Page 96 of Bought and Broken

Feeling feisty and extremely annoyed, when I spot Gunner walking to the bar, I quickly get up.

“I’m going to get a drink.”

“I can get it for you,” Dane says as he pushes his chair back.

“No thanks.”

I hurry off, hoping he doesn’t follow. I’m sure it won’t be long before one of them comes up to join me. I move in beside Gunner, trying to be as graceful as possible—and not obvious.

“Hiding?” he questions with a smirk, keeping his eyes on the bar and off me.

Or trying to make my non-official boyfriend jealous and my brother angry.

“Something like that.”

“What are you drinking?”

“Wine is good. Merlot, please.”

I have to say, one of the good things about being a woman is hardly having to buy your own drinks.

Gunner hands me the wine when he gets it, and we move to the side to keep talking. I’ve been up here for a while without being bothered, but I swear I feel eyes on me. Not sure who it is since I won’t look, but if I had to guess, I’d say it’s Tate.

“So, what’s going on at your table? Why does everyone seem so serious?” Gunner asks, sipping his whiskey.

“Because I’m here, and apparently I’m not allowed to have fun.”

He huffs out a laugh, eying me curiously. What he says next has me gasping. “I was at the auction, you know.”

I swallow, nearly choking. My cheeks burn, knowing he saw me in nothing but lingerie. “You were?”

“Yes,” he says, his eyes shining with humor. “I was outbid at the very last second.” Wow. Okay, that’s news. I can’t help but feel flattered by that. But also… if he was outbid at the very last second, that means he was willing to spend three million dollars on me. Holy crap, that’s insane. I can’t help but wonder if it’s because it’s me or if it’s because of what I said. “Who did you end up with?”

I take a sip of wine, not sure I want to tell him. But what does it matter? Gunner knows Tate and I have history, and he certainly isn’t going to tell my brother. And even if he did, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen.

“Tate.”

His eyes widen before he barks out a laugh.

“Well, that explains a lot.”

Is he referring to Tate growling at him earlier? Maybe.

Gunner smirks. “Dane was supposed to be there. He didn’t know you were?”

That’s news to me. And it’s a damn good thing he wasn’t.

“Ha! If my brother knew I was at that auction, he’d kill me.”

Gunner’s face falls, and it takes all of two seconds for me to realize why.

“You were at the auction?”

Those words cut like sharp knives. My blood runs cold. I whirl around, and there’s Dane, absolutely furious. Shit. I hold his gaze but can’t form words to answer him.

“I… I, uh—”

“Devon Kensington, you better answer me right this second,” he growls, gripping my arm to pull me away. I yank my arm free, frowning but careful not to make a scene.

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