Perhaps he did know best in this instance. But that didn’t excuse his methods, because this was not a little push. This was a shove off a cliff. Killing the fly by dropping a boulder on the house.
“Putting my ex-boyfriend in a bachelor auction is not a little push,” Anna said simply.
Drake cleared his throat. “Current boyfriend. Not ex.”
“Well, now you are!” Anna threw her hands wide. “You weren’t then.”
“Let us be clear.” Roman grasped his hands behind his back and strutted forward, pacing in front of Jase who was still tied tight and getting grumpier about it by the second, given the pulse pounding in his throat and the way he glared at Roman.
“You both want to be together, and now, thanks to my help, you are together. Yeah?” Roman asked.
“Can I kick him in the nuts yet?” Anna asked Sadie.
She nodded. “I’m beginning to think procreation with him may not be the best idea after all.”
Roman flashed a grin. “Uh-huh. Tell yourself what you want,milaya."
Sadie’s expression turned soft like it always did when he used the Russian endearment. Shit. Anna had officially lost her ally.
“Where are you?” Heather screeched, throwing open the door only to pause and gape at her husband tied to the water heater while everyone else milled about.
“We’re right here,” Jase said, moving his chin from side to side. “I could use an un-tie, sugar.”
Heather scowled and marched straight toward him, undoing the knots with scary precision. “They’re bidding on Drake. Somebody needs to get out there and buy him before Babushka wins the auction.”
“We have tons of time,” Anna assured. That’s what the chairwoman had said.
Heather pulled at the ropes holding Jase, freeing him. “They started early.”
Oh no. No. No.
Drake bolted down the hallway like the athlete he was. Anna followed like the athlete she was not. Drake slid through the door to the ballroom just as “Going once… Going twice… Sold!” was broadcasted over the loudspeaker.
Anna slid right into the back of him, huffing and puffing. She raised her hand to shout that she’d pay a dollar more, but between the girdle, the dress, and the running, she couldn’t get the words out.
The room went silent as all eyes turned to Drake.
Chapter 6
Drake
The room sat in a silent shock. But no one was more shocked than Drake as Jackson Medford caught Drake’s eyes and smiled.
The man had the ecstatic look of a guy who had just signed his first draft pick and felt like the world was filled with sunny hope.
Babushka grinned wryly from beside Medford as the spotlight moved to bathe Drake in its glow.
Jackson Medford stepped toward him, holding out a hand and clapping him on the back. “I understand you and I have some business to discuss.”
The smile Drake used at these events slid into place—the one that gave the illusion of being totally comfortable in the public eye even though he wasn’t.
“Your agent asked me to make a purchase for him.” Medford smiled. “But I’m hoping it might lead to a prolonged stay in Denver for you. Turns out the team is looking for a new quarterback.”
“I, uh…” Drake ignored the blood pounding in his ears. “I’m looking to come back home. To Denver. I’d love to be considered for the position.”
Medford studied him for a long beat before saying, “Sometimes things just fall into place. I think we can make this work.”
“Yes, sir. I think we can.”
