The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire(28)

She didn’t think she was much of an attraction. However, Elizabeth had gushed that having a famous athlete would bring in more money and said the fund would help build schools for young children. Sophia couldn’t pretend she didn’t care enough to do it. It was a small and brief discomfort for her, but a lifetime of opportunity for children somewhere. And now that she’d stopped competing, she didn’t have stalker problems anymore. So there was really no excuse for turning it down.

They went to the backstage to get ready, Sophia focusing on calming her nerves. She didn’t know why she felt so jittery. It wasn’t like she had to move elegantly on a pair of razor-thin blades over a field of ice or anything.

“Your turn.” Elizabeth squeezed her hand. “Good luck! You’ll be awesome!”

Sophia drew in a deep breath and pasted on a smile. This was simply performing, just like she’d done hundreds of times before in rinks. She didn’t even have to worry about executing difficult jumps or falling on an unforgiving surface.

Widening her smile, she strutted onto the stage. So what if her joints hurt? She’d done much more, winning competitions while her knees felt like they’d burst into flame. The emcee blabbered a few factoids about “tonight’s special surprise bachelorette.”

Sophia tuned her out and tried to see who was in the audience. Spotlights got in the way, keeping non-stage areas dark. Still, she thought she spotted the blonde—Dane’s date. Was he still out there or had he left already?

But then there it was again—a familiar tingling sensation that rippled over her. Dane was in the audience. She knew it. He was the only one who could make her feel this way.

Suddenly something that had been bugging her for a while clicked. He’d been at her father’s funeral…but chosen not to approach her.

Why not?

Hadn’t he thought she deserved a few words of comfort?

Bitterness tightened her chest. How little did she mean to him, anyway? Or the night that they’d had? Maybe she was stupid for thinking that it should mean more than it did. After all, it had been her first time, not his. Maybe leaving quickly after sex was par for the course for men like him.

Besides, Elizabeth had said one date was his style. He was sticking to his MO.

The emcee’s squeal jerked Sophia back to the present. “Five hundred thousand dollars! Ladies and gentlemen, a new record!”

Sophia blinked, dumbfounded. Who on earth would pay that much for a date with her? It was insane.

Then her old training kicked in. She’d managed to smile like everything was fine after a fall from a botched jump. She could control herself here too. She waved and blew a kiss to the audience before leaving the stage.

Elizabeth hugged her. “Did you hear that?”

“Yes,” Sophia said, almost numbly. “I had no idea people spent so much money.”

“They don’t. But I knew you’d be special!”

Sophia smiled ruefully. Despite her initial doubts, Elizabeth had turned out to be just as sweet as everyone had said. Even Betsy thought Elizabeth was perfect and saintly. “If she were Catholic, they’d’ve made her a saint.”

“I mean it’s already unbelievable that he stayed because he absolutely loathes auctions like this,” Elizabeth went on. “He usually just writes a fat check and splits, but for you, cousin, he stayed. And bid, and bid, and bid.”

Sophia grinned. As shallow as it sounded, it felt great to be wanted. Dane might not have thought she was worth his time or attention, but she shouldn’t let that bother her so much. Obviously there was someone who thought the exact opposite…and had showed it to everyone with half a million dollars! “So who’s the winner?”

“Dane.”

Sophia’s jaw slackened. “Dane?” she repeated faintly.

Elizabeth glowed. “The one and only.”





Chapter Fourteen


Sophia walked out to the floor. People beamed at her, gushing with congratulations. She smiled back and said all the right, polite words on autopilot.

The only thing on her mind was: why on earth had Dane bid so much money for her?

He’d made it clear he didn’t like her. Wanting her physically didn’t mean anything, not to a man like him who could have sex with any woman he wanted.

Salazar found her and handed her a glass of champagne. “Fabulous, my dear! What a way to make an impression.” He rested a fatherly hand on her shoulder, giving her a warm glow.

She smiled. “Thank you.”

“I was just telling Dane he did a good thing.”

“Well, I’d hate to embarrass a relative. It is her first social scene in L.A., after all.”