“Catalina!” I exclaim breathlessly, wishing we could meet again under any other circumstances.
“Cat’s the winning bidder,” Roxy says with a broad grin.
Relief crashes through me, fierce and overwhelming. The first time I’ve ever wanted to bewon.
Of all the women in this gym, the one I wanted most is here. My shoulders drop, my lungs unclenching as I take a deep breath, heart thudding becauseshechose me.
Chapter
Seven
AMBROSE
As we cross the parking lot under heavy Sheriff’s Deputy guard, the chestnut beauty looks downright mortified. She hugs herself, chin tucked against more than the night air.
I offer her my Carhartt.
“No, thank you.” Her voice shakes, but it’s not just embarrassment. It’s pride. A quiet defiance that makes me want to wrap her up twice as tight.
“It was Gran,” she stammers. “There’s no way I have ten thousand dollars to bid on you or any other man. No offense.”
The lady in pink? Gran. Of course it was Gran. That makes more sense. I can’t deny the sting of disappointment that clings to me, though.
“But you were one of the other bidders, right?” I counter.
“I had to try to stop her. The embarrassment of her bidding on youand winning. Ugh!”
“And that’s the only reason you bid?”
Her awkward silence tells me everything. So do her glowing cheeks.
I grin. “Either way, you’ve got yourself a ten-thousand-dollar date.”
“Whose car are we going to take?” Catalina asks breathlessly as we follow Christian.
“Avery Ross! Avery!” Screams fill the air. “Oh, my God. That’s him! That’s him, girls!”
A cascade of voices splits the crisp autumnal air as we hurry towards my dark gray pickup. “Mine. It has tinted windows to keep from constantly being recognized by fans.”
“Stay back,” Christian orders the approaching women. “This is a sheriff’s escort.” Indeed, he has four deputies with him.
I open Catalina’s door, offering my hand. She hesitates before gripping it as I boost her into the seat.
She pulls away a little too quickly, the impossible softness of her hand lingering. Her cheeks stain redder than the Merlot half the crowd guzzled tonight.Does she feel the crackling chemistry sizzling between us?
I lean forward to buckle her belt, and her bottom jaw drops. It’s like she’s never been around a decent guy before.
Inches from her face, I feel unhinged. I should back off, give her space. But hell if my body listens. She smells like cookies, all vanilla and cinnamon goodness. It makes me want to taste her, bite her. Maybe some of the bacchanal energy of tonight’s event has rubbed off on me.
Christian clears his throat forcefully behind us. Straightening too quickly, I slam the back of my head into the top of the door frame. The hollow thud reverberates through the truck, making it impossible to hide.
“Are you okay?” Catalina gasps. Concern and amusement blur in her eyes, hitting worse than the bump on my skull.
“Ouch!” The sheriff winces as I grab the crown of my head.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Christian adds, “That sounded like it hurt.”
