“I know, I know. I’m getting my shoes right now.”
Opal opened the door and waited. When she saw Lou, she pointed to her ripped jeans. “You’re not wearing that.”
Lou held out her hands in question. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” She cupped her breasts. “I put on a bra for this thing.”
“You can’t wear jeans to a formal thing like this.” Opal closed the door and walked down the hall.
Lou was an incredible roommate and had become a close friend. Opie was unsure at first, but Sybil had vouched for the honey badger shifter. However, she did know how to aggravate Opie.
“What the hell, Opie? We’re working.”
“It’s like when we work a wedding. Yes, we wear comfortable clothes, but they are also nice and presentable. Holey jeans are not acceptable.”
Lou stomped to her room, yanked the door, and went to her closet. Opie followed and sat on the bed. After sorting through the clothes hanging in her closet, Lou declared, “I have nothing that would be acceptable.” She used air quotes to mimic Opie.
“I have something you can wear.” Opie left the room and brought back her favorite black jumpsuit.
Lou took it and wrinkled her face.
“What?” Opie asked.
“This looks like something from the Housewives-Wanting-to-Be-Cool catalog. I’m not wearing this.”
Opie jerked the hanger from her hand. “Fine, then go look in my closet and find something.”
“Grr.” She brushed past her roommate, stomping the entire way down the hall.
Lou walked back to her room. “Um, Opie, what’s going on?”
Opie’s eyes moved around the room to avoid eye contact. “What are you talking about? We’re going to be late if you don’t hurry.”
Lou walked to the side of the bed where Opie sat and pointed to her fancy heels. Then she noticed the short skirt and the low-cut scooped blouse. “Opal, who’s coming to this thing tonight?”
“No one. A lot of people. Oh, I don’t know.” She uncrossed her legs and stood up. “Just wear what you have on, I don’t care. But we have to go.”
Lou snapped her fingers. “It’s that guy you mentioned. The one in the auction.” She stepped in close and rubbed her shoulder against Opie’s.
Opie’s face grew crimson, and she couldn’t hold in a smile. “His name is Dominic and, and, oh, I don’t know.”
“How much money do you have?”
Opie pulled her friend to sit next to her and giggled. “I only have twenty-five hundred. I can’t believe I’m even doing this. Can you imagine? How desperate do I have to be to buy a date?”
“Isn’t this more about the fundraising than anything else?”
“Yeah, but you haven’t seen him. He’s so hot. I mean, like I want to just spread peanut butter all over his chest and lick it off.”
“Dang, maybe I should put in a bid.”
Opie froze. Lou couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m kidding. I’m kidding.”
Opie let out the air she held. She was wound tighter than a honey badger about to pounce for the kill.
Lou held out her hand. “Give me the jumper. But I’m not wearing a bra with it because I don’t have a strapless one, and I’m not wearing heels.”
Opie hugged her. “No problems.”
As she changed clothes, Lou said, “If they take a pre-dated check, I could help you some if you need it.”
“How, you don’t have any money.” Opi picked up her bag from the floor and pressed down her skirt when she stood.
“I have money. Just not much.” Lou turned her back to get help with the zipper. “What am I going to do if I have to pee?”
“I’ll go with you. And I know you don’t have any because you’re going with me tonight. It’s Saturday, and normally you’d be off playing poker or hitting up one of the clubs.”
“Can’t I just want to spend time with my roommate?” She followed Opie out of the room.
Opie opened the front door. “Of course, you can.”
“I’ll be right there.”
The dating auction participants sat scattered at a few tables in the front. Dominic sat with Dottie and another woman she didn’t know.
The ballroom looked better than it had when she first saw it. Saffron set up the sound system while Anderson helped with the spotlight. Sky ran around with a clipboard in one hand wearing a Bluetooth headset, giving last-minute instructions to everyone.
Sky waved to her. “I’m glad you’re here. I would like to get pictures with all of the participants, Gerri, and Barbara.”
Opie scanned the room and found an old friend sitting with Gerri. One of the waiters bumped into her. His hand snaked through the strap on her camera. She pulled it back. “Sorry,” she said.
He glared at her, then noticed her friends watching, mumbled something, and walked away.
“Barbara Wolfe. I can’t believe you’re here.”
Barbara turned and smiled. “Opal Ibarra, come over here and hug me. I didn’t know you would be here tonight.”
Opie walked over with open arms. “I am the official photographer.”
Barbara pulled back from the hug but still held Opie’s hands. “You look beautiful. I’m glad to see you following in your grandfather’s footsteps.” She pointed to Opie’s camera.
“I forgot that you two knew each other,” Opie said.
Barbara met Gerri’s glance. The two women laughed. “Between the two of us, there aren’t many people we don’t know.”
“Opie,” Sky called. “Bring Gerri and Barbara over. Let’s take our pictures. People will be here soon.”
As if on cue, two ladies walked through the doors and asked if they could come inside.
Eliza escorted them to the ticket table outside in the hall.
Sky stood next to Opie while everyone arranged themselves for the picture. She repetitively bounced a pen on the clipboard.
Opie put her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Relax. This will be a colossal success.”
Warm air fell on Opie’s neck, and she turned to see who stood behind her.
“Hi,” Dominic said. “You look nice.”
Opie lowered her eyes to see the black wrap dress she decided to wear. It was dressier than what she usually wore for a job, but she didn’t want to blend in with the rest of the staff.
Before she could respond, Sky ushered Dominic to stand with the other participants for the group picture.
Opie stared through her camera lens while everyone stared back at her. However, only Dominic’s laser-focused gaze made her nervous. A single bead of sweat rolled down the center of her back. Who was this guy, and what was he doing to her?
Click.
While the participants dispersed, Opie used the opportunity to sneak outside to the ticket table.
Wednesday sat with Sybil and Tatum.
“Hey Opie, I love that skirt,” Wednesday said.
Opie twirled a little. “You should. It’s one I bought from Sky’s place.”
“I thought it looked familiar.”
“Um, so I’ve got a question.”
“Hopefully, we have the answer,” Tatum said.
“Well, technically, I didn’t buy a ticket because I’m working.” She paused, bent closer to the table, and dropped her voice to a whisper. “Can I have a paddle to bid in the auction?”
Wednesday’s eyes brightened. “Ooo, have you got your eyes on a special someone?”
Opie’s cheeks burned. “Maybe. Just want to be prepared.”
Tatum handed her a paddle. “I don’t see why not. Good luck.”
Opie took a deep breath and smiled.
Cameron and Caleb propped open the ballroom doors and began welcoming guests.
Before long, Opie got lost in snapping pictures of happy people eating dinner. The jovial atmosphere was exciting. The crowd provided a good reason to hide from Dominic. If he noticed the paddle tucked into the belt of her dress, she might lose her nerve and die of embarr
assment.
Shortly after most of the tables were cleared, Wednesday stood on stage and welcomed everyone. She explained the purpose of the event and shared a slide show about Maria.
Maria had been a terrific person. Everyone loved her. Opie missed seeing her at the resort. During an expansion at the resort, a fire demolished the resort. Maria was the only one who had not made it out alive. She had plans to attend school in San Francisco. Tonight’s auction was to help raise money for a scholarship in her name.
Several people dabbed their eyes when it was finished.
Wednesday introduced Gerri and thanked her for her help in organizing this event.
“And now, without further ado, let’s introduce our first volunteer,” Wednesday said.
The audience cheered.
Opie held her breath.
Connor stepped up and took the microphone from Wednesday. “All right, ladies and gentlemen open those wallets and dig deep because we have some fantastic people here tonight, and they want to go home with one of you.” He held out a pointed finger as he scanned the audience.
Connor had been a model before coming home to work at the resort. He was a logical choice as emcee and worked the crowd.
Six young ladies sat at a front table. They all wore cheap costume tiaras. One lady wore a banner with the words bride-to-be stamped across it. They screamed louder than the rest of the audience. Their dresses were too short, their lips too red, and their heels too high.
Connor called out the first participant. She was tall with dark skin and a confident air about her. It was too easy to judge herself against this woman, and Opie felt she couldn’t compare. She was everything Opie wanted to be when she grew up. Which she was still waiting for that to happen.
Connor pointed to a redhead at a back table. “Sold to the lady with paddle number six, six, six.” He cocked his head. “Um, that’s a devilish number.” The audience laughed. “You can settle up with my lovely wife at the ticket table.”
If looks could kill, the one the winner received from the woman on stage would have obliterated her. She stomped off stage.
“I don’t think she’ll be a pleasant date,” Saffron said.
The two women argued in loud whispers as they made their way out of the ballroom.
“Next up, we have one of our own,” Connor said. “Dottie James runs the fabulous kitchen here at the resort. When she’s not cooking, she enjoys running and drag racing.” Connor gave her a side glance. “I did not know that. Okay, people, let’s start the bidding at one hundred dollars.”
Connor pointed to a paddle. “We’ve got a hundred, do I hear a hundred-fifty?” He pointed to another paddle.
Before he could raise the bid to two hundred, someone in the back said, “Two-fifty.”
“All right, everyone, the bid is up to two-fifty. Do I hear three? Remember, this is for a worthy charity.” He pointed to a paddle.
Connor started to say something, but a voice in the back said, “Three thousand.”
The audience gasped as a whole.
Connor shielded his eyes from the spotlight. “Wow, ladies and gentlemen, three thousand.”
Dashiell Miller stood in the back of the room. He wore dark jeans and a crisp white, button-up shirt. His close-cut hair and scruffy face gave him a rugged outdoor look. His puffed-out chest and defensive stance challenged anyone who dared to outbid him. But some fool wanted the challenge.
“Three thousand, five hundred.”
The rugged man in the back growled. He was not happy. “Four thousand.”
Connor had to pick up his chin from the floor. “Okay, okay. Now, this is getting fun. Four thousand. Do I hear four thousand, five hundred?”
The second man lifted his paddle.
Dashiell stepped towards his table. “Ten thousand.”
Everyone stilled. A vice squeezed around Opie’s heart. If this is how high the bids were going to be, she could never compete.
“Hey, Dash, are you sure, man,” Connor asked.
Dash glared at Connor.
The other bidder held up his hands in defeat.
“Okay. Dottie James looks like you’ve got a winner. Going once. Going twice. And done. Dashiell, you’re the winner. Tatum will help you settle up at the ticket table.”
Dash sauntered up the stage, held out his hand, and escorted Dottie to the floor.
Opie sensed they had no idea anyone was around them. They only had eyes for each other.
“Up next is a real treat. Dominic Kingston comes to us from San Francisco, where he runs several businesses, including a night club and a horse ranch.”
Opie’s knees buckled when Dominic walked on stage. He had changed into a black tuxedo. The curve of the slim jacket outlined his waist. Visions of a deep cut Adonis belt under his clothes increased her desire.
Holy shit, this guy is hot.
It was hard to ignore the front table of women. They squealed as they sat on the edge of their chairs. Each of them had a wad of money in their hand.
One of them started the bid at three hundred. Opie raised it to four.
She and Dominic locked eyes, and everyone else disappeared. He had the same laser-point glare she’d seen earlier. It made her feel naked.
Saffron harrumphed and grabbed Opie’s paddle. “Five hundred.”
The ladies at the table shot Opie eye-daggers.
“Seven hundred,” one of them said.
A fire burned through Opie’s soul. She would win this. “One thousand dollars.”
The bride-to-be stood up, snubbed her nose at Opie and Saffron, and said, “Fifteen hundred.”
She’d pushed her hand too far. Now what?
Before she could stop herself, she cried out, “two thousand.”
The other woman countered with three thousand.
“Three thousand,” Connor said. “Going once.”
A hand fell on Opie’s shoulder. Gerri’s voice rang through. “Six thousand.” She held up Opie’s paddle.
“I can’t let you do that.” Opie turned her back to Connor, so no one heard what she said. “I can’t pay you back.”
“Trust me.” Gerri winked.
The bride-to-be fumed while her friends counted their money.
Connor said, “Six thousand going once, going twice—” he hesitated “—and sold to Opal Ibarra.”
The bride-to-be flounced down and snarled at the women sitting around her.
Opie pitied the women who were supposed to be her friends. It was confusing why she would bid on a dating auction in the first place.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Saffron talking, but she stood frozen for a minute, unsure of what to do. Dominic never stopped watching her.
When he approached her, he bent his head and said in her ear, “I’m going to give you the best night of your life.”
She forgot to take any more pictures.
Chapter Nine
Dominic
An hour later, the auction ended. It had been a long sixty minutes, and Dominic was ready to take her back to his room.
“Do you think you can get one more picture?” Sky asked. “One with all the volunteers and their winners?”
Dominic rubbed his hand. How many more smiles would he be forced to fake?
“Sure,” Opie lined up everyone on stage.
Gerri walked up next to her, a big smile on her face. Dominic knew that twinkle in her eye. She was delighted with how the evening ended. How was it she knew how the bidding would end?
Gerri clicked her tongue. “Opie, you need to stand next to Dominic.”
A slight rose tint colored Opie’s cheeks. “Oh, yeah, I guess I do. Let me find Lou.”
Gerri reached for the camera. “She left hours ago.”
“What? I didn’t even notice. Is she around here somewhere?”
Wednesday walked up to them. “She’s at the restaurant having a drink with that friend of Axelle’s and Washington’s.”
Opie handed Gerri the camera, then cli
mbed the steps to the stage and stood next to him. He stood behind her, an arm around her waist. She was so close he heard her breathing. His pants grew tighter and tighter. He needed to have her soon.
After the picture, everyone left the stage and wandered away, collecting their things, and making plans. Opie took her camera from Gerri and packed it away in the bag.
“Everyone needs to make plans for their date before they leave. Please try to make it for not later than next week. Stop by and let either me or Sky know what you’re planning. We don’t want to be rude, and I don’t think we’ll have any problems, but let’s be safe first.”
Dominic caught up to Gerri before she left. “I guess you’re satisfied.”
She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Congratulations, Dominic. You brought in an impressive amount of money.”
“I thought for sure one of those stupid women at that front table was going to win.”
“I would have never let that happen.”
He stepped back and tried to read her mind. “And why is that?”
She put her hands on her tiny waist. “When will you get the carrots out of your ears. Have you never paid any attention to what I’ve been telling you for years?”
“You mean all of this was your doing?” He glanced around the room watching Opie talking to Dottie and Wednesday.
“You are as stubborn as the biggest dragon I’ve ever worked with. Are you sure you aren’t a mule?”
He chuckled with no real emotion.
“I tried to get you two together a year ago.” She slipped her arm around Dominic’s. “Now, walk me out.”
He bent his elbow and walked her to the door. “I don’t believe you orchestrated all of this.”
She winked at him. “You don’t have to believe it.” At the door, she stopped and said, “Now go plan your date.”
He bent to kiss her cheek then turned away from her.
“Oh Dominic,” she called after him, “maybe keep the ropes at home for the first date.” She disappeared into the hall.
He joined Opie and Wednesday.
“Dominic, you are the only one from out of town, do you need any ideas for your date?” Wednesday asked.
“I haven’t thought about that,” he said.
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