Page 139 of Sassy Love
What the?—
“Lawson, meet Anna Winston. Board member of the Met, editor-in-chief ofElegancemagazine, and one my oldest friends in the event space.” Rubes leans over, signaling for me to tidy up.
Anna steps onto the stage, and I stand, clearing my throat.
She looks me over. “A reasonable price to pay I suppose, for young love.”
I swallow, a little taken aback... and a whole lot confused.
Rubes beams at me as she ushers both of us off stage. The next guy to be auctioned off is Miles. As he walks on stage in his firefighter gear, the room is chaos.
A soft hand guides me through a side door, and we emerge in a hallway that’s littered with doors to what I assume are smaller rooms.
“Thank you for what you’re doing for the women of New York, Lawson. It’s my pleasure to help you achieve it. But I’m afraid I was not bidding for myself.” She opens a door on the left and leaves it ajar as she tilts her head so elegantly. “Have a wonderful night; you both deserve it.”
I can only stare at her as she leaves and reenters the gala.
I run a hand through my hair, hoping against all hope the person she bought me on behalf of isn’t going to hold me to the ‘save a horse’ comment.
Guess there’s only one way to find out...
The smaller room is set up for conferences and such. A polished large oval table fills the space, ten plush leather chairs surrounding it. A small sideboard sits at the back of theroom. In the half dark, I find Carlie sitting at the head of the table.
Her legs crossed, she starts rapping her fingernails on the polished surface.
I close the door and flick the light on.
Instantly, the hurt that’s scrawled over her face is a kick to the chest.
“Fuck, I’m sorry?—”
She holds up a single digit and rises from the chair.
“Is this how you planned on securing Serenity’s future?” She narrows her eyes, her lips a thin line. She flicks her hair behind her and sets her shoulders back. “Figures.”
The actual hell, woman?
“You know me better than that,” I snarl, unable to tame the annoyance lacing my veins.
How could she think I would . . .
“Do whatever you want, Rawlins. We’re done here.”
How fast did she flip her switch on me?
Sweet Jesus.
Fortunately, I wasn’t raised to give up on a good thing. When she stalks past, I catch her arm.
Her eyes meet mine and the fire from only a second ago fades before me. “Don’t,” she chokes.
“Don’t what, love you?”
Her face breaks.
“No, Carlie. You don’t get to bail at the first sign of trouble. No fucking way.”
Her chin wobbles as silver lines the dark eyes that roped in my heart on the first day I met her.
