Page 29 of A Christmas Auction

I swallowed against the sudden thrill of his featherlight touch teasing along my skin.

“Um…spiders?”

He burst out laughing, the sexual tension in the air cooling. He leaned back and took my hand once more and picked up his champagne flute.

“A toast,” he gestured to my glass.

I lifted mine between us.

“To the beginning of our story.”

“I like that,” I agreed and clinked my glass lightly with his.

“Me too. Now, tell me about yourself. I want to know everything.” He beamed.

I got comfortable, settling back in the butter-soft leather chair and told him about my life. How I grew up in Las Vegas, that my parents were an avid and active part of my life, and that I’d stop at nothing to see my dreams come true.

“And is that why you joined the auction? To open your own bar one day?”

“Yeah. I love being around people all the time, serving them drinks, learning their journeys. However, at my establishment we’ll have the coolest décor, interesting mixed drinks, live music regularly, open mic nights for the comedians and more. I want to set up a place where the regular citizens of Las Vegas could go to be part of their community.”

“So not a tourist trap?”

“Nope. I even toyed with the idea that, in order to get in, you needed to have a Las Vegas ID, but that could limit sales too much and cause problems. My ultimate goal is to have a place where the people who live here feel it is their own. And I want to hire both my parents and give them a super loaded retirement.They’ve devoted their entire lives to me and one another. To this day, they both work in the same casino. He’s a dealer, she’s a waitress. I want them to work with me on something that can be family owned. A place for us to be together without any worries.”

“And what if your bar becomes too popular and there ends up being a line around the block?” he asked in a tone that made the hairs on the back of my neck tingle. Like he knew something I didn’t.

“I don’t know. The thought never entered my mind. I can’t imagine something I owned being that outrageous. Being super rich wasn’t exactly part of my plan. Having a place that was my own and could also provide for my aging parents, setting us all up for a comfortable life a bit better than we have now is the goal.”

His jaw firmed and a muscle in his cheek ticked.

“Why do I feel like you’re upset all of a sudden?”

He shook his head abruptly. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” He patted my knee in a placating manner that sent red warning flags waving in the back of my mind.

I turned to face him. “I’m not the kind of girl to let something go so quickly. I’m also not cool with allowing uncomfortable feelings to stew. I’d like you to share your thoughts with me. Honesty between couples is important. No, it’severything.”

He closed his eyes and sighed. “It’s just that, if this thing with us continues, and already I’m liking the visual of us being together…” he added with such an earnest expression, my heart clenched.

“I like that visual too,” I admitted. I could absolutely see myself with this hunky sweet guy, more so than the uptight, grumpy, alpha a-hole that fucked like a God.

“If you opened up an establishment, in Las Vegas, hellanywhere, and you were married to me, it would get a lot of press.”

“That would be a good thing though, wouldn’t it?” I tried to lighten the vibe he was putting off.

He shook his head. “You don’t understand. If you were with me, and the press or fans found out about your bar, you would be mobbed every night.”

I frowned. “Oh…that could pose some problems.”

“Yeah. It definitely would mean your vision would have to change. You wouldn’t be able to work the bar in person. I wouldn’t recommend your parents doing so either. The media and fans can be rabid for information about me and whoever I date. You could own a bar. Many in fact. But my wife and her family actually working in public jobs…” He shook his head. “Not possible.”

My stomach dropped, making me feel nauseous.

“But truly, it would be okay,” he squeezed my hand. “Because you wouldn’t need the money if you were married to me. I’d take care of everything. You, your parents. All would be well.”

All would be well.

All would be well.

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