Page 17 of Bidding For Her Curves

The applause is loud, deafening almost and it only makes me feel sicker.

I wonder who’s the only one who didn’t get a bid.

I don’t even have to look, I know it’s me.

Getting up, I eye the door again, and straight away Mason is at my side, his hand on my back.

“Jules? What’s the matter?” he asks me, full of concern. Worried looking.

“I have to use the ladies,” I lie and I move away from the table, but Mason isn’t letting me go that easily.

“Me too,” he says, and when I try and shoot him a hurt look, he gives me a charming smile, that I can’t help but laugh a little.

“You’re gonna come with me into the stall?” I ask, still surprised at how harsh I sound. How hurt I actually feel.

“Not unless you want me to,” he says, winking and then taking my arm, walking with me.

“What’s the matter, Jules? Should we just get outta here?” he asks.

The closer we come to the restrooms, in the lobby, the quieter it feels, and I notice how loud my own voice is when I blurt it out.

“Maybe you’d rather spend the evening with Karen Perkins!” I practically shout, turning on my heel and rushing into the ladies’ room, slamming a stall door closed behind me and starting to sob.

Feeling like a complete moron all over again.

What the hell is wrong with me? I must have a fever still. I’m acting like a lunatic today.

I try to cry, but the tears just won’t come. It’s like my heart’s not really in it anymore.

I manage a couple of dry croaks, but then I’m done.

A part of me shuts down, resigning myself to being fired or quitting. Either way, there’s no real comeback for acting like such a witch in front of Thorne Mason twice in one day.

I’ll get my things from the office Monday, right now I just want to go home and-

“Jules? Jules, c’mon out please.”

Crap.

It’s Mason, he’s actually in the ladies’ room.

I guess it is his building, he can do what he likes.

In a matter of seconds I’ve gone from jealous witch to blubbering schoolgirl to unemployed pessimist to feeling like I want to curl up and disappear, dying from embarrassment.

“Jules,” he says again, not asking this time.

Telling.

I feel that cord again, that invisible rope between us, pulling us closer together again.

No matter how hard I might be trying to ruin whatever is happening between me and Mason Thorne, he keeps coming back for more, and I can’t stay mad at him for more than two minutes.

I open the stall door. He waits patiently, leaning against the sink.

“Did you really need to go?” he asks, looking concerned. “I can wait outside.”

But I’m good. I sniffle some, then laugh a little.

“I have bid a high amount on Karen Perkins, yes,” he says, a matter of fact.

I sigh and make an ‘I understand’ face, but it still stings when I think about it.

“I’m asking you to trust me, Jules,” he continues. “Can you do that? I don’t have any interest in Karen Perkins. You’re my dinner date, in case you missed that part,” he adds.

I open my mouth, hoping some flash of brilliance will empower me with what I need to say to make this right, but he rescues me.

Again.

Moving in close, so close his whole front touches me, he presses a finger to my lips as I stare up at him.

“Just, trust me, okay?” he says softly.

I don’t need him to ask me twice. I’d leap off a roof if he told me to right now.

He takes his finger away, and I feel myself straining on the balls of my feet, lifting myself higher as his face slowly moves towards mine.

I feel a rush of blood to my chest, my face, and it sings in my ears.

This is really-

“Oh! Oh, I beg your pardon! Mr. Thorne! What are you doing in here?”

A whole gaggle of tipsy women have just invaded the ladies’ room.

Instead of being mad he’s in here they swarm to him practically pushing me out of the way.

He opens his mouth to say something, but keeping his eyes on me, he just backs towards the door. His eyes commanding me to follow.

“Sorry ladies. I thought I was in the gents, uh, excuse me.”Chapter TenMasonThis is becoming more stressful by the minute. If it’s not Jules about to run again, it’s being swarmed by crazy women when I’m just about to kiss her.

I make my retreat from the ladies’ room, and fortunately for me, Jules follows.

Gripping her by the hand, I pull her gently behind some huge plants in the foyer, hiding us from prying eyes.

“Like I was saying, I just need to wait for the bidding to finish. Then we can go. I’ll have you all to myself,” I promise her.

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