Billionaire Ghost Tour - Stephanie Fowers Page 0,2

with wearing all black?” he asked her.

Annoyance charged through Mollie while she executed the most mocking curtsy of her life. She had two jobs where she had to wear black, but he wouldn’t know about working. “Funny thing,” she said. “I could ask the same thing of you.”

A flicker of fire lit Janson’s icy cold expression. “Some people know how to wear it, Red.”

Oh no he didn’t! A nickname? He did not have the right to comment on her red hair. Before she could let him have it, Aaron held up his hands. “Okay! Mollie is very beautiful!” A flush raced up Aaron’s neck the moment he said it. He exchanged glances with Charly.

“I didn’t say Red wasn’t beautiful.” Janson’s eyes traveled over Mollie like he was considering buying a prized horse. She stilled as he dragged her in with his sordid gaze, instantaneously sucking everyone else from the room so that it felt like they were the only ones there. “She’s gorgeous.” His soft words made her ears ring. Was he mocking her? Energy charged between them until she felt like he’d set her on fire. It took her every last ounce of will power for Mollie to keep back her temper. He lifted a shoulder, those perfect lips of his firming. “I think you could use some color in those cheeks though,” he said. “How about I take you out in the sun?”

Okay, now she knew he was making fun of her. “Thank you for your concern,” she said, hoping he saw the brutal rejection in her expression, “but I melt in the sun.”

A voice on the loudspeaker made her jump. “And Mikey Ladd goes to the woman in red!” The bidding for the latest bachelor was over. Mollie’s eager friend had lost, but Mikey was all smiles. The pleasant, rotund gentleman made guns with his fingers at Veronica as he hopped off the stage to join her. They made an unlikely, though happy, couple.

Janson sighed beside Mollie. He was next on the chopping block. Without another word, he left her side. His swagger down the runway was full of confidence, though she’d just barely overheard how much he didn’t want to be here.

“Ah, is this who I think it is?” the MC announced at the front. “Everyone, welcome Janson Styles. He’s the man of the hour!” He winced in response.

Mollie jerked in surprise, realizing why she recognized that name. The media had dragged that same name through the mud last week. Janson shared ownership of the lucrative pharmaceutical company, Starrladd Vax with his father, but even more astounding was that the branch he headed had just announced the cure to the common flu. If it was true, it was big pharma’s worst nightmare—their products would be useless. Now everyone accused him of trying to destroy the world, instead of saving it.

“We’ve been waiting for Janson all night,” the jovial MC said. “Haven’t we, ladies?”

Janson glared at Aaron through the sea of swooning women, though his gaze warmed on a beautiful blonde to the side of him. Smacking her ruby lips, she picked up her bidding paddle, her rosy cheeks hardening for war.

Mollie turned to Aaron. This was the man he’d gotten into trouble for defending on his social media site last week. “He’s your friend?”

“Uh... sorry about him.” Aaron shrugged at her, watching her carefully like she was a firecracker. “He’s not as bad as he seems. He just needs to loosen up a little.” His eyes ran from Janson to Mollie. A sudden grin split his mouth in two. “I’ll back you a million bucks to buy that guy.”

“Why would I ever?” Mollie would rather run shrieking through a haunted house than participate. In front of her, Elana Faun straightened her wig and gripped her paddle to try again for another date. She’d never be able to afford him. Aaron’s eyes twinkled mischievously, and Mollie suddenly realized the kind of fun she could have with his offer. “What do you want me to do with him once I have him?” she asked.

“Anything you want.”

Anything?

Charly shook her head, silently trying to dissuade her, but Mollie was caught in the fire of her own revenge. This was for a good cause, anyway. Aaron seemed more than happy to donate a big tax write-off to his own charity. Spying the bidding paddles on the polished mahogany tables to the side of her, she stormed over to retrieve one.

The bidding began before she returned. Charlize snuggled against her man. Her