to say. Before she finished whatever tirade she’d started, Brooklyn touched her mom’s shoulder, said a few words, and then walked away, her purse in hand.
Intent on following her and getting her away from everyone else, he started after her.
“I never realized you were so devious.” His cousin Courtney’s voice reached his ears a moment before her hand landed on his arm.
Talk about bad timing. Unable to ignore his cousin, he watched Brooklyn exit the ballroom. “No clue what you’re talking about.”
“Then you’re the only one who doesn’t.”
He didn’t like the sound of that. He’d assumed there was a fifty-fifty chance his aunt and cousins would suspect what he’d done, but not anyone outside the family.
“Well, maybe not everyone here, just everyone in the family. I don’t know her well, but I’m surprised she went along with this. Deception doesn’t seem like her.”
“Who says it was my idea?” He kept a lookout for Brooklyn. Since her mom remained seated inside the ballroom, he assumed she would return to their table eventually.
“At least she kept Tasha away from you. I’m sure that’s what this was all about. Were you sweating blood up there when Brooklyn took so long to put in her final bid?” Thankfully Courtney kept her voice low. “I bet she did it on purpose. If you’d asked me to do something similar, I would’ve wanted to make you squirm a little first.”
He hadn’t considered that as a possible reason for her delay, but Courtney had a point.
“You realize you might have ruined things for her with Trevor?” Courtney sounded annoyed. “Or was that
all part of your grand plan too?”
Judging by his cousin’s comments, she’d been talking to his twin sister and heard Allison’s theory that he wanted to be with Brooklyn. He’d dismissed Allison’s idea and tried not to think about it. His body’s reaction on stage when they kissed had him wondering about it and a lot of other things. Things he needed to discuss with Brooklyn, not his cousin or anyone else.
“Can we let this go, Courtney, before someone overhears us?” For the moment, the lobby outside the main doors remained empty, but it wouldn’t stay that way. “And so you know, everything’s fine between her and Trevor. She told him everything and they’re still seeing each other.” At least for now.
Chapter 6
Twenty minutes after arranging for the bank transfer and sneaking out of the Bellevue Hotel before either her mom or Derek came looking for her, she still wasn’t positive whom she wanted to avoid more. She walked into the safety of her apartment, although how long it would remain safe she didn’t know. Once her mom had realized Brooklyn didn’t plan on returning to finish their conversation, she’d probably called her husband and filled him in on what happened and how their daughter had possibly ruined the chances of him merging Dimension with Atlantic Coast Marketing. Even as she locked the door, her dad could be on his way over to share his opinion of her little stunt and the likely repercussions.
The same went for Derek. She suspected he was ticked because she’d held off on her final bid, making it look like Tasha had won. Although she’d been reluctant to put in the first bid, once she got going, she’d had no intention of letting him down. However, considering all the trouble their little agreement was about to cause her, she’d wanted to make Derek sweat just a little up there. And he had.
She’d seen it in his face as Tasha made her way toward the stage and up the stairs. Even so, she realized it had been a little childish and cruel. Maybe depending on when she saw him, she’d apologize. Or perhaps not. A lot of it hinged on her dad’s reaction and the amount of time separating her confrontation with him and when she saw Derek. If by some super unlikely twist of fate they both showed up tonight, Derek was not going to like what she had to say, especially now that she had a big bone to pick with him.
Bidding On The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 8) Page 9
