“Where did Tripp disappear to?” Drew asked, glancing around the crowded ballroom for his brother at the Future Fast Track charity event. “The bachelor auction is about to start.”
“He probably slipped out the nearest exit,” his younger brother, Beck, said with a smirk. “I know that’s where I would have gone by now.”
His beautiful wife, Chloe—dressed in a stunning gold-hued gown—lightly jabbed Beck in the side with her elbow. “Stop trying to cause trouble,” she said, pursing her lips at her husband. “It was hard enough to wrangle your brothers into agreeing to this bachelor auction without you provoking them right before they need to get up on the stage.”
Beck put his arm around her waist, pulled her close to his side, and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Sorry,” he said, not sounding contrite at all.
Drew finished off the last of his bourbon and set the empty glass on a passing tray, his narrowed gaze still searching the area for his wayward brother. “I swear, I will kick his ass all the way to New Jersey if he somehow managed to get out of this while I’m being sold off like a prime piece of cattle.”
Beck chuckled, then quickly cleared his throat when Chloe shot him a chastising look before glancing back at Drew. “Don’t worry. I saw him at the bar talking to Skye.” She pointed toward the corner of the room.
“Skye?” Drew craned his neck in that direction, and sure enough, he spotted Tripp standing with a pretty blonde woman that he didn’t recognize, but Chloe clearly knew. “Do I know her?”
His sister-in-law shook her head. “She’s a fairly new event coordinator for the Meridian Hotel and works with Jade and Lauren. I’ve seen him speaking to her a few times tonight.”
Huh. Drew found that bit of information interesting. Especially since he could see Tripp’s charming grin and knew that he was flirting with the other woman. First, a hookup with an old flame, and now trying to win over another female before being auctioned off to someone else. His brother was a very busy man with the ladies, lately.
He meant to return his attention back to Chloe and Beck, but a different blonde caught his gaze, and not for the first time that evening. Georgia seemed to always be on the opposite side of the room. Granted, he knew she was busy helping to make sure the event ran smoothly, but it was as though she was strategically trying to avoid him. Not that he could blame her. He’d given her no reason to seek him out after the abrupt way he’d ended things the last time he’d seen her.
But that didn’t stop him from watching her work the room, along with Aurora and a pink-haired woman, all three smiling and talking to various guests and networking for the non-profit. Tonight, Georgia had worn her hair down in soft, loose curls, and was wearing a beaded black gown that shimmered in the light and accentuated her curves every time she moved.
He felt that familiar stirring of desire and had to resist the urge to approach her and apologize for his behavior that night at the banquet. To just say screw it and fucking kiss her like he wanted to do, then and now. But it really wasn’t the time or the place, and it wouldn’t change the fact that she was off-limits.
He forced his gaze back to his brother and Chloe, who was texting on her cell phone with an intent look on her face.
“Is everything okay?” Drew asked.
Beck nodded. “Yeah, she’s just checking in with the sitter to see how Whitney is doing.”
Whitney…their three-year-old daughter, named after their sister, and Tripp’s twin. At one time, her name would have made Drew’s chest tighten with grief as it had for years after she’d died of leukemia at the age of sixteen. Everyone in the family had dealt with her illness and subsequent death in different ways, all of them devastated by the loss. But it had been Beck who’d bonded the tightest with her during those last few months of her life and had held her hand when she’d taken her last breath.
Naming his firstborn daughter after Whitney had been his way of honoring their sister. Now, the name no longer brought sorrow, but happiness and joy to their family.
“How’s my favorite niece?” Drew asked.
Beck rolled his eyes. “She’s your only niece, dumbass.”
He shrugged. “Which makes her my favorite.”
“God, she’s a handful,” Beck said, shaking his head. “I don’t know why they call them the terrible twos when that stubborn, sassy behavior lasts right through the threes.”
“Don’t listen to him. She’s a perfect little angel.” Chloe beamed as she dropped her phone back into the small purse she was carrying. “And if she exhibits a bit of headstrong behavior, well, I wonder where she gets that from, hmm?” She side-eyed her husband.
Drew laughed. “I cannot wait until she’s a teenager and that rebellion really kicks in. Remember all the wild things we did? Sneaking out at night, meeting up with girls at the park and—”
“I’m keeping her locked in her bedroom until she’s twenty-five,” Beck muttered.
Drew arched a brow at his brother. “You can try, but even Rapunzel found a way to escape her tower and have some fun.”
Beck glared, but truthfully, Drew had seen his brother with Whitney, and the little girl had him solidly wrapped around her finger. She was adorable, precocious, and sweet…if not a little stubborn.
The sound of someone tapping a microphone three times had everyone’s attention turning toward the stage, where Aurora stood at a podium. She made the announcement that the bachelor auction was about to begin, and for the men to take their positions in the line-up.
“That’s your cue to head on up to the butcher’s block…I mean stage,” his wise-ass brother said.
“Ha-ha,” Drew replied in a droll tone. “You’re such a comedian.”
Drew glanced over to where he’d last seen Tripp, and saw him heading their way. He waited for his brother, then the two of them walked together to the stage.
“Enjoy your conversation with Skye?” Drew asked on the way.
Tripp gave him a startled look, which he quickly replaced with a more neutral expression. “How do you know Skye?”
“I don’t. Chloe told me who you were talking to.” He eyed Tripp more intently, wondering what his brother was hiding since he was keeping his replies vague. “You seem to be juggling a lot of women lately.”
One corner of his brother’s mouth tipped upward in an annoying smirk. “Jealous?”
“Hardly.” Drew wasn’t interested in women, as in plural, just one in particular that he had no business wanting as badly as he did.
Based on their number in the lineup, they stepped up to their designated places on the stage, which put Drew next to Derek Bettencourt. He exchanged pleasantries with the other man, who seemed just as unenthused about being up for grabs as Drew was.
While Aurora spoke to the mostly female audience, encouraging the women to bid generously for a worthy cause, Drew glanced at the ladies gathered around the stage. Most of them appeared eager to win a weekend with one of New York City’s most eligible bachelors but his perusal screeched to a halt when he saw Georgia in the crowd.
She stood next to another woman with similar facial features—the same female who’d been sitting next to her during the Leadership in Law dinner at Roland Brooks’ table. Her sister, he assumed, and the differences between them were undeniable.
Their individual fashion style and appearance couldn’t be more opposite. Georgia’s modest beaded dress was a direct contrast to her sister’s bohemian flowing gown, the silver bracelets up her arm, and the glittering ring in her nose. She had a free-spirit, non-conformist kind of vibe about her, while Georgia was more the type to follow decorum and rules. The same impression she’d given him during their conversation as they danced at the banquet.
Her sister had an arm through Georgia’s as if to anchor her to her side so she didn’t bolt. A distinct possibility since Georgia shifted from foot to foot, obviously uncomfortable being here. And though she wouldn’t meet Drew’s gaze, her sister stared straight at him, a mischievous smile on her lips. She gave him a surreptitious finger wave while Georgia wasn’t looking, and he wasn’t sure what to make of the action.
The auction began, and the first three guys went for decent amounts. Then it was Derek’s turn, and the bidding war for him was insane, as well as amusing to watch because the two women who kept upping the ante clearly had some kind of rivalry going on between them.
Next, the auctioneer announced Drew, providing the audience with a brief introduction that highlighted his occupation and professional attributes before asking the standard opening question. “Who will start the bidding at ten-thousand-dollars for a three-day weekend with Drew Daniels?”
He did his best to stand tall and not wince at the awkward feeling.
“I’ll start! Ten-thousand-dollars,” a woman said from the audience, her voice coming through loud and clear.
Drew’s gaze glanced in her direction, shocked to realize the bid came from Georgia’s sister, who gave him a saucy wink and a satisfied grin. And when another woman bid after her, Georgia’s sibling upped the ante. From the determined look on her face and the increased spending, she was very determined to win him.
He glanced at Georgia, who appeared as shocked at her sister’s actions as he was.
Oh, hell. How fucking awkward would it be to entertain Georgia’s sister for an entire weekend, when Georgia was the only woman he wanted?
* * *
“Come on, Georgia, I want to get a spot close to the front of the stage before the bidding starts.”
Before Georgia could protest, Courtney linked their arms and started pulling her toward where Aurora was standing at a podium, announcing the beginning of the auction.
Her sister’s grip kept Georgia by her side, and Courtney didn’t release her even once they’d found a place close to the stage.
Georgia shifted in her heels and kept her gaze averted from the men all lined up, because she didn’t want to risk Drew catching her looking at him, even accidentally.
“I really need to check on other things,” Georgia said, trying to subtly untangle their arms, but her sister wasn’t letting her go.
She didn’t understand why Courtney was so insistent that Georgia join her, and the last thing she wanted to do was watch another woman win Drew for a weekend. It had been difficult enough being in the same ballroom with him for the past few hours, extremely aware of his presence. She’d done her best not to run into him and be forced into an awkward conversation. He’d made his feelings for her clear, and she was not a glutton for punishment.
“Like what?” Courtney challenged, arching a brow. “All the important stuff is done for the evening.”
That was true. The event was at a point where she could just relax and enjoy the rest of the night, but witnessing other women vying for Drew’s attention was not her idea of fun. “I should go and check the silent auction.”
Courtney rolled her eyes at the excuse. “They call it a silent auction for a reason. It’s silent, and nobody needs to be there for it to happen.” Her sister sighed, giving Georgia one of those big, doe-eyed looks. “Come on, Georgie, you’ll be my good luck charm. Besides, you need a break. I’ve been watching you flit about all evening, schmoozing with guests, checking on the catering and making sure everything is running smoothly.”
Georgia shrugged. “That’s my job.”
“I know it is, which I respect, but can’t you spare your sister a half hour of your time tonight?” This time, Courtney pulled out the big guns and batted her lashes at Georgia.
“Fine,” Georgia relented.
Courtney laughed. “Geez, you don’t have to sound so happy about it.”
The auctioneer stepped up to the podium after Aurora was finished talking, introduced the first bachelor, and started the bidding process. Courtney bounced lightly on her feet, as if she was excited about the opportunity to bid.
Confused, Georgia leaned closer to her sister, whose gaze was riveted to the stage. “I didn’t think any of these guys would be your type,” she said.
Courtney flashed her an enthusiastic grin. “Oh, I definitely have my eye on one man in particular.”
Georgia couldn’t imagine which one had caught her sister’s attention. By all outward appearances, the bachelors were respectable businessmen, wearing tailored tuxedos and sporting well-groomed hair. Granted, they were all good-looking but much too conventional for Courtney’s taste.
Now, if there had been a guy up there with tattoos and a leather jacket, and who rode a motorcycle—well, that kind of bad boy would appeal to her sister.
The first three men were auctioned off, followed by Derek Bettencourt, who’d given the entire ballroom quite a show as two women battled to win him until one of them finally tapped out as the bid reached an astronomical amount.
Then came Drew’s turn, and the auctioneer introduced and described his attributes to the crowd. Georgia wanted nothing more than to disappear and not watch some other woman win a weekend with the man she desired. Somehow, she managed not to ogle him, despite the strong temptation to look his way.
“Who will start the bidding at ten-thousand-dollars for a three-day weekend with Drew Daniels?” the auctioneer asked.
“I’ll start! Ten-thousand-dollars,” Courtney called out before any other woman could.
Georgia’s jaw dropped, and she stared at her sister in shock.
Ignoring her, Courtney’s expression was full of purpose, and as a few other women tried to outbid her, Courtney made it clear that she was out to win Drew.
Confusion rippled through Georgia, and she finally glanced up at Drew, but he was watching Courtney, looking just as perplexed as Georgia felt. Her sister knew who Drew was and had seen them dancing together at the banquet. Courtney had even teased Georgia over texts the next day, and Georgia had insisted there was nothing going on between her and Drew—which Courtney hadn’t seemed to believe.
But now she was bidding on Drew…was her sister attracted to him, too?
“Drew Daniels, sold to the pretty woman with the silver bracelets on her arm,” the auctioneer called out, his loud voice jarring Georgia back to the present. He pointed his gavel at Courtney. “Thank you for your very generous donation. You can meet your bachelor over in the greeting area just outside the ballroom.”
“That would be me,” Courtney said in a giddy tone and started toward the direction the auctioneer indicated, tugging Georgia along.
Still stunned, it took Georgia a moment to regain her bearings and pull back from Courtney’s hold. “Wait.”
Her sister stopped, a little frown forming between her brows. “What’s wrong?”
Everything. “I don’t need to be with you while you meet Drew.”
“Yes, you do,” her sister insisted, smiling wide as she grabbed Georgia’s hand. “I need you to introduce us.”
She really wanted to refuse, and she’d be lying if she didn’t admit that she was envious of Courtney winning this date with Drew. Jealous, even. But she didn’t want to come across as petty. She’d already told her sister there was nothing between herself and Drew.
Georgia had had no claim on the man, and he’d already made it clear he didn’t want her. So how could she begrudge her sister this date?
“Okay,” Georgia said and exhaled a deep breath. She’d introduce them, then beeline it back into the ballroom and give Courtney and Drew time alone to get acquainted. Or maybe she’d stop in the ladies’ room and be sick. That was also an option.
She followed Courtney to the greeting area, where the first four couples were chatting. Drew stood off to the side, his hands pushed into the front pockets of his trousers, and for the first time that evening, she really looked at his gorgeous face, expecting him to be watching her sister. Instead, his intense green eyes were focused on her as they approached.
She chewed anxiously on her bottom lip and when his warm, seductive gaze dropped to her mouth, her heart beat a little faster in her chest. His eyes lingered long enough to affirm the mutual awareness and attraction between them was still there despite what had happened at the banquet. Confusion still swarmed in her belly, not helped at all by his heated stare.
Just as she and Courtney reached him, he finally shifted his gaze to her sister, an amicable smile in place.
“Drew, this is my sister, Courtney. Courtney, Drew Daniels.” Georgia quickly made the introductions. “The last thing you need is a third wheel, so I’ll let the two of you get acquainted.”
She turned to go, but once again Courtney caught her hand, stopping her.
“Wait. There’s something I need to tell you.”
Georgia forced herself to face her sister only to find a naughty glimmer of satisfaction sparkling in Courtney’s eyes. “Happy birthday, Georgie.”
She blinked at her sister, not sure what was going on. “What are you talking about? My birthday isn’t until next weekend.”
“I know that,” Courtney said, her tone exasperated at Georgia’s confusion. “He’s your early birthday present.” She waved her hand at Drew with a flourish, causing the bangles on her arm to make a tinkling sound. “I won him for you.”
“You did what?” Georgia’s eyes widened in shock while her face heated with mortification.
“I know you’re not deaf,” an amused Courtney said.
Drew let out a chuckle and Georgia wanted to die. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him and discover what he really thought about this debacle.
Instead, she gave her sister a firm look. “Umm, can I talk to you alone for a moment?”
“Sure.” Courtney smiled at Drew. “Excuse us for a second. We’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be right here,” he replied.
Georgia snuck a glance, and the corner of his mouth was quirked up in a grin.
She pulled her sister along this time, rushing them away from Drew. When she was certain they were out of earshot, she spun on her sister. “What are you doing?” she hissed.
“Matchmaking?” Courtney said, frowning at Georgia. “Why are you so upset? I thought I’d gotten you the best birthday gift ever.”
Courtney had, except for the little problem that said birthday present wasn’t interested. “There’s nothing between us to matchmake.”
Her sister laughed. “Oh, Georgie, you are so wrong. I saw the two of you at the awards banquet and the hot way Drew looked at you while you were dancing. And again tonight, his gaze followed you all around the ballroom while you did your best to keep your distance. All I’m doing is giving you a gentle push to go for it.”
“Gentle?” she practically screeched. There was nothing gentle about a public bid on a man as if she were desperate. “And what do you mean, go for it?” Courtney sighed dramatically. “Go for Drew. Spend a weekend with him. Embrace the bad girl I know you’ve got inside of you somewhere beneath that responsible, conservative personality that keeps you from being daring and fearless.”
Unable to formulate a thought, Georgia gaped at her sister, who wasn’t finished. “Go have fun without overthinking things like you always do. Relax and enjoy yourself, and for God’s sake, jump his bones, multiple times because he’s fucking hot and you deserve some really good orgasms.”
Georgia’s entire body flashed with a heat that shimmied its way between her thighs at the thought of being so bold and uninhibited with Drew. She already knew what it felt like to be pressed against him so intimately, and she’d fantasized plenty about what he’d look like naked…and what he’d feel like, pulsing deep inside her.
Georgia shook her head, unable to do it. “That’s your thing, not mine.”
Courtney sighed. “Maybe, for once, it should be your thing, too.”
She gave Georgia’s hand an encouraging squeeze, then walked away, leaving Georgia alone with a decision to make.