Bachelor Auction (3 page)

avoided at all costs—at bay.

Yet, while her self-imposed reputation had thus

far put Marcus off, it hadn’t stopped the longing she

felt whenever he came near.

Charlotte shook off the depressing thoughts and

turned a bright smile on the young man beside her.

He couldn’t have been more than seventeen, making

her feel ancient at twenty-five. “Well, you’ve been

very entertaining, but I really need to check on the

auction proceedings.”

Blowing a kiss to the group in general, she

dismissed their long faces and strolled casually in

Melody’s direction. If only she could so easily dismiss

the one face that stayed on her mind more often

than not.

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Darah Lace

She tried to tell herself she wasn’t keeping tabs

on him. It was simply that Chad and Mitch’s arrival

had signaled their family meeting over and the

straw drawn. And by their relaxed expressions, it

was clear they had dodged the bullet and Marcus

would be the one up for grabs. She’d felt a moment of

pity for him. Marcus was much too serious to let

himself enjoy an opportunity like this. He would

hate it. He would do it, but he’d hate it.

Then Melody and Spencer had appeared, and

she knew Marcus wouldn’t be far behind. She steeled

herself for his entrance. Even so she hadn’t been

prepared for the sight of him in a black tux that

accentuated a sleek, muscular frame and dark good

looks. The man was absolutely delicious.

And just like chocolate. Off limits.

A hard pinch on her butt cheek sent Charlotte

into a near collision with one of the couples on the

edge of the dance floor. She swung around to

confront her assailant, clearly no gentleman, then

let out a long breath as Harry Townsend, the biggest

letch in three counties, winked and teetered toward

the champagne fountain, obviously a return trip.

She cursed the male species all the way to the

bidding tables and stopped beside Melody. “I swear

that man has the manners of a goat.”

“Who?”

Charlotte pointed toward Harry, who could

barely stand to fill his glass.

Melody peered past her and blinked in

disappointment. “Oh, and after he just got through

promising he’d be nice to you.”

“He doesn’t know the meaning of the word.”

Charlotte rubbed her bruised flesh. “Do me a favor,

will you, and don’t invite him to the wedding?”

“That might be kind of hard to do, considering

he’s Spencer’s brother.”

Charlotte glanced quickly from Harry to the

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Bachelor Auction

other end of the table where Marcus helped the

lovely brunette Mitch had been talking to fill her

plate. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen Marcus with

another woman, and it wasn’t the first time she’d

felt the pangs of what she refused to admit was

jealousy, an emotion she avoided. To be jealous

would mean she cared, and to admit that...

She faced the dance floor and waved off Melody’s

misconception. “I can handle him. I’m talking about

Harry Townsend. My butt is always black and blue

after one of these gatherings.”

“You shouldn’t have made the mistake of flirting

with him last year at Liz Melbourne’s wedding. Now

he thinks you want him. And you shouldn’t have

worn that outfit.”

She batted her lashes in mock innocence.

“What’s wrong with my outfit?”

“Why, Charlotte,” Melody said in a voice that

sounded much like Melanie Wilkes scolding Scarlett

O’Hara. “It’s simply disgraceful. What
were
you

thinking?”

“I was thinking of all the bees I’d attract with its

honey color.”

Melody shook her head. “You were thinking

Marcus would see you in that getup and steer clear.”

She stilled. “What do you mean by that?”

“Just that I used to think you were trying to find

a man to replace your father, someone to love you

because you felt he didn’t. But then I figured it out.”

“Oh, yeah. What did you figure out?”

“That you’re afraid of commitment.”

“You got that right,” she said, trying not to panic

as her friend’s observations came a little too close to

the truth. She waved a hand to indicate the crowd

around them. “I’m afraid, with all there is to choose

from, one man could never satisfy me.”

“Don’t.”

Charlotte blinked at Melody’s sharp tone. “Don’t

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Darah Lace

what?”

“Belittle yourself. You know how much I hate it

when you cut yourself down.”

“But Mel, I—”

“Don’t ‘but Mel’ me. I know you’re not what you

try so hard to portray.” Melody’s brow unfurled as

concern filled her eyes. “And I know there’s more to

it than just your fear of commitment. There’s

something going on between you and Marcus.”

Charlotte felt the blood drain from her face. “Are

you crazy? Don’t you see the way he looks at me? He

hates me.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve seen the way he

looks at you—it’s not hatred I see in his eyes.”

“So there’s a little lust going on,” Charlotte said,

fighting for composure. “I’m clearly not his type.”

“Isn’t that the kind of man you usually gravitate

toward? The ones not looking for a particular type,

who just want to have a good time?”

Charlotte shrugged. “Hey, I wouldn’t mind

sharing the sheets with Marcus, but...”

When Melody didn’t say anything, she almost

sighed in relief. She had been on the brink of

blurting out the fact that she’d already given in to

the attraction, had offered herself to him, opened

herself to the pain of rejection. In that, Marcus

hadn’t disappointed.

She gazed across the dance floor and found the

topic of their conversation, his attention still focused

on the petite porcelain-skinned beauty at his side.

He bent close to hear something she said, and a lock

of jet-black hair fell across his brow. Snow White

reached to brush it back, causing Charlotte’s palm to

itch. Whether to slap the other woman’s hand away

or to feel the cool strands of his hair slip through her

fingers as they had that night in the mayor’s garden,

she wasn’t sure.

She had known someday Marcus would find a

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Bachelor Auction

woman who would live up to all he wanted, but for

some unfathomable reason, watching it happen

disturbed her more than it should.

“You’re more his type than either of you think.”

Charlotte shifted so that her view of the

handsome couple was blocked and shook her head.

“Marcus wants love and marriage and kids. He

wants the girl next door, someone pure and sweet.”

“Yes, he does, but he’d be bored with someone

like that. He might not know it, but he would.”

“My point exactly. And when he grows bored

with someone devoted to him, what will he do? He’ll

do what every man does when tired of the toys they

have. They get new ones.”

“Marcus isn’t like your father. He’s a good man.”

“Is he?”

“Yes, and if you’d spend some time with him

you’d know.”

“Well, I don’t see that happening.”

Melody’s brow lifted and the corner of her mouth

curled upward. “You could bid on him.”

Charlotte almost spewed ginger ale all over

herself and Melody, but managed to choke it down

instead. “Now I know you’re crazy.”

“Think about it. What better way to show him

what you’re really like?”

“What makes you think I want to do that? All I

said was I wouldn’t mind having sex with him. He’s

an itch I’d like to scratch. It’s not like I want to have

his baby or anything.”

“Okay, then think of it this way. Being confined

with Marcus for a few days on a cruise ship or at a

secluded ski lodge is a sure-fire chance to work your

wiles on him. You could get him out of your system

once and for all.”

Charlotte groaned and searched her mind for a

smart-ass remark. The last thing she wanted was for

Melody, or anyone else, to know how much she

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Darah Lace

wished she could get Marcus out of her system.

She’d tried for years and sometimes even managed

to convince herself she had. Only times like these

reminded her how miserably she’d failed.

“Melody, honey.” Mrs. Preston appeared at

Melody’s side, hugging her close. “How’s the bidding

going?”

Melody kissed her future mother-in-law’s cheek

and indicated the women standing in line to place

their bids. “Fine, but could you imagine the chaos if

the bidding was live?”

“I’ve been to live bachelor auctions before, and

let me tell you, they’re a lot more fun to watch.

Hungry women can be pretty scary.”

An ache Charlotte tried hard to ignore settled in

her chest as it had earlier when the news reached

her that Marcus would join the other bachelors on

the auction block. She glanced over Melody’s

shoulder at the bidding tables. The lines were long

for the other bachelors, but Elaine Richardson, a

partner at the law firm that represented Preston

Enterprises, stood alone in front of Marcus’s bidding

sheet and photo, poised to write her name. Elaine bit

her lip, hesitating, then straightened, dropped the

pen without signing her name and walked away. The

bidding for Marcus must have surpassed Elaine’s

budget.

Though curious as to who had jacked up the

price, Charlotte wasn’t the least bit surprised. No

matter the cost, he would be worth every penny. For

that very reason, she had avoided the bidding tables

since placing the opening bids. And she’d done so

before any of the guests arrived and before knowing

which Preston had drawn the short straw. She’d

been afraid she wouldn’t be able to sign her name if

Marcus won—or rather lost—the drawing, and

others, namely Melody, would see the omission and

guess the reason why. It would be hard enough to

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Bachelor Auction

explain her departure prior to the announcement of

the winners, but no way she could watch one of these

women claim Marcus.

“Listen,” Mrs. Preston said to Melody, drawing

Charlotte’s attention. “I’ve talked your mother and

father into staying at the ranch with us when they

come for the wedding. There’s no reason for them to

go to a hotel. Besides, Christmas Eve is no time to be

stuck in a hotel. They should be with family.”

“Thank you. When we chose Christmas Eve to

get married, I had no idea it would be so difficult for

everyone. Especially the hotel reservations.” Melody

turned to Charlotte. “You know Spencer’s mom,

don’t you?”

“Yes, how are you, Mrs. Preston?” She had met

Marcus’s mother on several occasions and always

found her kind and generous. Yet there was

something disconcerting in the way the older woman

looked at her now. As if she could see straight to her

soul, making Charlotte feel a nakedness that had

nothing to do with scandalous attire.

“I’m wonderful now that one of my boys is finally

settling down. I’m hoping another will soon follow.”

Charlotte swallowed as Connie Preston’s eyes

bore into hers. She managed an airy laugh. “Well, I

know dozens of Houston women who would gladly

volunteer.”

She was saved from further discussion on the

prospects of wedded bliss for the Preston men as the

oldest brother, Mitch, joined them, placing a hand on

his mother’s shoulder. “Come dance with me,

Mama.”

“Of course, honey.” She turned to Melody. “See

you tomorrow at the ranch.” Then to Charlotte she

said, “Why don’t you come along with Melody? We’d

love to have you.”

Charlotte knew the entire family, including

Marcus, planned to discuss the wedding over lunch.

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Darah Lace

She wasn’t about to subject herself to an entire

afternoon of his company. “Thank you, but I have

plans for the rest of the weekend.”

“Perhaps another time then,” Mrs. Preston said,

smiling as if she knew perfectly well Charlotte had

just lied.

Melody rounded on her the moment they were

alone. “Why did you do that? You told me just an

hour ago you had no plans. She was trying to be nice