Chapter 7
DREW
Willa’s lips, painted in a sinful scarlet red, lift into a half smile. “Who could resist an auction called Hunks for Hounds?”
“Obviously not you.” I glance down at the martini in her hand. “Is that the event cocktail?”
She takes a sip, her eyes never leaving me. As she pulls the martini glass from her mouth, her tongue flicks over her lip. Desire pulses in my cock.
“It is.” She takes another drink. “And it’s really fucking good.”
“May I?” My hand lifts to the glass, bringing it to my lips when she releases her grasp. The flavor of peach and bourbon explode on my tongue. It is good.
She takes the glass back and holds it to her chest, angling away from me. “This one is mine, get your own,” she teases.
My fingers itch to touch her. I flex my hands and then make a fist to stave off the need for physical contact with her. But fuck, is it hard.
She looks stunningly beautiful. The dress she poured herself into might as well be painted onto her body. Her blonde hair cascades down her back in soft waves. I had no idea it was so long. Her boots are high heeled but still don’t bring her to my height.
“You look gorgeous.”
She looks taken aback by my words, as if they were the last thing she expected to hear. “Thank you. You’re not too bad, yourself.”
Her eyes do a slow sweep over my broad shoulders, encased in a cashmere sweater that highlights my muscled physique. My cock twitches against my leg as her eyes wander down my body to the black dress pants I’m wearing.
“Thank you,” I rasp.
Fuck, if only she’d replace her gaze with her hands. She notices my hands flex and looks back up at me. Mischief sparkles in her expression.
“So, who should I bid on?” she asks, looking around the room at the various men waiting to be cattle called up to the stage.
“Me.”
Her smile is quick. “Just you?” She arches a slim brow. “I want to make sure I get my money’s worth.”
“I’ll make it worth your while.” My eyes fall back to her mouth and that sexy as hell smirk she’s so good at wearing.
She hums as though she’s not sure. “I’ll think about it.”
Ava’s voice comes over the sound system, calling all the bachelors over to the stage. Willa puts her hand on my chest and gives me a little nudge.
“Go on. Duty calls.”
Fuck, I want to sink my fingers into those long golden strands and press my lips to hers. I’m almost desperate enough to beg her to bid on me. Actually, I am desperate enough, but just as I’m about to drop to my knees, Aiden hooks his hand around my bicep and pulls me away.
“Time to go,” he says jovially. “Hey, Willow, right?” He pauses when he sees who I’m speaking to.
“Willa.” She offers her hand.
“Right.” He shakes her hand. “Sorry to get in the middle of whatever’s going on here, but he needs to get up on stage.”
“Are you being auctioned off as well?” she asks.
“I am.” His chest puffs up.
“I do love a well-prepared meal.” She knows exactly what she’s doing.
“You know who to bid on, then.” He winks at her.
“I can cook, and I’m right next door.” The words are out of my mouth before I even process them.
“Good to know.” She smiles and turns to disappear into the crowd.
I watch her go until Aiden yanks me in the opposite direction. “Let’s go. Ava will kick our asses if we’re late.”
I follow him through the crowd of women who look at us with a ridiculous amount of interest. I’m no stranger to the spotlight, but it’s been a while since I’ve felt the harsh glow like this.
It’s wild how becoming a father changed me so completely.
Not that I’m upset about the change, it’s the polar opposite, actually.
I love the simple life I’m giving Izzy. Though, it’d be a lie to say having Willa so close doesn’t make me wonder what it’d be like to have a partner. Not just someone to warm my bed, but someone to brush Izzy’s hair and tag team life with.
We get to the hall behind the saloon’s little stage, and Ava and another woman from the shelter line us all up. They rearrange a few of the guys, and then get to Aiden, Ben, Noah, and me. Ava yanks me to the front of our little group.
“You’re first, then Ben, Aiden, and Noah. Melody will be reading the intros you gave us. They were all pretty dry, so I took the liberty of adding some flair.”
“What does that mean?” Aiden asks. “And why are you not presenting us?”
She holds up a paddle. “I’m bidding.”
Aiden might miss the look that passes between her and Ben, but I sure as fuck don’t.
When she moves down the line to whisper and argue with Aiden, I raise a brow at Ben.
They work together, she’s a teacher at his school, and there’s definitely a story here.
He gives me a slight head shake and looks away.
There are about a dozen guys before us, and I watch as one by they’re auctioned off to the crowd of raucous women. The starting bids are two-hundred-and-fifty dollars, and some go much higher. I’m not sure what Willa’s financial situation is; hopefully, she can get me at an affordable price.
The guy in front of me is auctioned off at seven-hundred-and-fifteen dollars, and then my name is called.
I step onto the stage and give the crowd a little wave.
Behind me there are photos projected of animals from the shelter that are available for adoption now.
There’s one dog that catches my eye as a possibility for Izzy.
I make a mental note to ask Ava about it.
When Ava said she added flair, she actually meant she added that I’m a former football player with a Super Bowl ring to my name.
I specifically left that out of my bio because I don’t want to deal with any possible jersey chasers.
Women all over the floor glance at each other with interest. It’s for charity, though, so I paste on the cocky smirk I used to wear on the sidelines.
My eyes search the crowd for Willa, but I can’t see any faces past the first few rows because of the spotlight shining on me.
The bidding opens, and the numbers start climbing higher and higher.
My pulse increases every time I see a different paddle lift into the air.
There’s someone at the back of the crowd who keeps topping everyone’s bid. I can only hope it’s her.
Once the amount crosses the thousand-dollar mark, it’s between the mystery woman in the back and a woman at the front of the crowd. I give the woman a brief smile, so she doesn’t think she’s wasting her money on an ass, when suddenly there’s movement to her left, and I see Willa step forward.
“Fifteen-hundred,” she says with a lift of her paddle.
The auctioneer looks at the other woman who had been bidding on me to see if she’ll counter. She shakes her head in defeat and scowls at Willa.
I, on the other hand, want to jump off the stage and attack her with so much gratitude. It’s not just that I want to spend more time with her. It’s also that she’s saving me from a night of stilted conversation and dodging any kind of romantic offers.
I jump offstage and wrap my arms around her in gratitude. “Thank you so much.”
She returns my hug, and it’s the first time I’ve felt her body against mine. “Do you know when I’m supposed to pay?”
“Now, I think. Let’s go find someone and ask. Maybe Ava is around here somewhere.”
“She’s right there.” Willa points over my shoulder.
I turn and see Ava with her paddle raised to bid on Ben. “I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“There’s something going on between those two.”
“Who is he?”
“That’s my friend Ben; he’s one of the guys in my friend group. In fact, he’s been friends with Aiden since they were kids. They’re both originally from Holly Ridge.”
“And now his little sister is bidding on his best friend?” Her brows raise.
“Not only that, Ben is the principal at the school where Ava teaches.”
“Oh, scandalous. I thought she worked for the animal shelter.”
“Nope, that’s just where she volunteers. She’s actually an art teacher.”
“Maybe they just have some sort of an arrangement like we do.”
I go still and turn all my focus back on her. I might have told myself it was just an arrangement between us. That I wanted her to bid on me so I wouldn’t have to spend an evening making small talk, but now I know that’s not it.
I want Willa Baker. And I think she wants me.
“This might have started as an arrangement, but I think we both know it’s more than that.”
“Do we?” she challenges me with a hint of a smile.
I stay quiet while I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and lean forward to whisper, my lips brushing the shell of her other ear. “I’m going to give you your money’s worth, you can count on that.”
She tilts her head, lashes falling closed briefly, as she rests her head in my palm. “Promises, promises.”
“More than promises.”
“Is there a money back guarantee?”
I dip my lips to her neck, grazing the spot where her pulse beats rapidly. “Better than that, I have a one hundred percent satisfaction rating.”
She laughs and pushes me away. “You’re too much. I’m going to go find where I need to pay.” She pulls her phone out and checks the time. “Then I’m heading out. Maya probably needs to be let out.”
I let her go because I need to go get Izzy as well. Part of me feels bad leaving before checking in with the guys, but this is the first time Izzy’s been left with someone other than family or Ava. I’m anxious to see how she’s done.
“Goodnight, Daddy. I love you.”
“Love you, too, Bug. Sleep tight.”
I close the door to Izzy’s room and walk downstairs to grab the monitor from my bedside table. She’s probably getting old enough to not need this anymore, but I feel better having it just in case she gets sick in the night or something, since she’s upstairs and I’m on the main level.
After grabbing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, I pull my sweater over my head.
Wincing a bit at the stiffness in my shoulder, I roll it until the ache subsides and then pull the tee over my head.
When we got back I turned on the wood stove to ward off the chill, and now I’m running hot.
Before I moved out here, I had no idea how well those could heat up a space.
I grab a book and go out to the living room to read for a bit before going to bed. I’m a chapter in when I hear the sound of Maya running up the front porch steps. Her collar jingles quietly as she shakes before the front door opens and closes next door. I wish I had known that she was out there.
I’ve never wanted to kiss a woman more than I do her. If I could have caught up with her in the parking lot, I would have pressed her against the side of the Jeep and kissed her until she understood how serious I am.
She’s awake right now.
I’m awake.
A glance at the video feed of Izzy’s room tells me she’s fast asleep.
Before I can second guess myself, I’m sliding the monitor into my pocket and walking out the front door, closing it quietly behind me. It’ll only be a minute, less time than when I'm outside chopping wood.
I walk barefoot over the dusting of snow on the boards of the front porch and knock on the door. My breath puffs into the air. I hear her approach from the other side and then the deadbolt unlocks. She pulls the door open with a worried expression.
“Is everything ok—”
My lips are on hers before she can even finish the sentence.
She squeaks in surprise but then quickly melts into my arms. I run my tongue over the seam of her mouth, seeking permission, and then immediately sliding inside the silky warmth when she opens for me.
Her hands run up my chest and over my shoulders as she moans into the kiss.
She feels so right in my arms, our tongues dancing together in a sensual caress. I moan into our kiss as my fingers dip under the hem of her shirt. I don’t push them up or down, leaving them to rest at the soft skin of her waist. My thumb rubbing in light circles over the taut flesh.
Fuck.
This is better than I thought it would be. I wish I could wrap her legs around my waist and sink into her hot, wet pussy. There’s nothing and no one I can remember wanting more than this. What is she doing to me?
Maya whines, breaking the moment.
As we pull apart from each other, she looks up at me with wild eyes. I’m sure mine are nothing but dark and feral as I look back at her. I don’t even know what to say right now.
“What was that for?” she finally asks.
“A preview.”
“A preview of what?”
“What you have in store for you.”
She smirks, falling back into herself. “For our arrangement?”
I cup her cheek, running my thumb over her lower lip. “No arrangement. Your satisfaction-guaranteed date. Prepare to be wooed, Willa Baker. The kiss is just a precursor.”
“Big words.”
“Big everything.”
She laughs and shakes her head at that and gently pushes me back outside the door. “We’ll see about that.”
Damn right, we will.