Hidden Love by MINK

5

Pandora

Itry not to fidget, but I can feel everyone’s eyes on me. The women’s especially. They’re like hungry vultures circling their prey, waiting to pounce at any moment. They’re either planning to kill me or maul Gaines. No wonder he wants me to bid on him. It doesn’t go unnoticed to me that Selena’s gaze is the sharpest of them all.

“Don’t I get one of the little paddle things to hold up in the air?” I turn my head to look all the way up at Gaines. He’s got an arm around me keeping me tucked close to his side. I think he’s using me as a human shield against all the other hungry ladies. Why doesn't he see me as a threat? I could be getting ready to pounce on him, too. I am here to seduce him, after all.

Gaines pulls his attention away from the man he’s talking to. “You don’t need a paddle.” His lips twitch into a smile. Those lips had been so close to me. I was sure he was going to kiss me. Then the Queen Vulture came by and interrupted us. Wait. I mean, she totally saved me from having to kiss his overly handsome face. Or maybe she didn’t, because kissing goes along with my seduction gig. Ugh. I really need to get my head in order.

“That’s lame.” I may not need a paddle to bid, but I might need one to beat some of these women off with.

“As I was saying.” The man Gaines is talking with cuts back in, giving me an annoyed look for interrupting them. I’m not surprised by his actions. These rich folks don’t take too well to being interrupted. If I didn’t have a plan to carry out, I’d tell this jerkface right where he can stick his snooty attitude.

To my surprise, Gaines keeps his eyes on me. “You weren't saying anything of importance, Trent.”

Trent’s face flushes with embarrassment. I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t enjoy the fact that Gaines put him in his place.

“You don’t always have to be a dick, Gaines.” He bites back, trying to save face.

“I do when you’re a dick to my date who you interrupted.”

Trent leans toward me. “Do yourself a favor and don’t bid on him. He collects pretty things and grows bored of them quickly.” He leaves me alone with Gaines, who looks like he wants to go after the man. Instead, he stares a hole into the back of his blond head. Everyone else continues to steal peeks at the two of us.

“I can’t tell if people love or hate you.” That’s mostly the men, though. The women definitely love him. Or maybe I should say, they lust him.

“They always want something. When people see they can’t get it, they tend to get mean.” His hand drops to my back as he guides me to a table. Luckily this time no one tries to stop us.

I want something from him, too. Does that make me the same as everyone else in the room? I push the guilt away. He is the thief here. I remind myself of that little fact. He didn't ask anyone for anything. He took whatever he wanted for himself.

He pulls out a chair for me. I ease into it, happy to be off my feet. I’m not good in these heels. Gaines puts his hand over the back of my chair, his fingers sweeping across my bare back as a server places several plates of food in front of me, most of it far fancier than my usual bowl of Easy Mac. I sample this and that. It’s delicious, but I’m not sure it’s worth five thousand dollars a ticket. Gaines doesn't touch his food. He sits there drifting his finger back and forth across my back, his gaze always on me, my hands, my mouth, my eyes.

“Are you going to eat that?” Before he answers me, I swap my plate with his. “I don’t know who thought to wrap a steak in a pastry puff but it was a brilliant idea.” The woman across from us rolls her eyes at me. She’s not eating her food either. What is wrong with these people? For five thousand a ticket we should get to take the fancy plates home with us, too. They should send us meals for months for paying that sort of money.

Gaines gives me a giant smile. “I can get more if you like.”

“A to-go box?” I joke.

“If you wish.” He’s serious.

I have no doubt he could get a to-go box of the food if he really wanted. I don’t miss the girl across the table as she gapes at us. She doesn't approve of me at all, but I’m the one who’s caught Gaines’s attention, which seems to be a feat in and of itself.

“Shit.” I jump up from my seat when the bite I almost have to my mouth drops onto my dress. “Shit. Shit. Shit.” I reach for my napkin to try and wipe the small spot it left behind, but Gaines beats me to it. He quickly dips the napkin in water and dabs the dress lightly.

“You all right?” He keeps dabbing.

“I’m fine.” I take a deep breath and wish the stain away.

“As long as you’re okay. It’s just a dress.” To him that’s all it is. To everyone else in this room that’s all it is, too. To me, it’s a year's rent in my tiny place above the laundromat. To me, it’s something that I shouldn’t have purchased because I couldn’t afford it. But that’s water under the bridge now. I can’t go back; I just need to stay the course.

“It’s not just a dress.” I plop back down in the chair and stare at the spot that didn’t magically get wished away after all. Gaines got a little of it out. He tosses the napkin onto the table. His hand comes under my chin, and he tilts my face so I’m staring directly into his eyes.

“I can fix the dress.”

“Really?”

“Yes. When we leave here, I’ll have it taken care of.” Why does he have to be so nice and charming? I'm going to have to keep reminding myself he’s the enemy. People say he’s ruthless when it comes to getting what he wants. I need to be the same. I think right now he wants me for some reason, which is just what I had in mind. While the thought of him wanting me might be appealing, I have a mission that’s more important than any shallow attraction. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself this is. Just because he makes me feel beautiful and tingly all over doesn’t mean a thing.

“Gaines. You’re up.” An older woman in a beautiful ivory dress glides over to us.

He drops his hand from my face.

“Sorry to interrupt, my dear.” She smiles at me. “But he brings in the most money.”

He goes to stand. “I could cut you a check right now and call it a day.”

“You’re the reason half these women are here. None of them will show up next year if they don’t think they have a chance.”

My stomach tightens. I get what she’s saying, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. Of course, the real problem is that I shouldn't care. So what if all these hyenas want a piece of Gaines Braeburn? I only need one thing from him. And it’s not … him. Right. It’s the box. My box.

“I bet you could bring in a good chunk of money.” She gives me a wink.

“Don’t get any ideas.” He leans over and kisses me below the ear, sending a pleasant shiver racing through me. “I don’t care what it costs. You’re going to win me.” He places another one of those kisses that does funny things to my insides on me before he fully stands and leaves me alone at the table. Okay, not alone. There are five other people here. All of whom are staring at me.

“You’re not going to win.” The woman who’s been giving me looks since Gaines and I sat down finally speaks up.

“I only want him for tonight. After that, he’s all yours.”

The man next to me chuckles. I’m not sure I’m even buying what I’m saying. I do know that I will bid whatever dollar amount it takes so none of these vultures can have him. Then I’ll take what’s mine.