The other two guys on the auction block were Walker Kent who played center. Kent or Superman as some of the guys called him was also military, a helicopter pilot who’d been dishonorably discharged for some reason no one ever spoke of. Walker had walked on the team the year before and had helped the Titans win the Championship. Maybe it was one of those deals where a few good plays erased a multitude of past sins. From what Riker could tell, Walker seemed like a good guy, and he was looking forward to getting to know him. That was the hardest part about being a newbie, not having a close association with his teammates. Hopefully, it would come.
Cole Carmichael was the other player, a defensive lineman. Half-Polynesian, he was known as Maui. He seemed pretty chill and was tight with Ace Sanchez, former running back for the Titans and part of the famed Triple Threat. The fifth guy, London Wilder, wasn’t even here. Maybe he was the smart one.
He pulled out his phone to see if Emerson had responded. His heart squeezed a little when he saw that she hadn’t. It was hard to get used to thinking of her as Emerson, although the name fit. She was the daughter of multi-millionaires. He never would’ve thought that. She was so down-to-earth, so real. He looked at the women who were eyeing him and the other players like they were slabs of meat. If his mother were here, she’d be appalled. His stomach twisted. What he would give to be able to talk to his mom—to get her take on Emerson. She’d know what advice to give him.
A rustle went through the room. He turned to see Scar coming across the stage. A former Titan’s player, Scar was also a retired vet, an ex-Navy SEAL, if Riker remembered correctly. The proceeds for tonight’s auction would go to Scar’s Sparring for Vets Project. At least some good would come out of the evening. If Riker had it his way, he’d just donate to the charity and save himself the headache of going on a date with some stranger. He felt sure the other players sitting at this table felt the same way. Although, as the Titan execs and his PR rep explained, it wasn’t just about the money, but also about putting on a good face for the community.
“Good evening,” Scar said in a booming voice. “Welcome. Let me introduce you to the talented Maia who has the voice of a princess.”
The curtains opened to reveal an attractive woman in a hot-pink dress. She smiled brightly, waving at the crowd. “Hello, Titan’s fans!”
This brought screams and yelps.
Music piped over the speakers. It sounded like something from a movie. The words voice of a princess stuck in Riker’s head. He remembered someone mentioning that the auction would be emceed by an actress who was the voice for an upcoming animated princess movie.
Maia smiled brightly and waved. “Thank you so much for that warm welcome, but I know you didn’t come to see me … Let’s bring on the Titans!”
Riker glanced at Knox who was pulling hard on his tie. He leaned over. “Careful, man, or you’ll hang yourself before you ever get on stage,” he quipped, then took a closer look at Knox. His face was pale, and he gulped like he was losing breath. Riker felt for the guy. “You okay, man?”
He nodded, taking a long swig of water. That seemed to help.
“Our first player is Knox Sherman,” Maia chimed.
Knox stood, scowling.
“Come on, dude, give them one smile,” Riker teased.
This only made the situation worse. Knox shot him a scathing look. For some reason, it struck Riker as funny as he laughed. Maybe he was laughing to keep from crying. His phone was on silent, but he’d been paying attention to it, hoping it would vibrate, signaling that Emerson had responded. Nothing so far. The more he focused on Knox and everything else going on around him, the less he focused on the pain and confusion.
Maia grinned. “Knox Sherman. The Beast. We truly feel honored to have you here. The reports are you don’t date much.”
“I don’t date at all, ma’am,” he said, his eyebrows bunching.
Riker couldn’t help but laugh at his forthright comment. “Good for you, dude,” he murmured under his breath. “That’s telling ‘em.”
The bidding started at 50K and topped off at 125K. Not bad for a disgruntled player.
Next, it was Riker’s turn. Maia zoomed in on him, smiling brightly. All eyes were on him, making him feel like a bug under a microscope. “Time for the quarterback. You gotta love him. He kind of reminds you of Captain America, doesn’t he? Riker Dylan, come on up here.”
Riker stood, a cheerful smile plastered over his face. People always asked how he managed to maintain his cool amidst chanting crowds in a stadium. That was easy, but this … this was brutal. He needed a mental pep-talk, and he needed it fast! A couple of catcalls went through the audience as he stepped onto the stage. He cringed inwardly, feeling as though his manhood was being stripped away. He waved and nodded like being up here was the most natural thing on the planet, overcompensating for the awkwardness.
“Riker Dylan’s a hometown boy from Silver Creek, Texas.” This brought a round of thunderous applause. “Let’s start the bidding at 75K.”
A middle-aged woman in the front held up her paddle.
Maia pointed. “Okay, we have 75 right here. Do I hear eighty?”
Several other paddles shot up at once. The bidding increased steadily. “150K,” Maia boomed. “Fantastic, but I think you can do even better. It’s for charity, ladies. Think of all those vets who’ve sacrificed everything for our country. They deserve a little help, don’t they?”
A blonde—Marilyn Monroe type—with full, spongy lips raised her paddle, then blew him a kiss. “200,” she said in a throaty voice “… for the vets.” This brought a round of deviant laughter from the other women at her table.
“225,” a pretty brunette with short hair said.
“We have 225.” Maia pursed her lips, looking thoughtful. “Should we ask him what he has planned for the date?”
More applause. Maia held up a hand to quiet the audience. She gave him a conspiratorial smile. “So?”
“Lady’s choice.” Riker had not even thought to plan anything. He didn’t care what they did on the date, nor did he care who won the bid. All he wanted was for this night to be over.
Maia flashed a large smile. “You heard him. It’s lady’s choice.”
A few yells went through the crowd.
“230,” the brunette said.
“250,” the blonde yelled.
“275.” This came from the brunette.
Maia laughed. “I love bidding wars. Okay, we have 275.” She looked at the blonde. “Do you want to top that?”
The blonde sat back in her seat, shaking her head no, a dark cloud settling over her face.
“All right. 275 going once.”
“295!”
Riker jerked, hearing the familiar voice. Hope sprang in his chest, and he felt a little giddy. His heart went into his throat as Emerson stood. She gave him a tentative smile. He probably should’ve been mad, but he was so relieved she was here that he couldn’t stop a grin from overtaking his features. For an instant, everything faded away, and it was just the two of them. She was a vision in a form-fitting green dress that hit just above her knees. Her hair was pulled up in a sophisticated twist, showcasing her milky white neck and long, sparkling diamond earrings. No other woman in the room even came close to her beauty.
“295 from the redhead in the back,” Maia said. “Do I hear 300?”
Riker held his breath. Please, no one else bid!
Blessed silence. It took all the effort he could muster to hold back a smile.
“295 going once, going twice.” Maia clapped her hands. “The bid goes to the redhead.”
As Riker went back to his seat, he felt like he was gliding. He looked in the direction where Emerson had stood, but he couldn’t see her. She was here—had bid on him. That must mean that she cared.
The auction continued, but Riker barely heard a word, his eyes searching the crowd. He couldn’t wait for the thing to be over so he could get to Emerson. A few minutes later, the doubts resurfaced. Why
had she lied to him? He frowned, thinking about the guy she was with in the picture. Was he her fiancé?
Finally, he heard Maia say those blessed words, “Thanks for supporting our vets with your donations. Have a wonderful night!” She waved and stepped off the stage.
Riker’s mind was a jumble as he stood. Would Emerson find him or did he need to find her?
Even as the thoughts swirled through his mind, she came forward, her beautiful face lined with apprehension. “Hey,” she said softly.
“Hey.” He just stood there like an idiot, looking at her. Somehow, he managed to find his voice. “Why didn’t you tell me who you really were?” He desperately needed an answer—something that could help ease the doubt and frustration churning inside him.
Regret tinged her features as she swallowed. “Can we go somewhere and talk?” She glanced around at the reporters, snapping pictures at everything that moved. “Away from all this?”
“I would say we could go somewhere on my bike …” he looked at her dress “… but I’m not sure how that would work.” Man, she looked good. He allowed himself a glance at her long, shapely legs and sexy heels.
“We can go in my car.”
A tall, lanky blonde stepped up beside Emerson. “There you are. I went to the restroom, and you disappeared.” She turned to Riker, flashing a wide smile that revealed a line of neat, snow-white teeth. “Hi, I’m Dede.” She looked him up and down, open appreciation shining in her eyes. “Well, it looks like you’re worth every penny of the 295K Emerson paid for you.”
Distaste soured Riker’s throat as he swallowed. He looked at Emerson whose face had gone as red as her hair. She straightened to her full height as she turned to Dede, leveling a glare. “Riker’s not an object. He’s my—” the rest of the sentence seemed to get caught in her throat as she looked back at him “—he’s my boyfriend.” She squared her chin like she was glad she’d said it out loud. Then she seemed to remember the situation as she gave him a beseeching look. “If you’ll still have me, that is.”
The obvious answer was Heck yes! But he didn’t want to come across as desperate. There were still plenty of questions that needed answering. He cleared his throat. “We’ll talk.”
Emerson’s lips thinned as she nodded.
Dede went bug-eyed. “What?” A velvety laugh trilled out of her throat. “Why didn’t you tell me?” An ah-ha look crossed her features as she brought her finger to her cheek. “That’s what all the fuss is about, why you were so bent-out-of-shape about the newspaper article of you and Finley.”
Riker’s angst returned with a vengeance. Emerson gave him a worried look before answering. “It’s like I told you over the phone, Finley and I aren’t a couple. We never were.”
The relief that washed through Riker was nearly palpable. He wanted to punch a fist in the air and scream hallelujah.
Dede shook her head. “I thought you were crazy for turning down Finley, but now I see the full picture.” She gave Riker a cat-just-ate-the-canary smile.
Emerson pursed her lips. “Um, Dede, would you mind getting an Uber or cab to take you home?”
Her face fell. “Why?”
“Because Riker and I need to talk … in private.”
Dede’s eyes sparked with amusement. “I’m sure that’s not all you’ll be doing.”
Emerson pinched her arm.
“Ouch,” she yelped.
A silent exchange passed between the two women. “Can you get another ride home?” Emerson asked. “Please?”
“Fine,” Dede huffed. She wagged a finger. “But you owe me.”
“Thank you, you’re a dear,” Emerson said, air-kissing her on both cheeks.
Dede’s eyes moved over Riker in a bold way that made him uncomfortable. What was it about these rich women that made them feel like they had the right to treat the Titan players like objects? It was a sacrifice for them to come here tonight, and they’d done it out of duty and to help vets. “Ciao, darlings,” Dede quipped with a flick of her wrist as she floated away.
“I’m sorry about that,” Emerson began. “She’s not as bad as she seems.”
“I doubt that,” he shot back.
They stood looking at each other, an awkward silence filling the space between them. Despite it all, Riker wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her until neither of them could think straight.
She cocked her head, the smallest of smiles touching her lips. “What?”
He stepped closer and touched her hair. “You’re stunning.” He trailed his finger along the line of her slender neck. With her hair up, she looked more glamorous, sophisticated like she could somehow belong to the group of high-society women here tonight. Where was the barrel racer with the stubborn set of her jaw? Her freckles were more subdued tonight, hidden underneath her flawless makeup. He scoped her face, lingering on her mesmerizing eyes that were deep circles of green, reminding him of a field of fresh grass. His pulse quickened when he saw the familiar spark in her eyes, felt it ignite something in him. Underneath the façade, she was still the same girl who’d slugged him in the gut—the same girl who was consuming his thoughts—the same girl he was falling for heart and soul. He wanted to loosen her hair so that it flowed freely over her shoulders. He wanted to run his fingers through those long tresses, wanted to capture her heart the way she’d captured his. A smile tugged at his lips. “I can’t believe you bid on me.”
She sighed. “Well, at least I got you at a bargain. If push came to shove, I was prepared to pay double that amount.”
He laughed in surprise. “What?”
She looked at him, not the slightest hint of a smile on her face. “I’m serious. Now you’re mine,” she said fiercely. “You have to listen to what I have to say.”
As if it could’ve ever been any different. He was hers from the first moment she slugged him. She really was a siren, his Kryptonite. He couldn’t wait any longer. He leaned in and brushed her lips with his. He heard her sudden intake of breath, saw the flicker of desire in her eyes.
She laughed lightly. “You’re breaking your rule … kissing me in public. Aren’t you worried about the repercussions?”
“Not in the slightest.” He cocked an eyebrow. “How about you?” He tensed, waiting for her answer, feeling as though everything were hanging in the balance.
A beautiful smile graced her lips. “Nope.” She slid her arms around his neck and drew him close, bringing her lips to his. The kiss was soft, teasing, a taste of what was to come when they were alone. Even so, it sent tantalizing thrills ribboning through him. She pulled back and winked. “How was that?”
“Not bad.”
Her eyes widened as she swiped his arm. “I thought it was pretty good, considering people are watching.”
He laughed. “Now who’s the one being squeamish? Come on.” He took her hand and linked his fingers through hers. “You’ve got some explaining to do.”
17
Emerson took in a deep, cleansing breath and gathering her thoughts, trying to figure out the best way to tell Riker everything. They were at the Stockyards in Ft. Worth, sitting on a bench near one of the restaurants. She glanced at the cobblestone road and burly trees wrapped in white lights. Normally, she found the picturesque scene of western-style buildings soothing. Tonight, however, blood whooshed a frenzied beat against her temples as she angled to face Riker. His handsome face was pulled tight, wariness in his eyes. She wished she could take a magic wand and soothe his tension. Maybe her explanation would do the trick. Please help me to explain it well so he’ll understand, she prayed. At least he was here, willing to listen. That was a good sign. She had no idea how he’d react to her spontaneous auction bid, but that had gone much better than she ever dared hope. Now she needed miracle number two.
She wasn’t sure how much he knew about her, so she decided to cover all the bases. “As you know, my real name is Emerson Stein. My daddy is Ethan Stein, owner of one of the largest ranches in Texas.” She looked for a reaction,
but his expression was guarded. “How much do you already know?” If he told her that, she could cut through the fluff. “And how did you find out?”
“A friend showed me a newspaper article of you and Finley Landers at some charity event.” His voice had an accusing edge to it.
The blasted newspaper articles! She’d known it was only a matter of time before Riker would see one of them. She held his eyes. “First of all, it’s not true. I’m not, nor have I ever been engaged to Finley Landers. His family and mine are tight. Our parents have been trying to get us together since we were twelve, but it’s not going to happen.”
His brows drew together. “Why do they want you to be with Finley so badly?”
She blew out a long breath. “My parents swear it’s because he’s ‘such a great match’ for me.” She made air quotes, bitterness settling like glue in her stomach. “But that’s not the only reason.”
Riker cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
“Like I said, my daddy owns a ranch of 394+ acres. We breed horses and Black Angus cattle. My parents are multi-millionaires. Kenton Lander Finley’s dad is a billionaire from oil. His enterprises make my family’s look like small potatoes. In the past decade, the Landers’ business has expanded into other areas: natural gas, wind energy, and software. Kenton has a software program that’s supposedly going to revolutionize the agricultural industry. Kenton and my daddy are planning to merge their companies.” She paused, not wanting to say the rest but knowing she had to. She could tell from the shocked look on Riker’s face that he already knew what she was going to say. “My daddy and Kenton Landers figured a marriage between their kids would seal the deal.”
His eyes narrowed. “That’s absurd. You can’t manipulate people’s lives like chess pieces.”
Vindication swept over her as she gritted her teeth. “Exactly! That’s what I keep trying to tell my parents.”
The Hometown Groom Page 12
