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I stare up at the stage. Kylie in her red dress stands with her hands clasped in front of her, as if trying to stop those pretty fingers from reaching up to twirl at one of her long, dark curls. She looks out over the crowd, her eyes blinking with surprise as the bids begin to fly in.
Women in the crowd who aren’t organizing the auction frantically raise their bidding paddles. The price quickly doubles from the starting bid, then triples. I think of Kylie’s work at Fire and know she’s worth every penny.
A rumbling voice calls out from beside me. “Ten thousand.”
I look to my right to find the Beast calmly raising his paddle. His stoic gaze is trained on Kylie.
What does he think he’s doing? Oh…helllto the no. I didn’t even grab an auction paddle after writing my check—didn’t think I’d need it.
I stand from my seat. “Twenty thousand.”
Kylies hand goes to her lips, covering a gasp at the amount.
The Beast turns to see who’s bidding against him. He eyes me then rises from his seat, his attention back on Kylie. “Thirty,” he says.
“What are you doing, man?” I hiss.
His eyes on Kylie, he shrugs. “It’s for charity.”
“You know I came with her,” I say.
He shrugs. “What can I say? My house is a mess. I haven’t had time to unpack.”
Knowing he’s new to the family and hasn’t had much time to accrue his wealth, I shout out a number I know he can’t match. “Five hundred thousand dollars.”
Bronson, acting as the auctioneer tonight, hits a gavel against his podium. “Five hundred thousand dollars. Going once, going twice, sold, to Cannon Bachman. Enjoy your closet cleaning. Next up.”
The Beast drops his paddle on his empty seat, leaving the auditorium without giving me a second glance.
“Beast Bachman,” I say, envisioning myself scribbling his name on a line of paper. “You just made my hit list.”
I put Tie and Tate on there too. Fuck, the list is getting long. I’m going to be a busy man.
I slink down in my seat, waiting for the auction to end. I want her in my arms but she’s stuck backstage with the Beauties. My only solace is envisioning her in the cute little maid costume while she redoes my kitchen cabinets.
We’re seated beside one another for dinner but Paige is on Kylie’s left, talking her ear off. I can’t get a word in. I slide my arm around her shoulders, happy to finally have her within reach.
They serve dessert, a ball of hardened chocolate that you tap to break with your spoon, a rich custard flowing from it, paired with espresso martinis, the caffeine to carry us into the late evening. The sound of the town bell rings, signaling it’s time for the ball.
As we make our way back to the theater for dancing, I pull Kylie into my arms, guiding us behind a massive oak tree. “I need to steal a kiss.”
“That’ll be another five hundred thousand dollars,” she giggles.
“I’ll gladly pay twice that.” I brush my lips over her earlobe, nipping at her flesh.
“Why did you bid so high?” she asks, winding her arms around my neck.
“Didn’t you see? The Beast was trying to bid on you. I couldn’t have you at his place, cleaning his closets. Not gonna happen.”
“You can’t hide me away from every man on this planet. You know that, right?” She rises up on tiptoe, pouting her sensual lips, begging to be kissed.
“I can and I will. So don’t test me.” Wrapping my arms tight around her waist, I pull her to me hard and lean down, kissing her breathless.
We go to the dance, her cheeks flushed from my caresses. The bright sound of upbeat classical music flows through the open doors. There’s a band comprised of a flutist and several violists surrounding a man playing the grand piano that sits on the edge of the stage.
I hate it.
I was hoping for something slow, sultry, sexy. Low lights and candles. Kylie’s body pressed against mine as we sway across the dance floor.
