Page 48 of The Naughty List

And I’m clearly not the only one to notice.

The other girls around the arena eye him up like a bunch of wild animals. Their casual stares become hungry, and suddenly it’s no longer just a race to get to him first, they’re out for blood. They all want him and will stop at nothing to win their date with Blushing’s most eligible bachelor.

My heart races as my game plan begins to shift. For some reason, I don’t think I’ll be hanging back and letting some other woman win this race anymore. Three seconds ago, I didn’t give a shit who won. I was in it for the charity aspect, but now, I feel as though I’m fighting for what’s always been mine, and this time, I’m not willing to lose.

I want that fucking date and a million more after it.

Nick casually glances around the arena as if putting on a show for the eager crowd and enticing his hungry suitors, but it only works me up more.

Over my dead body.

They’re not having him.

Nick takes his position in the center of the arena and does a slow turn for the crowd, eating up the attention, but as he comes to a stop, he faces me front on, that wicked blue stare locked on mine. The corner of his lips twists into a smug grin, and I realize he’s done this on purpose. He knew Bessy entered me into this damn competition, and the fucker didn’t say a damn word.

That bastard. He knew exactly what he was doing, and his little plan is working because not only am I going to be running for him, I’m going to win.

“Come and get it,” he mouths, holding his arms out wide, welcoming me in.

My jaw clenches, and my hands ball into fists at my side before risking a glance at my competitors. They look as though they’ve been training for this all year. How the hell am I supposed to beat out nine wild women who are all desperate for the one prize?

I think about the chances of me not winning, how Nick would be forced to take the winner out on a date, and how she would probably do anything within her power to seduce him. I see red.

My blood boils, pumping rapidly through my system.

I will not lose.

Nicholas Stone is mine.

“Alright, ladies. Are you ready?” Bessy asks over the microphone.

A few of the girls squeal out their enthusiasm, but I can’t talk, I’m too focused. I’m in the fucking zone. The blonde directly to my right looks like my biggest threat, and I will take her down if I have to. But the brunette directly across from me, while she looks scrappy, I’m not willing to underestimate her. I bet she’s fast.

If I know anything about Nicholas Stone, it’s that he doesn’t settle for a consolation prize. There’s only one prize in his eyes, and I’m not about to make him wait any longer to claim what’s always belonged to him.

“GET YOUR FUCKING MAN!” Oxley hollers from the side, leaning over the boards that separate the wild animals from the masses.

Nick grins, and I can’t help but wonder if he appreciates Oxley’s encouragement, or if he just likes the sound of his cousin calling him my man. Not gonna lie, I like it too. More than he will ever know.

“On your marks,” Bessy’s voice booms through the cheap speakers. “Get set . . .”

There’s a long pause, letting the tension build throughout the arena, but if Bessy doesn’t say go in the next two seconds, I’m going to break all the rules and make a run for it before any of these bitches can even blink.

The arena is silent, everybody waiting on bated breath, Nick’s heavy stare locked on mine as a million silent messages pass between us.

“GO!”

The arena breaks into chaos as the lyrics to Big & Rich’sSave A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)blast through Blushing. Nick takes off at the speed of light as the nine other women break into a wild sprint, and realizing I’ve already wasted a second, I kick into gear and throw myself into the race.

The girls run after Nick like he’s their one shot at a Tiffany’s fifty percent off discount, claws out and ready to cut a bitch where needed. Two of the girls crash into each other and get into a scrappy catfight, and as Nick barrels past me, heading the opposite direction and effortlessly avoiding the chaos, I take a moment to take it all in.

They’re all coming for him from different directions, and suddenly, I don’t care about winning the race. Nick is already mine, and neither of us needs to be the fastest in a ring to prove that. What I suddenly care about are these women thinking they can treat Nick like a piece of meat, and just like that, my target shifts.

I aim for the blonde who cuts across the arena heading straight for Nick, and as she flies toward me with her focus on Nick’s toned back, my foot accidentally kicks out, and she goes down like a sack of potatoes, leaving only eight. Actually, make that six. The two in the catfight have taken themselves out.

A grin tears across my face, and as I glance back over my shoulder, looking for my next target, I catch Nick’s stare, and judging by the way he’s smirking at me with immense pride, he knows exactly what I’m doing.

I set my sights on the fiery redhead who seems to have a game plan of her own—catch him off guard. She slinks around the other side of the arena while the other five trail behind Nick. She plans to catch him head-on, hoping his attention is too focused on avoiding the women at his back.

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