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Sampson had already been auctioned off, and even though he’d frowned the entire time, he’d fetched a good price.

They wouldn’t have come tonight if it hadn’t been for charity. And if Immy hadn’t helped organize everything. Although it was all going like clockwork, so she really wasn’t needed.

Abe is home with Maeve. She’ll be fine.

But Immy just couldn’t shake this weird feeling in her stomach.

They called Jenner’s name and he shared a look with Sampson before smiling and heading off. Sampson stepped in close to her and they watched as the bidding for Jenner grew fierce. Sampson drew out his phone, frowning down at it.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“Just thought Abe might have texted me back by now.”

Finally, the auction finished. Wow. That was such a huge amount of money, she couldn’t help smiling in delight as Jenner returned.

“I’m gonna go make a call,” Sampson said. “Give me five minutes. Stay here.”

“We’ll be fine,” Jenner told him.

Sampson grunted and walked away.

“Jenner, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Immy’s shoulders tightened at the sound of Lauren’s voice.

She’d managed to avoid her. Any time that her name appeared in Jenner’s schedule, Immy had made herself scarce.

“Lauren, hi,” Jenner said.

Lauren turned her sharp gaze to Immy. Or, more specifically, to where Immy had a hold of Jenner’s arm.

Immy just stared back at her, not moving. Yes, she knew that she couldn’t have a relationship with Jenner. But they were still friends.

She had every right to touch him.

But what if that’s not what’s best for his career? That’s all Lauren cares about.

Well, heck.

“And Immy, lovely to see you. Is Abe with you?”

“No, he’s at home,” Immy said, eyeing the woman standing next to Lauren.

She looked familiar. Her dark-brown, curly hair was pulled back so it rested down her back and her wide, hazel-colored eyes glanced over them all. She was gorgeous.

“Wow, you’re so pretty,” Immy blurted out. “Is your hair naturally that color?”

“Um, yeah.” The woman brushed her hair back. “It is. My stylist wants to dye it, though.”

“Really? I love it.”

“Your hair is the most beautiful color,” the other woman told her.

“It is? But it’s so . . . bright.” Immy wrinkled her nose. “And I’ve got all this pale skin. I never tan. You look like the sun kissed you.”

“You’re gorgeous as well, Immy,” Jenner immediately told her. “Stop saying bad things about yourself.”

Whoa.

That shut the conversation down fast. Jenner was frowning at her while the two women stared at him in shock.

“Immy, I wonder if you’d go find Sampson for me,” Lauren said.

“I guess I could,” Immy said, reluctant to step away from Jenner. “Why?”

Lauren gave her a sharp smile. “Because I’d like to talk to him.”

“I’ll message him,” Jenner said

“I’m sure that Immy could get him,” Lauren said through gritted teeth.

Honestly, she didn’t look well.

“Are you all right, Lauren?” she asked in concern. “You look like you need some painkillers. Have you got a headache?”

“I’m fine,” Lauren told her.

“Are you sure?” Immy leaned forward. “It’s not that time of the month?”

Lauren’s eyes widened while her friend made a choked noise.

“Why would you say that? And here?” Lauren asked.

“Why not? It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Immy said matter-of-factly. She glanced up at Jenner, who was frowning at Lauren. “Right?”

“Right,” Jenner said firmly. Immy had been the last one to get her period out her, Cat, and Maeve. She’d gotten her period late. Really late. When she was sixteen.

Her mom wasn’t someone she could go to and Maeve and Cat hadn’t been around. So the guys had helped her.

It hadn’t really been weird to Immy. Because the guys were always there for her. And it was natural, right?

“Oh, look, here comes Sampson.”

Sampson stepped up on Immy’s other side, frowning at Lauren.

“Sampson, Lauren wanted you,” Immy told him, leaning slightly into him.

“I didn’t want Sampson.”

“Then why did you want to send Immy to get him?” Jenner asked.

Silence fell after that and she felt the guys stiffen around her.

Ahh, she got it. Lauren wanted to get rid of her. Probably so she could introduce Jenner to the goddess standing beside her.

That goddess at least had the good grace to appear embarrassed.

“Jenner, I wanted to introduce you to Amaya. She’s an up-and-coming country and western singer with the most beautiful voice.”

“That’s where I’ve seen you,” Immy said. “You opened for Wyatt Brand, right?”

“I did. That was six months ago. Were you at that concert?” Amaya asked.

“I was. Wyatt gave me some VIP tickets. He’s such a sweetie. Abe took me.”

“I don’t remember this,” Jenner said with a frown.

“You had something to go to. I don’t remember what. That was such a good night.”

“Did you really just call Wyatt Brand a sweetie?” Amaya asked, looking shocked.

“Yes. Why?”

“He’s just . . . he’s grouchy and sharp and demanding.”

“Oh. He’s always been kind to me. Are you doing any more concerts with him? Or with Jenner?”

“Uh, we just met, Immy,” Jenner reminded her gently.

“Right, but Amaya has the most amazing voice.”

“Thanks,” Amaya whispered. “But I’m not in Jenner Knight’s league.”

“Jenner,” Lauren said loudly. Too loudly. Several people turned to stare at them and Lauren glared at Immy for some reason.

Honestly. Immy was starting to worry about her.

“Yes?” Jenner asked.

“Could you please show Amaya around? Introduce her to people?” Lauren asked in a quieter voice.

“I don’t think we can do that tonight. We have to get home to a friend.”

“Surely Immy and Sampson can go. And you can stay. Alone.”

Yep. Just as Immy thought.

This is who Lauren thought that Jenner should be seen with. And Immy got it. They were definitely in the same league. Both of them were so beautiful it almost hurt Immy’s eyes.

They could make beautiful babies and she could be crazy Auntie Immy.

Immy could totally see that working.

But the thought of it just made her want to cry.

“What the fuck?” Sampson snapped, not bothering to try and temper his tone. Or speak quietly.

“Amaya is the one that won your auction. We had to have someone do the bidding for her, though,” Lauren said.

“Oh right. Guess I will need to contact you about that,” Jenner said awkwardly.

“We need to leave,” Sampson said bluntly.

“Oh, of course,” Amaya said.

“It’s early, surely you can stay, Jenner,” Lauren said.

“I really can’t. You understand, Amaya?”

“Of course. That’s fine.” Amaya smiled at Jenner.

But it wasn’t fine with Lauren and it was clear that she expected Immy to say something from the way she was glaring at her.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” she said, stepping forward since that was her only free path. It meant she had to push through the two women.

But, quite frankly, she didn’t care that she kind of pushed Lauren out of the way. The woman let out a surprised grunt.

Immy couldn’t stop herself from muttering a ‘sorry,’ though.

Darn it.

She rushed to the bathroom, ignoring her name being called after her. Heading straight to the toilet, she peed and then exited to wash her hands. She had to admit that she’d kind of expected Lauren to follow her, berate her. Immy stared at herself in the mirror.

It was better this way.

Better for Jenner. And how often had he sacrificed for her? He deserved to have someone worthy of him. Someone who could help him.

Immy had always been a liability.

Moving out of the bathroom, she came to a surprised stop when she saw Jenner.

An angry Jenner. He stormed toward her, looming over her. “What was that?”

“Um, what?” she asked.

God, he was magnificent when he was angry. It was like his eyes shone. And she was mesmerized.

Under his spell.

“Running off like that? Why did you do that?” he demanded.

“I had to pee.” It was really lame and she knew it. So did he by the way his eyes narrowed as he glared down at her.

“You don’t ever run off from me, Immy.”

“I don’t?” she whispered breathlessly.

“You wait for one of us to take you. Anyone could be in this crowd. You could have been hurt or worse.”

Oh, he’d been worried about her safety. Which was kind of nuts. She’d helped organize this event and the security was tight.

“But why would anyone target me? I’m no one,” she said, unwisely.

A tic started to thump in his cheek and he crowded her into an alcove. It was quiet back here but someone would likely be along soon so this wasn’t a good idea.

Well, her head knew it wasn’t a good idea. But her body was going into overdrive.

Ooh, baby.

Her body liked having him close. She had to clench her thighs together and she hoped like hell that her hard nipples weren’t pressing through the material of her dress.

“You are not no one,” he told her in a harsh voice.

Immy didn’t trust herself to speak so she just nodded. The last thing she needed to do was to beg him to kiss her.

“Hear me, Immy?” he said. “Repeat it back to me.”

Unicorn poop.

He wanted her participation?

“I’m not no one.”

“And I better not hear you say anything like that again or you’ll be in trouble.”

Would he spank her?

Spank me.

Thankfully, she didn’t say that out loud.

Suddenly, he stepped back, something strange filling his face. “I didn’t scare you, did I?”

“Huh?” The last thing he’d done was scare her. “No. You could never scare me.”

“Tell me if I do, Immy. I never want to hurt you.”

What was he talking about? He’d never harm her.

But before she could question him, he reached down and grabbed her hand, tugging her along. “Come on, we need to get out of here before someone sees us.”

It was like cold water splashed over her.

Right. Because he didn’t need to be seen with someone like Immy.

“Don’t want to be seen in an alcove with me?” she asked in a teasing voice.

Well, she hoped it sounded like she was teasing him and not upset.

He stilled and looked down at her intently.

“The only reason I wouldn’t want anyone to catch us is because I like to keep my private life private.

Bad enough all of those paparazzi were taking your photo when we arrived.

I don’t like you being in the public eye.

It brings too much bad attention and compromises your safety. ”

Urgh. She was being an idiot.

He wasn’t ashamed of her. He was just worried about her safety. Like always.

“Probably should have snuck you in the back way instead of having you come in with me.” He glanced down at her again. “But there’s no one I’d rather have with me.”

God. She was definitely an idiot.

Lauren had gotten into her head and she’d let her.

Maybe she wasn’t who Jenner should be with. Plus, he didn’t even want her like that.

But that didn’t mean that Immy had to pull herself out of his life. Or put up with someone treating her badly.

So when she stepped back out into the room, she had her chin up and a smile on her face.

Until she saw the look on Sampson’s face.

“What is it?” Jenner asked.

“That was Lyle from the front gate. We’ve got to go. Now.”