Page 16 of Bidding For Her Curves

But I can’t let myself think like that.

He did bump into me, and I do want to be here.

I just feel like a clown wearing this stupid dress that doesn’t fit, having the whole damned building in one room laughing at me behind Mason’s back.

I know he’s genuine. He meant it when he said I looked great, I know he did, even if I don’t feel that way about myself right now.

Everyone else, all the Karen’s of the world.

That’s a different story, and if it wasn’t for Mason’s unusual announcement about changes coming up, I think a fair few more would be laughing in my face.

People can be so cruel.

Our host for the evening, What’s his name again?

He’s reading of some information that sounds like rehearsed ads about the sponsors who helped make tonight possible, along with a montage on the giant screen, updating the amounts raised so far, plus a little about each chosen charity.

God, I’d forgotten how boring corporate anything actually is.

Still looking down at my phone, I can feel Mason’s eyes on me and I look over at him.

Up at him really, he’s so close. So big.

Being this close to him makes me naturally nervous and I wonder if I have something else for people to stare at, like a stain or something, as if this dress wasn’t bad enough.

But his eyes are kind, shining with excitement.

“I know it’s boring,” he observes in a low whisper, leaning in extra close, making me shiver when his lip actually brushes my ear.

“Maybe once I’m able to, once the auctions winds down, we can pick up where we left off?”

The look in his eyes suddenly registers with new meaning for me.

I’ve never had anyone, let alone a real man sound like he’s anywhere close to wanting to spend time with me… alone.

I feel my head nodding slowly, and my jaw’s dropping open.

This is actually-

A loud shriek from across the ballroom makes everybody look up from their phones.

I feel my own head snap up and look over to where I was sitting before.

I know that voice.

A low murmur ripples through the crowd and the host at the podium gives a running commentary to the total bid amounts, which have just jumped to a higher number.

A much higher number.

“Well, folks! This is getting interesting. We have a huge bid from a mystery bidder. Ms. Karen Perkins and her charity have just raised over twenty-five thousand dollars!”

There’s some enthusiastic clapping, and I can hear Karen calling out something stupid as if she’s gonna get the money all for herself.

I wonder if she even understands how this auction works. That she has to actually put in some time somewhere to help other people for a change.

Looking up at the screen, I don’t recognize the charity. It sounds more like a business name.

Weird.

Looking back at Mason, he hasn’t taken his eyes off me since he sat down, and I ask him if everything’s alright.

“Everything’s perfect,” he says, and flashes me that look again.

A look that’s starting to make me feel like I wanna lift this dress up some, and let a little of this heat out.

But I only flush harder, absently picking up a menu.

“I already ordered for us both,” he says, leaning in again. “I hope that’s okay?”

I smile nervously, and without even seeing my face I know it’s a creepy smile.

I’m just not used to anything like this, and Mason almost looks concerned again. But then he smiles that magical smile of his.

It seems nothing can faze Mason Thorne.

Our table, being the important one, is served first and the food looks amazing.

Small on huge plates, but amazing. I wait for a signal so I know what to do next. I don’t want to start eating before anyone else, especially before Mason.

But there’s another announcement. It seems someone else wants to bid big on Karen Perkins.

For goodness sake.

I feel suddenly ill and I push my plate away.

Why is that cow getting any attention? She probably doesn’t even know where she is by now.

Looking over at Mason, he’s taken his phone out with the auction app open.

My heart lurches into the pit of my stomach when I see it’s him who’s bidding so much… on Karen.

I feel so hurt, betrayed even. But I try to remind myself, it’s his auction, he can bid whatever he wants.

Maybe he’s bidding that much on everyone?

I fight the feeling for as long as I can, and my plate gets taken away untouched. Mason asks me if everything’s alright but I look away, shifting in my seat so he can’t see my face.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer says in his deep baritone. “We only have one charity, one sponsor with no bids so far but at just over halfway we have raised a staggering one point eight million dollars combined for over two hundred charities.”

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