Page 29 of Hope's Highest Bidders

Fuck! I know I can’t let her do it. I can’t sit by and let another take what’s mine—and Sassy’s mine. She has been since the day I saw her coming out of the water in her underwear.

With determination, I ride back toward the ranch. I have a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it. First, I need to wrangle myself an invite to this auction... and then I’m going to win me a virgin.

6

SASSY

I’m going to be sick.

This week has flown by, and the day has come for the auction. I’m having second thoughts. Hell, third and fourth too. Ever since that kiss that Cole laid on me the other night, I’ve been a mess. I know now I overreacted. So many times this week, I almost called him to apologize, but I didn’t. I know Cole, and I know that he was just worried about me.

But it’s too late now.

I’m backstage at the auction, and my whole life is about to change.

Most likely I won’t be a virgin by the end of the night.

The thought makes me want to run out of here as fast as I can and not look back.

But then just as quickly, thoughts of my father and his beloved ranch surface. He’s the reason I’m doing this. My mother died when I was just two years old, and my dad raised me by himself. He’s sacrificed his whole life to give me everything I could want or need. I can do this for him.

My hands tremble as one of Coco St. James’ assistants hands me a costume that is hidden in a hanging bag. “What’s this?”

The woman rolls her eyes. “It’s what you’re wearing tonight. Coco picked it out, and I have to say, it’s perfect.”

She turns and walks across the room, grabs a cowboy hat, and brings it back to me. “Here you go. This will go perfectly with it.”

I take the hat from her with a nod. I’m hoping there’s a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt in the hanging bag, but I know it’s not going to be the case. The other women are already dressed, and it looks like a competition to see who can wear the least amount of clothes.

I set the hat on the chair behind me and hang the bag on a hook to unzip it. I hold my breath as I unveil the outfit. The white material is no surprise. It looks like all the other women are wearing white tonight. It’s a silky material, and as I lift it out, I open the bag to see where the rest of it is. I look over at the woman next to me, who’s fixing her hair in the mirror. “I don’t think I’ve ever worn anything this short in my life.”

She laughs and holds up the garment. “Cute. It’s going to look great.”

I take it back from her with a doubtful look.

I strip down to my bra and panties and then put the outfit on. It’s a short dress that looks like overalls on the top. I twist side to side, thinking this can’t be right.

The woman next to me laughs again. “You can’t wear a bra with that. Did you read the instructions? No bras for this auction.”

I clench my eyes shut and shake my head. What was I thinking? Not only am I agreeing to have sex with some man I don’t even know, I’m now going to have to parade my almost naked body in a room full of men.

I release the clasp of my bra and pull the straps down my arms and stuff it into my bag. I huff and start searching through the bag that held the outfit. Surely there’s more to it. I put myhand on a piece of silk at the bottom of the bag and pull it out. Sure enough, it’s the tiniest piece of underwear I’ve ever seen. I take off my own and put the scrap of material on. The string goes up my ass, and I shift uncomfortably. You have to be shitting me. Women actually choose to wear these things?

Panic starts to rise, and I sit down in the chair. I focus on a pair of white cowboy boots sitting under the garment bag and take deep breaths. I try to clear my mind, but it’s not working. Because every thought I have is of Cole Rogers.

The woman next to me comes and puts her hand on my back. “We’re almost up. Are you okay?”

I shake my head and keep breathing. “I don’t think I can do this.”

She tilts her head and stares at me with a measured look. She grabs my arms and helps me stand up. “Okay, tell me... sorry, what’s your name?”

“Sassy. My name is Sassy.”

She smiles and nods. “Right. Sassy, tell me, if you say fuck it and walk out the door, what will you lose?”

I stutter, “A million dollars.”

She pins me with a look. “No, honey, that’s just money. I’m talking about the reason you’re here... or are you just here for the money?”

---