First to Bid: A Bachelor Auction Romance (Unraveled Book 2)

by Marie Johnston

  Her storm-gray eyes were serious as she assembled bread, then meat, then condiment. Thank God she had some greens to put on top, even bean sprouts. Each item she grabbed, she looked to me in question. I’d nod and she’d add it to my sandwich, except ketchup, cuz gross.

  She grabbed a nearby tote and withdrew a bag of pretzels.

  “Uh, no thanks.” I slid the plate toward me to keep the carb load off.

  “I can’t have a sandwich without a side of salt.” She ripped the bag open and put a handful of pretzels on her plate. Then she started constructing her sandwich.

  I waited to take a bite until she was done. It was something Abe had insisted on when I’d lived with him. Ladies first, boy.

  But this was Crazy J. Still, I couldn’t do it.

  She wiggled onto a stool next to me and dug in. We ate in silence and each minute that ticked by returned my stress to normal simmering levels. Would she be this mellow for the entire week?

  “Do you want another?”

  I jerked my gaze to her, then to her empty plate. I held the last two bites of my sandwich.

  Wiping her mouth off, she scooted off her stool and went around the island to open the bread.

  “N-no.” I grimaced. “No, thanks.” Two sandwiches when dinner was a couple of hours away? I’d have to run today after all.

  Her gaze met mine and the corner of her mouth lifted. She cinched the bag and puttered around the kitchen, putting away the rest of her items. “I wasn’t sure what you had for cooking capabilities here, but I brought some spaghetti and macaroni and cheese.”

  Pasta and processed cheese? Ick. I lost a couple more abs just thinking about them. “I’ll run to town and grab some steaks. They have an awesome butcher shop. I usually grill when I’m at the lake.” I didn’t get away nearly as much as I should, but I’d made sure to equip the cabin with wicked grills—propane and charcoal.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?” She set her hands on her hips and drew my eyes to her abdomen. She wasn’t a stick. She possessed curves a man could get lost in. And she didn’t seem shy about it. “This is such a nice kitchen. Like, nicer than I’ve ever gotten to use, but I can’t…” She stopped, chewing on her lip.

  “Can’t what?” Weird. Usually, I wanted Crazy J—shit, Tilly—to stop talking, but now I hung on her dropped sentence.

  “I was so busy saving to donate to the Center for Abuse Recovery that I didn’t have extra for steak that wasn’t discounted. I’ve never stepped foot in a butcher shop, but they’re expensive, aren’t they?” She waved it off. “That’s okay. I can make myself spaghetti.”

  I stared at her, tallying up the comments she’d made. Landlady. Nicer kitchen than she’d ever used. Discount meat. Saving to donate?

  “How long did you save for the auction?”

  Pausing over the groceries, she worried her lip, and the cutest little furrow developed in her forehead. “Um…for a while. Way before the auction.”

  “You were going to donate anyway?”

  “Yep.” She resumed her organization of the kitchen. The cabin had come fully furnished and she inspected every cupboard. I didn’t even know what was in here. All I ever had when I came here was beer—my vacation indulgence—steak, and the occasional brat—no bun—if I was feeling naughty.

  “How long did it take you to save the money?” I couldn’t quit pressing the topic. I could’ve bought every bachelor at that auction and paid for all the getaways besides. But she’d lived off pasta and clearance steak to donate a specific amount.

  No. Tilly wasn’t going quiet now.

  She continued her search. Straightening, she had a set of nested mixing bowls in her hands. “These are so cute. I have to bake something just to use them.”

  My mouth watered. Bake what? Brownies. I fucking loved brownies. Cake. God, could she make caramel rolls? Abe’s wife had nurtured through sweets and I had gained twenty pounds after I’d moved in, even with working on the job site all day.

  Tilly squatted to tuck them back in and the image seared itself into my brain. A fantasy of her in that position over me. I’d devour her.

  I caught myself and grabbed the nearest bottle of water. Gulping, I smothered the lustful thoughts of my high school nightmare.

  Crazy J. Crazy J. Crazy J.

  Except, the longer I was around her, the less crazy she seemed. I knew nearly nothing about her beyond those three years she’d tormented me with her crush.

  Wait…she hadn’t answered my question. “You saved for a while then, huh?”

  She stood and brushed her hair back. I wanted to run my fingers through it. “A few years, yeah. Once I got settled into a teaching job after school, then I was able to start putting it away.”

  “Why ten thousand two hundred and twenty-eight dollars…and fifty-five cents?”

  Her gaze darted to him. “I like to be unique.”

  My bullshit meter went off. Super. She was supposed to show up, act like a zany sitcom reject, and drive me insane. But instead, she was leaving me a trail of breadcrumbs, and despite my no-carb discipline, I couldn’t help but snatch each one up in an effort to get closer. Tilly was intriguing.

  Chapter 4

  Tilly

  My panic rippled like the waves on the gorgeous lake peeking through the trees. Flynn had a suspicious look in his eye like he knew I’d lied. I never fibbed. I just never got close enough to anyone to have to explain my reasons for some of the things I did. Or answer those dreaded questions about growing up. I got that not many people experienced the nightmare I had, but it didn’t mean I wanted to share it.

  My gaze rebounded all over the kitchen. I felt guilty as hell, all because I couldn’t tell him why I’d donated the amount I had. One day, I knew I’d meet someone and grow to trust them enough with my story, but not Flynn. I didn’t want to be the battered child around him. The blond, built, walking fantasy was my escape. What daydreams would I have to get lost in if I lost the one of Flynn?

  “Want to give me the grand tour?” I asked brightly.

  His light brows popped up. Subtlety wasn’t my strength. I scurried out of the kitchen, hoping he would follow.

  “Where should I put my bags?” Retrieving mine from by the front door, I spun around and hit a wall of man chest.

  “Tu—Tilly.”

  I tipped my head back. He was so much taller than I remembered. He’d had a growth spurt after I’d dropped out. “What?” I squeaked.

  He gazed down at me, concern in his emerald irises. I wanted to cry with frustration. How many years had I wished to make Flynn feel more than flustered? But I didn’t want his worry. Like I didn’t want his pity. I couldn’t win, and he was starting to make me feel like Tulip Johnson. That was a place I couldn’t go back to. A shudder ran through me.

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  Damn, he’d noticed. “No. I…” Lying hadn’t gotten me anywhere, so I’d spare him a kernel of truth. “I don’t like talking about myself.”

  Those lust-inducing lips of his curled into a smile. “Then it’ll be a long week if you have to listen to me prattle on about work.”

  We stood less than a foot apart, but neither one moved. “What is it you do? Mara said you were in construction.”

  Pride highlighted his features and it looked good on him. Before, much to my chagrin, I’d thought he’d looked arrogant. “Corporate construction. I own my own business.”

  “Wow.” Some people had it all. Logically, I knew he’d worked for it, but…I’d worked pretty damn hard, too, and this cabin blew away any place I’d ever lived. But he probably hadn’t had loser parents to overcome.

  “I built Arcadia.”

  “That place is gorgeous,” I breathed.

  Little lines crinkled at the corners of his eyes and my belly clenched. One tiny imperfection that made him suddenly human and attainable.

  He was still so close, the heat of his body surrounded me in a cocoon I never wanted to leave. In high school, I’d chatted with hi
m, always on his heels. He always had to be somewhere in those days. It was nice that he had slowed down now, even for just a moment.

  “It’s one of my favorites.” His voice had dropped low, husky.

  “I’m sure it helped that your client was your best friend.”

  “My best friend’s wife. The place is hers. She made him keep his hands off.”

  “What else have you built?” I swayed closer, the distance between us shrinking to bare inches.

  His gaze dipped to my cleavage and I should’ve died a little that he’d caught me in a swimsuit I’d never usually wear. But Mara had given me a deal and I had walked out with three swimsuits for the price of one.

  His gaze licked up my neck and I shivered. Another move that didn’t escape his notice. He caressed my cheek with the backs of his fingers.

  “Cold?”

  “No,” I whispered.

  He dropped his gaze to my lips and his head bent.

  Ohgodohgodohgod. My eyelids drifted shut and my lips parted.

  He hovered over my mouth but didn’t touch me. I opened my eyes as he straightened.

  He cleared his throat and spun around. “Your room. I forgot, sorry.”

  So it was like that. I snagged his elbow and stalked in front of him. I was so not missing this opportunity.

  Grabbing his face in both hands, I rose to my toes and smashed my mouth on his.

  He stumbled back in surprise until his back hit the front door, but then he snaked his arms around me. His lips went from tense with surprise to supple under mine. Within a second, he took control and kissed me back until he stole my breath. Palms flat on my ass, he pulled me flush against him. To save my balance, I circled my arms around his shoulders.

  Oh yes. His tongue swept in and I opened for him. He was heat, man, and lingering sandwich. I rocked into him, anything to ease the quivering in my sex his kiss caused.

  His arousal grew between us, a hard length as big as my imagination.

  Who’s a lucky girl? I deepened the kiss, causing my belly to rub against his erection.

  He jolted, his head flinging back and hitting the door.

  “Ow, damn.” His firm grip was now on my upper arms as he sidled out and around me.

  Once he let go, I pressed my fingers to my temple. My head was spinning! He kissed even better than I’d fantasized. But he was uncomfortable, for whatever reason. I tried not to be offended, but I would’ve been just fine letting things run their course right here against the door. On the floor. I didn’t care.

  “Well, we got that over with,” I said it more to cover the hurt that he’d pushed me away. Had I done something wrong? None of my exes had ever complained.

  His brow furrowed, and he swung his gaze back toward me.

  I shrugged. His gaze flickered like he was going to check out my cleavage again but didn’t.

  “It seemed like we were going to and then you almost walked away, so I got it over with.”

  “Got it over with,” he echoed.

  Bobbing my head like this was an ordinary conversation, I smiled. “Yep. Now you can show me my room and I can go dip a toe in the lake.”

  “And I’ll go grab my protein for the week.” He frowned. “Steaks. I eat meat for protein.”

  “I gathered that. You must work out.” I shot him a wicked smile, but he looked as dazed as before. Always with the awkwardness. “Have a good drive.”

  I hitched my luggage and breezed past him, but when I got to the hall by the stairs, he said, “The sleeping areas are in the upper level.”

  Changing course, I muscled my luggage to the first stair, but it was lifted out of my hands. The way Flynn jogged up the stairs, his jean shorts snug around his epic ass, the suitcase didn’t weigh as much for him as it did for me.

  I followed him to the landing at the top. Three doors surrounded a seating area. Slowing down, I did a one-eighty. What a beautiful setting to plan tutoring lessons. The logs gave it a rustic appeal, but the plush carpet was soft enough to sleep on. The chairs were all overstuffed and faced the railing that overlooked the rest of the cabin. The beams that arched across the ceiling looked close enough to swing on.

  “This place is breathtaking.”

  I got no reply. Treading along the path Flynn’s shoes had left in the carpet, I peeked in each room. One was a bathroom with—

  “Oh my God, is that a jetted tub?” Flipping on the light as I charged in and gasped. “It is!” I clapped and jumped up and down.

  Flynn finally appeared in the doorway of what must be my room. “It’s small, though.”

  “Are you serious? Small is a bucket to wash out of. This is heaven.” Hopefully, he took that as a random comparison and not a literal one. Technically, it’d been a basin.

  I turned the light off and went to the door Flynn wasn’t standing in. “Your room?” Not waiting for his answer, I walked inside. “Whoa. Everything in this place is so nice. You even have your own bathroom? How many bathrooms does this place have?”

  “Three. And there’s a hot tub on the back deck, but I have to get it ready.”

  I sucked in a breath, otherwise, I was going to squeal and I knew he didn’t handle that well. “You better not be lying.”

  He gave me a steady look. “It’s just a hot tub.”

  The kitchen. The tubs. The whole stinking cabin. He owned his own business.

  “You’re rich, aren’t you?”

  Some high schools were in better neighborhoods than others. The one I’d gone to had never been about personal wealth, but there had been a ton of wealthy kids, several that had made my school life hell. I’d never realized he was one of them.

  “I do all right.”

  The look I passed him had to be droll. “‘All right’ isn’t a small jetted tub and a hot tub on the deck of your vacation home.” When his expression turned guarded, I clarified. “There’s nothing wrong with having money. It’s about perspective. I’ve never sat in either tub.” For a long time, I’d barely had a pot to piss in—literally. “I’ve never had a fridge the size of my car. I’ve never owned my own home, much less two. And that’s okay, too.”

  He cocked his head, but I kept going.

  “I’ve never been to the lake before, either. To you, this might be a normal getaway, just a typical break in your routine, but this is my first vacation ever. I’m very glad I get to have all these new experiences and to do it with someone I know.” Not alone, like I’d always been.

  When the words had spilled out, they felt right. But he was gaping at me.

  Enough chitchat. I had brownies to bake, a lake to swim in, two tubs to relax in, and only seven more days to do it in.

  Flynn

  I hauled her bag into her room. As the list of things Tilly hadn’t done grew longer and longer, I had felt smaller and smaller. She’d always been the wacky girl who lusted after me. Now she was becoming a person, one clearly better than me, though that wouldn’t be hard. She was a special education teacher. As soon as she heard about what I’d done after graduation, she’d think I was the lousiest human to have walked the earth.

  I was about to castrate myself for that kiss, and it didn’t matter if my hands still begged to be filled with her flesh.

  Where’d she learned to kiss like that? No hesitation, no coyness—full throttle, like the girl herself.

  Just as that thought was completed, she hooked her thumbs in her waistband and dropped her shorts.

  My breath froze. Long legs kicked the shorts away. I wanted to lick my way up her body and wrap them around my waist. Her swim bottoms were cute as fuck with the matching top, and the combo set her gray eyes sparkling.

  She looked around and spotted the bag I’d set on the luggage rack.

  I should leave, but she was going to go digging in that bag and my feet wouldn’t move.

  Dayum. The erection that had finally flagged roared back to life. She bent over the bag to retrieve something from inside and I stared at her ass the whole time.

&nbs
p; With other women, I’d know they were doing this on purpose, but Tilly seemed absolutely unaware of the effect she had. She straightened and reached back to gather her hair.

  I suppressed a groan. In the full-length mirror on the opposite wall, her breasts rose with her arms in the air, and I stood riveted the entire time she gathered her hair into a messy bun.

  “Is there a path to the lake?”

  I couldn’t answer right away. How hard would it be to crowd her back to the bed and rip that suit off with my teeth? One flick of my wrist and I’d be buried in that wet heat.

  Her head tilted. “Are you okay?” She glided toward me, her hand going for my forehead. “You look flushed. You aren’t running a fever, are you?”

  I caught her wrist—and found myself in the same damn position as earlier when I’d been about to kiss her. It was even harder to remember why I shouldn’t.

  “Flynn?” Her eyes grew wide. She swallowed hard, her gaze glued to my hand.

  My name should’ve been a cold splash of reality, but it was her reaction. I loosened my grip.

  Fuck, nothing I was doing was working. I could move out for the week, but that would negate the bachelor contract and be rude as hell.

  “I’m trying to stay away from you,” I said instead.

  She opened her mouth, then closed it. Her lips turned down. “Do you want to?”

  “No.” I snarled the word. “You had such a big fucking crush on me in school—I wasn’t going to lead you on.”

  “But you want me?”

  “Yes.” I still gripped her arm, but my thumb caressed her skin.

  “Did you want me then?”

  Some of my aggression eased. “No.”

  Her arm went limp and I let it go. Ah, hell. I’d hurt her feelings.

  She glanced away. “You were always awkward around me. I didn’t know it was because you didn’t like me.”

  Okay, this was working. This was creating distance between us. I’d keep going as much as it hurt me. “I called you Crazy J.”

  Her eyes flared, first with shock and then hurt. “I…I…didn’t know.”

  “You seemed like a nutcase, Tulip, but I don’t think you are. Why?”