Page 50 of Highest Bidder

The car ride to his house was quiet this time. I had a new driver, Toby. Thank God. The man behind the wheel had greeted me with a curt nod as he opened the door for me, then took my bag, put it in the trunk, and got behind the wheel.

“511 Brookstone Drive?” he asked as he pulled away from the curb.

“Um… I’m not sure. Dr. Connolly’s house.”

He nodded and said, “That’s the one,” then was silent the rest of the drive.

My phone buzzed as we drove toward his neighborhood.

Jeff: I have an emergency at the hospital and won’t be there when you arrive.

Jeff: The code for the front door is 0-5-1-1, then press the star button. Be waiting for me in the living room.

No apology, or “see you soon.” Just, “be waiting.”

I chastised myself.

What did I expect? Heownsme—he doesn’toweme anything.

Me: Yes, Sir. I’ll be waiting.

I kept my phone in my hand in case he responded, but of course, he didn’t.

When we pulled into Jeff’s drive, I let out a sigh of relief. It had been the right address.

Toby wished me a pleasant evening as he handed me my bag and waited in the car as I punched in the code Jeff had texted me.

Once the lock turned, I gave him a small wave, then stepped inside.

The familiar scent of the house hit me, and I instantly relaxed. That’s when I realized… I was comfortable here.

Good grief. How was that possible?

I carried my bag straight to the guest room that I’d been using and shut the door behind me. After stripping quickly, I folded my clothes and set them on the chair in the corner, then pulled a white t-shirt from my bag and slipped it over my head. I was still following the rules—my holes were available to him.

The shirt barely covered my ass. I didn’t care. I just didn’t want to sit around completely naked while I waited for him to come home.

I went downstairs to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. A small smile spread across my face when I noticed the stash of Pellegrino bottles he had on a shelf. I grabbed the bottle of Pinot Grigio he’d opened last weekend. He’d said he’d bought it at the winery in Napa Valley where it was made.

I took my glass into the living room and settled onto the couch with my phone to see if he’d texted again.

He hadn’t.

I sipped. Waited. And refilled my glass.

As I was walking back into the living room, I remembered the lingerie I had packed.

I’d brought it last week but hadn’t had an opportunity to wear it. Tonight seemed like an appropriate time.

I carried my wineglass back upstairs and set it on the dresser as I changed into the sheer black lace teddy I’d gotten on the sale rack. I thought the subtlety of it made it sexier.

I pushed my boobs up so they were spilling out of the cups, then smoothed my hands down the sides of my hips, while I checked myself out in the mirror.

Not bad, I thought, as I put my hands on my waist and turned side to side to see myself from different angles.

I picked up my now-empty wineglass and headed back downstairs. The Pinot was already making me feel warm, but I thought I’d have a little more as I waited.

As I passed through the living room on the way to the kitchen, I noticed a candle on the bookshelf and decided to use the Aim-n-Flame next to the fireplace to light it.

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