Highest Bidder Collection - Lauren Landish Page 0,218

only thing she can do is kick me out of her club. I’m sorry that I’ve hurt her and that I’ve broken her rules, but I’m not going to allow her to get in my way of getting what I want.

And I fucking want Lilly.

I rise from my seat at the dining room table at the back of the restaurant as I see the ma?tre d’ walk through the aisle with Lilly. I button my jacket as I walk towards them.

She’s already checked her coat, she must have, because the thin lace dress she’s wearing would have her freezing outside in the chilly air of January. The black fabric clings to her curves and ends just about mid-thigh. What’s most striking are her exposed shoulders, the lace straps hanging loosely off her shoulders. She’s so tempting. She calls to me like no one else ever has.

She’s absolutely breathtaking. Her lips are darker red than I’ve ever seen them before. Any other makeup she’s wearing only emphasizes her natural beauty. Her long blonde hair is pulled into a loose bun looking slightly messy.

Lilly sucks in a breath the moment she sees me and takes a small step back. She’s obviously nervous. I nod at the ma?tre d’ letting him know he can fuck off and I take Lilly’s hand in mine, wrapping my arm around her back.

She walks with me, her strides even, but she stares straight ahead. My throat tightens at her distress. I lead her to her seat across from me pulling out her chair and helping her sit down. She desperately needs the help, she’s practically shaking.

I take my seat, eyeing her curiously. The sound of my heart thudding in my chest getting louder. This isn’t starting as I imagined it would.

“Thank you,” she says nervously, finally looking me in the eyes.

Her small hands grab the white cloth napkin off the table and she places it in her lap, smoothing it over and she seems to calm slightly. But then, her eyes hone in on the stack of papers on the table. Instead of looking eager and excited, she looks uncertain and scared.

This isn’t what I anticipated. I didn’t know why she finally agreed, but I wasn’t expecting her to be so... terrified.

“What’s bothering you,” I ask her.

She twists the napkin in her lap nervously and takes a deep breath. Her mouth opens with her eyes closed but then she shakes her head, placing an elbow on the table and putting her head in her hand.

She’s obviously not all right. I’m not sure what’s gotten to her but whatever it is, I don’t like it. I’ve never seen her like this.

I place my hand, palm up, on the table in front of her. Her eyes open at my words, “I’d like you to tell me now, my flower.”

She holds my gaze with her beautiful doe eyes, “I lost my job,” her voice is hoarse.

So it’s about money. Maybe it’s not a bad thing that I offered to pay after all.

She adds, “the entire department lost funding.” Clearing her throat her eyes on the glass of water in front of her, I watch her break down in front of me. My heart hurts for her.

She shakes her head and swallows thickly, looking past me and at the wall blankly. “So there aren’t any more of-” she clears her throat again and takes a sip of water quickly before continuing. “So there aren’t any more programs at the schools and I don’t know how to change that or help.”

“Funding?” I ask. I can fund whatever the fuck I want. My heart pounds in my chest as my fingers slide down the cold glass of water in front of me. I can be her knight in shining armor.

“I work with underprivileged kids that have gotten into a little bit of trouble.” She takes an unsteady breath, but it seems to calm her. “It’s only an internship for now until I finish the last semester of schooling.” She takes a deep breath before adding, “it was both my job and schooling for this semester until the last two classes are available next semester.” Her blue eyes meet mine as she answers the question on the tip of my tongue, “I’ll be done in December.” She readjusts in her seat and finally places her hand in mine. “I’m sorry I know that-”

She starts to apologize but I cut her off. “Don’t be sorry,” I rub the pads of my thumbs on the back