She looked out for me, just like my family did.
And that made her good people, and I could always use good people in my life.
“I do. Don’t know who, but I couldn’t miss the chance of having a date for Christmas dinner.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’m really hoping that whoever I can bid on, has mercy on me and enjoys my company so much, that he’ll agree to a second date. My mom always has this big Christmas party and dinner, and I have yet to bring a date to her place. So, I’m hoping this year I can have one and surprise the hell out of her and my siblings. It would be epic.”
“How is it possible you don’t have a date?”
“Because I work for a slave driver who does not allow me to have much free time, that’s why. You should see how rude he is to me.”
I couldn’t help but reach out and tickle her side, causing her to squeal.
“He’s a rather good guy, if I do say so,” I countered, rather enjoying this banter.
“He is. He hasn’t let his fame get too far into his head and he can be humble when he needs to be. I also have his mom on speed dial and can call at any moment for her to come kick his ass.”
“You do not.” I paused walking to stare at her, my jaw dropping a little. Not that I didn’t believe her, because I mostcertainly did. But I can’t believe my mom would give out her number to my PA on the off chance that I need someone to smack upside the back of the head.
“Oh, I do. Do you want to see?”
“No, I believe you. It’s just…my mom would do that?”
“Your mom wants to make sure you stay true to yourself, Joshua, you know this.”
See, she was good people. Mom approved of her and mom didn’t like anybody.
“Ladies and gentleman, may we have our guests come to the stage, it’s time to start the bids. Remember, it’s all for a good cause. So, let’s be generous with our time, our hearts, and our wallets.”
“Thank you for keeping me company,” she told me, nudging me to the stage.
“My pleasure. I had to keep the sharks away, one way or another.”
I wouldn’t ever tell her just how true that statement was. Because plenty of men were staring at her, even if they had a date.
I waited for the announcer to call my name, and once he did, I stepped on stage, smiling at the crowd. The gentleman sang my praises, all I’m sure of which Tessy told them. My eyes sought her out in the crowd, but not spotting her, thanks to the lights.
“First bid, let’s say five thousand.”
From there, the numbers rose higher and higher, hands of plenty of ladies being raised. Finally, as it reached the point of fifty and sixty thousand dollars, it was down to two women. One was Elsa, the other I still couldn’t make out.
Finally, her voice called out from the shadows of one hundred thousand dollars, and the announcer dropped his gravel.
“Tessy Andrews, you’ve won yourself a date with Joshua Stevens.”
I slowly walked off the stage, in a complete daze.
Because my PA just made a huge bid on me, and I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about that.
Chapter 3
Tessy
Iswallowed hard as he walked off the stage and straight towards me. The look in his eyes held all the confusion. And I knew him well enough to know what he was about to ask me but had no real answer that didn’t make me sound crazy or foolish.
“You spent a lot of money to spend time with a man you see quite a bit,” he told me, his hands shoved in his pockets.
