Page 32 of Wasted On You

Melinda opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, her sister yanked on her arm and pulled her back, effectively cutting off the competition. Val’s grin widened.

Ivy’s breath quickened. Her anger churned. A dark ridge fell like a curtain over her eyes, and she clenched her hands into fists. You’re not winning this time, she thought.You’re not taking him from me.

Before she could stop herself, Ivy raised her hand. “Two thousand.” She raised her eyebrow at Val, a challenge or something like it. A slow kind of grin crept over the woman’s face, and Val gave a small shrug. A gesture that said, I give up.

“Anyone?” Mary Margaret asked hopefully. “Val?”

“I’m tapped out.” Val turned toward Ivy. “He’s all yours.”

Only then was Ivy aware of what she’d done. It was in the curious looks from folks nearby, one of whom, a lady from her mother’s church, made a point of nodding at the diamond on her finger.

Shit.Diamond. Ring.Engagement.

Mouth dry, she made herself look up at the stage. Mike Paul stood there with his hands shoved into the pockets of his tux, looking like a million bucks. No longer smiling, he was more dangerous than ever. He gave her a small nod, then held out his hand as if…

“Hey,” someone said from behind. “You’re supposed to go up there.”

After a few seconds Ivy forced one foot in front of the other and slowly made her way through the crowd. Someone helped her up the steps onto the stage, and she walked over to Mike Paul, stopping a few inches away. Mary Margaret gave her an odd look before turning to him.

“Well done, Mike Paul.” She winked at Ivy. “I do hope your fiancé doesn’t mind.”

“It’s for charity,” she managed to say. “All good.”

Mary Margaret beamed up at Mike Paul. “And what do you have planned for your special night with Ivy?”

Mike Paul winked at the woman. “Well, hell, Mary Margaret. You don’t want me giving away all my secrets, do ya?”

“Oh, no, we can’t have that. I’m sure whatever you two get up to will be..” she turned to Ivy. “Interesting, to say the least.”

Ivy had had enough. She took a step to the right but stopped when she felt Mike Paul’s warm hand on the small of her back. Bolts of electricity shot over her skin, flushing her cheeks an even darker shade of red.

“It’s this way,” he whispered into her ear. She shivered as he maneuvered her off the stage, then took the steps down two at a time. She needed to be away from him because her body was reacting in a way that was not only improper, but also inconvenient and wrong and a whole bunch of things she didn’t want to acknowledge. It was a miracle she didn’t faceplant, considering the four-inch stilettos on her feet.

There was a crowd of people, mostly the men still left in the auction, and she moved quickly, trying to find a way out of the mess she’d just created. Of all the stupid things she’d done in her life, this had to be near the top.

Right after sleeping with Mike Paul the year before.

“Ivy.” Mike Paul sidestepped and effectively blocked her exit. “Look at me.” His voice was warm, husky. Intimate.

“Don’t talk to me like that,” she snapped, looking up.

“Like what?” A ghost of a smile touched his lips.

“Like that. Like you just won something. Like this is something more than what it is.” She threw her hands into the air. “I don’t want to spend an evening with you. I don’t want to go to dinner and pretend like we’re friends. We’re not.” She practically stamped her foot. “I cannot believe I…like, what in hell?”

“Are you done?” he asked lightly.

“No.”

“Go on then.”

Ivy exhaled and tried her best to get her emotions in check. “I don’t even like you anymore.”

“Come on, we know that’s not true.”

Could he at least stop with the smiling?

“Well, I don’t like you enough for this.” She gestured wildly as if that could explain it all away. “I only did it because…”

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