Page 18 of Like You Love Me

Bianca bobbed her head. “I’m good. Better than good. London and the J’s wouldn’t have it any other way.” Her response was quiet and grateful, and Rush smiled.

“That indeed.” His eyes kept shifting away from the scene, and she realized he was driving.

“Where are you headed?”

“I am driving up to New York to look at a prime piece of real estate.” Her cousin was the CEO of the Beaumont Automotive Group. He had a doctoral degree in organizational management, and since taking over the reins from his father Richard Beaumont, he had expanded the group by adding five new locations. As a side hustle, he was a real estate investor responsible for buying up entire communities, renovating, and flipping them for a sizable profit. He could be a tyrant when he wanted to be, but she also knew he believed in a good cause.

“It sounds like I caught you at a good time to talk.”

He grinned knowingly. His schedule often made him hard to reach. “What’s on your mind?”

“I need a big favor,” she said meekly.

Rush looked away from the road long enough to frown. “Uh-uh, I don’t think I like the sound of that.”

“It’s for a good cause,” she added in a rush.

“Giving up one of my kidneys is for a good cause, but that doesn’t mean I want to do it.” He laughed, and she joined him even though she knew Rush would be the first in line if a family member ever needed an organ. “What’s going on?”

“Every year, we try to raise money for housing and transportation for families living at a local shelter,” she said, getting to the reason for her call. “This year, we have several displaced families we like to help move into a place of their own. So, I need volunteers.”

He nodded his head. “So, you want me to write a check? Just tell me how much.”

Bianca grinned at the warm generosity of her family. Each time they were needed, the Beaumonts dropped everything they were doing to aid the community. It was humbling. “No, I don’t need any money from you. I need you to volunteer your time. I can find a lot more value in that than anything else.”

“Absolutely. Just give my assistant Sinfany a call, and she can get something penciled in on my calendar.”

“Will do. Thank you so much for agreeing.”

Rush took his eyes off the road, long enough to toss Bianca a curious look. “What exactly is it I’ll be doing?”

It was sneaky, but she purposely left out what she needed him to volunteer for until she got him to agree. “I need you to participate in our charity auction.” Bianca watched the expression on Rush’s face stiffen. As he turned the steering wheel, he glared at the screen.

“What kind of auction? You’re not talking about one of those male auctions, are you?”

Bianca tried her hardest to resist laughing but failed. “It’s not that bad. I just need you to give me a few minutes of your time. It’s for a good cause, remember?”

Rush’s focus deviated long enough to roll his big brown eyes in her direction.

Her mouth twitched. “Remy already agreed.”

“My little brother would agree to anything that will help boost his ratings.” He rolled his eyes again, “I, on the other hand, like to stay low-key.” She saw the way his jaw clenched. Rush had always been the most recluse of the bunch, and he reminded her a lot of her brother. Jaden spent years as the family’s black sheep, out on his motorcycle, finding his adventure. But when it came to family, they all came together even if it meant doing something they rather not, like now.

“I only need a few hours of your time. That’s it. Dress nice, walk across the stage and let women bid on an unforgettable evening with Rush Beaumont.”

“What, wait a minute…I have to take this woman out?”

“Come on, Rush. It’s an evening of your choice. What could go wrong with that?”

He heaved a frustrated breath. “I can think of several things that could go wrong.”

“And I can think of several things that could go right.” Bianca wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Come on, be honest, when was the last time you’ve been out on a date?”

“Last month, and it was an experience I’d prefer not to repeat.”

“Oh, was that with the actress?” It had been all in the tabloid. “I read she was engaged to a professional middleweight boxer.”

He groaned. “Yes, which I knew nothing about, and that is precisely why I prefer not to repeat that experience.”

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