Page 75 of Offside Attraction

"Ten thousand."

Rhonda turned to stare at Jordan. He held up his paddle, his face stone-cold.

The auctioneer grinned. "Ten thousand, going once?—"

Dr. Mallory frowned, then put his paddle down.

"Going twice . . . and sold to the gentleman next to the lovely lady in the corner!"

Applause filled the room, but Rhonda's ears were ringing. She pushed back from the table and strode toward the bathroom. The applause from the room turned into a muffled hum as she slipped past the double doors into the bathroom.

She drew a deep breath, then another, trying to tamp down the turmoil roiling inside. She couldn’t splash her face with water and make her mascara run, so this would have to do. After her breathing returned to normal, she pushed back into the hall.

Jordan stood there, leaning against the wall. He looked so handsome, and that fact was like lighter fuel dumped over the coals that were still simmering from when she'd stood up and left the dining room.

She wanted to run. She wanted to sneak past and go back to her table, and that thought took her right back in the Ice Centre. Watching him disappear into the crowd. She wasn’t going to take the easy way out this time.

Rhonda stepped forward, the pressure in her head still making it feel like her eyes were sunburned, but at least tears were no longer threatening to spill over.

Jordan looked up. "Hey." He pushed off the wall and walked toward her.

Rhonda stopped. "I think they're serving dessert.”

"Did I do something in there?" Jordan asked, completely ignoring her statement. His expression was hard, as if daring her to say anything critical.

Rhonda felt like a tea kettle, sealed up with only one tiny airway, about to burst. "I didn't need to win that," she worked to keep her voice calm.

"I know. I just thought?—"

"Jordan, you have to stop doing this,” she said. His eyes hardened. "I know I asked for your help to meet with Doctor Mallory, and I appreciate you giving me this opportunity."

"I'm feeling very appreciated right now."

"Don't do that."

"Don't do what?"

"I bent over backward?—"

"You didn't have to do that!"

Jordan scoffed. "Right. Because what I want doesn't matter. I'm just your call boy."

Rhonda leaned in. "I was very clear the first time I met you."

"And what about the second time or the third? You're the one who texted me. Remember?"

Rhonda opened her mouth, then snapped it shut.

Jordan clenched his jaw. "I didn't mean to have feelings for you. Okay? I fought like hell not to have feelings for you. And I get that you don't feel the same way about me, but?—”

"I don't know how to do this!" Rhonda sucked in a breath, clapping a hand to her chest like she was Celine Dion.

Jordan stopped, his eyes burning into hers. His throat worked, and then he asked, "You don't know how to do what?"

Rhonda grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side wall where they wouldn't be in the way. "This! Where you're doing nice things for me, and—” She let out an exasperated sigh. “I can't be in your debt."

"You're not in my debt.”

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