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“I’m fine.”
“First time?” she asks, giving me a once-over, not in a critical way, but assessing.
“Yes.”
She whistles. “A newbie. You’ll walk away with bank tonight.”
“I’m not a...virgin.”
“Doesn’t matter. Men here love all things new.” She pushes waves of hair off her slender shoulders. “I’m Hope, by the way.”
“Bernadette.”
“Lovethat name.” She drawls in a New York accent. “I was the result of six rounds of IVF. Hence my name.”
“Thank you. You’re your mom’s miracle baby.”
“I guess.” She leans in. “I saw you arrived with Ford Montgomery. Is he bidding on you?”
“No.” I consider how much to reveal, including that he picked me up in an Escalade, and I find him absolutely smoldering.
“God, I’d love for him to bid on me, just once,” Hope swoons.
“Mmmm.” Jealously fires through me, but that’s irrational.
“Why did he bring you if he’s not bidding on you?”
“It’s a long story.”
“No problem.” She gives me another once-over. “You’re not from New York, are you?”
“Most people aren’t.” From what I’ve found out. “California. Northern Cal originally. Then I moved to L.A. to attend FIDM.”
“What’s that?”
“Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.”
“You’re a designer?”
“Trying to be.”
“Do you need money to start your own business?”
“Sort of.” I close my eyes. “Sorry, I’m a little sensitive about it. Someone... Someone screwed me over. I’m doing this to get back on track.”
“That’s all our story. We’ve been knocked down and want to get back on our feet.”
Ironically, by getting on our backs.
Or hands and knees.
“Welcome to this month’s auction, gentlemen.” The earlier deep voice booms from center stage, which is just a platform.
“Here we go,” Hope whispers. “You’ll be fine. Good luck.”
“You, too.” Not if she wants Ford to bid on her, because I doubt he will.
With Michael’s case and all his other work, he won’t have time this month to devote to a woman.
