Mary Baxter – Saddle Up (страница 6)

No man, certainly not Hamilton, had ever appraised her in such a way, a way that was both exciting and frightening. Why on earth would this man be on an auction block? she asked herself, before giving in to the disgust that flooded through her.

What did she care? She had no intention of taking part in any of this crazy mess.

Then his eyes roamed over her.

“Do I hear a bid for Mr. Jeremiah Davis, ladies?”

As if her body had severed itself from her head, Bridget stood up and her mouth opened. “One thousand dollars!”

Three

“Going once, going twice,” the auctioneer chanted, then pounded the gavel on the podium and shouted, “Sold! To the redheaded lady in the front row.”

The crowd cheered and clapped at the same time Tiffany locked her fingers around Bridget’s forearm and jerked her down to her seat.

“Have you lost your mind?”

At first Tiffany’s screeching didn’t penetrate the fog that surrounded Bridget’s brain. In fact, she felt as if her entire body was encased in cement. Yet somehow she was able to pull her eyes off the man who was in the process of receiving a congratulatory slap on the back from the auctioneer.

“Do you know what you just did?” Tiffany screeched, though for Bridget’s ears alone.

Bridget tried mentally to reach the heart that had dropped to somewhere around her toes, yank it in place and respond like the sane human being she knew herself to be. But she couldn’t, even if everyone close by was giving them the once-over. Her tongue wouldn’t move.

“I can’t believe it!” Tiffany’s eyes were wild as she stared at Bridget as though she was a stranger.

Still dazed, Bridget shook her head, then stared at her friend. “Did…did I just do what I think I just did?”

“Damn straight you did, you little idiot.”

Bridget grabbed her stomach. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

“It’d serve you right,” Tiffany said, a twinkle settling into her eyes.

“You think this is funny?”

“Sure do, honey, especially after all that posturing in Houston. ‘No way will I waste plane fare to this hick town, much less take part in any bidding.’ Now what happens? You open your big mouth and insert your little foot!”

Bridget wailed, “What am I going to do?”

Tiffany grinned. “Well, friend, all I can say is that you’ve got your butt in a wringer. If it’s any consolation, he’s the best of the lot…by a long shot!”

“Don’t torment me, please.”

Tiffany erupted into laughter. “Me torment you? I think it’s the other way around. You’re the one who plopped down a cool thousand simoleons for the man.”

Bridget had never felt so foolish in her entire life. She couldn’t remember feeling like this even as a teenager, when she’d first discovered boys and giggled with her friends about them. Well, what was done, was done and while she couldn’t undo it, she could fix it. Or at least, she hoped she could.

“What next?” Tiffany asked.

“Where is he?”

“By he do you mean your hunk, Mr. Jeremiah Davis?”

Bridget glared at Tiffany. “He’s not my hunk. And yes, I mean him.”

“Well, at the moment,” Tiff drawled, “he’s shooting the breeze with the other fellows offstage.”

“Is he looking at me?”

“As a matter of fact, he is, and with quite a lot of curiosity, I might add.”

“You’re loving this, aren’t you?”

“Yep. I want to see how the counselor at law handles this one.”

Bridget considered strangling Tiffany on the spot, but the auctioneer chose that moment to rap his gavel. “That’s it, ladies. You’ve made your choices, and in doing so, you’ve helped us collect thousands of dollars for the women’s shelter. Now it’s time for you winners to grab your men and join in the fun.”

Everyone laughed and cheered—everyone except Bridget, who continued to sit in her chair, fearing if she moved, she would have a panic attack. She took several deep breaths and turned stricken eyes toward her friend, who also remained seated.

“So what are you going to do?” Tiffany asked in a bland tone.

Bridget wasn’t fooled. Underneath that bland exterior, laughter ached to bubble through.

“I wish to God I knew.”

Tiffany was loving every minute of her discomfort, but then well she should, Bridget thought. This served her right for acting holier than thou. Now she was having to choke on every word she’d said.

But more than that, what was she going to do about Jeremiah Davis, the man she had won? At any moment, she feared, he would walk up and say something to her. He had to think she was a sex-starved nympho. What if he made advances based on that assumption?

Tiffany voiced those exact thoughts. “I expect your man to appear on the scene at any second. And from the looks of him, he’ll make you think of Hamilton as a fond memory. Jeepers, did you see the size of his hands? Not to mention several other parts?”

“I don’t want to talk to him or his parts,” Bridget responded in a strained voice, feeling the anxiety build inside her. Not a good sign. “I’ll just pay my money, then we’ll leave.”

“Without saying anything to him?”

“Yes.”

“Fat chance. That man, all these men, think they have the makings of a relationship with the women who won them. After all, that’s what this was all about—someone to share their lives and their work.” Tiffany chuckled.

“Well, you and he can both forget that. I don’t know what happened to me, Tiff. I had no intention of saying a word.”

“If I’d had any extra money, I would have snatched him up myself.”

“You’re welcome to him…and I didn’t snatch him up!”

“Whatever you say, but a thousand dollars says you did. Argue with that! Look, I’m going to mingle, have something to drink and a bite to eat. You want to come?”

Bridget shook her head. “The thought of food makes me sick.”

“Suit yourself, but I’m starving.”

Bridget’s panic flared anew. “You mean you’re going to leave me? Alone?”

Tiffany’s lips twitched. “Yeah, as a matter of fact, I am. The last time I checked, you were a big girl. You’ve been dressing yourself for years now. Of course…you just bought yourself some help with the undressing.”

“I’ll get you back, Tiffany Russell. Count on it.”

Tiffany winked, then walked off.

Bridget was tempted to go with her friend, but she didn’t think her legs would cooperate. They had as much consistency as water, which was what she needed to take a pill, her anxiety having reached a dangerous level. She dug in her purse, nabbed a tiny tablet and tossed it down cold turkey.

“Mind if I join you?”

She hadn’t seen him coming, and though she’d known his appearance was inevitable, she wasn’t prepared. Swallowing hard, she turned and looked into Jeremiah Davis’s face.

Up close, he was even more intimidating and fascinating. He had to be well over six feet tall—she knew that because he was towering above her. Against that tanned skin, his sandy hair and mustache looked almost gold. But again, it was those piercing green eyes that were his best asset among uneven features.

“Why? Am I coming apart?” she asked, hoping the remark would make him keep his distance.

His lips twitched, as though he knew she was uncomfortable. Still, he lowered himself into the chair that Tiffany had vacated and plopped down the Stetson he’d had in his hand. That was when she smelled his cologne. Instead of being offensive, it evoked the same feeling inside her that she’d felt when he first swaggered onto that stage. Nor could she ignore the way his thighs filled out his jeans to perfection.

Something foreign had a stranglehold on her, and she jerked away from his gaze before she made a bigger fool of herself than she already had.

“So, want to tell me your name?” he asked, his voice sounding low and slightly rough around the edges. But then, he was rough around the edges in every respect. Still, she couldn’t help but compare that voice to Hamilton’s, whose precise vowels oftentimes sounded high and whiny. As for the men themselves, there was no comparison.

“Well?”

Realizing she hadn’t answered his question, she cleared her throat and said, “It’s Bridget Martin.”