Page 4 of Bargain with the Bachelor
It wasn’t a bidet—I’d seen those before when traveling in Europe. So what was it?
Deciding I’d ask someone when I went downstairs again, I left the bathroom and backtracked through the bedroom, heading for the door to the central hallway.
That’s when the lights went out.
Chapter Two
Hide and Seek
Kristal-- Fifteen minutes earlier
Stepping into the house from the terrace, I moved from room to room, searching for Harry. It seemed strange I hadn’t seen him in such a long while.
Hopefully he hadn’t spotted me talking to Hunter and gotten angry. Harry had a legendary temper.
There was certainly nothing going on, but Hunter was a tall, good-looking, single guy. I hoped my boyfriend hadn’t mistaken what he’d seen as something more than two old friends reconnecting.
Ithadbeen really nice to see Hunter—at first. I’d followed his blossoming software design career with interest, so happy for him and not the least bit surprised. I was proud to say, “I knew him when.”
And I’d always known he’d be successful—at whatever he chose to do. It had been obvious in high school he was brilliant, maybe even a genius.
He’d been such a nice guy, though painfully shy. Truth be told, I’d harbored a bit of a secret crush on him back then.
Though a little on the thin side, he was very fit, like a runner, not to mention his arresting electric blue eyes. He’d been cute in a geeky high school boy kind of way.
Being a self-identified art-geek, I’d thought we might make a nice couple. But he’d never asked me out or really even shown any interest in me beyond general friendliness.
Now I was kind of glad we’d never dated, though admittedly, Hunter had developed into a stunningly handsome man. I almost hadn’t recognized him at first glance with the way he’d filled out and matured.
But he wassucha braggart. I would never have predicted that of him. He’d always seemed so down to earth when he was young.
Then again, I hadn’t really known him all that well. Anyway, I had my hands full with Harry—orwouldif I could manage to locate him. I needed him.
The air-kisses and chit-chat were wearing thin, and the melancholy I’d been fighting daily since my father’s stroke was starting to creep in again.
I was craving Harry’s easy laughter and charisma, the mega-watt smile that always charmed whomever was around.
“Where have you been?” an imperious female voice demanded from over my shoulder.
I spun around to face Margot. My stepmother’s unnaturally smooth forehead actually creased a teensy bit.
Boy she really must be perturbed. That skin hadn’t moved in at least a decade.
Margot wore a flapper-style dress embellished with allover white feathers. A bejeweled headband with a single matching feather adorned her sleek platinum bob. I assumed she was going for a 1920’s look, but she was giving off strong poultry vibes.
“I went outside to get some air,” I said. “Everything okay?”
“No. Everything is notokay,” Margot mocked my choice of words. “The emcee from the local radio station isintoxicated,and the live auctioneer hasn’t arrived yet. The auction is supposed to begin in five minutes! If we don’t start on time, people will leave before the auction even happens, and the night will be atotalfailure.”
“What can I do to help?” I asked.
Margot’s arms flew out to the side and bounced up and down. Yep, she definitely looked like a flustered chicken.
“I don’t know,” she whined. “I’m going to get the emcee some strong black coffee. You can… call the auctioneer’s cell phone. Here.”
She shoved a business card at me before turning to stalk away in her four-inch stiletto heels. I felt bad for her.
Though we weren’t exactly close, I knew the event was important to my father’s wife.
