I peek up in time to see her shoot me her sweet-ass smile. I nod more to the tablecloth than my friends.
That’s when I notice that that blonde woman from the table beside ours has taken a seat at our table.
The woman who has joined us turns out to be Chelsea Walsh, who I figure out is the cousin of Skylar Walsh, the local Winter Classics skier. And of course she knows the Bianco brothers because although she went to public school and we went to a small Catholic school, she was popular and well…it seems like all the popular kids find each other if they’re within a fifteen mile radius.
She gushes on and on about what great guys they are, only serving to twist the dagger in my back. Lauren fills them in on how I’ve always loved Mauro. Love is too strong a word. Lusted might be more accurate and if you caught sight of his arm porn or his pecs you’d be wanting a piece of him too.
At some point her friends join us and somehow Chelsea convinces us to make the night more fun by picking each other’s dates and suddenly we’ve switched paddles. They leave us to sit back at their table and retreat back into their own world like some movie or book where fate sent someone in to set all the pieces in place.
I have Vanessa’s paddle in my hand instead of my own and Lauren sits across from me holding my paddle. I can’t help but be scared of who the hell she’ll stick me with.
“Hey, single ladies!” the MC booms over the microphone. “Let’s meet the bachelors up for auction tonight.”
Vanessa swivels in my direction, eyes narrowed. “Please just no cops, okay?”
I bite my lip not wanting to make any promises. “We’ll see.” I joke with a smile.
“Okay here’s the deal. You can’t argue with the person bidding for you. You have to be quiet,” Lauren says, always wanting to lay out the rules ahead of time.
“Just bid on someone in my league,” I whisper.
Her face distorts into a whatever expression and she turns her back to us, granting her full attention to the MC.
The MC does a brief introduction on how the event will work and talks a little about how all the money raised will go to help families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. Finally, it’s time to get the auction started and I feel like I have a heavy bolder laying on my chest.
“Turn to page one and you’ll find our first bachelor,” the MC says. “Steve is a police officer from the first district. He’s looking for that Mrs. Right to live his happily ever after with. Bonus ladies, he works the day shift.” A short male with a runner’s body emerges, tipping his hat and spinning around with a casual smile on his face.
“He seems nice,” I mention, hoping she’ll get the idea that a man like him is someone I could see myself going out with.
Lauren looks back at me. “We’re not looking to be wined and dined. We’re looking to be screwed sideways.”
Vanessa sits back with her phone in her hands, her thumbs texting as fast as a teenager’s.
A few more bachelors get snatched up, most of them older than I would prefer.
Leaning back and relaxing a bit into my chair, I recall why we’re here. This is all for a good cause. I can tolerate one date with whoever Lauren picks out for me.
Ordering another drink when the waitress appears, I decide to focus my thoughts on finding someone for Vanessa instead of worrying about who I’ll end up with.
“Our next bachelor is a police officer in the eighteenth district. He’s the happiest when he’s skating on ice with a hockey stick in hand, hitting a softball out of Grant Park, or eating Sunday dinner with his Mama. He’s looking for a woman who irons her t-shirts, makes her own cleaning solutions and organizes the soup cupboard in her spare time.” All the woman look at one another like the guy is crazy before he even steps out. “I should also mention that his brothers wrote this bio up for him. Come on out, Cristian Bianco.”
I smile watching a rosy cheeked Cristian being pushed out from the back room, no doubt by Luca or Mauro. I didn’t really know him, but Cristian always seemed sweet in high school. He tips his hat at the crowd like he just pulled them over, his intense hazel eyes showing a slight discomfort at the situation that I’d bet neither of his brothers have.
“Wow. He’s gotten so hot.” Lauren’s hand moves for her paddle.
I reach over and stop her. We exchange a look and I nod slightly in Vanessa’s direction. Lauren smirks, removing her hand from the paddle.
A few women in the front raise their paddles and place their bids.
Vanessa is distracted with her phone again, so I slowly raise mine with the hope that she doesn’t notice immediately.
“Two hundred to the lady in the back,” The MC says.
Cristian squints trying to see who’s bidding but my guess is the spotlights are making it hard for him to see. His wide shoulders and strong jaw remind me a little of his older brother. They’re both characteristics the three Bianco brothers share.
Another lady outbids me, so I raise my paddle again.
“Four hundred to the lady in the back.” The MC points to me.
Lauren smiles at me over her shoulder.
Vanessa huffs and she drops her phone to the table and picks up her drink.
“What did I miss?”
I raise my paddle once more.
“What? Who?” Her head whips around to look at the stage. “No!” She grabs for my arm, but I slide out of her reach.
“One…two…Sold to the lady in the back for six hundred dollars.”
I place the paddle down and look over at Vanessa.
“You’re kidding me, right? I told you no blue!” Vanessa’s stern voice does sound scary, but she’ll thank me once she has dinner with him. I can’t imagine Cristian not being the perfect gentleman.
“Sorry, I forgot,” I lie, and she narrows her eyes.
“Game on.” She leans in and whispers something in Lauren’s ear.
Damn it. What did I get myself into?
Chapter Three
We’re about midway through the bidding and the realization that I’m dying to see who grabs Mauro is a bad sign. After all these years he’s still the one that gets under my skin. That night from long ago is like a nightmare always on the playback reel whenever his name is mentioned.
The MC approaches the podium after a short break. “Okay ladies, if you liked the first Bianco brother’s bio wait until you hear this one. These three brothers have quite the sense of humor I’d say, by allowing their brothers to write their bio. So without further ado, let me introduce you to the eldest of the brothers, a firefighter from CFD Engine 55. He’s looking for a woman like his mama who will cook, clean, and cater to him with a smile. He promises to clean his plate at every meal, make sure to compare you to his mama at every turn, and give you unsolicited advice whenever you need it.” The MC takes a break and chuckles. “Sounds like a catch, ladies.” He holds his hands out to the curtain and Lauren’s head whips in my direction. “Mauro Bianco, ladies.”
I try to act indifferent but when he steps out wearing his blue fatigues and a jacket with CFD on it, my heart skips a beat. He opted not to wear his formal wear and I’m not surprised. He never was the type to dress up. Even at prom I’d heard he didn’t rent a tux but opted for a suit and tie that he stripped off before he was crowned prom king.