Bachelor Auction Read Free Page A

attraction to her, to finally have her
    and be done with her. But she’d made it clear she
    wasn’t offering it to him .
    Until that night in the mayor’s garden.
    Granted, he’d essentially caught her by surprise.
    By the same token, her strong and instantaneous
    reaction had surprised him. It had also been enough
    to convince him she wanted nothing more than sex.
    And he had admitted years ago, at least to himself,
    he wanted more than that from Charlotte.
    For Marcus it was all or nothing.

    ****
Charlotte’s smile slipped as Marcus turned
    away to join his brother. What was she thinking,
    smiling at him that way? She had all but invited his
    approach. Thank God, he’d remained true to form
    and reacted exactly as she’d intended when she
    selected this outfit. One sure to draw male attention
    and an ardent group of admirers that would keep
    Marcus Preston away.
    So why was she disappointed?
    She had no right to be when she had purchased
    the gold pantsuit knowing Marcus would be here. In
    fact, she did a lot of things with Marcus in mind.
    More than half her reputation was based on
    moments when she clung to or flirted with the
    nearest available man for the sole purpose of
    keeping him at a safe distance.
    From the moment Chad introduced them,
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    Bachelor Auction

    Charlotte had known Marcus was different. The way
    his deep green eyes assessed her, certainly
    physically, but also with an astute sense of
    awareness. As if he knew the happy-go-lucky
    persona she’d perfected over the years hid a
    vulnerability she tried to deny. Frightening her
    more than his insight was her own reaction to him,
    because she knew instinctively Marcus was the type
    who wanted more than she was willing to give.
    She had sworn at an early age she wouldn’t end
    up like her mother, loving a man who didn’t return
    her affection and drinking her life away while he
    flaunted one mistress after another. Though Marcus
    sometimes looked at her with something other than
    lust, he was just a man. A man who, like every
    other, would grow bored and look elsewhere for
    entertainment once the challenge of taming a
    woman was met, once she’d fallen in love and
    became dependent on him.
    An occasional one-night stand. That’s all she
    needed. It took the edge off her constant loneliness
    as well as promoted her bad-girl image. An image
    that kept the commitment-seeking men—those she
    avoided at all costs—at bay.
    Yet, while her self-imposed reputation had thus
    far put Marcus off, it hadn’t stopped the longing she
    felt whenever he came near.
    Charlotte shook off the depressing thoughts and
    turned a bright smile on the young man beside her.
    He couldn’t have been more than seventeen, making
    her feel ancient at twenty-five. “Well, you’ve been
    very entertaining, but I really need to check on the
    auction proceedings.”
    Blowing a kiss to the group in general, she
    dismissed their long faces and strolled casually in
    Melody’s direction. If only she could so easily dismiss
    the one face that stayed on her mind more often
    than not.
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    Darah Lace

    She tried to tell herself she wasn’t keeping tabs
    on him. It was simply that Chad and Mitch’s arrival
    had signaled their family meeting over and the
    straw drawn. And by their relaxed expressions, it
    was clear they had dodged the bullet and Marcus
    would be the one up for grabs. She’d felt a moment of
    pity for him. Marcus was much too serious to let
    himself enjoy an opportunity like this. He would
    hate it. He would do it, but he’d hate it.
    Then Melody and Spencer had appeared, and
    she knew Marcus wouldn’t be far behind. She steeled
    herself for his entrance. Even so she hadn’t been
    prepared for the sight of him in a black tux that
    accentuated a sleek, muscular frame and dark good
    looks. The man was absolutely delicious.
    And just like chocolate. Off limits.
    A hard pinch on her butt cheek sent Charlotte
    into a near collision with one of the couples on