Page 8

8

Jake

“Ladies and gentlemen, Jake Ice – 25, 6’2”, captain of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Badgers, occasional rancher, and full-time menace. Has a slapshot clocked faster than a Prius on the freeway. Currently holds the unofficial record for Most Flirted with During Physical Therapy , according to his doctor. Has never met a stray dog he didn’t want to adopt or a broken fence he couldn’t fix. If you win him, he promises to demonstrate his world-famous pancake-flipping technique, teach you how to pronounce Worcestershire sauce without crying, and make you laugh at least twice—guaranteed or your money back.”

I stroll onto the stage, smirking at the whistles and cheers. I tip my chin at the crowd, arms crossed. Yeah, I know what I look like. Tall, built, cocky as hell. And the women eat it up.

“Let’s start the bidding at fifty dollars!” the emcee calls.

“Seventy-five!” someone shouts.

“Eighty!”

Layla, right on cue, lifts her hand. “One hundred.”

I keep my expression neutral, but my gaze flicks toward Piper. She’s near the front, arms crossed, watching with the same energy as a cat forced into a bathtub.

Oh, sweetheart, you’re about to have a real bad night.

More bids fly in. One-twenty. One-fifty. Layla fires back with two hundred.

The emcee whistles. “Two hundred for a date with Jake Ice! Do I hear two-fifty?”

Piper exhales sharply, shifting on her feet. Madison nudges her, whispering something. Then, with a scowl, Piper raises her hand. “Two-fifty.”

I bite back a grin. That’s my girl.

Layla counters. “Three hundred.”

A few people gasp. The crowd loves it.

Piper glares at Layla, muttering something under her breath. Then, with clear irritation, she snaps, “Three-fifty.”

Layla doesn’t hesitate. “Four hundred.”

Piper’s jaw clenches. “Four-fifty.”

The tension in the crowd is palpable now.

Layla, barely containing her amusement, shrugs. “Five hundred.”

Piper’s face is priceless . She whips toward Madison, looking like she wants to commit a crime. But she inhales, steels her spine, and throws out, “Six hundred.”

The crowd loses it. People are laughing, clapping, eating up every second.

Layla hums, pretending to think. “Six-fifty.”

I can feel the murderous rage rolling off Piper. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes burning. But she won’t back down.

“Seven hundred,” she grits out.

Layla: “Seven-fifty.”

Piper closes her eyes like she’s summoning every ounce of willpower to not throw a punch. Finally, she shouts, “One thousand!”

The crowd erupts .

Layla throws up her hands. “Well, I can’t top that.”

“Sold!” the emcee bellows. “For one thousand dollars, Piper Reed has won a date with Jake Ice!”

Applause. Whistles. Laughter.

And Piper? She looks like she’s about to detonate .

As soon as I step off the stage, Piper storms over, gripping her ticket like it’s a death warrant.

“You asshole ,” she hisses.

I chuckle, leaning in. “You just paid a grand for me, sweetheart. I think that makes you my biggest fan. ”

She glares, gripping the front of my shirt like she wants to shake me, practically saying I’m going to find a way to make you suffer for this.

I smirk, lowering my voice. “Oh, Piper. You have no idea what kind of suffering I’m capable of. ”

Before she can fire back, someone in the crowd yells, “Kiss her!”

Another voice chimes in. “Give the lady what she paid for!”

The crowd starts chanting. “KISS! KISS! KISS!”

Piper’s eyes go wide. “Oh, hell no .”

I shrug. “It’s for charity.”

She opens her mouth to protest, but I don’t give her the chance. I step in, slide my hand to the small of her back, and tug her flush against me. Her breath stutters. One heartbeat of tension. Two.

Then I tilt her chin up and claim her mouth.

Not a peck. Not a show.

A kiss.

Hot. Deep. Full of every bit of trouble I’ve been aching to give her.

She gasps, lips parting, and I take the invitation. My tongue slides against hers—slow, teasing, in no rush to retreat. Her fingers fist my shirt, anchoring herself as the kiss turns darker, messier. Her body melts into mine. Her curves press against me like she belongs there. And for one reckless second, I let myself believe she does.

Cheers erupt. Someone wolf-whistles. Someone else howls.

But I don’t hear them.

Not over the rush of blood in my ears. Not over the soft, wrecked sound she makes when her body molds to mine like it was built for this.

I don’t pull back. Not yet.

Not until her soft whimper hits the space between us like a firework in July.

She trembles against my mouth, her body stiff for a half-second—then melts. Her hands clutch at my shirt. I take my time, teasing, deepening, letting her feel every ounce of control she just lost.

And just as suddenly, I pull back, smirking down at her.

The crowd goes nuts .

Piper? She’s wrecked—eyes dazed, lips kiss-swollen, chest heaving like she’s just been hit by a truck.

A very, very sexy truck.

I lean down, murmuring against her ear. “See you soon, sweetheart.”

Then I step away, leaving her standing there, looking like she just got spun in circles and hasn’t found her footing yet.

I stroll away from the auction stage, feeling like a king who just conquered new territory. Piper’s still standing there, touching her lips like they betrayed her. Damn, that was satisfying. If she thought she could toy with me, she just learned that I play for keeps.

Ethan catches up first, shaking his head with a wide grin. “That was brutal , man.”

I crack my knuckles, relishing the memory of Piper’s stunned expression. “Oh, it’s just getting started.”

Layla joins us, laughing. “You really didn’t have to kiss her like that.”

“Didn’t I?” I raise an eyebrow. “Crowd demanded it. Would’ve been rude to deny them.”

Ethan crosses his arms. “Dude. You devoured her.”

I smirk. “Had to make sure she felt what she paid for.”

Layla whistles. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Damn right, I am.” I stretch my arms overhead, rolling my shoulders. “Piper thinks she’s in control, that she’s playing me . But by the end of this, she won’t know which way is up.”

Ethan rubs his chin like he’s considering something. “So, what’s next? You gonna make her really fall for you?”

I shrug, but my smirk stays firmly in place. “Oh, she’ll fall. Whether she wants to or not.”

Layla snorts. “You’re so cocky it’s almost painful.”

I take a swig of water from a nearby cooler. “It’s not cocky if it’s true.”

Ethan groans. “I can’t listen to this. I’m out.”

Layla pats me on the shoulder. “Good luck, Romeo.”

As they walk off, I let my gaze drift back toward Piper. She’s still fuming, but there’s something else in her eyes now—something I can use.

Oh yeah. She’s hooked.

Now, I just have to reel her in.

I take a slow walk toward the back of the festival grounds, where the noise dies down a little. A familiar figure leans against a fence post, arms crossed, watching the festivities with a half-smile.

“Figured you’d be lurking,” I say, stepping beside him.

My older brother Blake gives me a once-over. “Saw what happened up there. So, uh… what the hell was that? ”

I chuckle. “That, big bro, was a masterpiece.”

Blake squints at me. “I saw your buddy’s girlfriend fueling that bidding war.”

I raise an eyebrow, playing dumb. “Which buddy?”

“Ethan, dumbass. His girl Layla was in the front row going toe-to-toe with Piper like it was an eBay bloodbath. Your buddy’s girlfriend, dude?” He crosses his arms. “Kind of obvious.”

I shrug, not confirming.

Blake huffs. “I suspect you were behind it.” He shakes his head, sighing. “You really just made her pay a grand for you?”

I smirk. “Charity, man. It’s all for the kids.”

He lets out a low whistle. “Damn. You are ruthless .”

I lean against the fence, stretching out my legs. “She started it.”

“Did she, though?” Blake gives me a skeptical look. “Or did you just decide to play dirty the second you realized she was interested?”

I shrug, taking a moment before answering. “She’s not interested. She’s fighting it. That’s the fun part.”

Blake laughs, shaking his head. “You’re a menace.”

“Said so right in my bio,” I smirk. “No one can say they weren’t warned.”

We stand in silence for a moment, watching the firelight flicker over the festival crowd. The smell of grilled food and bonfire smoke lingers in the air.

Blake finally sighs. “So, what’s your angle? You gonna string her along, mess with her, and then walk away?”

I frown. “You think I’m that much of a dick?”

Blake arches an eyebrow. “You’re asking the wrong guy, brother.”

That gets a laugh out of me.

I glance back at Piper, who’s now talking to Madison, arms still crossed like she’s debating whether to throw herself into the bonfire. I exhale. “I don’t know what I want from her yet. But I know one thing—she’s not walking away from this thinking she won.”

Blake studies me for a beat. “You sure you’re not the one losing here?”

I scoff. “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”

Blake smirks. “That’s what they all say before they get their asses handed to them.”

I roll my eyes. “If I start acting the fool, slap some sense into me.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Blake chuckles. “I live to roast you.”

I push off the fence, shaking my head. “I’ll be fine.”

“Uh-huh.” He takes a sip from his beer. “Try not to… do anything stupid, okay?”

I snort. “Not happening.”

Blake smirks. “Famous last words.”

I make my way back toward the festival crowd, my mind already working through my next move. Piper thinks she’s won just because she technically outbid Layla. She has no idea that I wanted this, that I made her want it.

I find her again, still standing near Madison, looking all kinds of conflicted. She’s flustered. Rattled. Trying to act like that kiss didn’t shake her down to her damn bones.

Perfect.

I step into her space, lowering my voice so only she can hear. “Better clear your schedule, sweetheart. You and I have a date to plan.”

She stiffens. “I don’t date hockey players.”

I smirk. “That’s a shame. Because you just bought one.”

She opens her mouth, but I don’t let her get a word out. Instead, I lean in, just close enough for her to feel the heat between us.

“You paid a thousand bucks for me, Piper,” I murmur. “Might as well make it worth it.”

Her breath hitches, and for the briefest moment, I see it—that flicker of something behind her anger.

Attraction.

Interest.

Need.

I grin. “See you soon.”

Then I walk away, already planning every way I’m going to make her really fall for me.

This is going to be fun.