My Year of Saying No - Maxine Morrey Page 0,47

started brainstorming this gala, and ways to raise even more funds with the auction, one item kept coming up.’

‘One auction item?’

‘Yep.’

‘Can we get it?’

‘That’s purely down to you.’

15

Seb rolled his head towards me again and opened the eyes he’d been resting closed. ‘Why does the way you said that make me nervous?’

I waggled my eyebrows but remained silent.

‘So, what is it then? This mystery auction item.’

‘You.’

He shoved himself up onto his elbows. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘You. More specifically a date with you.’

Seb said nothing. After a moment, he let himself slouch back down onto the bed. ‘Very funny.’

I gave a shrug. ‘I’m not joking.’

He pushed himself up again. ‘Isn’t that the sort of thing billionaires do in romance novels?’

‘Read a lot of romance, have you?’

He gave me a smile that illustrated perfectly why a date with him would be a very popular lot on the auction list and I squashed down annoyance that I didn’t have the funds to bid on it. ‘You’d be surprised.’

‘Brushing up on your skills.’

‘Something like that.’

I raised a brow.

‘Actually, I just read whatever I could get my hands on sometimes out on deployment. I’m not a book snob, and it was good escapism at times. And, as you say, enabled me to brush up on my skills as a bonus.’

‘Ah, see? The truth comes out.’

‘I still don’t see how you’ve come to the conclusion that putting up an evening out with me would be a good way of raising money.’

‘That’s the thing,’ I said, tucking my feet up under me. ‘I didn’t. That little gem came from several other directions.’

‘Several?’

‘Oh yes.’

He shook his head.

‘You can shake your head all you like. It’s going on the list, so you never know, those skills you picked up from the books might come in handy.’

‘What am I supposed to do?’ He asked, looking slightly awkward.

I did my best to squelch the feelings this momentary show of vulnerability had unleashed and instead concentrated on the conversation.

‘On the date?’

‘Yes.’

‘What do you normally do on dates?’

‘The usual, I guess.’ He shrugged.

‘Talk about yourself incessantly, ask your date how much they earn and then tell them they are clearly doing something wrong? Let the woman know that you’re only there because your first, and second, choice fell through?’

Seb’s mouth had dropped open a little. ‘Is that really what you think of me?’

‘Absolutely not. I’m just illustrating that “the usual” can vary, depending upon whom you speak to.’

He rolled onto his side, resting his head on his hand, the dark eyes studying me. ‘Is that really your experience?’

I glanced at him, then focused back on the question. Much safer. ‘Just the most recent highlights.’

‘Lottie… we really need to get you a good date.’

I tilted my head as a sign of agreement. ‘Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be able to keep up with the bidding.’

Oops! Damn that nightcap.

OK, so now I had two options. Pretend I hadn’t said it and hope he hadn’t heard or just laugh it off.

‘You’d planned to bid?’

OK, so I guess hoping he hadn’t heard wasn’t an option.

‘Only if the winning bid was looking a little terrifying, even for a tough customer like you.’ I risked a glance. ‘Friends take care of each other, right?’ I shrugged, like it was no big deal and all a bit of a joke, even though I knew if I’d been attending the gala, watching some ridiculously wealthy woman gloat over her winning bid wasn’t something I’d be in any great hurry to see. Of course, as well as the cougars, there was also the possibility that some of the younger socialites and celebrities would be holding up their cards. I wasn’t sure which was worse.

‘They do,’ he said, quietly. ‘Which is why I’m going to ask what that thought is that’s racing round your brain right now.’

Ummm…

I waved him away. ‘Nothing important. Just a… work thing.’ Sort of true. ‘So, anyway. That’s just a heads-up. You’re on the menu, so to speak.’

‘Do I get a say in this?’

‘Lady Genevieve Carstairs has already stated there’s a ten grand starting bid with her name on it.’

Seb sat bolt upright. ‘What?’

I smiled at his surprise.

‘You heard. It’s no secret she’s got a thing for you. Besides, why are you so surprised people are interested? You’ve got a mirror, Seb. You know you’re hardly the back of a bus.’

He gave me a look that was so adorably embarrassed, the butterflies in my stomach I’d been fairly successfully keeping in check suddenly made a bid for flight. ‘You