Page 35 of Another Man’s Treasure

Except, when I look at where she’s looking, she’s still staring at Oz. Well, that makes two of us, because I’m starting to think he might be the best prize a man could get.

Oz

Hadrian’s up first to be auctioned off, and to absolutely nobody’s shock, he goes for an arm and a leg. This all goes into the haven wildlife fund anyhow, so I can’t hate his beautiful, architecturally perfect face for it.

Furyon’s up next, and given he’s head of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, he fetches a pretty price too. I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that his mate keeps raising the price until the auctioneer jokingly tells her to stand down.

I’m third, and despite the fact that this is all for charity, Saint’s presence steals the fun out of it. If this were just my people and my beloved town, I’d be having the time of my life. But I’m not, especially when he’s the first to bid a hundred bucks.

Bids move fast with a flurry of cherry-red auction flags flying up. The auctioneer talks so fast I can barely follow, but Lemon and Bluebell rile the crowd until it’s so loud all I can do is force laughter.

For a good cause.

For a good cause.

For a good cause.

Until Saint bids again. When I frown at him, he wears a shit-eating grin I’d like to wipe off his face with a baseball bat.

Off behind him, Wilder’s watching the insanity with a deep frown and matching wrinkles between those pale brows. He looks ready to go nuts, perfectly playing the part of an angry boyfriend.

I’m beyond thankful when he bids against Saint, driving the price up over and over again.

“A thousand bucks,” Wilder says, his deep voice echoing across the crowd.

Willa smirks by his side.

Thank gods, she’s back! I hadn’t realized how worried I was about her disappearance until she popped back up.

“Five thousand,” comes that silky smooth croon I know so well.

“My gods,” the auctioneer says with an audible gulp. He turns to me. “Umm, we’ve got to take that, Ozifer.”

“Of course,” I say, despite the seething anger inside me. Saint buying a date like this will come with a whole set of expectations I don’t want to deal with.

The auctioneer lifts a hand.

I stare at Wilder, willing him to bid even though it’s a stupid amount of money, and he’s trying to buy a ranch. But everything in me yearns for it, like that crazy grand gesture would mean something because it’s so crazy and so very public.

But he doesn’t, and the auctioneer sputters on. “Five thousand going once, twice, and SOLD to the monster in the lovely black suit, standing there with flag sixty-two.”

Disappointment threatens to overwhelm me, but I can’t let it. It’s not reasonable to expect Wilder to pay another huge chunk of change. He’s already paying me for my time.

I’m sure Saint’s smirking at me, but I refuse to look at him. Instead, I fake a smile and direct it at Wilder, trying to tell him it’s fine, that I understand. His jaw’s grit tightly, body full of tension as he stares at me. He knows how I feel about Saint, and I’m sure he’s worried for me.

As a friend.

And because me being with Saint for a whole night is a chance I’ll slip up and say something that reveals our farce. Well, I can’t let that happen. So I flash the crowd my brightest smile as I saunter off the stage with a wave.

At the base of the stage steps, Saint waits for me with his hand outstretched. “Ozifer, I’d like to claim that date tonight. Let’s go.”

Creepy. Beyond creepy.

He steps closer to me. “I’ve missed that pretty little ass, Oz, and I wanna ride it until you can’t sit for a week. Fuck your troll. I’ll remind you how a real ma⁠—”

“We’re monogamous,” I say sweetly as I cross my arms. “So while I’m happy for you to cash in on your date tonight, we won’t be getting naked. That’s not what this is about.”

He snorts. “What do you think I paid for, Oz?”