Page 9 of Crazy About Love (All About Love)

“Um…bachelor nineteen graduated with a theater and arts degree, top of his class,” the auctioneer says a little breathlessly, and I squint through the lights to catch a glance at her switching between fanning herself with the note card and actually reading it. “He’s been sought after by high-paying director Landon Wangford…”

I laugh out loud and search the crowd for Theresa, but can’t find her. Yeah, Landon wants me in his movie because I’m his best friend. Nothing other than tha—

“He’s also great with his hands, andamazingwith his mouth.”

I jerk back, grinning at the screams, but also at the expression the auctioneer is wearing. She smiles and adds, “From a reliable source.”

“Two thousand!”

“Twenty-one hundred!”

“Twenty-twohundred!”

Bids are coming from all over, and hot adrenaline starts coursing through my veins. I push up to my feet and tear the shirt off. I pump my hips, smile, and enjoy my damn self because there are about eighty women out here, and theywantme. I haven’t beenwanteda day in my life. After months of no callbacks, no prospects, and wanting someone who doesn’t want me, this…this feelsso damn good.

The bidding has gone up to $2,500 and halted, and I’m good with that. It’s one of the best bids of the night—and it’s for me, some average Joe that Theresa made sound pretty damn impressive.

The lights move over the crowd, and I follow the green spotlight, which floats across Theresa’s face. She’s watching me with her mouth slightly open in a smile, caught in a daze until she notices that I’m looking at her. When she shakes herself out of it, I pump my hips at her jokingly and start unbuttoning my jeans. Her eyebrows rise, and even with all the lights around us I can see the fresh rush of blush rise through her chest. I grin, then turn around, wiggle my ass in her direction, and look over my shoulder to catch her laugh. She’s so goddamn beautiful. The song moves into another round of the chorus, and I flip around to face her, then belt out the lyrics along with Def Leppard. I get another bid, but I’m not really paying attention to where it’s coming from or even how much it is. I keep my eyes locked on Theresa, on her parted lips, her wide eyes, her frizzy hair, and my thumb slides across the zipper on my jeans. Her mouth looks like it’s about to move.

“Four thousand!”

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