Page 6 of The Bachelor Auction

“Yes,” I mumble and drop back into my chair, ready to hide parts of my body behind the white tablecloth.

“You’re paying a lot of money to have dinner with me. I wanted to schedule an appointment, but seeing that we’re both dressed for it, why wait? We could do it tonight. You don’t even need to change. Whatever you’re wearing—or not wearing—works for me just fine.” His steel gaze is glued to my heaving chest again, and he licks his lips.

I can almost feel his tongue on my nipples, flicking, sucking, bringing them to life. My core pulsates in anticipation, and my muscles contract in a delicious pull.

I groan inwardly.

Dinner?

Hell, no!

If he’s having this effect on me a few seconds into the conversation, I don’t want to know what will happen during dinner together.

And what the hell is he implying anyway?

I stare at him, eyes narrowed. He’s shooting me another lascivious look, and that’s when it dawns on me. We’re in a ballroom full of extremely rich people with bank accounts that reach beyond my wildest dreams, yachts that are anchored in faraway locales, and mansions that would hold fifty of my tiny apartment. I might not be dressed like a hooker, but I’m certainly close to it. And Brenda’s about to pay a lot of money to get me an evening with this guy to “get his attention”…obviously, for work purposes.

My face catches fire at the realization that if he knew the truth, he’d probably think I was a gold digger…or worse.

And Brenda looks like my effing pimp.

Crap!

I jut my chin out, my gaze throwing daggers. “This wasn’t my choice of clothes. I don’t even want to be here. My associate made me do it.”

I cringe at my choice of words. That didn’t come out so well.

Tyler cocks a brow.

“Thanks for the offer, but—” Struggling to find the right words, I draw a steadying breath and let it out slowly. From the corner of my eye, I catch Brenda standing a few feet away, staring at us, the frown on her face speaking volumes. She grimaces once, then gestures at me, flapping her arms slightly.

I frown at her, fighting the urge to head over there and shake some sense into her. What the hell was she thinking, squeezing me into this dress like some sausage? We’re professionals, for crying out loud. We need to come across as such if we want people to take us seriously.

“Yes?” Tyler prompts impatiently.

I take another breath and focus my attention back to him, ignoring Brenda who’s grimacing and gesturing looks like she might be about to suffer from an imminent heart attack.

“Look, Mr. Becks. I’ll be frank with you. I never signed up for this. It was my associate’s plan to persuade you to hire our company to represent you, but I doubt we’re anywhere near your level. Maybe in a few years, once we have a portfolio worth looking at, but right now I know we’re a huge risk to take for someone like you. No one wants to hire us and Brenda’s run out of ideas, which I hope is an excusable enough reason for wasting your time. The thing is, we can’t afford to have dinner with you. We can’t affordthis.” I gesture around us. “We’re probably bankrupt now. If you would be so kind to—”

To what, Harding?

Allow us to back out of the deal?

But what if she’s already taken out the checkbook? In that case, give us our money back?

I can’t ask him that because he’s not the recipient. This is a charity event, and the raised money’s going to a good cause.

And why am I even disclosing my biggest fear to him?

I shake my head grimly and shut my mouth tight before I begin to rattle down my entire life.

Tyler frowns, his beautiful face drawn in what I assume is annoyance. Eventually, he nods, and before I can even register what’s happening, he’s taken Brenda’s seat, his legs brushing mine under the table. “I understand.”

I’m sure he doesn’t, but who cares?

“I’m sorry for thinking you were a—” He pauses and his frown deepens. “Given your choice of clothes, I thought you were interested in—” He shakes his head. “You know what? Let’s just leave it at that.”

I slump deeper into my chair as waves of humiliation waft over me.

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