Page 28 of A Christmas Auction

I shook my head and looped my arm with Colin’s. “I’m excited about tonight and getting to know you better.”

He put his hand over mine and gave me another megawatt smile. “Your sleigh awaits.”

* * * *

The jet was luxe. A level of opulence I wasn’t accustomed to. The last time I was on a plane was with a few friends, when we spent a week in Cancun, partying it up. Those seats were coach, at the very back of the plane, and I’d been sandwiched between a mother holding a crying baby and a big guy that was so tall his knees touched the seat in front of him, and his head towered over the seats. He also fell asleep with his head on my shoulder and drooled on my ruffly blouse. This was not that.

“Wow,” I whispered in awe as Colin pointed to a full-sized, leather lounge chair. I slid into the seat as gracefully as possible in a beaded, figure-hugging gown.

Bruno glided past, winking at me as he did so. I wanted to punch him in the face and kiss him in equal measure. He was muddling my mind. When he claimed to have changed his mind about us, I had no idea what that meant. Moreover,I believed any change wasn’t due to him actually having real feelings for me, but because another man was in the picture. In my experience, men could be like dogs. Inappropriately marking territory that wasn’t theirs.

I forced myself not to respond and, instead, patted the seat next to me for Colin.

He sat down and ordered champagne for the two of us from the flight attendant. Once we received our drinks, the captain announced we were ready for takeoff.

I hated this part of flying, so I closed my eyes, gripped the armrest and started my prayers. I always repeated the “Our Father” until the plane leveled out and reached its cruising altitude. Only this time, I didn’t expect to have a warm hand cover mine. I opened my eyes and stared into the pretty blue skies that were in Colin’s eyes, reflecting the clouds from the open airplane window opposite him.

“Hey there,” he said and interlaced our fingers. “We’re almost to the easy part,” he encouraged.

I smiled and leaned my head against the back of the seat and lost myself in his gaze.

“You’re kind.” I murmured.

“And you’re stunning,” he whispered back.

“Thank you for choosing me to go on this date with you.”

“Thank you for agreeing to it. I have to admit, when Alana sent your photo over, I just knew I had to meet you.”

I squeezed his hand. “I’ll admit to being rather shell-shocked when she told me who my first date would be. I mean…you could have anyone,” I shook my head. “Why do you even need the auction?”

He let go of my hand and the air between us cooled.

“I’m sorry; that was rude. It’s your business and none of mine.”

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “No, it’s a fair question. And something we’ll need to work out later if we…”

“Get married?”

He exhaled sharply and chuckled. “Are you always this direct?”

A rough laugh came from somewhere behind us.

Holy shit. Colin had just asked the exact same question to me that I’d asked of Bruno last night. I wanted to jump up and demand Bruno shut his sexy face and leave us alone, but that would only egg him on.

“When it’s important, yeah, I am.”

“My job, my life’s work is amazing, and I’ve been very lucky to earn the roles I’ve played. But with great rewards come great sacrifices. Usually in the privacy department. My life isn’t always my own. Carving out private time is crucial and somewhat few and far between. My fans are great. The best really. It’s just I’m always under a microscope and whoever I date will be too.”

Jesus. I hadn’t considered what my role in this relationship would be other than wife to a famous guy. It never dawned on me that I would also become a source of media interest.

“I see you’re putting the ugly pieces together. Already, the paparazzi are going to go crazy when they see you on my arm tonight. Anyone I bring to anything will receive such interest. Did Alana prepare you for that?”

I shook my head and then nodded, not wanting to throw Alana under the bus. She was the woman handing me everything I could ever want, plus it was her limo that rode in to save me during my darkest hour. Bruno may have been the muscle, but she was the catalyst, and I’d be forever grateful.

“I’m not scared.”I was terrified,but my mother always told me to ‘fake it until you make it’ and that is exactly what I planned to do in this circumstance.

“Does anything scare you?” He lifted his hand and ran a single finger along my jawline. When he got to my ear, he traced the column of my neck to the strap of my gown.

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