Bound to the Bachelor (5 page)

Vaguely, she was aware of a rousing round of applause, and she dragged herself out of her own thoughts long enough to see Gabriel’s auction was over. Her gaze zeroed in on Josh, who was grinning like crazy.

Good. At least one thing had gone according to plan tonight.

She drank more wine, but the warm wash of alcohol hitting her stomach didn’t do anything to ease the tension in her body. She’d need a vat of vodka for that.

The more she thought about it, the angrier Luther’s actions made her. How dare he reach out from beyond the grave like this? How dare he try to taint the life she’d built for herself? She’d fought long and hard to get to a place where she was happy and safe.

She was momentarily distracted from her brooding when Beau Bennett was announced. He descended the staircase with a sardonic, slightly mocking smile on his lips, his relaxed gait screaming confidence. He looked ridiculously handsome in his dark suit, his body lean and hard. As she’d predicted, the crowd went wild, the floor beneath her feet vibrating as women stomped their feet in unison. She almost felt sorry for Beau for being last in the lineup, since the audience was well and truly liquored up now and really getting into the spirit of things. Hopefully all the interest would mean he’d bring a good price, though. That was what tonight was about, after all.

Buck started his sales patter, and Lily looked down into her wine glass, swirling the red liquid around and around, her mind once again turning to the past.

She’d been barely sixteen when her stepfather’s actions had forced her from her home. Even though she was a virgin, she’d seen enough and heard enough to know what Luther wanted when he walked into her bedroom and slowly pushed the door closed that fateful August night.

She’d been lying on her bed reading, but she’d rolled to her feet instantly, not wanting to be at a disadvantage.

“What are you doing in here?” she’d demanded, her voice wobbly with fear.

“You know,” he’d said.

He was right, she did know. She’d been too scared to put a name to it, but she’d perceived the change in the tempo of his interest since she’d turned sixteen. Ever since he had married her mother two years previously, he had watched Lily, but there had been a subtle shift in recent months. A new intensity to his lingering gazes.

“Get out. I don’t want you in here,” Lily had said as loudly as she could. “If you come any closer, I’ll scream.”

Luther had laughed. “Who do you think is going to come running?”

Lily had simply stared, knowing full well her mother was at work and the only other person in the house was Darren, her fourteen-year-old stepbrother.

“I’ll tell Darren to call the police,” she’d said in desperation.

“Don’t act like you don’t want it. I know you want it,” Luther said, his tone insinuating.

He’d lunged at her then, and she’d screamed. One large hand had covered her mouth and nose, muffling her cries, while the other yanked at her pajama pants, dragging them down. She had twisted and kicked and pushed at him like a wild thing, finally landing a lucky blow on his nose. His grip had loosened, and she’d wrenched herself free, bolting for the door. She’d found Darren in the living room, staring at the TV as though his life depended on it. Luther had followed her, one hand dabbing at the blood dribbling from his nose as he advanced into the room.

“You little bitch,” he’d said.

“I’m telling my mom when she gets home,” Lily had promised, shaking with reaction. “I’m telling her and she’s going to leave you.”

Luther had smiled then. “This isn’t over. Don’t think you can play these games forever.”

She’d sat on the doorstep for the rest of the night, huddled in a blanket, too scared to stay in the house. The moment her mother had arrived home from night shift at the hospital, Lily had launched herself at her, sobbing and crying. Wrapping her arms around her mother, desperate for her protection, Lily had blurted out her story. Belinda had pushed her off, insisting Lily calm down, a frown on her face. Then she’d accused Lily of making stories up to get attention. All the while, Luther had stood in the open doorway, the light behind him turning him into a dark, menacing silhouette, watching silently. Intimidating her mother just by being present.

Lily had been so desperate she’d appealed to Darren, dragging him from his bedroom, insisting he corroborate her story. He’d looked her in the eye and told her he didn’t know what she was talking about. Then her mother had sent her to her room.

Sitting on her bed, sobbing and terrified, Lily had come to a brutal understanding. If she stayed, her stepfather was going to have his way with her. No one was going to stop him – her mother was too damaged, too broken to stand up for Lily. The only hope Lily had was to escape. And so she had, packing her most precious, important belongings into a backpack and climbing out the window.

And now Luther was trying to claim her, to be a part of her life again.

Well, it damn well wasn’t going to happen. She didn’t want his money. She might need it, but she wasn’t going to take it, not in a pink fit. Her chin came up as an idea hit her – she’d give the money to Molly and Josh. Ten thousand dollars would do amazing things for them, make a huge difference.

Satisfaction thudded in her belly as the idea took a hold in her mind. This was the perfect solution. Molly could put the money straight on the mortgage. Or she could put it toward the fund for Josh’s new wheelchair. Hell, there were any number of ways the Dekkers could use the money, and all of them were good and worthy and useful.

The only problem would be getting Molly to accept it. Lily had practically had to arm wrestle her friend into letting her organize the auction. As she’d said to Molly at the time, pride was all well and good, but sometimes she had to let people help her. That was what community was all about. Unfortunately, Lily suspected the argument wasn’t going to cut it with Molly a second time around. She could practically hear her friend arguing now.

No, Lily would have to find some other way to give the money to Molly and Josh.

Via the auction, for example.

The idea exploded in her brain like a Catherine Wheel, beautiful and fiery and perfect.

Yes. That was what she’d do – buy a bachelor with her unwanted legacy, because that way Molly couldn’t say no without saying no to everything they’d achieved here tonight.

Except the auction was nearly over, with just one bachelor still on the auction block. Urgency rocketed through Lily as she focused her full attention on the events unfolding on the makeshift stage. Relief hit her as she realized Buck was still talking, his hand pointing to bidders in the audience as buyers took their shots at securing Beau Bennett.

“Two thousand two hundred. Two thousand two-fifty…”

Lily took a step forward, her body quivering with a rush of adrenaline. “Ten thousand dollars,” she called out, her voice clear and firm and very loud.

A collective gasp rose up as everyone reacted to her outlandish bid. Heads turned, including Molly’s, but Lily steadfastly refused to look at her friend. She could see Andie staring at her, too, but she didn’t take her gaze from Buck’s.

“Did I hear ten thousand?” he asked, eyebrows raised.

“That’s right, ten thousand,” Lily confirmed.

“Do I have any other bidders?” Buck asked, his eagle-eyed gaze scanning the room.

Everyone was too busy being stunned to do more than breathe and stare.

“Sold, to Ms. Taylor for the mighty sum of ten thousand dollars,” Buck announced, banging his gavel down onto the podium.

The buzz of conversation and speculation filled the room. Lily was burningly aware of Beau’s laser-like regard from the stage, the intensity of his gaze a palpable thing, but she refused to look at him as what she’d done sank in.

She’d just bought her nemesis in front of the whole town for a
huge
wad of cash.

Luckily she was good at living things down, because this one was going to be a doozy.

‡

B
eau didn’t take
his gaze off Lily as she slipped into the crowd. She might think she could disappear, but he had a good vantage point from the stage, and he used it shamelessly, tracking her dark head as she made her way slowly through the throng. Every few steps, someone stopped her to stay something, slapping her on the back or questioning her curiously. Lily kept a bright smile pinned to her lips and steadfastly refused to look his way, even though his gut told him she was aware of his regard.

She’d just paid
ten grand
for him.

Ten. Grand.

He still couldn’t quite believe it. He stepped off the stage the moment Lily started up the stairs to the second floor. He yanked at his tie and undid the top button on his collar as he excused his way past tables full of women, half of whom were now standing to go mingle with one another.

“You must be feeling pretty good right now,” McKenna Sheenan said as he slipped past her table.

The women sitting either side of her eyed him speculatively, all wearing big grins. Clearly wondering what he had that was worth so much money.

“It’s a worthy cause,” he said.

“Lily must want you real bad,” McKenna said. “Ten thousand is a lot to live up to, Beau.”

“Like I said, it’s a good cause.”

He kept moving, pretending he didn’t notice McKenna’s knowing smirk. He took the steps two at a time when he reached them. Upstairs was also crowded, and it took him a moment to spot Lily. She was making her way toward the short hall which led to the room where he’d changed. He went after her, determined to run her down.

Sure enough, she slipped into the room where he’d left his clothes, pushing the door shut behind her. He reached it seconds later, not bothering to knock before he followed her inside. Lily spun to face him as he entered the room, and for a moment they simply stared at each other, what had just happened hanging in the air between them.

“Want to tell me what that was all about?” he finally asked.

“Relax, it’s nothing personal. I wanted to donate some money to Molly, and I knew she wouldn’t take it any other way.”

“So you bid on me?”

Out of all the guys she could have picked.

“Don’t worry, I don’t want the date. You’re off the hook.”

He frowned. “So you just paid ten grand for nothing?”

“It’s a donation. I never expected to get anything out of it.”

He shifted his weight. He had been a reluctant recruit to the auction, and he was more than happy it was over – but it didn’t sit right with him that Lily had laid out so much money for nothing.

“It’s okay, Beau. This works out great for both of us – I get to help Molly, and you get to walk away. Everyone’s happy.”

“Except you bought my date. For a lot of money.”

She frowned. “So?”

“So, you should get what you paid for.” He couldn’t just let it slide. He’d agreed to do the auction and offer up a date, and it would feel as though he was reneging if he took Lily up on her offer of an easy out.

She gave an incredulous laugh. “You want to take me skiing?”

“I want you to get what you paid for.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want it. I didn’t buy you or your date. I just wanted to help Molly out and you were the only bachelor left.”

He raised his eyebrows, surprised by the admission. And maybe a little offended.

“The donation was kind of a last minute decision,” she admitted grudgingly.

He studied her, trying to work out what was really going on. “Ten grand is a lot of money. You must have inherited a shed load if you can spare that much to help out a friend.”

“You could say that.” Lily’s gaze slid away from his.

“I did just say that. I note you didn’t agree with it, though. How much was this inheritance of yours, anyway?”

She gave him a sharp look. “None of your business.”

“You made it my business when you dropped a ton of money on me in front of the whole town.”

“I don’t know why you’re getting your panties in a wad over this. We both know you didn’t want to do this. You should be thanking me, not hassling me.”

“First of all, I don’t wear panties. And I’m not hassling you. I just want to know what’s going on.”

Lily eyed him belligerently. Her cheeks were pink, her arms crossed over her chest.

“I never realized you were so nosy. You and Cora Bartlett should get together sometime.”

“Quit stalling, Taylor.”

She gave a frustrated, put upon sigh. “The money is from someone I never wanted to hear from again, okay? I don’t want it, and I’d rather put it to good use than reject the bequest. Happy now?”

He made a decision.

“We’ll have to leave early to get to Big Sky Resort in time for a good run. When are you available?”

“Why are you being such a hard ass about this?” she asked.

It was a good question, and he had no idea what the answer was. He only knew he’d watched Lily run herself ragged for her friend all night and it felt wrong for her to give so much and walk away with nothing to show for it.

“I told you, I don’t back out. Do you?”