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So instead of saying something I’ll regret, I sit back and nurse my whiskey, listening to Jared and Elle talk about school and her plans for next year. He’s a pro at this, apparently. I should be taking notes.
“That’s actually pretty advantageous,” Jared says. “Harrison and I are thinking of breaking away from the company we’re at now and starting our own software engineering company, and to do that we’d need accountants. Maybe you could send me your resume. The salary wouldn’t be large, but it would be competitive.”
Wait, what? We’ve only ever talked about creating our own company, but here it sounds like it’s something that’s definitely going to happen.
“That’s quite an offer, thank you. I still need to do three years of internship training with an accredited accounting firm before I can work on my own, though. But it would be great to be a part of a small company. I hope you’ll still have a job for me in three years,” Elle says graciously, before grabbing a spinach puff from the plate.
Watching her mouth is fucking with my head. I shouldn’t find her eating this sexy. I zone out, wondering what her lips would feel like if I kissed her.
I’m caught off guard when Elle throws her head back and laughs, a full-belly laugh that causes my dick to throb. God, I’ve missed that sound. I shift in my seat and cross my legs, trying to conceal my hard-on, then swallow the last of my drink as the lights flash three times and dim again.
Jared grips his paddle and focuses on the stage. He must have been waiting for this portion of the evening, because he was relaxed during the previous round of bidding, and now he looks focused and determined.
Seems I’m not the only one to see something he likes.
My palms are sweaty, and I’m not sure how to talk to Elle. But, I mean, I saved her, right? From spending a night with a total stranger? She should be happy about that.
So maybe we could start again—as equals this time?
I want to get to know the new Elle, find out how much she’s changed, how much she’s still the girl I remember. Maybe I won’t even like her now … There’s only one way to find out.
“Do you want to go to your room?” I ask before the auctioneer reaches the podium again, wanting our night to start.
“Can we stay a little longer? My best friend is one of the virgins. I just want to make sure he’s okay,” she asks, her eyes imploring me to say yes. I catch a glimpse of her wringing her hands in her lap again. She’s nervous for her friend, and I’m relieved she isn’t here alone.
“Sure,” I reply, before signaling to the waiter for another drink.
“You’ll want to go easy on those. Have some cheese and crackers before you’re too drunk to …enjoyyour investment.” Jared’s sage advice is given quietly from my right.
“Yes,Dad,” I say before stuffing two canapés in my mouth and washing them down with some bottled water.
“Ooh, there he is,” Elle says as a young man steps onto the stage carrying a small watercolor landscape painting. “That’s Curtis,” she adds, smiling at the man on stage.
“He’s really a virgin?” Jared asks, his voice disbelieving, but his eyes have a spark of interest.
“Yeah, he’s bi-curious. He’s been with girls before. But he’s always wanted to be with a man too,” she says shyly, defending her friend.
“Is that so …” Jared murmurs, before lifting his paddle.
“New bidder in at six hundred thousand. Do I have six hundred and fifty thousand?”
“Six hundred and fifty from bidder five. Do I have seven hundred thousand?”
“One million dollars!” Jared says, raising his voice and his paddle.
“Sold to bidder sixteen at one million dollars. Hammer price. Congratulations, Mister Stone.”
“Holy shit, you boys don’t play at this bidding game, do you?” Elle says, laughing, but quickly turns her gaze toward the door from where she entered the room, probably waiting for her friend.
“Congratulations, old man. You just bought a virgin,” I say, smiling at Jared, who looks a little stunned.
“I made an excellent investment. Just like you did,” he says, nodding toward Elle.
“Babe!” Elle tries to keep the excitement from her voice, but she’s practically bouncing in her seat, looking toward the tall, attractive man heading our way, his security detail following closely behind him.
“Hello, Mister Millionaire,” she greets him as he sits down next to her. His smile blooms at the title, then when he looks across the table at Jared, his smile becomes … coy, almost. Elle quickly takes over the conversation and introduces Curtis to Jared and me, and a smile tugs at my lips before I can stop it.
She’s not so grown up after all, she’s still playful and exuberant like I remember.
