Page 93 of Whispers and Wildfire
“Bring it, honey,” I muttered. “I’ll do this all night.”
“Just know this is coming out of your inheritance,” Mom said.
“That’s fair.”
Jenna and I went back and forth, bid for bid, at least half a dozen times. How did she have so much money? Maybe she was doing what I was doing—bidding with someone else’s bank account.
At first, my hand flew up as soon as the auctioneer acknowledged her bid. But after a while, I decided I needed to slow this down. Jenna bid, and I waited, pretending like I had to think about it. The auctioneer was good. He coaxed and cajoled, encouraging me to raise my paddle again.
I did and the crowd cheered. Jenna did the same, hesitating, like she needed to think about it. When the auctioneer was about to declare me the winner, she raised her paddle again to more applause from the other guests.
My eyes flicked to Luke. He stood with his hands resting on his hips, a slight grin on his face, his gaze on me. I could see the challenge in his face. The dare.
There was no way I was losing.
Without looking at Jenna, I lifted my paddle again. Luke’s expression didn’t change. Apparently Jenna bid, but I ignored her. Just kept my eyes on Luke and listened to the cues from the auctioneer.
The crowd cheered encouragement, egging us on to bid more money. Every time I lifted my paddle, my whole table erupted with shouts. Even Nathan had joined us, and he clapped and whistled along with the rest of them.
Turning to me, the auctioneer asked if I wanted to bid again. I waited a few seconds, then raised my paddle. He turned to Jenna. She hesitated.
My heart thumped hard, and my stomach tingled with excitement. Luke’s eyes weren’t on the auctioneer or on Jenna. They were on me, his gaze intense. I waited for Jenna to bid again. For the auctioneer to point at me, asking for an even higher number.
Jenna didn’t. From the corner of my eye, I could see her shake her head and set her paddle on the table.
With a dramatic gesture, the auctioneer pointed at me. “Sold, to bidder 131.”
The room erupted with cheers and applause. Louise stood, clapping vigorously while her husband whistled.
Laughing, I stood and bowed, then waved to the crowd. When I took my seat again, I glanced up at Luke. He shook his head a little with that same subtle grin, then walked off stage.
“Well, that was exciting,” Mom said.
I brushed my hair back from my face. “It’s possible I got a little carried away.”
Sharla raised her eyebrows and gave me a knowing smile.
“Hush, you.” I pointed at her. “It’s for a good cause. I don’t want to hear it.”
“I wasn’t going to say a word.”
Nathan shook his head. “I don’t even want to know.”
Louise clasped her hands to her chest as she sat back down. “That was thrilling. Absolutely thrilling. I knew you’d get him in the end.” She winked at me again.
I let out a slow breath. What on earth had I just done? Outbid the girl Luke was probably dating for an evening with him? It was arguably the stupidest thing I’d ever done in my life.
Actually, no. I’d done much stupider things.
But still. I was already seized with pangs of regret. What were we going to do? Did I actually have to spend an evening with him? Did I want to?
And there was the problem. I did want to. And I shouldn’t.
It was such a disaster.
Mom nudged me and nodded toward the stage. The auction continued, but I hadn’t seen who was next.
Hank. Of course it was Hank.
