Turn Over(14)

It wasn’t as if I hadn’t been around my share of beautiful women, because I’d spent time with more than would fill a swimsuit catalog. Lexi Wilde was beautiful, but there was something else about her that got under my skin. That innocent act of hers. That sweeter than honey voice. The way she made everyone around her feel as if they mattered more to her than anything else in the world.

The cynical side of me told me that it was just that—an act. But I couldn’t ignore the curiosity she sparked. I didn’t usually go for the good girl.

I leaned against the wall, watching as she read off the auction items the mayor handed to her. She seemed happy on stage. It fit her. She was a natural performer. The purity in those baby blue eyes almost made me forget what kind of man I was. I wondered if she had that affect on all men.

Did they look at her and think they had a chance? Did they think she was so sweet she could forgive their darkest secrets? Did they hear her voice and feel it? Feel the strength she had to let a man forgive himself? For one night, for one show did they feel like they actually deserved to be with a woman as good as Lexi Wilde?

“All right ladies and gentlemen, I have the winner of the two pedigree horses,” Lexi announced. There was a bright smile on her face as she swept her hair off her shoulders.

I remembered the sassy sex kitten with the V-cut dress and wondered if she were still here in the crowd. I had thrown her number in the trash.

“Can I get a drum roll?” She paused. “And the highest bidder is Mr. Luke Canton.” The spotlight swung in my direction and the crowd clapped. I squinted under the lights and threw a wave to the donors. What was I going to do with horses? I guessed I finally had a use for the empty stables at the ranch.

Lexi seemed pleased I had won. I waited while she ran through the list of other items. The crowd was dwindling and I thought about sneaking out the back. What was holding me here? I needed to leave. I needed to forget that for a few songs this girl had hypnotized me like a siren. I walked toward the table to make my payment for the horses and work out the details on their delivery.

Then Lexi cleared her throat and asked the drummer to give her a beat. “Austin, you have been so generous tonight. And what you’ve done for these children—well, really there aren’t words to express what it means to their families. You’ve touched lives. This money is going to make a difference.” She paused. “But I think we can do even better.” She eyed the crowd, smiling widely. “I want this to be the best auction event this side of the Rio Grade. What do you say?”

The crowd clapped, but they looked at each other trying to figure out what she meant. It was late and most of them had emptied their pockets.

“So, I’m going to throw in a personal Lexi Wilde one-of-a-kind item.”

Suddenly, she had my attention in a new way. I’d already paid a thousand dollars for an autograph. And that was just so I could talk to her and give her my number, but now it sounded as if she raised the stakes.

She spun on her heels, her eyes locked on mine. She held the mic to her pink velvety lips. “For one night, you can have your very own private Alexa Wilde concert.” She waggled her eyebrows.

The men started hollering. Half of them had been asleep until this moment, but with a chance to spend time alone with the star their eyes and checkbooks were wide open.

I looked around the room at my competition, because that’s what they were. This was no different than Sunday afternoon. I stared at the opposition, daring them to try to take me out. Like hell I was going to let one of them outbid me for a date with this girl.

The mayor quickly grabbed the mic from Lexi. She didn’t look like the type of woman who handled unscripted events well. I wondered why in the hell she was mayor of this city.

“Well, this is a surprise. Thank you, Miss. Wilde. I’d say this would be a treat for anyone. A concert? This is beyond generous. Really, I have no words. I’m not even sure where to start the bidding.”

She didn’t have notes on the valuation of this particular item, and I wasn’t sure what kind of price tag to put on it either. A private concert. To be the only one Lexi sang to, even if it was only one song was the kind of experience that could change a man’s soul.

A man in the front row with a red mustache raised his hand. “Five thousand.”

The mayor laughed nervously. “I guess we’re starting the bidding at five thousand.”

I inhaled sharply. I knew how these things went. I couldn’t jump in right away, I’d only drive up the price and show my hand. Years of gambling taught me how to keep my poker face and my bidding hand calm.