by Shannyn Leah
“I’m going in.”
“Start the car.” Dax reached for the keys.
“Dax, I’m not the same person I was back then.”
“Maybe you don’t crave the same adrenaline rush as you did then. Maybe you aren’t even as angry as you were back then.”
“I wasn’t angry.”
“You were a bloody train wreck. And maybe you’re not as stupid and arrogant, but you haven’t moved on. Not from her. If you had, you wouldn’t have told her to come. You wouldn’t be hiding here in this car. She will beat anyone’s price and you know it.”
“I do.”
Dax sighed and Stone heard him shift in his seat. “What are you planning?”
“I’m going to walk away from her, like she walked away from me.”
“So you brought her here for some twisted act of revenge?”
“There’s nothing she can say that would make me step into the ring.”
“Bullshit.”
Stone chuckled, but it held more shame than humor. He’d never been able to walk away from her. That had been his problem. But he wasn’t the boy he’d been then.
He turned off the car and grabbed his cell phone and suit jacket. “I’ll see you inside.”
As he pushed the door open he heard Dax’s exasperated grumblings. “I’m outbidding her.”
He didn’t doubt Dax would try, but realistically Bowie would win. She always won.
Five minutes later, Stone was being escorted through the resort. His motions went by in a blur. He robotically listened to where the people in charge advised him to go, obeyed what he’d been told, but paid no further attention than direct orders until he stood by the curtains on the stage awaiting his introduction.
His name echoed from the speakers and he recognized the fire chief’s young niece presenting and welcoming him onto the stage.
Here we go.
Putting on his best smile, he walked across the wood platform, lifting his hand to wave at the crowd applauding his entrance. The spotlight aimed at him shielded his vision, making the sitting area a darkened blur.
Before he reached the chief’s niece, he noted how carefree she appeared, no stress behind her big blue eyes, no worry lines wrinkling her forehead. If he’d listened correctly to the gossip around town—something he tried to ignore—she’d just finished her first year of college and hadn’t stepped into the real world yet.
Before he could stop himself, he compared her to Bowie. His ex’s father had pampered and spoiled her and her brother their entire lives, leaving them without the understanding of life’s responsibility. Working and money had meant nothing to them. Stone had the utmost respect for the elite underground fighter, Oscar Blake, but the man had been a pushover when it had come to his kids.
This afternoon at his dad’s gym he’d only seen Bowie as the socialite he remembered. However, thinking back, her shoulder’s had appeared weighted down and although her eyelashes had been highlighted by mascara, the rest of her face had shown minimal makeup compared to the girl on the stage who looked like she’d just walked off a runway.
Bowie would’ve once tossed back shots at the after party with the slim blonde he approached now, but he doubted that would be the case today.
He stopped beside the chief’s niece, and she rested her clapping hands to lean in for the light kiss on the cheek Stone offered. A platonic gesture and the truth behind Dax’s words haunted him.
Wasn’t he over Bowie? Had he even tried to move on?
The designer smell of the chief’s niece perfume invaded his nostrils. Hawk would’ve whispered something cute or dirty hot in the host’s ear that would turn her a shade of red and promised her a drink to follow.
But Stone had no interest.
She turned back to address the crowd and Stone had to force his smile to remain. These folks had paid a hefty price for their ticket to dinner and entertainment. Half the crowd could be women ready to place the highest bid, or a girl’s night out, but the other half were respectable married Willow Valley couples here to support the fire station.
“Since Dax Colyn, volunteer fire fighter at Willow Valley’s fire station, who’d originally volunteered to be auctioned off, got hitched this past December...” Brit pointed the microphone she held into the crowd. “Let’s get some light on the happy couple.” A spotlight moved through the crowd and highlighted scowling Dax and a glowing Ava, who’d given birth last month to a baby boy they’d named after Dax’s father, Rowdy.
His best friend didn’t even try to smile. His arms were folded so tightly over his chest he looked ready to explode.
Stone didn’t miss the warning Dax sent him. He understood the silent caution, but damned if his eyes didn’t leave him to scan the room for Bowie.
“Let’s give it up for the newlyweds who recently had a handsome little boy.” Her cheerful voice scratched his nerves.
As the crowd settled, Brit turned to Stone. “I have to say thank you to Dax for so graciously volunteering his friend and employee, Stone Patino. Bachelor and quite the looker...” She grasped his bicep and the unexpected motion had him nearly jumping out of his skin. Damn it, he needed to settle down. “Let me tell you ladies, if you can’t see from here, this man pumps the weights.” A few whistles shot through the crowd. “We will start the bidding at five-hundred.”
Two bids blasted out. If Stone’s mind hadn’t been preoccupied at searching the tables to find the familiar female voice, he might’ve been embarrassed Dax and Bowie both voiced their bets instead of raising their paddles like the previous bidders.
Brit raised her eyebrows and gave a small whistle. “We have a popular one here. Did I mention he likes to get oiled down under a good hood?” The laughter doubled. “I was talking about restoring cars.” She winked. “Do I hear six hundred?”
“Six,” Dax’s voice rumbled through the venue even with the large size of the room.
“Don’t hold back,” she teased. “Do I hear seven?”
“One-thousand.”
Brit’s smile faltered but then she quickly reclaimed flashing her white teeth. “It seems our bachelor here has a fan. Do I hear eleven-hundred?”
“Fifteen-hundred.” Evidently Dax wouldn’t let Bowie win Stone without a fight.
The bidding continued back and forth, two-thousand, three, four until Bowie said, “Ten thousand,” sending surprised gasps from the gathered people echoing through the room.
“Let’s get some lights on these bidders.” Brit waved her hands and pointed across the room. A circle of light landed on the two highest bidders.
Stone couldn’t tear his eyes away from Bowie, as much as he should. He needed to see whether he’d been wrong by his first impression.
Glitter didn’t sparkle on her simple strapless gown and she hadn’t done anything more than sweep her hair off one bare shoulder. From the distance, he could see her demeanor lacked the spark she’d once exuded.
“Twenty thousand.” Dax’s bid dragged Stone’s stare back to him. Ava grasped his arm, shaking her head to deter him from further bidding, but he’d straightened to scan the people for Bowie.
“Thirty thousand,” she replied.
Dax shot to his feet until his sight landed on her. “Forty thousand.”
Bowie rose to her feet too, but she didn’t waste time looking for Dax. Her determined stare fixated on Stone. She licked her lips and said, “One-hundred-thousand.”
“Sold!”
Dax’s head whipped to Brit. “Open it back up. It’s my bid!” he hollered at her so abruptly the young girl jumped.
Stone reached out, wrapped his arm lightly around her shoulder and squeezed for support. She smiled at him, recovering quick and smooth. With most of attention being on Bowie, Stone was sure no one in the audience even noticed.
“Sorry, Dax, one-hundred-thousand to the pretty blonde which I’m sure Stone will have a better time with.”
Hesitant chuckles drifted through the hum of stunned, boisterous conversations
from each table.
Dax stormed out of the room leaving a still baffled Ava, her eyes wide with a confusion she shared with the others.
“Come up and claim your prize,” Brit said to Bowie.
Without moving, Bowie’s cautious eyes scrutinized the awaiting audience, looking for anything out of the ordinary or suspicious.
Was she here alone? Where was Duke? He hadn’t seen the man at his dad’s gym either. Son of a bitch, did she attend this event without her bodyguard?
For a moment, Stone thought she might decline. He almost grabbed the microphone from Brit to briefly thank her and shut down the possibility of a scene.
Being the stubborn woman she was, Bowie grabbed a black clutch from her chair, gained her composure and began to weave her way around the shimmering black and red adorned tables.
Two firemen greeted her at the bottom of the stages centered staircase. She paused briefly, gazing at the stairs as if they streamed hot lava.
Finally, she accepted the arm offered by one of the men and allowed him to guide her up the flight of steps. Stone watched her reluctance build, and noticed the way she tilted her head away from the spotlight.
She couldn’t avoid the inevitable.
The fireman escorted her to Stone’s arm before he retreated back off the stage. Stone bent down and kissed Bowie’s cheek—playing the part, but unable to fight the rush of pleasure in touching her. Her tenseness against his lips brought him back to reality and he almost felt sorry for her. Even when she didn’t want to be recognized, it wasn’t her choice.
“Here she is ladies and gentleman.” Brit clapped looking from the crowd directly at Bowie. “Stone’s highest bidder and—” Her mouth dropped open as she registered the person standing at his side. “Holy shit.” The curse echoed across the speaker but star-struck Brit didn’t seem to notice it had come from her. “You’re Bowie B. You’re thee Bowie B.”
Bowie didn’t put on the superstar act she’d nailed years earlier. A smile barely touched her lips. “Could you please just thank us and send us on our way?”
Her plea fell on deaf ears. The audience put the pieces together, that Bowie B, socialite turned reality TV star stood on their stage, in their town. Cameras began flashing and voices hiked.
Where the hell was her bodyguard? As if hearing him, Duke materialized at the base of the stairs, deep in discussion with the firemen blocking his way.
Brit remained awe-struck. “Are you here with your brother? Is he in the crowd? I would love to meet him. I love him. And you. I love you. Could we get a selfie together? The three of us? Could you arrange that?” The siblings with only a year between them had been late-teen superstars, even more in this area because they only lived a few hours away.
Chairs scraped the marble floor as people wanting a better view rose to their feet and shouts for pictures and autographs began.
Damn it, what had he been thinking inviting her here? There wasn’t the right amount of security.
Stone wrapped his arm around Bowie’s waist, and pulled her flesh against his side while sending Duke a nod to let him know he had her. Stone had protected this woman most of the time they’d spent together.
Somewhat hiding her from the flashing cameras, he said, “It’s been a wonderful night. Thank you for the bids and, if you’ll excuse me, I apparently have a celebrity to wine and dine.”
He rapidly walked her back stage, using his body to shelter her from those who had gathered behind the curtains for a better look.
Fighting to ignore how perfectly her body fit against his and how when they walked they did it in harmony, he considered leaving her back stage and being done with her. But he’d silently promised Duke he would get her to safety and he didn’t go back on his promises.
He ushered her out a side door which led to staff hallways and stopped at the elevator. “Your floor?”
He felt her sigh against him. “Penthouse.”
Of course.
Chapter Four
THE ELEVATOR DOORS slid open and Stone pushed her inside first. Gently. He’d always been stern, but controlled and gentle.
The long weeks of worrying and plotting had her body feeling like it was functioning without her. She pressed her back into the corner and watched Stone check down the hallways before stepping inside with her.
He held his hand out. “Give me the key.” She rummaged inside her clutch and then handed the keycard to him.
After he scanned the card he turned to face her, his bulky muscle wall of a body invading the small space. As he’d escorted her into the elevator she’d learned all about his new physique. The young Stone Patino had nothing on this man. The new Stone was more observant too, carrying a deeper attentiveness in his eyes—very similar Duke’s. Stone stared at her now too, as if he could read all the wrong turns in her life since she’d left him. Then he gave her a look he’d never given her before: pity.
Her stomach plummeted. If she’d eaten anything today she would have brought it right back up. She didn’t want his pity. Not for her. Not ever.
Bowie pushed off the wall, drew her shoulders back, and planted her hands firmly on her hips. She felt them tremble against her as she closed in the distance between them. “That scene could’ve been avoided had you not needed to be all macho and have the upper hand.” She rolled her eyes. “As usual.”
“Woman, not stepping into my town could’ve avoided this.”
Her eyes flared wide open. “Don’t woman me and may I remind you, this town has plenty of famous people venturing to its destination. In fact, this resort alone is a vacation spot frequently discussed in my circle of friends.”
“You still have friends, huh? Didn’t leave them high and dry on a whim for the next new adventure?”
She ignored his jab. “You brought me into a room jam-packed with women our age who likely binge-watch The B Siblings series because it takes them back to their youth. I think you planned that little episode so you could swoop in and save me.” She took one step closer to him and still stood a good foot plus shorter than him. If only she’d decided to wear her six-inch pumps to boost her a little closer. “Guess what, Patino? I’m not the one who needs to be saved. I asked a favor for my brother. But me, I’m fine.” She took another step and rubbed against his front. “But if you need someone to stroke your ego—” She lifted her hand and her fingers wrapped around the material of his tie, slowly sliding down the length. “Someone to tell you how strong and muscular and...” She bit her lower lip feeling his hard front against her knuckles.
His hooded dark green eyes stared down at her, not where her fingers stopped at his middle, but burning a mixture of both heated desire and heated anger into her eyes.
She hadn’t intended to go this direction. Hadn’t intended the spark between them overtake her good judgement. She’d hurt him, her brother had hurt him, and he deserved better than that. Better than her.
She dropped her hand back to her side and took a step back. “Thank you for rescuing me in there.”
He awkwardly stepped back too, looking as confused as she felt. “Duke would have had it under control.”
“Yes, he would have.”
In a serious tone she said, “I don’t need you to protect me. I need you to save my brother.”
“I don’t fight anymore.”
“I know, but he won’t walk away alive after the fight.”
“He should learn when to shut his mouth and not piss off the wrong people.”
She bit her tongue to keep from lashing out at him and defending her brother, even if the words he spoke were true. “I agree, but this time he did it on purpose. He wants to be punished in that ring and the only way I can stop that is agreeing to—” She paused and swallowed hard, knowing the name she was about to say in this elevator would bring back memories that undoubtedly still haunted Stone. She didn’t want to hurt him again, but she only had two angles to get Stone into that ring: pity or revenge. He’d fight harder if revenge drove him.
“Agreeing to what?”
“Not what. Who.” The man who’d almost killed him. “The only way for Reed to get out of this fight is if you agree to step into Reed’s place and fight Walker.”
The tight lines across Stone’s face loosened. “Walker? He plans on fighting Walker?”
Bowie nodded. “And Walker would kill him on a good day. And his days aren’t good anymore.”
The doors chimed at her floor. Before they opened, she stepped up beside Stone. “I’m sorry, but this is the only way I can think to convince you to say yes.” She wrapped her hand around his and felt him still before slightly jerking away. When the penthouse doors opened, she let his hand go and walked inside, praying he would follow her. She was on her last prayer.
Stone followed.
“What the hell kind of stunt did you pull?” Her brother’s booming voice echoed through the large airy space.
She’d give the resort extra stars for their sun-filled suite with floor-to-ceiling windows, marble floors, and lush white accents. She even had her own bedroom and en-suite bathroom which made avoiding her brother less difficult. She didn’t want him to die in the fight with Walker, but right now she could hardly look at him without wanting to punch him in the face herself for setting up this fight in the first place.
Reed took longer to get around nowadays and it gave her a split second to steal a glance at Stone. Agitation etched his face, a new look for a man who’d once been wild and overconfident, who would’ve fought Walker without a second thought just for the hell of it.
She held her breath as Reed rounded the corner, anticipating her brother’s reaction at finding Stone in their suite. He pumped his arms, spinning the wheels on the wheelchair he’d landed himself in after a drinking and driving accident. He’d almost not survived the accident and as he told her multiple times a week, he wished he hadn’t.
Her chest wretched with anguish at his lack of hope. He refused to participate in the physiotherapy under the doctor’s orders and lived in his own selfish pity-party. He’d given up. Even after the doctors had told him he could live a good life, he’d quit.