Page 19

NINETEEN

Kinsley

If I thought Monday was a disaster, it has nothing on the rest of the week. Not only have I been slammed at work, but every second of free time I’ve been consumed with the auction—the one that’s ending today. Correction—an hour from now.

And what am I doing? Well, I’m sure as hell not monitoring my account. Nope. I’m running in the building, my purse clutched to my chest, my entire body drenched from the torrential downpour outside.

My clothes are soaked, my hair is plastered to my face, and I’m dripping down the hallway toward the elevators. I look like I jumped into someone’s pool fully clothed. If the fucking weather man had mentioned rain, I’d have brought an umbrella, but no, he said it was going to be cool and sunny.

If only the guys currently bidding on my virginity could see me now. They’d either be hitting that cancel button or hoping someone outbids them. But, I mean, they’re bidding on a stranger’s V-card. Can they really be that picky?

Sure, I uploaded several pictures—including one I had to take in a bathing suit—and filled out a basic profile, but they don’t get more than that. Oh, and a letter from a doctor verifying my virginal status. That was a fun conversation to have with my OB/GYN.

They don’t know who I am, what kinds of things I like, and I’m sure they don’t care. Just like I’m going to pretend to do when I have to meet the mystery man in person.

I head to the elevators, my heels slipping nearly every step, and open my purse, hoping the documents I had to pick up from the court are dry. No such luck. Dammit. Everything in here is soaked.

Could this day get any worse?

I’m doing my best to ignore the water dripping down my legs and into my heels as I head into the elevator. Alone. Thank God. With a groan, I press the button for the top floor and lean my head against the cool metal. The doors are almost closed when a hand shoots between them, and they open back up. Perfect. An audience.

“You’re looking a little…wet.” Maverick smirks, stepping into the elevator with Wyatt hot on his heels.

The answer is yes, it could get worse. I could look like this and be stuck in here with two of my three bosses.

I laugh, or rather I attempt a casual laugh that has me sounding like a hyena. “Turns out there’s a good chance of rain.”

“Looks like it.” Wyatt’s gaze slides up my legs, and the higher it travels, the more my face heats. Until his eyes pause on my chest. That’s when I realize my light pink top is now see-through, showing them both the black lace bra underneath.

I let out a squeak, covering myself with my purse. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Maverick’s words come out thick, raspy, his eyes never leaving mine.

My stomach drops out, and I force myself to swallow past the lump growing in my throat. Did he just…? Is he flirting with me?

I don’t have time to process before the elevator opens again and several people rush inside, crowding the three of us into the back corner. Maverick ends up on one side of me with Wyatt on the other. They’re not quite touching me, but they’re so close. I suck in a deep breath, my body trembling.

“Cold?” Wyatt glances down at me, his lips twitch, his hand brushing against mine.

I shake my head, keeping my lips clamped shut.

His fingers stroke across the back of my hand, and Maverick shifts, his body grazing my arm.

My insides twist, and my entire body tingles. All I can think about is being alone with them when everyone else files out. I imagine what it would be like if they touched me, if Maverick slipped an arm around my shoulder, holding me against him so Wyatt could trail his lips down my neck. He’d unbutton my blouse one button at a time and draw out the kiss, making it agonizingly slow while Maverick whispered all the dirty things they’re going to do. He’d?—

Someone clears their throat, and I jump, nearly dropping my purse. Fuck. I need to get out of here.

Maverick chuckles to my right, his lips suddenly by my ear. “What’s got you so jumpy, Miss Rhodes?”

“Kinsley.” Brianna waves at me from the other side of the elevator, elbowing Margo who turns around, giving me a sly smile and a little wave of her own. “We’ve missed you in the lunchroom.”

My entire face is on fire as my mouth opens and closes, but my brain has short-circuited, and I can barely remember my own name. “I…sorry?—”

The elevator door opens, and a few people shuffle out, leaving the five of us and two junior associates.

“I’m afraid that’s our fault.” Wyatt sticks out a hand, introducing himself and Maverick, like he doesn’t own the entire freaking firm we all work for. “We’ve been keeping your friend busy. I’m sure she’ll be back down on Monday.”

“I hope so.” Brianna’s eyes narrow, and the looks she’s giving me promises she’ll find me if she doesn’t see me at our usual table come Monday morning. “What happened to you? You’re soaked.”

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can get a word out, we stop at the next floor. The two junior associates head out, but Margo and Brianna hang back, both of them staring at me. I’m sure they have more questions, but neither one will say a thing in front of either of these guys.

“I promise I’ll see you both Monday.”

Margo’s eyes dart between Wyatt, Maverick, and me while Brianna nods, pulling her out of the elevator with another wave. The door closes again, and we’re alone. I should have gotten out and taken the stairs.

Maverick angles his body facing me but makes no attempt to back away. “Avoiding your friends, huh?”

“I…I have been busy.” I try my best to keep my eyes forward, focusing on the light up button for our floor.

Wyatt clucks his tongue, and I swear I felt his hand brush down my back.

My heart is trying to beat out of my chest, and I’m so hot I might combust. These guys give me so many butterflies I could open an exhibit in the zoo. I really do need to get the heck out of here and fast. My life is complicated enough; the last thing I need is to catch feelings for my bosses. My older, sexy as sin, bosses.

As soon as that elevator door opens on our floor, I’m pushing past them, power walking my ass down the hall to my office. I need to see if I can dry out these documents for Brantley and check the auction site. While I have no idea who’s actually bidding, I can see how much, and the last time I looked, my virginity was already up to ninety three thousand dollars. That amount guarantees my brother’s surgery and will help pay for his therapy after.

I turn into my office with a quick glance behind me. No Wyatt or Maverick. I blow out a breath and run straight into a broad chest.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Ellis.” Several strands of wet hair whip across my face, and I brush them back. “I wasn’t paying the best attention.”

“I see that.” He looks down at his suit, his fingers casually brushing at the fabric. “I hope the court documents are in better shape than you.”

With a grimace, I reach into my bag, pull out a stack of papers, and hand him the dripping mess. Or I would have, had he not backed up, looking at me like I’m trying to hand him an animal carcass.

“You can see if the clerk will print you a new set first thing Monday morning.”

He doesn’t wait for me to answer, just gives me one last disapproving look and heads into his office, closing the door behind him. When I said this day couldn’t get worse, it wasn’t supposed to be a challenge. Although Brantley has been extra cranky all week. Not sure what crawled up his ass, but I’m not going to ask.

Instead of heading into my office, I sprint to the bathroom to try to dry off. There’s no way I can sit in that leather computer chair and pretend I’m not soaked.

I spend the next fifteen minutes wringing out my hair and clothes in the sink, patting myself down with paper towels, and nearly blow off my skirt when I step under the power hand dryer. I’m so distracted, time slips away, and it’s not until my phone chirps with a notification that I pull it from the corner of my purse.

The auction ends in fifteen minutes.

When the butterflies take flight inside me, it has nothing to do with my bosses. I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’ve always been the good girl, always taking care of everyone else. I’ve never stepped out of line or even cheated on a test. This is so unlike me in so many ways, and I… I’m up to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

My jaw is on the floor.

And that number keeps climbing.

And climbing.

Two hundred and eighty five thousand dollars. That’s how much my virginity is worth.

Holy shit.

That’ll pay for all of Colin’s surgery and therapy with the rest going into a college fund. I can’t believe it. All of that for one night, a couple hours of my time.

And I already have a message from Cherry Bid.

Be at the Hermitage Hotel Saturday by five pm. You’ll check in under the name Kinsley Virginia. Further instruction will be given to you once you enter the suite.

There’s no turning back now.

At least, whoever it is has a sense of humor.