Heat burned her face and Paige suspected her skin matched the side of a fire engine. How could Aunt Bebe do that? Hadn’t she told her aunt she wasn’t interested in winning any men tonight?
“They’re waiting for you up on stage,” Aunt Bebe whispered, leaning close to her.
Paige looked first at her aunt, a woman she loved but at the moment didn’t particularly like, and then up at Scott Belmont and Rose on the stage. So far each winner had joined their bachelor on stage for a kiss and some photos before sitting back down in the audience together.
“I hate being on stage too,” another woman at the table said. “But you don’t have to stay up there long. A kiss, a few quick pictures, and you can bring Mr. Hottie back to the table.”
If going on stage was the only problem, she’d march up there now and get it over with. The fact she had to go up there, kiss a man she’d never even spoken to in front of hundreds of people while being photographed was the biggest but not the only obstacle holding her back.
“The sooner you go, the sooner you can sit back down,” Aunt Bebe said, patting her hand affectionately.
Leaning closer to her aunt, she whispered, “I can’t believe you did this, Aunt Bebe. You knew I didn’t want this.” She didn’t wait for a reply before pushing back her chair and standing. Thanks to Aunt Bebe she had no other choice.
Perspiration trickled down her spine and her legs shook, but somehow she managed to climb the stairs. Left foot, right foot, Paige mentally repeated as she forced herself across the stage toward the podium.
Either Scott was getting impatient, or he’d picked up on her apprehension because he met her halfway, something none of the other bachelors had done. Instead they’d all waited for the women to reach them. Of course, the other winning bidders had made their way on stage in no time.
Smiling at her, he took her hand. “Relax, we’ll be out of the spotlight soon,” he said, his voice low even though it was unlikely anyone in the audience would hear him. With his free hand Scott indicated to the photographer that he should move closer if he wanted pictures, rather than make them walk back toward the podium again.
Once the photographer was in position, Scott turned toward her and she knew what was coming. A kiss. Every bachelor and winner had shared one.
“It’s nice to meet you. We’ll have fun, I promise.” He lowered his mouth to hers, his barely-there beard rubbing against her skin.
Her ears burned as the heat from her face spread and her stomach twisted itself into a pretzel. She needed off the stage.
Scott’s lips left hers, and she took in a deep breath but couldn’t seem to unclench her jaw.
“Let’s go somewhere a little less crowded and talk,” Scott said, and she wondered just what kind of expression she wore. Actually, on second thought she probably didn’t want to know.
With the inside of her mouth coated in cotton and her tongue permanently stuck to the roof of her mouth, she could only manage a nod. Still holding her hand, he led her back the way she’d come and out of the spotlight.
“You look like you need some fresh air. How about we go outside to the garden terrace?” he asked when they reached the ballroom floor.
She’d visited the small garden terrace located off the lobby during her friend’s wedding. Throughout the evening guests had spilled out into it so they could enjoy some fresh air and the magnificent view. With some luck, all the guests tonight would be too busy with the auction and the view on stage to venture outside, and the area would be empty. “Sounds great,” she managed to get out now that she no longer stood in the spotlight with hundreds of eyes staring at her.
He released her hand and offered her his arm instead as they walked past the occupied tables. Several women called out greetings as they passed, and Scott offered polite replies but didn’t pause to chat. Actually, he seemed as eager as she was to get out of the crowded ballroom and away from the curious eyes.
When they stepped outside, hot, humid air, a stark contrast to the cool climate-controlled ballroom, wrapped around her. For a moment she wondered if going outside into the heat had been a wise idea. Then she caught a glimpse of the view. From the rooftop she could see the entire city, including the bonfires that had been lit along the river below for the evening’s WaterFire.
“I don’t know about you, but I find this much better than being inside.” Scott smiled before he continued, humor evident in his voice. “Since we’ve kissed in front of over two hundred women, I should already know your name, but I don’t.”
She hadn’t picked up on it before, but now, alone without everyone staring at them, she noticed how deep and rich his voice was. “You’re right. It’s Paige.”
Scott extended his hand toward her. “It’s nice to meet you, Paige, I’m Scott.”
Considering the man’s entire bio had been printed in the program, his statement struck her as ridiculous. Right away a giggle worked its way out, and she couldn’t contain a smile.
“Much better,” he said. “You looked like you wanted to cry before. Let’s sit and talk. I doubt anyone inside will mind.”
“I don’t like being the center of attention.” Paige sat on a stone bench, careful to stay as close to the end as possible, giving Scott plenty of room.
Scott lowered himself onto the bench as well and then removed his tuxedo jacket. “It’s not my favorite place either.”
Silence fell between them. She crossed and uncrossed her ankles several times, grateful her long gown made it impossible for him to see her actions. Finally, after what seemed like hours although she knew it had only been perhaps a minute or two, he cleared his throat and spoke.
“Some of the other bachelors planned out all their dates ahead of time. I didn’t. I thought it’d be better to wait and see what the winner might enjoy doing. But unless it doesn’t work for you, I thought for our first date we could have dinner at the Spiced Pear in Newport and then watch the Fourth of July fireworks. In my opinion, the firework display down there puts the ones in Boston and Providence to shame. We can work out the details for the other three outings then.”
She’d heard of the well-known restaurant located on Newport’s famous Cliff Walk overlooking the ocean, but she’d never visited. “Sounds wonderful, and I have the holiday weekend off this year.” She’d worked the past three, but this year she had the entire weekend off.
“Great. I’ll call and make reservations tomorrow and get back to you with the details.” Scott pulled his smartphone from his tuxedo jacket pocket. “What’s your phone number and address? I’ll give you my number too in case you need to call me.”
She didn’t see any reason why she’d ever need to call him, but rather than tell him that she said, “I left my phone at the table.” When she’d gone on stage, she’d left her clutch on her chair.
“I’ll send you a text message so you have mine.”
With a nod she rattled off her phone number. Once he’d saved it in his contact list she said, “And my address is 10 River Road in Lincoln. It’s not too far from here.”
He saved the additional information. “You mentioned you have the holiday off. Do you work in the city?”
“Rhode Island Hospital. I’m a nurse there in the CCU.”
For a second he looked confused, and she expected a question regarding the hospital. Instead he said, “I saw you sitting with Belinda Fleming tonight.”
Once again heat exploded across her skin. If he’d seen her sitting with Aunt Bebe, had he also seen the way she’d forced Paige’s hand and auction paddle into the air? “Aunt Bebe asked me to come with her tonight. We often do things together.” When Aunt Bebe invited her, she’d assumed it was because she wanted the company. Now she wondered if her aunt hadn’t planned all along to buy her a man. Paige rolled her eyes. Buy a man, what an absurd idea. “Actually, she’s my great-aunt. She’s my granddad’s younger sister.”
“That would make Michael Foster your grandfather.”
Paige nodded. She wasn’t used to a stranger knowing so much about her. Then again, if he recognized Aunt Bebe, he probably knew a thing or two about her aunt, which meant he knew of Aunt Bebe’s association to Foster Oil.
“I met him last year at my Uncle Warren’s New Year’s Eve party. I don’t think I ever saw him there before then. But I’ve seen your aunt and her husband at several. Uncle Warren has one every year in Newport. It’s one of those long-standing family traditions.”
Neither bit of information surprised her. “My granddad doesn’t like parties. I’m shocked he went. He tends to keep to himself.”
“So you and your aunt are close?”
“Aunt Bebe’s more like a grandmother. She doesn’t have any children, so she sort of adopted my brother and me and treats us like grandchildren. She’s close to my cousins as well but not in the same way.”
“Does your brother live in Rhode Island too?”
“Joe and his wife moved to Virginia Beach a few years ago. They don’t visit too often. Most of the time I travel down there to see them instead. I’m actually going in August.”
“Gorgeous area. I—” Before he completed his sentence the smartphone in his hand beeped, and he glanced at the screen. “My sister says my cousin, Derek, is up next. Do you mind if we go inside and watch? I want to be able to give him a hard time about it later. He stood just off stage when it was my turn, so he can do the same thing to me.”
She’d read more than once that the Sherbrookes were a tight family. Sounded like it was true. “Not at all. I could use some air-conditioning again. It’s hot out here tonight.”
Scott pulled out Paige’s chair and waited until she sat before taking the seat between her and Bebe Fleming. Up on stage, Rose introduced his cousin, and the spotlight followed Derek across the stage. He watched for a moment before turning his gaze back to Paige. When he’d viewed her from up on stage, he thought her attractive. Up close though he realized how wrong he’d been. She was stunning even when her face had been bright red from embarrassment. Actually, he wasn’t sure he’d ever seen a person turn so red in his life. He suspected coming up on stage hadn’t been the only reason for her embarrassment. At least she appeared to be more at ease now. Her coloring had returned to normal anyway.
“I have one bid for five thousand dollars,” Rose said from on stage.
Scott glanced around the room. Sure enough, Tasha Marshall had her auction paddle up in the air. Derek’s in for it tonight. But better him than me.
Glancing back at Paige and her aunt, he considered what he’d learned already about her and compared it to what he knew about the Fosters. Although he’d only met Michael Foster once, the man was well known to the Sherbrooke family. He owned a ranch in Texas not far from Uncle Warren and Aunt Elizabeth. Although the older man didn’t socialize often, his two daughters, Iris Campbell and Mary Wakefield, did. In fact, Mary’s husband, Perry, had served in the Senate with Uncle Warren before he won the presidency, and the two of them had regularly attended parties at the house his uncle and aunt had kept just outside of DC. However, never had he heard anyone mention Michael Foster also had a son. Why was that?
“Twenty-five,” Scott heard Tasha call out, and he couldn’t help but look up at his cousin. Earlier Derek had look unfazed; his expression now told a different story.
“Someone needs to explain proper etiquette to that girl. She obviously has no idea how auctions are conducted,” Bebe said to anyone at the table who would listen.
Scott doubted that was the case. He suspected Tasha just didn’t care about etiquette as long as she snagged his cousin tonight.
“Who is she?” Paige asked the other women seated at the table.
Interesting. Most people who were in his social circle and who were familiar with New England, which included many of the people in the room, knew of Tasha Marshall and her family.
“Tasha Marshall,” Mrs. Abington answered, proving his point.
“She seems determined tonight,” Paige said.
“That she does,” Scott agreed as he watched his cousin up on stage.
“We’re up to twenty-five thousand, is anyone willing to go to thirty?” Rose asked the audience.
From where he sat, it appeared as if Derek was focused on either someone or something in the audience. Scott just couldn’t tell what.
“Thanks to bidder number eighty-two, we are now up to thirty thousand dollars. Is there anyone willing to go to thirty-five?” Rose’s announcement caught his attention, and he searched the ballroom for whoever was brave enough to go up against Tasha—not that the other bidder stood a chance of winning. Unfortunately, from his seat, he couldn’t find bidder number eighty-two.
“My prediction is he’ll be going home with Tasha, but it’ll cost her. At least fifty thousand dollars, I say. What are everyone else’s guesses?” Mrs. Abington asked the group.
He agreed but kept silent as everyone except Paige offered their opinions.
“What about you, Mr. Belmont?” a woman he didn’t recognize asked him. “Do you think Miss Marshall will win your cousin this evening?”
Before he answered, Rose spoke again from the stage. “Fabulous. We have fifty-five thousand. Is anyone willing to go to fifty-eight thousand dollars?”
“Looks like it.” He could just imagine all the thoughts going through his cousin’s head at the moment. Poor bastard. He felt for Derek. But the guy had known what he was getting into.
As he continued to watch the train wreck happening on stage, Rose patted Derek’s shoulder. “Going once.”
Scott saw Tasha start toward the stage stairs, and he grimaced. Up on stage, his cousin looked either ready to explode or be ill. It was difficult to tell.
“Going twice.”
Sympathy for his cousin filled him. It looked like Derek was about to be saddled with perhaps the last woman on earth he’d ever want to spend time with. And as much as felt bad for the guy, he was damn glad it wasn’t him Tasha had in her sights. He shot a quick look at Paige. He knew very little about her, but he anticipated their time together to be enjoyable and uncomplicated.
“One hundred and fifty-eight thousand dollars.” The announcement silenced the whispers at his table and silence filled the ballroom.
He recognized the voice. Scott glanced around the room until his eyes settled on his cousin’s close friend Brooklyn Novak.
“Didn’t have a plan, huh,” Scott muttered. Derek had arranged for Brooklyn to bid on him all along. No wonder he’d looked so relaxed backstage.
“Wow,” Paige said, probably echoing the sentiments of everyone in the audience. “I think the other woman really thought she’d won.”
When Brooklyn made her announcement, Tasha stumbled. Now, as Brooklyn joined Derek on the stage, she stood up again.
“I feel bad for her. She really seemed to have her heart set on your cousin,” Paige said, speaking to him directly for the first time in a while.
His first instinct was to say, “don’t feel bad, she deserves to lose,” but he stopped himself. For the most part, people outside the family didn’t know how Tasha flung herself at every single man named Sherbrooke in the hopes of catching one.
“She’ll be okay. Besides, Tasha knew there was a chance she wouldn’t win.” And my cousin made sure of it, he thought while he watched the photographer snap a few pictures of the couple on stage. He couldn’t wait to bust Derek’s chops on this one.
“That brings our auction this evening to a close. Thank you all for attending and showing your support for the foundation. Without the generosity of individuals like you the foundation wouldn’t be able to provide the assistance it does every day,” Rose said, causing applause to fill the room. Once it tapered off she continued, “I hope you all enjoyed yourselves as much as I did and will consider joining us again next year.”
Not in this lifetime. No matter what his mom said or did, no way was he ever getting on a stage again for something like this.
“Well, this was fun,” Bebe said, and several of the other women seated there nodded in agreement.
Not Paige though. Scott caught the glare she sent her aunt’s way. A look that told him she had no intention of attending this event ever again either.
“But I’m ready to leave. Very busy day tomorrow, and I still need to pack. Are you ready, Paige?” Bebe asked as people all around them started talking.
He suspected Paige’s answer to Bebe’s question was most definitely.
“Whenever you are, Aunt Bebe.” Paige looked over at him and gave him a slight smile. Unlike the one she wore when the photographer snapped pictures, this one looked genuine. “It was nice to meet you, Scott. I guess I’ll see you soon.”
Her voice told him everything. If given the chance, she’d opt out of the dates with him. Oddly it stung his pride. Perhaps it was because women usually both sought out and enjoyed his company. He couldn’t recall a woman not wanting to spend time with him.
“Definitely. But please let me walk both of you out.”
“Thank—”
Before Paige finished her sentence, Bebe interrupted her. “That would be lovely, wouldn’t it, Paige? Thank you.”
“Yes, it would. Thanks.”
Paige’s tone gave nothing away this time. So while the women said their good-byes, he slipped his tuxedo jacket back on and waited.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. You know how it is when women get together,” Bebe said when she finally stood.
“Not a problem, Mrs. Fleming,” he said, offering the woman his arm.
Rather than accept it, she gave his forearm a slight tap with her clutch. “None of that. You don’t belong arm in arm with an old lady like me. Go with Paige.”
Pink filled Paige’s face, although at least this time it wasn’t as bright as up on stage, and she looked up at the ceiling. He imagined she was counting to ten.
Except for his two younger sisters and occasionally his female cousins, he avoided arguing with women—especially those old enough to be his grandmother. “Gladly,” he responded, offering his arm to Paige instead.
They exited the ballroom arm in arm while Bebe walked a slight distance ahead of them. “Smart move. It’s never wise to argue with my aunt.”
Scott smiled at her whispered statement. “I got that impression. She reminds me of a few of the women in my family.”
The trip from the grand ballroom to the downstairs lobby took much longer than it should have, as other women stopped Bebe to chat with her. Each time someone stopped them, he noticed none ever greeted Paige by name. Many smiled and said hello, but it was as if no one knew her. He didn’t understand how it was possible. Her grandfather was one of the biggest oil tycoons in the country, while her aunt was a popular socialite. How could someone with relatives such as those go completely unknown? While he managed to avoid the media and the attention of others much more than his cousins, even he couldn’t go many places and not be known by name.
Seated inside for so long, he’d forgotten all about the record high temperature today. As he waited for Mrs. Fleming’s limo to be brought around, the heat had him wishing he’d left his tuxedo jacket inside.
“Thank you again for escorting us out tonight, Scott,” Mrs. Fleming said when her limo stopped at the curb. “Please give my regards to your mother. I didn’t get an opportunity to speak with her this evening.”
“I will.” He watched the woman enter the vehicle. Once she’d moved out of hearing, he looked at Paige, who still had her arm linked with his. “Tomorrow, I’ll make our reservations for the Fourth and I’ll call you.”
“Sounds good. Have a safe trip back to New York.”
Although no cameras were around like in the ballroom, at least none he could see, he placed a kiss on her cheek before she released his arm.
“Good night, Scott.”
Before he said anything in return, she ducked into the limo.
Paige waited until the driver closed the passenger door before she looked out the window. On the sidewalk Scott checked his watch before turning and walking back inside the hotel. When he disappeared from view, she turned toward Aunt Bebe. Alone, she could tell her what she really thought about her stunt tonight.
“Oh, my God! How could you do that?” She hadn’t intended to shout, but all the embarrassment and frustration churning inside her made it impossible to keep her tone normal. “I told you before the auction started that I didn’t want to participate.”
Aunt Bebe waved a dismissive hand in her direction, the gesture annoying her more. “Where’s the fun in that? These types of events are all about enjoying yourself. Watching everyone else bid and then leave with a gorgeous man wouldn’t be any fun.”
“You planned on bidding all along, didn’t you? Even when you asked me to come, it was your plan to bid on my behalf.” Her aunt had a shrewd and calculating mind. Sometimes Paige thought Aunt Bebe should’ve gone into politics.
Aunt Bebe shrugged. “I knew you’d never do it. So I figured if the right man came up, I’d give it a try. See what happened. If I won, great, if not, oh well. Scott Belmont seemed like the right man for you.”
“Aunt Bebe, you bought me a man. You do realize that’s what you did, right, even if it was for a good cause? Going up on stage tonight and kissing a stranger was the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done.” Before tonight she’d thought walking out of the girls’ bathroom in third grade with her skirt tucked into her tights had been her number-one most embarrassing moment. Tonight’s event had stolen that spot.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Paige. I didn’t buy you a man. I simply arranged for you to spend some time with a successful gentleman. You need to go out more. Have fun. When you’re old like me, you can sit at home with your dog. Trust me, you’ll have a wonderful time with Scott.” Aunt Bebe squeezed her hand. “Wait. You’ll see. You might even thank me later.”
She wanted to bang her head on the window. Instead she groaned. Aunt Bebe didn’t get it. “They could turn out to be the four worst dates of my life. Scott Belmont could be the biggest jerk alive.” She’d dated her share of jerks in the past. She didn’t need or want to add any more to her list.
“Pish. Every Sherbrooke male I’ve ever met has been a perfect gentleman. Why do you think I picked him for you and not someone else? At first I considered his cousin, but knew the media attention around Derek would be unbearable.”
Lucky me.
“While nothing may develop between you and Scott, you’ll have some enjoyable dates with a nice man. I don’t understand what’s so terrible about that.”
Where should she start? Listing all her reasons seemed pointless. It wouldn’t change the situation or her aunt’s opinion. “Never mind, Aunt Bebe. You just don’t understand.”
Aunt Bebe smiled. “It’ll all work out. You’ll see. So where did you two disappear to when you left the stage?”
“The garden terrace. Have you ever seen the view from there? It gives you an entirely different perspective on WaterFire and downtown.”
“No never. But I hope you didn’t only admire the city view while outside.”
Her aunt’s comment could be interpreted in a few different ways. For her own peace of mind, she decided her aunt referred to also talking while looking at the view. “We had a nice conversation.”
“Excellent. When will you be seeing him?”
“Fourth of July.”
“Perfect, it’s not far from now. You’ll have to let me know how it goes.”
Did her aunt expect a report after each of their dates? Some questions were better left unasked. “Sure. So what time does your flight leave tomorrow?”
She’d had enough of the bachelor auction and Scott Belmont for one night. In fact, she didn’t plan on thinking about him again until she had to.