Page 47 of Like You Love Me

Who is that dude?

London’s forehead bunched as he tried to place where he had seen him before. He was good with faces, so he knew him from somewhere and was sure he would remember before the evening was over.

His attention was dragged away when the lights dimmed. The quartet was in the back of the room packing up their equipment when a slow instrumental tune flowed from the speakers, setting the mood for romance. The MC made the introductions, and then out on the stage, under a spotlight, bachelor number one appeared, and the room went crazy. There was whistling and catcalls as the bachelor strutted down the runway holding a helmet he eventually placed on his head. London chuckled. The bachelor was the NASCAR driver Jaden had recruited for the cause.

“Oh bruh,” Jaden groaned and sunk low on the seat in embarrassment.

Jace laughed. “Jaden, man, Danica should have given him a few pointers on walking the runway.” The driver clearly had two left feet and minimal rhythm. But the women didn’t seem to care. The auctioneer began the bidding, andnumberedbidder's cardswere raised high.

“Take it off!” screamed someone to their left. When London realized it was one of the twins, he groaned. Denise had arrived, and his sisters joined in the fun, raising their cards, bidding one after the other. London reached for his phone and quickly sent them a group text message reminding them to behave even though their behavior was tame in comparison to several others.

This is hilarious, London thought as he watched the next three bachelors. He and the three J’s joked and raised Sage’s card, pushing up the bids. Brenna had to snatch the number away and urge them to behave. London bellowed with laughter. When it was time for Rush to walk across the stage, it was apparent he didn’t want to be there. His strut was stiff, and there was a frown on his face. While wearing a tux, crisp white shirt with a red tie and pocket square, he strolled in the direction of the Beaumont table. When he made eye contact, the J’s exploded with laughter. The three were whistling and making catcalls, and the whole table was in an uproar. London shook his head. Rush was not going to be able to live it down. He was entirely on the open market. The women were bidding like crazy. Someone tossed something pink at the stage that looked like satin panties. London chuckled and felt sorry for the dude. Ever since his fiancé dumped him for one of his close friends, Rush stayed away from relationships. However, for a good cause, he was willing to take one for the team, and he was taking it tonight.

“Five thousand!” Sage cried.

“Little cousin, that’s your brother,” Jabarie said humorously.

She shrugged. “So what? I need to let these women know he is worth it.”

The bidding quickly rose to fifty-five hundred. London took another sip from the frosty glass and shook his head. This was one night the town will be talking about for weeks. There wasn’t a single seat available. The women were louder than the auctioneer’s voice. And then there was the laughter and music surrounding the room. The bidding was relentless, and at the rate they were going, there might be a fight that security would have to break up. Even his mother-in-law and her friends had joined in on the fun. By the time the bidding reached six grand, the competition was down to two women, and they were out of their seats raising their cards. London and Jaden exchanged looks.

“Eight thousand dollars!”

There was a collective gasp, and then the whole room went silent as all heads swiveled to the room’s rear. London spotted a beautiful cashew-colored woman with almost bald, platinum blonde hair and sultry lips.

“Gigi, who is that?” Jabarie asked.

Sage rose from her chair to get a closer look. “Oh, that’s Sinfany. Rush’s assistant,” she added with a dismissive wave and plopped back down.

“Going once, going twice…,” The auctioneer slammed down the gavel. “…sold to the woman in the rear!”

There was no disguising the look of relief on Rush’s face.

“Knowing my brother, he gave her the money to bid on him so he could dodge another date.” Sage gave a rude snort. “There’s nothing he loves more than his work.”

Brenna was asking Sage a question when London’s phone vibrated. He reached inside his pocket, stared down at the screen, and saw it was Mona Lisa.

He crouched low, not to block the view, and made his way to the rear and out the door. Once he was away from the loud crowd and music, he dialed her number. “Hey, Mona. The twins are clowning. Denise too. You should have come.”

“London.”

There was something in her tone that stripped the laughter from his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Caleb is here. And he’s drunk.”

He exhaled. “Are you all okay?”

“We g-got into an a-altercation that got p-physical,” she stuttered.

“Physical?”

“He didn’t mean it,” she blurted. “He didn’t m-mean it.”

“I’m on my way.” London ended the call and spotted Jaden coming out into the hall, headed in the restroom direction.

“Bruh, Rush will never be able to…” Jaden paused and must have seen something on his face. “Is everything okay?”

“Family business. I need to go see Mona Lisa.”

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