Page 43 of RAKEish

Lux’s gaze drifted and landed on Ms. Birdie. Standing there in a luxurious, gold-tone gown that shimmered like liquid wealth, holding a golden microphone, she appeared both mysterious and powerful.

What had Ms. Birdie’s end game been when she’d sent Lux to speak to Frankie? And Lux was certain Ms. Birdie had one. She didn’t do anything without a plan. But to know her end game would require knowing where her loyalty lay. Was she more concerned with landing the best possible candidate for her alma mater, or a company she’d owned?

“Men, your job is to woo the lady across from you with your best pickup line,” Ms. Birdie said. “And go.”

The guy sitting opposite Lux gave her a nervous smile. “Hello, beautiful. Here’s my card before I blank out and don’t give you one.”

“Thank you.” Lux took the card and slipped it in her purse and waited for him to offer his best pickup line, just like Scott had taught her.

“Umm. If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?” he said.

Lux bit her tongue to keep from laughing out loud at the line she recognized from a song of years gone by. She cocked her head and thought about her response. “No, but I would allow you to buy me a drink later.”

He laughed. “Hi. I’m Tim, and it’s been a long time since I’ve spouted off a pickup line. I’m recently divorced and just getting back into the dating scene after a decade out of it.”

What tiny bit of interest she had in him died. While she knew it wasn’t fair to dismiss a man simply because of a failed marriage, she just couldn’t help herself. “I’m sorry about the divorce.” Should she give him his card back? Explain why?

He shrugged. “We got married too young. Once we settled into our mature personalities, we realized we had nothing in common.”

Was that what had happened to her parents? Had they gotten married too young?

“Time,” Ms. Birdie said. “Ladies, please move one seat to your right. If you’re on the end, move back up to the front of the line.”

Lux stood and sat at the next seat. The guy sitting across from her looked old enough to be her father, but the amount of jewelry he wore told her he was loaded and looking for a young partner. She immediately didn’t like him.

“Men, begin.”

The guy wiggled his brows. “I’m a billionaire in need of a companion when I visit Manhattan. Someone willing to be a kept woman. Are you interested in knowing more? If so, I’ll give you a card.”

Lux blinked and then scowled. “Are you for real?”

He laughed. “No. I’ve just always wanted to say that and see how a woman would react. I have to say, the one before you jumped at the offer. I couldn’t hand her a card fast enough.”

“If I were you, I’d try something different. The kind of woman you’re going to land with that is only going to be interested in your money.” As she dispensed her wisdom, Lux couldn’t help but remember Scott’s counsel on her unintentional innuendoes, and the memory brought a smile. A smile the guy across from her must have taken as encouragement because he sat up a little straighter, a peacock preening.

“Exactly,” he said, moving his arm in such a way that his Rolex watch became visible.

Lux scowled.

“Time’s up. Move one seat over,” Ms. Birdie announced.

Rolex was followed by several unremarkable men, neither good nor bad. Their pickup lines were: ‘Would you like a back rub.’ ‘I’m no organ donor, but I’d be happy to give you my heart.’ ‘What’s your name? Or can I call you mine?’

They were followed by an idiot whose idea of a line was, ‘Want to blow this popsicle joint? This party sucks.’ To which Lux scowled.

“Change partners,” Ms. Birdie said.

Still scowling at Mr. Popsicle, Lux moved one spot and found herself sitting across from a gentleman with a charming smile who wore a green corduroy jacket. Her frown immediately morphed into a happy grin. This guy was her male mirror. That was if she’d been allowed to come to the gala wearing something out of her own closet.

“Begin,” Ms. Birdie said.

Lux tensed. Please let him be—

“Forgive me for what I’m about to say,” he said with a nervous hitch to his voice. “It’s going to sound corny and cheesy and—”

She couldn’t stand the suspense, not to mention precious seconds were flying by. “Just say it,” Lux encouraged.

He gave her a sheepish grin. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”

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