Page 144 of Shared By the Highest Bidder

Bernadette asking if my ex and I were sharing a room soured my stomach. As a woman, she must have seen in Warren’s eyes how she planned to take advantage of this weekend together.

A weekend that was nonstop with Jess showing me off at every turn. That I loved. Having Warren tag along, sucked. She added a mountain of tension, ruining my daughter’s weekend wherever she could.

Frowning, I see more work pouring into my email when all I want to do is play. Play with my Bernadette.

“No,” I answer Jess. “Financial reports are going out. Just got copied. I, uh, didn’t hear from her at allthis weekend.”

Confusing, since we had such a hot encounter before I left. The way she squeezed my hand as I walked her to Ford’s building suggested she was proud to be mine.

Until...

My eyes slip closed. Ash and Ford took her from me.

They’re not only talking again but look to be on the reconciliation path. I know Ford wanted a woman in their relationship. My stomach tightens, thinking I’ve already lost my shot with Bernadette.

They’ve probably spent all weekend wooing her into their web. And burying their cocks in her pussy, which tasted so fucking sweet. I can’t get the flavor out of my mind.

If only I could find a way and had the balls to tell Bernadette how I’m falling for her. She sees me as a man who buys women because I don’t do relationships. It will only confuse her if she hears that I don’t want her to move to California, that I don’t want to lose her.

“Dad?” Jess knocks me out of my thoughts. “Call her.”

“Not now." My head automatically shakes tightly. “I’m still with you.”

“My friends are meeting in town for pizza.” She holds up her phone.

“Had enough of the old man?” I give her another hug.

“Never.” She squeezes me, and I feel tears building.

But they’re happy ones. Grateful that even though I was the absent one, the distant one, she loves me. And resents her mother. Should I try to repair that?

Fuck, that. Warren is an adult.

“Come on, call Bernie. Tell her you’ll pick her up. Take her for a hot chocolate with whipped cream.”

I roar with laughter at what Jess thinks I’ll do with Bernie once I get a hold of her.

How Jess thinks so pure of me makes me feel like a fraud, because I’d skip the hot chocolate, spread Bernie’s thighs, spray the whipped cream on her pussy, and lick her until she’s screaming my name.

“What’s wrong, Dad? Talk to me.” Jess leans against the kitchen island.

I have a bond with my daughter that I want to nurture until some man takes my place. I shudder at that thought.

Opening up to her will tighten that bond.

“You know Bernadette is having some financial troubles. And I bought her at the auction to help her pay Ford. But I have to...” I close my eyes. “I have to share her with Ashton.”

Funny how buying a woman doesn’t halt my breath, but saying I’m sharing a woman does.

“I know.” Jess shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“And that Ford and Ashton were once in a relationship.”

“Uh-huh.” The beauty of my daughter’s generation is that they’re so incredibly open-minded.

“They had been looking for a woman to...join them in their...love,” I say to make it sound romantic. “They want to be in arelationshipwith Bernadette.”

“What about you? You like her, too.” Jess gets adorably defensive. “And so do I.”

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