Page 45 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 2

Pride filled my chest, and his praise made me feel ten feet tall. “Thank you, honey. Can you feed me now? I’m so tired. Remember, you kept me up most of the night with your shenanigans,” I batted my eyelashes making it very clear what those shenanigans consisted of.

Memphis chuckled playfully before leaning toward my ear and speaking loud enough for not only me to hear, but also Malik. “It was worth it,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with salacious intent. “Let’s get you settled, babe.” He reached for my hand. “If you’re staying here, I guess we’ll talk later,Malik.” He gave a flick of his hand in a salute then led me toward the front entrance where another member of my parents’ staff was waiting.

“Hi, Patrice,” I waved at the housekeeper who assisted Rupert with the family’s needs.

“Welcome home, Ms. Shaw. Shall I tell the cook to set a meal for the two…” Her gaze reached Malik who was stomping up the steps, clearly agitated. “…three of you?”

“No,” I rubbed my hand up and down Memphis’ strong, broad chest. “My fiancé plans to woo me with a family staple tonight.”

“Patrice, have Cook make me a steak, rare. Potatoes and vegetables on the side. And a good bottle of red. I’ll take all of it in my room,” Malik snapped. No please or thank you to be found.

What a dick! And just like my father. Another reason things between us crumbled.

“Of course, Mr. Hendrickson. I’ll have that brought up as soon as it’s done. Anything else I can handle for you?”

Malik’s lips twisted into a snarl as he assessed us standing cuddled up. “No, that will be all for now,” he clipped, before pushing past us and taking the stairs to the guest rooms closest to my parents’ bedroom. Thank God we were set up in the opposite wing.

I rolled my eyes at Patrice, and she smiled as she looked down and away.

“Come on husband-to-be, show me those kitchen skills. I’m eager to experience this family recipe,” I encouraged, wanting to push away any of the nasty energy Malik had added to an already trying day.

* * * *

I moaned deeply then hummed, completely content for the first time all day.

“Well?” Memphis cocked a dark eyebrow, a wicked grin on his face.

“That was by far the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had in my life.” I licked my lips and watched my man’s eyes follow the movement of my tongue with interest.

He smiled. “Told you it would be. Granny Taylor does not play when it comes to food.”

“I look forward to thanking the matriarch for her talents in the kitchen upon our first meeting.” I said and then finished the tall beer he’d also poured each of us. I didn’t even know my parents stocked this particular beverage.

“Enjoy the beer?” he asked randomly.

I tilted my head. “Very much. I’m not normally an ale-type girl, but this did pair deliciously with the grilled cheese and chips you found. Honestly, I wasn’t sure my parents had what they would consider junk food in the house. Meaning beer and potato chips. I certainly never found any growing up.” I chuckled.

“The brew is a friend of mine’s. Well, technically, I’m closer to his wife Savannah than I am to Erik.”

I frowned. “Savannah? Sounds like a pretty little Georgia peach to me. Let me guess.” I tapped the rim of my empty glass with my nail. “She’s tall, sleek…an ex-cheerleader? Long, blonde hair…”

Memphis burst out laughing. “Total opposite, and she’s also not someone I dated, so you can calm the green-eyed monster I see lurking under those dark gorgeous eyes.” He finished with a smirk.

“Oh, fine. Ruin my fun.” I rolled my eyes. “So, you got me. Who is she?”

“Actually, she was in the last auction. Another candidate. We all became fast friends. I just attended her wedding withAlana and the entire group right before we arrived in Vegas. She was chosen by Erik Johansen the owner of Johansen Brewing Company.”

“Wow. He’s the biggest in the beer industry,” I said, flashing back to reading an article about the brewmaster and his company.

Memphis nodded and swallowed the remainder of his beer, following it up with a hearty, “Ahhhhhhhh,” before he licked his lips and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Savannah is actually a curvy redhead from Montana. She’s part of a sister team that joined the auction last quarter. She’s definitely the sweet one. Dakota, her sister, who ended up being auctioned to their rival neighbor, is a blonde ball-buster though. She takes no shit from no one.”

“Sounds like my kind of people.”

“Yes ma’am. I hope they’ll come to our wedding, but it may be tight. Dakota is pregnant with twins, and Savannah and Erik are on their honeymoon now.”

“That’s a long honeymoon if they were in the auction last quarter and supposed to get married within a month.”

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