Page 137 of Sassy Love
I set my jaw and start for the stage.
Fine fingers clasp my wrist, and I turn back. Her big brown eyes are tight when she says, “I’m sorry.”
I have no way to respond to that.
I stride for the stage, and Rubes pats the upholstered seat where I’m guessing the last guy sat as he was auctioned off to the highest bidder. I take the steps two at a time, and that gets a reaction from the audience. Apparently, the wealthy women of New York like a fit guy.
Just my luck.
Ruby gives me a shit-eating grin as I sit on the chair, tugging at my bow tie.
She leans over, holding the microphone behind her. “Untie it and lose a button or two. You’ll raise more money, Laws.”
I give her the foulest look I’ve ever mustered as she messes up my hair with her free hand.
Yep, Rubes is a dead woman.
Begrudgingly, I do as she asks.
“Alright, ladies. Don’t let this one get away.”
I watch as Carlie drifts to our table and sits in her seat, dumbstruck. I see Adds snickering. I shake my head at her.
Huddo gives me a thumbs up, and Mack shakes his head while Reed imitates feinting like a southern belle in need of goddamn vapors. This is why my family should have stayed in damn Montana.
“Shall we start the bidding at five thousand?” Rubes coos.
The hell?
A paddle shoots into the air. Some older lady in a shimmery pea-green outfit.
Christ.
“Can I get six thousand?” Rubes slinks behind my chair, shoving my hair forward and into my face. I shake her off but leave the hair messed up and half in my face. At this point, who really cares? My dignity died as soon as I crossed the threshold minutes ago.
I count a total of ten paddles as they fly into the air.
Well, fuck.
“Oh ladies, play a little hard to get, hey?” Rubes laughs and leans down, whispering, “Sell it, Laws. Come on, I know you can.”
With a grunt, I resist the urge to flip her off. But seeing as Serenity’s entire existence hangs on raising enough money, I do as she says. I tug at the bow tie and slide it from my neck, letting it drop to the floor. Next, I shoulder off the jacket and roll up my sleeves.
I glance at Carlie. Her face is unreadable, and not in a good way.
“Ten thousand!” a platinum blonde in a navy dress yells from a front table.
Trying my best to keep a straight face, I let my gaze burn into Carlie’s before I lean back, manspreading.
“Twenty thousand,” another screams, jumping up and rattling her whole table.
Rubes closes in by my side. “Did you want to say something to the ladies, Lawson?”
I swing my focus back to our table. Carlie’s hand is over her mouth as she leans into the table. I take the microphone from Ruby’s hand and hold it to my lips as I growl out, in my best Montana accent, “Yes ma’am.”
Ruby’s eyebrows meet her hairline as she smiles, moving the microphone closer to her and says, “And what would you like to say?”
Serenity is riding on this money. This fundraiser is the difference between us surviving or sinking. Without this money, all one million dollars of it, the women of this city will lose a lifesaving resource.
