“Spoken like a true divorce lawyer. Your cynicism could backfire.”
“Doubtful. Any publicity is good publicity.” He leaned closer still, killing me with his smoldering gaze and manly scent—combined, they served as aphrodisiacs. “It’s a win-win.”
“You’re assuming spending a night listening to you drone on about your professional talents sounds appealing to me.”
“And you’re assuming it would be my professional talents I’d want to discuss,” he said before taking another sip. “My talents go beyond the courtroom.”
The innuendo behind his words was unmistakable, and the effect on my libido was instantaneous. For the first time since approaching me, his focus slid to the group still drooling over him before coming back to mine.
All of it—the cocky claims, the arrogant air about him—turned me into a wanton mess.
It was because I hadn’t had sex since ending it with Will, whom I had casually dated off and on for about a year. If having sex with a human instead of a toy weren’t incentive enough, getting with Brad’s brother could be a fun way to put an end to him trying to get into my pants.
Okay, maybe my moral compass didn’t always point due north… sue me.
Wordlessly, I scanned the room of all the other men in attendance, some making me cringe at the thought of spending an hour with them much less an entire evening. At least with Nate I knew what I was getting into from the outset. A romance author going on a date with an anti-romantic divorce attorney could truly gain the attention of Runnel’s executive staff. Especially once they knew the author was the same one whose work they were interested in.
Hmm.
He watched as I processed his idea while draining my second glass of champagne. “Say yes, Jersey,” he prompted.
Needing to have my head examined, I offered him my hand. “Okay… you got yourself a deal, Mr. Navarro. Assuming you’d be able to outbid any other man here.”
A salacious grin spread when he wrapped his hand around mine. “That’s my problem.”
I tried to ignore how a jolt of electricity zapped through me. I even tried to pretend my lips hadn’t tingled with the desire to fuse over his cocky smirk.
It was impossible to do either… and bam… just like that I knew I had sold my soul to the devil.
This evening just became much more interesting.
I instantly noticed when she arrived in her formfitting black dress and heels. The more I stared, the more her thick black silky hair and sexy curves seemed familiar. But once I caught her staring, despite the red-lace mask that covered her eyes and nose, it was that always-present smug smirk lifting the corners of her full lips that I’d recognize anywhere.
Amy Delton never failed to have my slacks feeling a bit snugger between my legs.
From the moment I’d met her a year earlier, everything about her intrigued me. Her being my sister-in-law Jade’s best friend meant we saw each other often. There wasn’t a doubt desire ran deep in her crystal-blue orbs whenever she stared at me. It was always a woman’s eyes that gave her away.
Her New Jersey roots gave her an edge that made her sexy as fuck. The first time I called her Jersey, because of that subtle accent that came through when she got pissed off, had pissed her off even more. And now having us at the same event made it tempting to up my game.
But Brad had staked some stupid claim over her because they’d met first. A claim that meant shit to me. Sure, he would kill me… fun fact—that made me want her even more.
As one-third of identical triplets, constantly being in competition with one another was the norm. From an early age, Max had taken on the role of caretaker. And now that he was married with kids, it suited his personality perfectly. Brad, on the other hand, was known as the player. The last thing my brother wanted was a serious relationship. He was having way too much fun being a single, successful bar owner in Manhattan.
As for me, I’d been dubbed the brilliant cocky one. Ever since we were kids, my role in our trio was to help my brothers pull in good grades. Sometimes that happened through tutoring. When we got older, I’d sometimes switch places with Brad to take a test he hadn’t studied for. Max being the only one of us with dimples made it harder to swap lives.
If being triplets hadn’t gained us enough attention, then our looks most definitely had. Identical dark-brown hair, vivid green eyes, and six-foot-two frames made all three of us popular with the opposite sex. That was where the fun began. There were dozens of stories I could tell when one of us had shamelessly stolen the other’s girl. Even now, the stares I received from women as I stood dead center in front of the stage was nothing new.
Having said that, the way every tool around me lusted over Amy in the same way meant my little scheme was about to cost me. But I truly felt this could be good for my firm, Navarro & Associates.
After going off on my own, my former employers made it very clear they considered my departure as a betrayal. It all amused me. I had warned them once I hadn’t been made partner. I didn’t care I wasn’t there long enough, or that I wasn’t old enough. Those fuckers had made millions off me, and they should’ve taken my threat seriously. Of course, when I announced my departure, the stuffed suits did everything they could to convince me to stay. Too late.
They preferred me to be an ally rather than a competitor, and their reasons for feeling that way were valid. I was a bloodsucker in the divorce business, one who was currently devouring all future clients. Since opening my doors, I have added bankruptcy law and intellectual property. One day, maybe I’d add entertainment and a pro bono division.
My firm was small but mighty and growing in leaps and bounds.
The auction continued, with women and men being bid on. Impatient, I glanced at my watch, knowing there weren’t many dates left while keeping my position as I waited for Amy. The spotlight glowed once again, and there she finally was, stepping toward the podium.
Every fucker around me began foaming at the mouth as the auctioneer said, “Let’s open the bidding for the lovely Miss Amy at one thousand dollars.”
Before anyone had the chance, I raised my paddle and said, “Twenty thousand.”
A hush fell over the lounge. “Did the gentleman say ‘twenty thousand’?”
“That’s correct.” Instantly, the photographers covering the event had their cameras pointed my way. That attention, combined with Amy’s gaze searing right through me, meant the plan I’d concocted could benefit me in more ways than one. Provided I played it right.
“Okay, we have twenty thousand. Any counters?” One by one, men who’d had a hard-on for her seconds ago all shook their heads. “Going once… going twice…” With a bang of his gavel, he announced, “A date with this lovely woman is sold to bidder number seventeen for twenty thousand dollars.”
While a commotion broke out around me, I sauntered toward the end of the stage. Seemingly stunned, Amy took a few long moments to finally move. During the short walk, her chest rose and fell, her lips parted before she licked them seductively, and her crystal-blue eyes continued to blaze with pent-up desire. When she reached where I waited, I offered her my hand, and she took it. Flashes of light continued to create visual sparks in the dimly lit lounge, and the chatter grew to the point the auctioneer requested silence so the next date could be bid on.