Page 21 of Unforgettable
“I want you, Ryker,” a girl in the back screamed.
“Tell us already,” a mousy voice said.
Beverly was trying hard to contain her smile. No doubt she’d known that the women were going to freak.
The voices in the room elevated.
Ryker lifted his arms halfway and pushed down on air with his hands as though he were dribbling two basketballs at once. “Easy, girls.” Once the room was dead silent, he started again. “How do you feel about an auction?” He waved his hands at his buddies. “This year, you’ll have a chance to buy a date with some of us from the football team.”
The room exploded as the ladies began squealing and talking. I would bet the pheromones bouncing around the room were at an all-time high.
I wanted to say that mine were, but the idea of paying for a date didn’t thrill me, although I might drum up some cash if it were for a good cause. I could bid on Ryker.
“What charity are you supporting?” I asked even though no one could hear me.
“I hope I can snag a date with Lucas,” Vicki said. “Maybe this is your chance to get Ryker. Your father couldn’t diss you for supporting a charity.”
Want to bet?
“Ladies,” Ryker said.
The room quieted.
“What charity are you giving the proceeds to?” I asked again.
Ryker’s stormy-gray eyes whipped my way. He studied me for a long second, angling his head one way and then the other as his gaze roamed all over me. And for some reason, I wanted to strip down right there and show him I had the goods even though I wasn’t his type.
I prodded him with my eyes. “Cat got your tongue?”
His buds chuckled. Beverly snarled at me.
That’s right, bitch. Say something now, and I’ll snap a picture of you and send it to a news outlet with the headline “Bleach Blonde Sleeps Around.”Okay, I was a bit crazy at the moment.
“Haven Hale,” Ryker said as though he were mortified over my name.
Yeah, there was something between dear old dad and the hunky quarterback.
“Please stand,” Ryker said to me without tearing away his gaze. “And join me up here.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’ll pass.”
One or two or maybe the entire crowd exclaimed, “Are you nuts? Get your ass up there, girl.”
Vicki nudged me. “Go.”
I sighed loudly. “If you have something to say, Ryker, say it. I’m not your dog to command.”
Ryker looked at his buds. “Hey, boys. What if we make the fundraiser a little more interesting and add a girl to the auction?”
The men nodded their approval, grinning.
“Pick me too,” other girls screamed.
Beverly touched Ryker’s arm. “Surely you could pick someone else other than her.”
I popped up. “My name is Haven Hale.” My snarl was lethal as I glared daggers at Beverly.
“Are you related to Senator Hale?” asked a girl somewhere behind me.
