Page 48 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 1

“As I told you before. I love kids. They are not a deterrent for me. Sure, I’d like to wait a little while so I can get ahead in the business, but I am open to kids. And regarding the long-term marriage possibility, I’m totally here for it. Either way, I’m excited about tonight.” I rubbed my hands together.

“Indeed.” Alana tapped her blood-red lips. “It’s a welcome change. You are incredibly unique and rather refreshing, Summer. I look forward to seeing how your pairing works out.”

“Madam Alana,” Jade called from the top of a set of stairs leading up to the stage. “It’s time.”

The Madam squeezed my shoulder as she walked by.

I waited as each person approached the stage while humming “Hotel California” by The Eagles in my head. By the time my name was called, I was ready to go.

I excitedly made my way up the stairs and smiled as the curtains opened.

“Our next candidate tonight is Summer Belanger.”

* * * *

JACK

I stared stupidly as the knockout blonde I’d met in the elevator breezed across the stage looking absolutely breathtaking. She stopped when she got to the center.

Summer Belanger.

“She told me her name was Rebecca,” I growled under my breath then promptly tugged at my necktie which felt more like a noose than an accessory. I couldn’t believe she’d lied to me when asking something as simple as her name. Then again, she’d also given me the wrong phone number, so I shouldn’t be surprised. And there she was looking like a dream, strutting across the floor as if she owned the place.

“Summer is five foot eight, has blue eyes, and is…wealthy.” A shared gasp and rumbling murmurs picked up throughout the bidders around me. Madam Alana pressed her lips together coyly. “Summer has not entered into the auction tonight because of the money she will receive. She has entered because she wants a husband who is willing to mentor her in the art of running a successful business.”

My heart beat a million miles an hour as Alana shared intriguing facts about the woman I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about.

“Summer is self-made, has a very involved family unit, and is not opposed to a long-term marriage or having children in the future,” Alana continued.

My entire body quickly overheated as I stared at Summer and really heard the words that Alana was saying.

Involved family unit.

Not opposed to a long-term marriage.

Willing to have children.

These were the exact things I’d requested in my own interview. And all Rebecca—I mean Summer—wanted in return was a man to help mentor her in business? It was unbelievable. Beyond incredible. It’s almost as if…

Suddenly, Madam Alana reached up and tugged on her right ear.

Holy Moses. That was my sign.

My mouth went dry, the rest of Alana’s words disappearing along with all other noises in the room. I focused on nothing but the woman on stage. She was the one who Alana believed I’d be happiest with. The same woman I’d met in the elevator and had felt such an intense connection to. The one I’d been trying to force out of my mind since we met.

It was as if the universe opened its mighty hands and dumped her straight into my path.

I watched as Summer turned around and placed her hands on her hips before looking over her shoulder with a sultry smirk. Her entire bare back was on display, from the big red velvet bow tied around her neck, all the way down her delicate-looking spine to the roundness of her arse.

Physically the woman was stunning. Personality-wise, quirky, awkward, with a heaping dose of adorable. I think our time in the elevator barely scratched the surface of what the future could hold for us. Because we would definitely have a future together.

No matter what it took, or what I had to bid, Summer Belanger would be mine.

I grabbed my remote and punched the Yes button as fast as I could. Then I fidgeted in my seat as the numbers tallied.

Madam Alana turned to the large screen at the back of the stage.

Yes – 5

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