Jack’s eyes narrowed as he shook Nick’s hand. It looked like Shelby’s uncle had been under the knife more than once as well. The Marx’s plastic surgeon had to be one wealthy doctor by now.
“Shelby’s date, huh? Good thing you’re Edward’s son, or I’d have to give you the third degree. But I’ll warn you, I’ve yet to meet a man good enough for my Shelby.”
Nick couldn’t resist defending himself and Shelby too, for that matter. Her aunt and uncle were unbearable. “Then it’s fortunate we’ve finally met.”
***
Shelby finished off her second glass of wine with dinner. She was due to be auctioned off any minute and needed all the courage she could ingest. Damn her aunt for tricking her. What if no one bid on her?
Worse, what if she didn’t turn out to be worth more than that hideous painting someone donated?
Mortifying.
Nick refilled her empty wine glass. “Stop fidgeting, Shelby. You’ll be the hit of the auction.”
“You’re loving every minute of this, aren’t you?”
“Yup.” He chuckled before whispering in her ear, “You bribed me into being your date knowing I’d suffer for it, but I’m the one having all the fun. It’s so unfair.”
Ignoring his sarcastic remark, she took a deep drink from her wineglass. Nick was ridiculously gorgeous in his tux, so it had been no surprise when women of all ages flirted with him—including disgusting overtures from her aunt—but Nick never took the bait.
She reluctantly gave him points for that. As handsome as Nick was, he didn’t seem to use it to his advantage. Except for when he helped out her shy client, but that had been for a good cause.
All evening, she’d tried to ignore him for the most part, but he’d been well versed on every subject, politely chatted with everyone she introduced him to, and only left her side to get their drinks. It confused her. He wasn’t at all like he’d been at the café.
Nick’s big shoulder gently bumped hers. “So, what made you pick Summer Sinclair for your pen name?”
She glanced at their tablemates to be sure no one was listening. “I was born with it.”
His right brow zinged up. “You changed your name?”
“My aunt said she wouldn’t take me in unless I changed it and became a Marx. She thought Summer Sinclair sounded like a porn star’s name.”
He laughed. “It must really chap her ass you’re using it as your pen name then, huh?”
“That was the plan.” Taking another long drink from her wineglass, she smiled, reveling in her small dose of revenge.
“Nice move, Shelby.” Nick chuckled as he leaned closer and studied the program. “It says here whoever wins the pleasure of your company gets to choose one of three venues.”
“Let me see that.” She snatched the program from his hand and scanned the list of choices. One was lunch at an upscale restaurant, the other a dinner at an intimate bed-and-breakfast, and the third was for a party in a luxury executive suite to watch the Denver Broncos play on Monday night. Her uncle was the one who donated his box for the game.
Nick tugged the paper back from her. “Most women wouldn’t consider a football game a fun date. Why would they offer that for you?”
“The person’s place I’m taking in the auction is a retired Denver Bronco player. I imagine it was their way of encouraging the men to bid as well.”
“Maybe you’ll get lucky and one of those fictional knights you’re waiting for will win and pick the cozy bed-and-breakfast. That way, you’d only have to go upstairs to get even luckier.”
“Funny. But just like you don’t do real relationships, I don’t do one-night stands.” She finished off her wine. “Besides, most men need a little time to work up to the sight of my legs.”
Why had she just told him that? Probably the wine’s fault. She’d better quit drinking before she did something really stupid.
She saw rather than felt Nick’s big hand pat her knee. “I’m sure your legs don’t look as bad as you think, Shelby. Besides, you have many more interesting body parts. That dress is doing a fine job displaying them tonight.”
She could have kissed him for that. If he’d been anyone other than Nick Caldwell, she would have. “Yeah, well I don’t look as good as you do in that tux. But then, you already knew that I’m sure.”
“You’re slipping, Shelby. That sounded dangerously close to a compliment.”
Before she could finish their sparring match, her aunt’s voice over the speakers asked Shelby to join her on stage. “Well, this is it. See you on the other side.” She slapped her beaded purse into his belly. “Guard this with your life.”
Shelby stood and threw her shoulders back, plastering on a smile as she made her way to the podium. If she was going to be displayed like a piece of meat, she’d be filet mignon. She’d never give her aunt the satisfaction of seeing her sweat.
Her uncle Jack was a pain in the butt with his protectiveness, but at least he was nice to her. Her aunt Victoria had never wanted children and had resented that her uncle insisted Shelby live with them.
Careful to lift her dress as little as possible while ascending the stairs, so as not to expose her legs to everyone, she took her place beside her aunt.
Please don’t let me pass out. Or puke up all that wine.
Aunt Victoria plastered on one of her fake smiles for the crowd. “As some of you may know, we were supposed to have the handsome and dashing Michael Reading with us here tonight. Every woman’s dream date and every man’s best friend. Unfortunately for us, he’s shooting a commercial overseas and was unable to make it at the last minute.”
Shelby closed her eyes, suppressing a moan. She’d look like ground beef after her aunt’s glimmering introduction for the man she wasn’t.
“As a last resort my niece was available to step in. Shelby writes children’s books as one of her many little hobbies. Some of you may better know her by her pen name, Summer Sinclair?”
Many little hobbies? She could choke her aunt.
When Shelby met Nick’s gaze, he shook his head and then joined in with everyone else and clapped.
Wait. They were clapping for her?
The loud applause, mostly from the women in the audience, had her aunt blinking in surprise. “Oh, thank you for being so understanding. The venues were obviously chosen with Michael in mind, but if you win, you may bring up to two children along as well. So, let’s get the bidding started. Remember, the proceeds will benefit our wonderful charities.”
Shelby held her breath as the first bid flew out from the back of the ballroom. Squinting against the bright lights, Shelby made out an older woman holding up her auction paddle. “Five hundred dollars.”
Mostly female voices called out as the bid grew to a thousand, then slowly built to thirty-five hundred. She’d beat out the crap painting, so it wasn’t a complete bust.
“Four thousand!” The call came from Nick’s dad.
Shelby’s stomach dropped.
Panic shot through her as she searched for Nick. His seat was empty. Did he ditch her after all? If she had to go on a date with his father she’d definitely hit Nick over the head with her bat. Hopefully he’d just gone to the restroom and would get back in time to save her. Nick mentioned his father liked to date younger women. Maybe she was too old for him?
No, his dad hadn’t made any moves on her earlier. He was a complete gentleman. But either way, it’d be too uncomfortable to fathom.
Then a lady in the front bid forty-one hundred and Shelby’s heart rate slowed a bit.
Thank God.
Shelby’s aunt called out, “Going once, going twice—”
Nick’s father interrupted with, “Five thousand!”
Applause roared from the crowd as Shelby desperately searched the back of the room for Nick.
Her aunt said, “The bid is five thousand. Going once, going twice . . . sold! Congratulations Edward. Now what venue will you choose?”
Sweat slid down Shelby�
�s spine. From Nick’s description of his father, she feared she knew what a man like him would choose. The bed-and-breakfast. Yikes!
Nick finally reappeared holding his cell phone. He had a suspicious bulge in his suit coat that had to be her purse. Confusion creased his brow as he spoke to one of their tablemates. Then he turned and scowled at his father.
Nick’s father said, “You’ll have to ask Shelby’s date, my son, Nick. I bid on Shelby for him. I thought they’d enjoy an all-expenses-paid outing.”
Nick’s expression turned thunderous before he turned his back on his father and stormed out of the ballroom, leaving her standing up front like the last kid on the playground waiting to be picked for dodgeball. What had Nick’s father said to make him so angry? It didn’t make any sense.
Or was it because she wasn’t Nick’s usual type? Tall, blonde, and built like a Barbie. Humiliated to be left standing on the stage, all eyes on her, while her so-called date dumped her, her blood boiled with rage.
She was going to kill Nick Caldwell.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Throwing things while arguing is wrong. But it sure makes a mad monkey feel better.”
Chester’s Big Fight
Nick spotted Shelby walking toward the country club’s front doors, flanked by her aunt and uncle. Picking up the pace, he slipped his hand around her arm and stopped her. “There you are, Shelby. Ready to go?”
She sent him a deep scowl, but before she could let him have it, her aunt said, “She’s ready.”
When Shelby’s uncle opened his mouth to protest, Victoria sent him a pointed look and then grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the door. “We had no desire to add another hour to our drive, so thank you, Nick. Good night.”
Shelby huffed out a breath and crossed her arms as she stared at their retreating backs.
Figuring it best to remain silent, Nick walked beside her as they descended the front steps.
He greeted the attendant and slipped him a twenty along with his valet ticket. “Make it quick.”
The kid nodded and jogged away.
When he reached out to comfort Shelby, she stepped away.
After his Porsche arrived, he opened the door for her then rounded the car and slid behind the wheel. He grabbed her little purse from his coat pocket and laid it on her lap. “So what is so important in there that I had to guard it with my life?”
“Lipstick. And cab fare. It looked like I was going to need it for a moment there.” She huffed out a breath and stared straight ahead. “Not only did you say you wouldn’t ditch me, but then you did it in front of everyone, Nick!”
He hadn’t meant to abandon her up on stage like that. Before he could find the right place to start his apology, she said, “It’s no wonder your girlfriend dumped you last month. You’re mean. I realize I’m not your type, but you didn’t have to make it look like you’d rather take a bullet than go out with me!”
“I wanted to go out with you, but you said you don’t date clients. And Beth wasn’t really my girlfriend. She was a . . . sex partner. I didn’t date her I just . . .”
“Screwed her? Nice, Nick. Why would I have expected anything more from you?”
“Really? I don’t see you going on any dates either, miss I’m-waiting-for-my-fairytale-prince!”
Her tiny purse bounced off his shoulder. “Greg’s not a fairytale. He’ll be back in the country on Wednesday!”
“Who the hell is Greg?” He tucked her purse back into his pocket for safety purposes, and started the car. They were holding up the valet line, so he put the car in gear and peeled out toward the exit.
When she remained silent he debated letting her stew for a while, but his conscience got the better of him. “My father must’ve asked Emily, who isn’t old enough to see what a jerk he is and adores him, to call me away. That’s why I left, to talk to her. But there was no emergency, so I came back inside. That’s when I realized my dad had bid on you.”
Shelby cranked up the radio full blast and then turned her chin toward her window.
Unfortunately for her, she was a captive audience and she’d damned well listen.
He hit the mute button. “I didn’t mean to abandon you up there. I was afraid I’d deck my father if I didn’t leave. He did that in front of everyone to make it look like he’s the father-of-the-year instead of the ass he truly is.”
Shelby murmured, “He couldn’t be worse than my aunt Victoria.”
Nick merged into the southbound traffic on the freeway, settling in for the ride.
He’d never discussed what his father had done with anyone outside of his family, but after seeing how Shelby’s family treated her, maybe she’d understand.
“When I was ten, I was playing baseball in the street at my friend’s house when I saw my dad’s car pull up down the block. When the game was over I thought I’d see if I could catch a ride home with him. The short version is I caught him with his pants around his ankles doing the lady of the house. I found out later he’d visited a few other grateful, lonely women after he’d helped bleed their ex-husbands dry.”
“You saw something like that when you were ten?” Shelby slipped her hand over his on the console and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Her show of support encouraged him to continue. “My dad yelled at me and then told me to wait in the car. On the drive home he said I’d only hurt my mother by telling her what I’d seen. He asked me to lie, and tell her he’d found me walking home and picked me up. He swore it’d never happen again. The next day he bought me a new mountain bike I’d had my eye on.”
Shelby grunted. “Okay, you win. He’s worse than my aunt.”
Nodding he said, “So, I decided I’d keep my mouth shut, but every time I rode that damned bike I felt like a heel. I love my mom and I hated him for making me keep his secret. About three weeks later, I went into his study to find a pen. He sat in his big leather chair with his back to the door, talking on the phone, so he didn’t notice I was there. When I realized he was making a date to meet a woman at a hotel, I lost it. I screamed at him at the top of my lungs. When my mom came to see what was wrong, I told her everything.” Swallowing back the bile rising in his throat he said, “They divorced soon after. I helped destroy my family.”
“And that’s why you never lie? Because of your dad?” Shelby frowned. “Not a bad trait, but your mom would have found out eventually, Nick, even if you hadn’t told her. It wasn’t your fault, and it wasn’t your problem to fix. It was between your mom and dad.”
“If I hadn’t said anything, there wouldn’t have been anything to fix.” He shook his head as he exited the freeway, regretting he had to let go of her hand to switch gears. “She probably felt like she had to kick him out after I exposed him, to show my sisters it wasn’t right to let a man treat them that way. Worse, what if she knew, but not having any way to support us, pretended not to know until she could stash enough money away to leave him? If I’d kept my mouth shut, my mom would have been so much better off financially now. He’s a divorce attorney, for God’s sake. My mom only gets whatever crumbs he throws her way while he lives in a mansion and belongs to clubs like the Bay View. That’s on my head.”
“You told me the other day the fire wasn’t my fault and as much as you believe that, I believe you’re not responsible for the destruction of your family. Your father is. But that won’t change the way you feel any more than it did when you said the same to me. We’re both still wallowing in guilt and too damn stubborn to forgive ourselves.”
“Maybe. But I am sorry about tonight.”
His cell vibrated as they approached Shelby’s house. Snagging it from his jacket, he glanced at the screen. When he saw it was Beth, he ignored the text and tossed the phone on the console.
Shelby smirked. “It’s late. Booty call perhaps?”
“Don’t know.” Maybe Beth had changed her mind about their arrangement. Strangely, he had no desire to be with her anymore.
As he turned into Shelby’s d
riveway, his phone slid off the console and onto Shelby’s lap.
She picked it up. “Sorry, but I couldn’t help notice the screen. Whoever Naughtylawyer is says to hurry home. She wants you.” Shelby arched a brow. “I’m assuming this is from the sex partner you claim you’re broken up with who’s waiting at home for you? So, your real plan was to keep that woman on the side while I set you up on dates? If that’s the case, then we need to terminate our contract.” She handed his phone back. “And you say you never lie.”
Beth had some seriously bad timing.
“Beth is my ex . . . partner . . . but she’s still my neighbor. That’s what she meant about hurry home. She’s been so busy with work I haven’t even seen her since she broke up with me a month ago, Shelby. I swear.”
Shelby opened her door and swung her legs out of the car, giving him her back. “Whatever. I don’t think I’m the right one to find you a match anyway. I’ll reverse the payment you sent. And now your other debt to me has been paid, so have a nice life.”
“We have a contract. I’d prefer you to live up to your end of the bargain. And I told them to have the limo pick me up first. We should be here about five thirty for the game on Monday.”
Shelby froze in her efforts to exit the car and then turned and faced him. “We’re going on the date? Not you and the naughty lawyer? And you chose the football game?”
“I love football.” He tossed the purse her way. “Don’t forget your lipstick.”
Shelby’s snag would make an outfielder proud. “What if I didn’t like football, you arrogant jerk? You have so much to learn about women.” She slammed the door.
He stuck his head out the window as Shelby stomped to her front door. “Good thing I have you to teach me. So, was that a yes to the game? We could make it a lesson if you’d like.”
She muttered under her breath as she unlocked her front door. Once she got it open she called out, “Only if you bring Emily along—if she’s feeling up to it. Then I’d be sure to have a ride home. You’d never ditch her!”
Matching Mr. Right (Rocky Mountain Matchmaker Series Book 1) Page 5