Page 53 of Pack Choice

“For $100,000? My goodness! You are a catch Mr. Turner. Is there something you aren’t telling us about yourself?”

I tip my head to one side as if to say, hell yeah but I’m not sharing.

“So $100,000. Mrs. Cassidy, would you like to make a counter bid?”

Deborah laughs hollowly, although there’s anger in her eyes. She doesn’t like to lose, but even she knows that’s a ridiculous amount of money to pay for a date with me.

The two older ladies leave the stage together, whispering and sending Molly the evil eye. The host beckons my assistant onto the stage to a round of enthusiastic applause and after kissing her cheek, positions her alongside me. I wrap an arm around her shoulder, glaring at both River and the bodyguard. Making it clear as day. This one is mine. I just spent $100,000 securing my next date with her. I’m playing hard ball.

“You do make a very beautiful couple,” the host says, “don’t you agree, ladies and gentlemen? Maybe this will be the start of something special?”

I squeeze Molly’s waist. I intend for it to be so.

“So, we’d better do this the right way, hadn’t we? Just in case Mr. Turner has any more secret admirers lurking out there.” He chuckles. “Ladies and gentlemen, one date with Mr. Colten Turner for $100,000, going once, going tw–”

“Half a million dollars,” River says lazily from his chair.

The audience falls into a stunned silence. Even the host is lost for words.

He gulps, sliding a handkerchief from his pocket and patting his brow.

“Jeepers creepers, half … half a million dollars has been bid … from …” He peers into the audience, his brows leaping up his forehead in astonishment when he sees who it is. “From Mr. River Caspian.”

And just like that River smashes right through all my best laid plans.

13

Ford

I thought babysittingan omega for a couple of weeks would be child’s play. The easiest thing I’ve done since acing the physical requirements of the entry exam into the military.

Well, it turns out I was wrong.

Very wrong.

Taking down terrorists. Apprehending separatists. Ensuring safe passage of refugees.

Easy.

Keeping watch over this one little omega.

Impossible.

A lot more complicated.

Because I don’t know what the hell is going on here.

This was meant to be a date with the boss. A date the jerk manipulated her into.

But then River Caspian appears out of nowhere, all swagger and attitude. And both men start throwing their money around in some dick-swinging competition.

I watch as River Caspian climbs up onto the stage to huge applause, the head of the charity hurrying up there to wrap him in a hug, tears in her eyes.

It’s utter confusion, the host is engrossed in a hushed conversation with the boss, people are cheering, River is grabbing the microphone. In the confusion, the omega slips from the stage. I wait for her to rejoin the table, but she doesn’t, striding across the ballroom instead. I’m on my feet and chasing after her in a moment. But when I reach the hallway, she’s gone.

Holy crap that woman can move fast.

I make a bee-line for the women’s bathroom, knocking loudly and announcing I’m coming in, before I slam back the door.