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Liam nodded at Fiona once again and she smiled and headed toward the sheikh with more drinks, her pushed-up breasts jiggling. No doubt she’d tucked away her good-sized tip already and would be on the hunt for more. Hopefully she’d keep Korian occupied for a good while. The last thing Liam needed was for the man to be offended or aggrieved by his losing bid.
Liam didn’t search the crowd for his brothers. He wasn’t sure whether they’d be pleased or peeved with his choice knowing the sheikh had bid on her first. In that moment he didn’t particularly care. They’d gotten their women...it was his turn.
Pivoting with his prize still in his arms, Liam stalked to the back of the stage and through the curtains. A couple of half-dressed women squealed and covered themselves as he stalked past them.
“Where are you taking me?” Harper squeaked.
“To the lockers so you can change back into whatever you wore here,” he said, putting her down in front of a row of them so she could open her locker door.
She pulled out jeans and a button-up white blouse. She looked down at her feet. “These boots are my every day wear,” she said with a shy laugh, one that was the antithesis to the bold woman on stage.
He nodded, waiting until after she was dressed, with her stage outfit placed into the locker along with her bag before he took her hand and brought her with him down the steps at the back of the stage. Ignoring the side door leading to the nightclub, he strode back into the function room and past the male bidders, many of whom whistled and applauded at seeing them leaving together.
Aiden and Galan stood next to the sheikh, listening intently to whatever their biggest client was saying, when they all looked toward Liam. Though his brothers smiled and nodded, Korian’s eyes flashed darkly.
Liam ignored them all to exit the building with Harper. Once outside, he led her to a silver, low slung sports car he’d left parked down the street, opening the passenger door for her.
She paused, her brow creasing. “Where are we going?”
He lifted his hand, tracing the stubborn set of her jaw as he said softly, “If we only have tonight, I want to experience all the things with you.”
“As in first date kind of things?” she asked with rounded eyes.
Clearly she’d imagined he’d be taking her straight to bed, if she allowed it, to get his money’s worth from her and take her in every sexual position imaginable. His dick thickened, reminding him that was part of his plans, just...not yet.
He wanted to romance her first and foremost, get into her head and find out about her in the short time he had before he got to know her physically.
He nodded. “Spot on, wildflower.” He gestured for her to get into the car. “After you.”
She giggled and saluted, “Yes, sir,” before she did as he asked.
He somehow ignored the jolt of lust pouring through him as her shirt rode up and her denim pulled tight across her slender thighs before he shut her door and stalked around to the driver’s seat.
He pulled out onto the road, glancing at the woman next to him. With her loose, strawberry blonde hair fluttering in the breeze and her taut body already relaxing a little, her lips curled into a smile while her golden-brown eyes warmed, he was glad he’d ignored his primal urge to take her to bed and had instead decided to take her out.
But the intermittent flashes of streetlights couldn’t hide the sometimes pensive look on her face. She wasn’t as brave as she pretended. He slowed for a red light. What had brought her back here? Yes, many men gave very generous tips to the women they bid on, but there was no guarantee.
Was that why she’d been focused on the sheikh? He was renowned for his outrageous tipping.
Liam flicked on his indicator and parked on the side of the road next to a small Mexican restaurant that, despite the late hour, was full of diners. He turned to Harper. “Are you hungry?”
She nodded. “Starving.”
“Then I hope you enjoy Mexican food.”
“Are you kidding? I love it.”
She sounded shocked that he imagined otherwise, like he knew every facet of her life, her likes and dislikes. That he knew so little about her irked him no end, but tonight he planned to change that.
They were soon seated at a private little table with a red and white checkered tablecloth, where a cactus-shaped candle flickered gaily between them. The look was corny but endearing, as were the cactus lanterns glowing along the walls and the sombrero hats hanging from the ceiling.
He ordered margaritas and burritos, their drinks coming out first. It was a pleasure just to watch Harper take a sip and close her eyes as though she was in heaven. Or perhaps she was thankful for the Dutch courage the drink would give her. He’d bid so high on her she probably imagined he’d have even higher expectations in the bedroom.
He would have bid a lot more if necessary. For a guy who routinely forgot a woman the moment she left his bed, that he hadn’t been able to get Harper out of his head from the moment he’d met her was something he needed to investigate a whole lot closer.
He leaned back in his chair. “So tell me about yourself? What made you enter the auction?”
She shrugged. “Like most everyone else there, I needed the money. And since it doesn’t grow on trees...here I am.” She bit her bottom lip. “The fact it helped my favorite charity made it a win-win for me.”
