Page 45 of A Christmas Auction

“I’ve got three million to bidder number eighteen. Do I have four?”

I scanned the crowd and then the stage. My breath caught when I saw Holly standing near the podium and Alana. She was wearing a dark-green lingerie set. The top was a satin corset. The bottoms were a lacy matching thong. I knew it was a thong because Holly had just turned around and flaunted her juicy ass while looking over her shoulder coyly and blowing a kiss. It reminded me of her wearing my shirt and nothing but panties the last night we had together.

“I have four million to bidder number nine. Do I have five?” Alana cooed, and I followed her gaze to Mr. Cowboy.

“Five million, darlin,” he shouted, and the crowd clapped.

“Six million!” I yelled, walking down the center aisle headed toward the stage.

Alana squinted. “I’m sorry Sir, please raise your paddle so I can see your number.”

“I don’t have a paddle. I don’t have a number.” I kept walking until I got close enough to the stage that both Holly and Alana could see me clearly. “I don’t have anything but the desire to make this woman my wife.”

“Bruno,” Holly gasped, her hands going to cover her mouth.

“Security!” Alana called out.

“Please don’t take me away. I’ve already screwed everything up. Holly, I love you. I want to marry you. And I will pay six million in order to have that right.”

“Seven million!” came a voice in the crowd. One I recognized but didn’t believe I’d ever hear again.

“Colin?” Holly’s shocked expression matched my own.

The man stood up, his paddle lighting up his face as he grinned wickedly. “I repeat, seven million.”

“Eight!” I snapped, fury coiling like a snake in my gut.

“Nine,” he crossed his arms over one another and smirked.

“Colin, no. Don’t do this. You don’t want me. Not really,” Holly countered.

“Ten fucking million dollars,” I shouted. “Idowant you, Holly. I’m in love with you and I’m not leaving here without your hand in marriage!”

Security arrived and two burly men hooked their arms with mine.

“Alana, please…I’m in love with her. Allow me to stay. Accept my bid.” I fought against the beefy guards. I could have laid them out flat in seconds, but I didn’t think that would win me any favors with the Madam, and I was already on her shit list.

“Ma’am?” one of the security guys asked Alana.

Alana turned to Holly who was now standing with tears streaking down her cheeks.

“Do you want me to allow Bruno to continue?” Alana asked Holly.

Holly’s bottom lip trembled then split into a huge smile. My heart swelled with joy and relief.

“I do want him…for ten million dollars,” she laughed heartily, and the flood of relief almost buckled my knees.

“He can stay.” Alana informed her guards and they let me go. But she wasn’t done. “Mr. Omstead, you said you weren’t bidding tonight, just entertaining the process. Did you want to counter bid?” she asked, and it took everything within my soul to keep my mouth shut. No matter how much money this mother fucker offered, I was going home with Holly, and he was going back to Hollywood.

“No. I just wanted to run the numbers up. Consider it payback.” Colin’s eyes pierced mine knowingly, and I dipped my head in respect. We’d put the man through the wringer and I welcomed his ire.

“I deserve that, Colin. And thank you, for being a man of honor.”

“I’d say it takes one to know one, but we both know I’d be lying. Have a great life. Treat her right.”

I turned around and faced Holly. I walked around to the side of the stage, took the steps and stopped in the center before opening my arms. “Come here, Holly!”

Holly bolted across the stage toward me and jumped into the air when she came close enough to reach. I caught her, spun her around and tucked my head into the crook of her neck.

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