Falling For You (Love In All Seasons #2) - Frankie Love Page 0,24

the convention center, not out here at the bar.

“Just checking on a few things.”

I raise my eyes, about to say more, but then a few older men in suits, carrying auction numbers, walk in the bar. The man next to me sees them enter and I watch as his shoulders tense, his eyes narrow. The men don’t pay us any attention at all.

“Motherfucker,” he says, under his breath.

“What is it?” I ask, resting my hand on the top of his.

He pulls back. “You’re set on going through with this?”

“With the... the…” I swallow. He knows who I am. Why I’m here.

“The auction,” he says firmly. “Can you be talked out of it? Look, my name’s Ryder, and I’m a good guy. I know Alaska. I can take you anywhere if you want out of this. All you have to do is say the word.”

I sputter, my mind reeling. “No. I mean, of course not. It’s a whole thing.” I think about all the people here for the event, the press, the charity.

“I would take you somewhere safe,” he adds. “If you came with me. Now.”

Still confused, I shake my head. “This is important to me. And how do you know who I—”—

He snorts. “Every man in Alaska knows who you are, Justine.”

“Well then you know why I am doing this.”

“It’s a mistake,” he says.

I roll my eyes. “Let me guess, and you know better? You know what a woman needs?”

His mouth is set in a firm line, and even though his lips look so damn kissable, he is coming off as self-righteous.

“I know what I am doing and why I’m doing it. I don’t need a man dictating what I can and can’t do.”

“Fine,” he says, raising his hands. “Then I hope you get what you want.”

He drops a fifty on the bar and pushes away without another word.

When he walks away I feel rattled, unnerved.

I’m doubting myself for the first time in this entire experience.

I don’t need doubt right now, and how dare that guy just show up like that and suggest I’d change my plans for him?

I leave the bar knowing I have an auction to attend.

Chapter 3

Justine

I’m not exactly easily swayed. I dig my heels in and believe in taking a stand.

“You ready, Justine?” Eileen asks. Eileen has been my family’s publicist since forever, and she’s been the most vocal about her reservations regarding this plan.

Cautious is a nice way of saying she thinks it’s a terrible idea.

“More ready than ever, “ I tell her, grinning. She may think this is crazy, but the last few guys I dated thought the fact I was a virgin at all was crazy. Too crazy for them at least. It totally scared them off.

I figure what better way to just get it over with.

“You aren’t nervous?” she asks.

I shake my head, adjust the black strapless dress that shows off all my assets and tousle my hair so I look ready to take to bed. I want this auction to raise a hell of a lot of money and I will flaunt what I’ve got in order to do that.

The lights shine on the stage. The auctioneer is readying up the crowd. It’s go time. My lady parts are waxed to perfection and my tatas are pushed up so high I could perform a titty-fuck that would impress a porn star. I should know, considering I’ve been on plenty of sets.

See, I may be a virgin, but I am not naïve. I’m a forward thinking, modern woman who’s selling her virginal pussy to the highest bidder.

The auctioneer, Ronnie Ramone, just finished showing a slideshow of endangered animals. It pumps me up, reminding me that this is all for a good cause.

Ronnie calls me onstage and I smile wide.

I’m gonna walk out there and the bidding will begin.

And then, after someone wins, I’m going to return backstage to grab my overnight bag and get into a waiting limo, and head to the hotel I booked for this very occasion.

Eileen said booking our own hotel was a prerequisite for this risqué endeavor. Some men could be complete psychopaths. They could try to video the thing by mounting cameras around a bedroom. Which they would use to record themselves mounting me. Not gonna happen. If I wanted to make an adult video I’d ask my mom for a camera crew.

“And now let’s welcome the guest of honor,” Ronnie calls. “Justine is the generous woman who will be selling one night of pleasure to the