Bachelor Auction (4 page)

to you. She was letting you know she likes you for

who you are, and she doesn’t hold your father’s

actions against you.”

“I know.” She lifted a shoulder and let it drop,

suddenly tired of trying to hide her feelings. “But

you know me. I’d be bored stiff, talking wedding

plans and all that mushy stuff.”

“And I’m sure painting your toenails is so much

more fun.”

“Depends on who’s painting them for me.”

“Charlotte Reese, don’t—” Melody’s frown

deepened. “It’s Marcus isn’t it? He’ll be there, and

you don’t want to see him. There’s something going

on between you two.”

“For the last time, there isn’t
now
, nor can there

ever be anything between Marcus and me.” If she’d

been confused about anything else that happened in

the garden that night, he’d made that much

perfectly clear. “Besides, I’ve got a paper due and

finals to study for.”

“Couldn’t you put them off for a few hours? You

need a break.”

“I’ve taken too many breaks.”

She hated to disappoint Melody, but keeping up

with social commitments, like this auction, while

trying to obtain her Masters in Psychology had been

difficult. Keeping it a secret hadn’t been any easier.

Not that it was a secret really. It just didn’t fit the

image she’d so carefully cultivated over the years. To

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her acquaintances she was a party girl and a career

student, taking classes at the university for lack of

anything better to do.

But after almost ten years, she was so close to

her goal, she could taste it. She hated to deviate

from her schedule whenever she could help it.

Besides, after not seeing Marcus at all in the last

two months, twice in twenty-four hours would be

more than she could bear.

“Hello, ladies.” Chad, the youngest Preston,

suddenly filled the space between them, draping an

arm over their shoulders. It seemed the Prestons

were everywhere tonight. “You’re both looking

mighty lovely this evening.”

With a raised brow, Charlotte let her gaze roam

the length of him. “You look pretty good yourself.

But then you know that, don’t you?”

He gave her a lopsided grin then turned to

Melody. “Mind if I steal this hellion for a dance? This

party needs shaking up, and I’m thinking she and I

are the ones to do it.”

“Be my guest.”

Chad disentangled himself and held out his

hand. “How about it, darlin’?”

Charlotte didn’t feel much like shaking things

up, but if it saved her from another of Melody’s

lectures, she was all for it. Besides, dancing with

Chad would be another nail in her coffin since the

time she’d come on to him and Marcus witnessed it.

She’d done it, banking on two things. A rumor

that Marcus never pursued women his brothers had

dated. And the hope that Chad wouldn’t accept her

offer because she was the daughter of his company’s

competitor. The gamble had paid off. Chad had

declined, and Marcus had backed off.

She placed her hand in Chad’s. “Let’s show

these people how to party.”

Several songs later, Charlotte found herself

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Darah Lace

actually having a good time. Chad had given her a

run for her money swing dancing, then passed her

off to Mitch, who waltzed her in circles until the

room tilted. She laughed at Chad’s ridiculous sense

of humor and Mitch’s dry cynicism. Both men

seemed genuinely friendly as they took turns

dancing with her.

Funny how only six months ago the “Preston

boys” had treated her with open disdain. It wasn’t

until her father’s arrest and Melody’s engagement to

Spencer that they began to see her differently. All,

except Marcus.

When she once more found herself passed off to

Chad, she adjusted to his rhythm and let her gaze

wander over those surrounding the dance floor. She

wasn’t looking for
him
. She really wasn’t. But there

he was anyway, Snow White still clinging to his side

as she had all evening, smiling at him with

unmistakable adoration.

Charlotte looked away. If he was going to fall for

that infant, she wasn’t going to stick around and

watch. It was time to make her exit.

As if on cue, the music reached a crescendo.

Chad matched it, ending with a flourish of spins that

left her dizzy and grasping his arm. She laughed

despite her dejected state and, uncertain of her

balance, let him lead her off the floor. When he came

to a sudden halt, she stumbled past him and into a

very masculine chest.

Her laughter died in her throat as strong fingers

closed around her upper arms and the familiar scent

of pine and musk surrounded her. She lifted her

gaze from equally familiar shoulders to green eyes

that grew dark like the deepest forest as they

focused on her breasts, mashed solidly against his

chest, threatening to spill from her jacket.

“Nice to...” he cleared his throat “...see you

again, Charlotte.”

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Heat crept up Charlotte’s neck to flood her

cheeks as Marcus set her on her feet and stepped

back. Geez, she hadn’t blushed in...well, in years.

Not since she’d walked in on her father’s chauffeur—

the object of her thirteen-year-old infatuation—and

the upstairs maid getting it on in the pool house.

She could barely pull two thoughts together

much less form a sarcastic or witty reply—

something her reputation demanded. Just when she

thought her humiliation couldn’t get any worse, she

heard Chad say, “It’s your turn to take Charlotte for

a spin.”

He made her sound like a sports car being test-

driven. So much for thinking they were beginning to

see her differently. Then again, it was probably for

the best if she maintained the fast image she’d

managed to build over the years.

She brushed her fingers through her hair and

forced a laugh. “Now, Chad, you know as well as I do

Marcus is too stuffy to know how it’s done.”

“That’s not true.” Snow White’s fingers curled

possessively around Marcus’s arm. “I can tell you

from experience he knows exactly how it’s done.”

Charlotte met Marcus’s preoccupied gaze,

doubtful he’d even

heard

the

girl’s

subtle

insinuation. “Congratulations. I haven’t had the

pleasure myself.”

Hearing the word
pleasure
in Charlotte’s throaty

voice jarred Marcus from his stupor and sent a rush

of blood south, a direction it seemed to take

whenever he saw her. Hell, who was he kidding? It

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happened at the mere thought of her.

He thought he’d pulled himself together since

almost caving in to her allure earlier. Natalie had

been a good distraction, but when Charlotte collided

with his chest and he’d been face to...breast..with

her, all coherent brain activity vanished.

He tore his gaze from her satiny blonde mane.

“Nat, I’d like you to meet Charlotte Reese. Charlotte,

this is Natalie Weaver.”

Charlotte smiled. “It’s nice to meet you,

Natalie.”

Natalie frowned. “Hmm, that name sounds so

familiar.”

“Charlotte’s a popular gal.” Chad draped an arm

around her shoulders, hugging her close. “Aren’t

you, darlin’?”

Though Marcus had his own opinions on

Charlotte’s popularity, he appreciated his brother’s

attempt to spare her embarrassment. What he didn’t

appreciate was the familiarity with which Chad

handled her. Not that she seemed to mind. Come to

think of it, they’d been awfully cozy on the dance

floor. His gut twisted at the idea of something going

on between them.

Natalie gasped. “Isn’t your father the one—”

“C’mon Nat.” Chad released Charlotte and

grabbed Natalie’s free hand. “It’s time for you and

me to cut a rug.”

“But—”

Natalie’s protest was cut off as Marcus

relinquished her to his brother’s timely intervention.

He frowned after them, still not certain whether he

wanted to thank Chad or beat the hell out of him. A

glance at Charlotte as she struggled to hold her

smile in place told Marcus he would be thanking

Chad later.

“She’s young, Charlotte. She doesn’t know tact

yet.”

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“It doesn’t matter. I’m used to it.” She lifted her

chin and tossed her head, causing pale strands to

cascade over her shoulders like a waterfall of

moonlight. God, he loved her hair. “See you around,

Marcus.”

“Wait.” He reached to stop her but pulled back

short of touching her. He still hadn’t apologized. “I

thought we were going to dance?”

One corner of her lips curled upward. “Don’t

worry. You’re off the hook.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that I know how hard it is for you to

pretend and that there’s no one around to tell on you

if you’re not nice to me.”

Damn. Apologizing now would be futile if she

thought he only did so to honor a promise to Melody.

Yet somehow he had to try. “That’s not why I asked

you to dance.”

“I don’t recall you actually asking.”

“No. I didn’t. But I am now.” He forced himself

to meet her confident blue gaze. “Would you dance

with me, Charlotte?”

She seemed to consider his question, as if trying

to guess his ulterior motive, then finally shrugged. “I

guess we should. If only to make Melody happy.”

Marcus supposed he deserved her indifference

after the last time they’d been together, but it sure

played havoc with his ego. Though by all accounts,

he should be accustomed to it. She never failed to

make him feel lame and uninteresting.

He took her by the elbow and led her onto the

dimly lit dance floor before she changed her mind. A

fast two-step played, a Texas swing, conducive to

keeping intimacy at a minimum. However, as he

swung her around the room it also made

conversation impossible.

Then again, he needed a moment to get over the

feel of having her so near. He held one soft slender

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hand. The other rested on his shoulder, her fingers

near the collar of his shirt within twining distance of

his hair. Her own silky blonde tresses flew out

behind her as they twirled the corners, then settled

against her back during the straight-aways so the

ends tickled his hand at her waist. Her spicy

fragrance danced around him, reminding him of that

night in the garden and how it had mingled with her

own scent as she writhed under his touch.

Damn, now he’d done it. Gone and worked

himself up into a fine state with a hard-on to prove

it.

He looked to see if she had any idea what she

did to him and let out of long breath of relief. As

usual, she seemed aware of everything but him. He

glanced lower to make sure his embarrassing state

wasn’t as obvious as it felt, but his gaze stalled at

the curve of her breasts at the opening of her jacket.

He swallowed hard as the garment’s only button

pulled against the eyehole and wondered how much

resistance it could withstand with all the twists and

turns her body made before it popped open. If he

were to...

The music stopped before his thoughts could

lead him into mischief or before he slammed into

everyone in their path.

Charlotte stepped out of his arms and pushed

her hair back. It fell forward again, one strand

curling inside the vee of her jacket between her

breasts. He envied that curl, wishing he could

replace it with his lips.

“Snow White was right. You certainly know

what you’re doing. At least on the dance floor.”

“Who?”

Her pink tongue slid out to wet full, red lips.

“Your friend. Natalie was it?”

“Oh, yeah, Nat.” Marcus wanted to pound his

head against a wall. How was he going to get

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Bachelor Auction