Page 13 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

“This will be an experience,” Alana remarked in that elegant tone that oozed class.

I blew out a breath and tried on the first item. It was a jumpsuit that had such long legs they dragged on the floor. It was meant for someone tall and statuesque.

“It doesn’t fit,” I said as I came out from behind the screen. “And how the heck do you go to the bathroom in something like this? You’d have to get completely naked.”

“I vote for that one.” I heard Rhodes’ deep, playful rumble come from outside of the room.

“You just want me to be naked,” I blurted, forgetting who was in the room with me.

“Damn straight!”

Emily’s cheeks were pink, but she was giggling like the young girl she was, completely at ease, while I was dying of embarrassment. “At least Dad likes it,” she joked.

Alana shook her head and sipped on a glass of champagne that had magically appeared while I was getting dressed. “Next item. Try the short silver dress,chérie,” she instructed.

I went back behind the privacy screen and pawed through the hanging items until I pulled out a slinky, form-fitting dress. It had spaghetti straps and hugged my body in all the best ways. It clung to my rounded ass like a second skin but had enough give that it didn’t feel tight. The hem fell to just above my knees, appropriate, yet still unbelievably sexy. I looked at my reflection from the left and right, then over my shoulder.

I was hot as fuck in this dress.

With a little more pep in my step, I came around the screen to find not only Alana and Emily in the room, but Rhodes was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, waiting for the show.

He gasped. “Jesus, fuck!”

“Dad!” Emily snapped, still giggling.

“We’re getting that,” he announced. “You look phenomenal.” There was such awe in his tone, my heart beat rapidly, and I couldn’t help the wide smile that stretched across my face.

“Magnifique, Maia,” Alana agreed.

I smiled and danced around. “It makes me feel pretty too.” Then I noticed the tag hanging from the side seam. I walked over to the mirror and tried to read it.

Rhodes stomped up behind me and covered my hand with his around the tag. He shook his head. “No looking at prices. You don’t live that life anymore,” he murmured.

“Rhodes…” I used my best serious voice.

“You’re not going to win this one. Just take off the dress and try on the next item. Let me spoil my fiancée,” he kissed my temple.

“Your fiancée!” Emily cried out suddenly and jumped up, her mouth hanging open.

“Em…” Rhodes lifted a hand, as though he could stop this train from crashing into us. No such luck.

Instant fear threaded through my veins, and my temperature rose as my hands went clammy.

“You’re getting married!” she screeched.

“I was going to tell you…” Rhodes tried.

Emily looked at me then to Rhodes, her face a mask of shock.

“Darling…” Alana went to the girl and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Emily stood with her eyes wide. “You meant it,” she whispered, her gaze planted on her dad’s face. “You’re not getting rid of me.”

“Never, baby girl. I told you that. Maia is to beaddedto our family. Me and you. Alana and Christophe. And now Maia.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and her expression softened. “You really aren’t going to push me away. That’s why Maia’s here. Because you want me to likeher?”

“Yes, Em. That’s exactly why we’re here,” he agreed. Which was the truth for the most part. Before the threats, we’d hoped to have more alone time alone together, but life and some psycho had other plans. Still, the whole point of us being here with Emily right now was not only to allow Rhodes to keep us both safe, but for us to connect.

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