I bid again when someone outbids me. The phone is pulled from my hands by Gaines, who’s towering over me. He is ridiculously tall.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure your phone still works.” I point my thumb over at Selena, who is watching us. She takes a step closer to Gaines. “She knocked it out of my hand.”
Selena lets out a gasp as she stares at Gaines’s phone.
“You were having her bid for you with your own money. That’s cheating, Gaines.” She makes the accusation with pouting lips while batting her eyelashes. It’s really confusing because I don’t know if she’s mad at him or trying to seduce him. I want to ask her if she has something in her eye, but I don’t get the chance.
“Go pay your bid, Selena.” He dismisses her.
She doesn't move. Instead she reaches toward his chest, then trails her perfectly painted fingernails down it, but he steps back to get away from her touch. I know none of his actions will deter her, though. If anything, it spurs her on more. I can tell she’s the type that enjoys a challenge. I want to smack her, but Gaines isn't mine.
“I know it’ll be worth every penny.” She licks her shiny lips and eyes Gaines like a snack she can’t wait to devour. Probably a Christmas Tree Cake. Maybe one of those extra large oatmeal cream pies.
She smirks over at me before turning to walk to wherever it is she needs to go to pay.
“We’re leaving.” He wraps his arms around me and guides me through the crowds of people. Half the crowd is watching the stage; the other half is watching us.
“We are? Don’t you have a date?”
“It’s later. If she can even afford to pay the bill.”
“Oh. When will the date be?” I find myself asking. “Not that I care. I’m just nosy.”
His lips twitch. “I’m not sure when it will be. I’ll worry about that later.” His arm drops from me, his hand locking around my wrist.
“I don’t think this is how you hold hands.”
His grip around my wrist doesn't lessen. “Making sure you don’t try to get away.” He motions toward a valet when we exit the building.
“Of course not. You said you’d fix my dress,” I remind him.
“That I will.” He pulls on my hand. I trip on my heel, falling into his very solid frame. I think he did it on purpose. “You still owe me, remember? You didn't live up to your end of the bargain.”
“I tried. I can’t help it if your girlfriends are crazy.”
“That’s okay. I’ll be collecting another way. They’re not my girlfriends, to be clear.” His eyes drop to my mouth. I lick my lips, wondering if he’s going to kiss me. Do I stop him if he does? Or do I play into it? I'm supposed to be seducing him, after all. I totally don’t want to kiss him. Not at all. I’m doing this to get my box. Nothing more.
I close my eyes, but nothing happens. I peek one eye open. He’s smiling down at me. I open the other. My face heats with embarrassment.
“Not yet, my treasure.” His gaze slips down my face to my chest. He picks up the key around my neck. My heart drops, and I wonder if he knows.
“Your car, sir.” He releases my necklace from his fingers and ushers me into his fancy car. The door slams shut. Why didn't he kiss me? He slides into the driver’s seat. What if he’s been on to me this whole time? Why else has he kept me so close all night?
He might have been the one that has been doing the seducing this whole time. And I may have fallen right into his trap.
8
Gaines
She nibbles her lower lip as we whip through the city streets. “I can’t believe she just knocked it out of my hand. I mean, who does that?”
I grit my teeth. I still want to strangle Selena, but she’s nothing and no one. Not to mention, there’s absolutely no way she can pay the winning bid. I’ve already messaged the director and told her Selena is no longer allowed at any event where I’m in attendance or where my funds are used for so much as a floral arrangement.
“I don’t want to talk about her.” I reach out and take Pansy’s soft hand, her skin like silk against mine. “I want to talk about you.”
“Me?” She gives me a high, nervous laugh.
“Yes. Where are you from? What’s your last name? Who invited you to the event tonight?” I stop questioning and swallow hard. What if some other man brought her? I grip the steering wheel a little too tightly. But it doesn’t matter. She’s in my car, headed to my home, and I intend to keep her there as long as need be. I have to get to the bottom of her mystery, and more than that, I want to taste her treasure, every last drop of it.
“Oh, the event. Um. Well, I was just sort of in the neighborhood, you know?” She smiles.
“In the neighborhood?” I shoot her a sideways glance.
She shrugs, her breasts perilously close to spilling out of her strapless dress. I lick my lips.
“Just kidding. Right? I mean, obviously, I was invited. I couldn’t have gotten in otherwise. Don’t be silly.”
I stroke her inner wrist with my thumb, pausing to feel her quick pulse every so often. She’s nervous, maybe excited, maybe both.
“You weren’t there with someone, were you?” I try to keep my tone nonchalant, though my mind goes to dark places about what I’d do to any man who tried to stake a claim on my mystery woman.
“I was with you.” She looks at me, her eyes wide and questioning. Innocent.
“Yes, you were. You are.” I squeeze her fingers and take the bridge out of town and into the countryside. The moon is high, lighting the expanse of trees and big estates that line the highway.
“We’re going to your house.” She says it like a statement more than a question, then clears her throat. “I mean, I’m guessing that’s where we’re going, right?”
“Yes.” I hadn’t even asked if she wanted to go home. Not that I would’ve obliged her. She isn’t getting away from me. Not now.
“Okay.” She smiles a little.
“Last name?” I press.
“Oh. It’s … Well, it’s . . .” She turns to look out her window. “It’s Box,” she blurts.
“Pansy Box?”
“Yep.” She gives a definitive nod. “That’s my name.”
“All right. So where are you from?”
“Here and there.” She’s clearly trying to evade my questions, but I won’t let her. If I can recover the lost headdress of Kamunen Ra, I can get answers out of the ripe peach by my side.
“Your accent has a Southern lilt to it. Far South, actually. I’m thinking Mississippi. Maybe Louisiana?”
She whips her head back around to me. “What? No.” Her voice deepens.
I laugh at how purely cute she is. “Are you trying to disguise your accent?”
“Ha ha. What?” It goes even deeper.
I laugh even more. Who is this woman?
“Look, Ms. Box.” I turn down the lane toward my estate. “I know you’re being clever. But I promise you, I will get to the bottom of you.” I keep dragging my thumb across her wrist as we enter my gate. “I’m going to discover every one of your secrets. Dust them off, polish them up, and display them.”