“After listening to you at dinner, I wanted to get you somethingspecialfor your birthday. Happy birthday, brother. Let’s go meetRaven.”
3
The Invitation
As soon asTaylor entered the salon, she grabbed her clutch and flew down the hallway to the restroom, her heart fluttering like a hummingbird.Some man paid twenty thousand dollars for a date with me.Taylor entered the stall, lifted her gown, and plunked her ass on thetoilet.
When she emerged, several guests were freshening theirmakeup.
“You did a phenomenal job,” said one woman. “That pretend tripping was funny! I wish I had your comedicflair.”
She’s just being polite. While washing her hands, Taylor smiled. “Thanks for saying that and thank you for coming. Did you win abachelor?”
“No, but I’m headed back into the salon to donate a little something. I don’t have that kind of money tobid.”
“You’re married,” interrupted her friend. “You’re not supposed tobid.”
Everyone in the bathroom laughed, including Taylor, and her racing pulseslowed.
“Seriously,” said the first woman. “I envy you. Did you see the guy who wonyou?”
After drying her hands, Taylor fluffed her bangs. “Not really. He was all the way in theback.”
“Oh, honey, he’s gorgeous,” said the second woman. “That man is total eye candy.” Talking amongst themselves, the women paradedout.
Handsome? Hmm, maybe he did it on a dare.Taylor glossed her lips before leaving. As she approached the salon, her chest tightened. Good-looking men turned her into a bundle of jumbled nerves. But this man had bid onRaven. As far as he was concerned, timid Taylor didn’t exist. Melissa’s mantra echoed in her head.Life is all about making boldchoices.
Emboldened by her brave alter ego, she threw back her shoulders. For the sake of the charity, she could fake it for the next ten minutes while she thanked the winner and gave him her phone number. But once he got a close look at her, he’d bail.He’s probably trashed, likeSpencer.
Seconds after she entered the salon, Melissa waved her over to the collectiontable.
“There you are!” Melissa beamed. “Congratulations, you killed it. Thank you so, so much. The event was a huge success because ofyou!”
“Team effort,” correctedTaylor.
“Excuse me,” said a deep voice behindher.
She turned and her heart leapt into her throat. A gorgeous man, with flashing hazel eyes and full lips, smiled. Dark hair hung over one eyebrow, giving him a devil-may-care appearance. Her brainshorted.
“You did a great job tonight, Raven.” His smooth-as-silk timbre rumbled through her, and a whoosh of heat burned a trail down to hertoes.
Right, I’m Raven.“Thank you,” shemurmured.
His closely cropped goatee and moustache drew her attention back to his sexy mouth.A man like that is used to supermodels and corporate execs.Those types of women exuded confidence and grace. She possessedneither.
She scooted around the table to take his payment. “Did you want to pledge adonation?”
“I won abachelorette.”
“Congratulations. Who did youwin?”
His beautiful smile sent her pulse soaring. “I wonyou.”
She stilled. This had to be a joke.No way did this manbid twenty thousand onme.
“Thanks to me,” boasted the grinning man next tohim.
Her heart dropped as she forced a smile at the linebacker-sized friend. Her suspicions had been spot-on.They’d gotten into that bidding war as a joke. Striking men like these didn’t pay attention to ordinary girls likeher.
