by K. C. Lynn
My stomach clenches at all the paddles being lifted, Stephanie, of course, being in the lead, constantly raising each bid. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to jump in.
Thankfully, one lady continues to raise her, and as much as I hate to see Jase on a date with someone, I’ll take anyone over her. Unfortunately, the lady drops out at eleven hundred dollars.
“Eleven hundred,” Lindy announces. “Do I hear twelve?”
My heart pounds and palms sweat at the blanketed silence. Jealousy spreads through me at the triumphant smile on Stephanie’s smug face.
“Eleven hundred going once—twice—”
It’s then that my traitorous body has a mind of its own. I jump to my feet with my paddle in the air. “Thirteen!” I yell, feeling my legs quake beneath me.
“Yes!” Zoey hisses.
My eyes lock with Jase’s and I’m not sure who is more surprised—me or him.
“Thirteen.” Lindy points at me excitedly. “The highest bid so far tonight. Do I hear fourteen?”
“Fourteen!” Stephanie tosses out, her anger evident.
“Fifteen!”
“Eighteen!” she yells, throwing a challenging look my way.
“Get her, Sam. I have some room on my credit card!” Zoey grinds out.
I would never take Zoey’s money but I raise her anyway, knowing I will figure out some way to get it. Even if I have to ask my father. Yeah, that would go over really well. I can just see it now. “Hey, Dad, I know you hate Jase Crawford and all but can you loan me a few thousand bucks. I sorta paid to have a date with him.”
Oh god, I’m pathetic…but not enough to stop.
It turns into a battle. Our paddles lifting after one another. The higher it rises, the faster my adrenaline rushes.
Jase shakes his head at me, telling me to bow out. I don’t know if it’s because he wants to go on a date with her or he doesn’t want me spending that much. I’m hoping it’s the latter because I can’t stop. I can’t let her win. It will totally kill my pride and well…probably my heart.
When we get to twenty five hundred dollars I can’t take it anymore and jump ahead, hoping to end this once and for all. “Four thousand dollars!”
Gasps sound around the room just before it falls to a dead silence, everyone freezing in place.
Oh shit!
“What the hell are you doing?” Jase gapes at me from the stage, his words loud enough to hear.
“Amazing,” Lindy says, sounding as shocked as I feel. “Four thousand going once, twice… Sold!”
The knot in my stomach tightens.
What did I just do?
Stephanie wastes no time approaching me. Her expression is stoic but her eyes are raging. I brace myself for the catfight I’m sure is about to ensue.
“Only you would have to pay that much to get a date. I, on the other hand, already had him for free,” she taunts, giving me a smug smile.
Before I can tell her to go to hell she’s gone, leaving me to stand here like an idiot.
“Ignore her, Sam. She’s jealous,” Zoey says, trying to make me feel better.
I look around the place, the next bid already off and running. My eyes land on Jase again to find him still staring at me like I’ve lost my mind.
Shaking my head, I swipe my purse from the table. “I’m sorry, I have to go. I’ll call you later.”
I feel bad ignoring Zoey when she calls me back, but I need to get out of here before I completely lose it. Pushing through the door, I step out into the fresh air, the cool evening breeze a welcome relief to the fire invading my cheeks.
Jase comes crashing out not long after me. Unable to deal with him right now, I turn away and move for my car.
“I don’t think so, baby.” He grabs my arm and swings me around to face him. “What the hell was that? Are you fucking crazy?”
I rip my arm back, all my pent-up anger bubbling up to the surface and exploding like dynamite. “Yes, I am! I’m crazy because she makes me crazy and so do you. Now I’m standing here in the parking lot screaming like a crazy person, but you know what? I don’t give a shit,” I yell, unable to stop my tirade, no matter how much my mind is telling me to shut up. “Everyone always talks about how sensible Sam is. Well Sensible Sam has finally lost it. First I fuck my brother’s enemy in the back of his truck, then spend four thousand dollars on a date with him, but at least that one is for a good cause. So you all can take Sensible Sam and shove her up your asses!” By the time I finish, my throat is dry and chest heaving.
Jase stares back at me, seeming at a loss for words, the beginning of a smile playing at the edge of his perfect lips.
Releasing a deflated breath, I drop back against the concrete building. “I really have lost my damn mind,” I mumble.
With a chuckle he falls back next to me. “Well, we’re all bound to lose it sooner or later. I lost it over peaches last night,” he says, tossing a sexy smirk my way.
“I just couldn’t do it,” I admit on a whisper. “I couldn’t let her win. Usually, I’m not catty, but she brings out the worst in me.”
He grunts. “Yeah, she’s got a gift for that.”
Glancing over at him, I gather up the courage to ask a question I fear to know the answer to. “Are you upset I spent that kind of money or because you wanted that date with her?”
His eyes narrow. “What the hell do you think?”
I shrug. “I have no idea. That’s why I’m asking you. She seems to think you guys have more. Regardless of the money I spent, I have more pride than to be someone’s second choice.”
I’m caught off guard when he pushes from the wall and crowds me against it, his arms caging me in on either side of my head. “Let’s get a few things straight. Stephanie and I have been over for years. It ended the night she fucked your brother and it has stayed that way.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to defend Sawyer, but I don’t get the chance.
“Secondly,” he says, his hand moving to brush my hair away from my neck where it hides the mark he left on me. My pulse speeds up as his thumb caresses it. “You could never be someone’s second choice, Sam. You’re too good for that.”
He’s wrong. I’ve been people’s second choice. I was Grant’s second choice many times when it came to other women. I was such a fool back then.
“Do you have that kind of money?” he asks, changing the subject.
“Yeah,” I lie. I’ll find a way to come up with it. I would never back out.
“Then I guess I owe you a date,” he says, sending butterflies to dance in my tummy.
I try to mask the effect by crossing my arms over my chest. “For four thousand dollars it better be a good one, Crawford.”
With a smirk he snags me around the waist and pulls me flush against his hard body. “Trust me, baby. It’ll be worth every fucking penny.” His warm brown eyes hold me captive as his mouth descends upon mine, stealing my breath and crashing into my soul like a freight train.
How on earth does he do that?
Uncaring at the moment, I wrap my arms around his neck and take what I haven’t stopped thinking about since last night.
Growling, his tongue glides in, doing an erotic dance with mine that sends my heart and senses reeling. We stay locked in the heated bliss for so long I lose track of time along with oxygen, but I couldn’t care less. I don’t care if I ever breathe again if he’s the one stealing it from me.
With his fingers gently gripping either side of my jaw, he pulls back, but remains close, his lips hovering just above mine.
Slowly, I open my eyes and find him staring down at me, his intense gaze penetrating the depths of my soul.
“I’ll pick you up next Saturday at four. Be ready.”
My gaze narrows, his order cutting through my lust-induced haze. Just when I’m about to say something he steals my lips one more time with a quick, hard kiss then starts off to his truck.
“Hey! How do you know I’m free? Maybe I already have p
lans,” I yell, feeling my blood heat at his audacity.
His hand rests on the handle of his truck when he turns back to me, gracing me with that sexy yet irritating smirk of his. “If you do then cancel them,” he says so casually. “For that entire night and following morning, Sam—you’re mine.”
Without another word, he climbs into his truck and drives away, leaving me to gape after him.
He has some nerve!
We’ll see how smooth he is when he shows up at my apartment and I’m not there… Oh, who the hell am I kidding. I’ll be there waiting, anticipating what I’m sure will be another unforgettable night with him.
I’m in so much trouble.
CHAPTER 8
Jase
A few days later, I walk into my childhood home, my stomach immediately grumbling from the sweet smell of baking.
Ah, a perfect day to stop by.
Walking into the kitchen, I find my mom pulling out squares, muffins, and banana loaf from the oven. She turns around when my boots hit the linoleum, a genuine smile spreading across her face.
“Jasiah,” she says, using my full name. “I didn’t know you were stopping by today.” Losing her oven mitts, she comes over and pulls me down to kiss the shit out of my face.
“Hey, Mom,” I grumble, thankful no one else is here to witness this shit. I would never say anything to her about it though because I know it would hurt her feelings. And no one hurts my mom’s feelings, not without the wrath of my father or me.
She takes my face between her hands and looks me over. “I swear you get more handsome every time I see you. Just like your father,” she says. “When are you gonna give me grandbabies?”
I grunt but refuse to answer. It will turn into a long, drawn-out conversation like always, and I don’t have time for that today.
Thankfully, she gets the message. “Okay, I’ll leave you alone.” Smiling, she gives a hard pat to my cheek. “I’m glad you came by. You must have a sixth sense. I’m baking for you and your friends at the station,” she says, turning back to her pans on the stove.
She’s crazy if she thinks I’m sharing any of that with the guys. I’m keeping it all for myself. They have their own moms to bake for them.
“Have a seat, honey. You want something to drink?” she asks, coming to place a warm chocolate chip muffin down in front of me.
“I’m good, thanks though.”
“Let me call for your father. He’s tinkering away in the garage again.” She walks over to the kitchen window above the sink and slides it open. “Ben! Come inside, Jasiah is here.”
I wince at how loud she is, wishing for just once she would relent and call me Jase.
My dad comes in the back door a minute later, wiping his hands with a grease-stained towel. He takes my mother in his arms, dips her, and lays a long, drawn-out kiss on her before making his way over to me.
“Hey, my boy, how’re you doing?” he asks, pulling me to stand and wrapping me in a quick, firm hug.
“Hey, Dad. I’m good.”
“What brings you by? Did you smell your mom’s baking all the way across town?” he asks with a chuckle, taking a seat at the table.
“Nope, but clearly it was a good day to pop in.”
“Every day is a good day for you to visit,” my mom adds, giving me a pointed look.
“Come on, Mom, it hasn’t been that long.”
“It’s been almost a month.” She holds up a hand to ward off my protest. “I know. It’s not that long in the grand scheme of things but it is when you live so close. You know I’d give anything to see your handsome face every day if I could.”
If she had her way, I’d still be living at home.
“Well, look on the bright side, at least you get to see this handsome one every day,” I say, gesturing over to my dad.
“Damn straight, and you don’t get much better than mine.”
We both chuckle at the way my mom rolls her eyes but she can’t hide her smile. “Well, I guess I can’t argue that,” she agrees, giving my dad a few gentle pats on the cheek. “Anyway, how did that fundraiser go this weekend?”
“It was…interesting.” Actually, it was fucking awkward as hell. Until the end of the night when I got to taste Sam again. “It sounds like a lot of money was raised,” I add.
“That’s wonderful. Does that mean you have a date?” she asks hopefully, an almost gleeful smile taking over her face.
It’s because I don’t date…at least not conventionally, but Sam is a different story. She’s worth a date.
She’s worth much more.
“Yep. Actually, that’s why I’m here.” I look at my dad. “Do you still have the route mapped out when we went camping in the mountains a few years back?”
He nods. “You bet. It’s in my desk drawer.”
“You’re taking her camping in the mountains?” my mom asks, sounding unsure.
“No,” I answer, but offer nothing more.
“All right, fine, be cryptic but will you at least tell me her name? Do I know her?”
“Yeah, you know of her…” I trail off, unsure of how to tell them who it is.
“Oh, Jase, don’t tell me it’s Stephanie,” she says, disdain sharpening her words.
I grunt. “Thankfully no, but it was close. It came down to her and one other bidder by the end.”
“Oh, thank goodness for that. That girl is no good. She never has been.”
She’s a bitch and a mistake I will always regret.
“So, who is it?” my dad asks.
“Samantha Evans.”
“Really?” my mom asks, her eyes widening in shock.
I nod.
“Wait, Samantha Evans as in John Evans’s daughter?” he asks, not seeming all that thrilled about it, which I expected.
“Yep, the same one.”
“Boy,” he starts in on me. “You be careful. I hold no grudge against that girl. I don’t even know her, but that father of hers is an asshole.”
“Listen, Dad. I get it. I do. Her brother is an asshole too, but this date has nothing to do with either of them and she’s not like that. She’s cool.”
She’s much more than cool but I keep that to myself.
“Well I’ve spoken with Catherine a few times and she has always been lovely so I’m sure her daughter is the same way.”
My dad grunts. “The problem in that family isn’t with the women. It’s the men.”
I agree with him, although I don’t know John Evans well but her brother is a different story, and he had to learn about being a jackass from somewhere.
“Whatever happened between you guys?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “Nothing happened per se,” he starts. “The guy is just an arrogant son of a bitch. Thinks his shit don’t stink and no one is as good as his precious son.”
“Sounds like someone else I know,” my mom mumbles.
“The hell it does,” my father shoots back, getting all worked up. “We might not have a problem admitting when we’re good at something”—he gestures between the two of us—“but we aren’t assholes about it.”
Exactly! There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance.
“Whatever you say,” she sighs before pointing a finger at me. “Either way, I raised you right, Jasiah. I want you to prove it. You treat her good—respect her. She’s not a conquest. Bring her flowers and show her a nice time.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I got this.”
I might not date but I always respect the chicks I’m with. It’s a mutual arrangement. However, I know Sam is different, and I plan to spend a day and evening with her that both of us will never forget.
CHAPTER 9
Sam
I must have changed my outfit at least a dozen times. All his text said was dress casual and comfortable. He wouldn’t give me anything else. Not one hint as to what we’re doing. Doesn’t he realize how vague that is? Causal and comfortable could mean a variety of things.
Leave it to him to
drive me nuts.
Though, I can’t deny the butterflies swirling in my tummy. All week I’ve looked forward to this then berated myself for it. One more time. One more night with him. I just want to feel that connection once more.
To feel…alive.
That’s the best way to explain it. That night in his truck was reckless and so unlike me but it was the first time I’ve felt alive in a long time. I have no idea what’s in store for us today but I plan to embrace it and enjoy it for what it is.
I finally decided on a pair of cutoff jean shorts that mold to my skin like butter. They are the comfiest ones I own and are very flattering, especially for my backside. I paired it with a flowy army green tank that makes my green eyes more pronounced.
I warm thinking about the new Victoria Secret bra and panties I have on underneath that I bought just for him. That’s of course if we get to that point tonight. By his parting comment last weekend, I’m assuming we will. Just the thought has heat gathering between my thighs.
One more time.
The sound of my phone ringing cuts through my thoughts. Grabbing my cell from the nightstand, my heart swells with love at the picture of my sister’s face flashing on the screen.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite sister in the whole world,” I answer.
“The one and only.” The smile I hear in her voice matches the one on my face. “There’s a small moment of reprieve in the boutique so I wanted to call and check in. How are things?”
“Good. I’m actually just waiting to be picked up for a date,” I say, knowing I shouldn’t tell her but need to talk to someone about it.
“A date,” she squeals excitedly. “Who is it? Do I know him?” There’s a pause, her enthusiasm diminishing. “Don’t tell me it’s with that two-timing bastard.”
“No. I told you, I’m done with Grant.”
“Good. Then who is it?”
“Promise you won’t tell a soul?”
“Oh my god, I can’t tell anyone? This is so damn juicy. Yes, I promise. Now tell me before I die of curiosity.”