Indulgence (195 page)

“Well, don’t keep us waiting in suspense, Cassidy, introduce
us!” Mrs. Whitford was eyeing my brother like he was prime rib.

I chuckled and introduced Mrs. Whitford and Cal to each
other.

“Are you single, Calvin? Janey here could use a hunk like
you in her life.”

Calvin laughed nervously and responded ‘yes’ as Jane scolded
her mother and apologized to Calvin for her mother’s rude behavior. I noticed
Cal wink at Jane as I spotted Lena rushing to me.

She had panic written all over her face as she pulled me
aside, “Cassidy, we’re down a bachelor. Cecily is going on and on about how
there must be ten, there are always ten!”

I stood there for a moment, racking my brain for a solution.
Cal came over and asked me if everything was alright. “Yes, Cal. Everything is
perfect. I need you to come with me.” I winked at Lena as I pulled Cal away
from Jane and we headed toward Cecily.

~ JAMES ~

“Aunt Bev, you’re sure you got this?”

“Don’t patronize me, child. My handiwork is well evident.
Ask half the couples in this room and they’ll agree that I played a part,” she
chastised me, hitting me across the chest with her auction program.

“Don’t exaggerate. It doesn’t suit you.” She looked like she
might strike again and I quickly made my exit after kissing her cheek just as
Cassidy spotted me. The MC came overhead and requested that the bachelors make
their way backstage; the bachelor auction would begin in five minutes. I threw
Cassidy a smile and made my exit.

~ CASSIDY ~

I was scanning the room looking for him
.
He had been
eye fucking me all night in his usual fashion, but had yet to approach me. His
hair was down and I was itching to run my fingers through it. We were not
seated at the same table for dinner and honestly, I was frustrated because I
didn’t get to enjoy dinner at all; I was too busy putting out fires.

There he was, chatting with Mrs. Whitford again, and the
minute he saw that I was heading his was he ran off.
Chicken-shit!
What
the hell was he playing at? The rest of the men in the room took their leave as
well. It was a long standing tradition that the married couples, or at least
the married men, left at this point in the evening. I would have to wait until
after to catch up with him.

As I made my way to Mrs. Whitford she smiled brightly and
said, “Cassidy, just who I was looking for. Please join me and Jane so we can
enjoy the bachelors.”

Before I could even respond, she was dragging me toward the
stage and Jane was just smiling sweetly. We were in the second row of tables,
center stage. I tried to get Jane’s attention but she was busy talking to
another woman.

“Mrs. Whitford, how do you know James?”

“James? Such a lovely man. You fancy him? The feeling is
mutual, take my word.” The woman wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise and she
was avoiding the real question. She knew more than she was letting on and it
was making me crazy.

“Cassidy, I’m so excited. I can’t believe you’re throwing Cal
to the wolves! Do you know who the other bachelors are? Cecily wouldn’t tell
me! This is going to be great!” Lena was overjoyed and took the seat next to
me.

You could feel the estrogen clogging the air. Lena knew as
much about the bachelors up for auction as I did. The MC—a local news
reporter—had made her announcement that the bachelor auction was ready to
begin.

The lights got turned down and spotlights hit the stage and
it suddenly sounded like a pack of hyenas had been released into the wild. I
snagged a roll from a bread basket before the wait staff cleared it away and I
started to feel sorry for Cal, just a little.
It’s Raining Men
by The Weather Girls
started playing overhead and I had to admit, I was
bummed that I didn’t have money to bid—James wouldn’t like that very
much—unless of course he was up for bid.

Bachelor

~ JAMES ~

“I’m never going to forgive my sister for this.” Cal was
checking his tie and running his hand through his short hair.

Six bachelors had already been purchased, with number seven
on the stage. Cal was number nine and I was lucky number ten. I think that was
the loudest I remembered the crowd ever being. I felt my cell buzz, alerting me
of a text.

All set ~Aunt B

“Calvin, how are you?” We shook hands.

“Good, man, and you? Cassidy know you’re one of the
bachelors?”

“Not yet. Does Jane know you’re up for grabs?” He shook his
head ‘no’ and we had a few laughs. I assured him that the ladies would be all
over him, especially Jane.

“Cassidy told you about Jane?”

“She did. You should know one more thing.” He looked at me
intently. “Jane and I are cousins. She’s been through a lot in the last year.
Don’t hurt her.”

He scoffed and said he could say the same to me. “Cassidy’s
really done a great job with tonight’s events.” He changed the subject as
bachelor eight was welcomed to the stage.

“Yes. She’s excellent at what she does.” He looked at me as
if he knew I wasn’t just referring to her job.

“Have you told her yet, James? I really think she’ll take it
better than you think she will.”

“Soon.” He nodded and the backstage attendant ran over and
escorted Cal to the side of the stage; he was almost up. I waved to him, “We’ll
catch up later. They’ll love you.”

~ CASSIDY ~

This drama was crazy. Grown women were spending thousands of
dollars fighting over one date.
Save a Horse,
Ride a Cowboy
by Big & Rich
was now playing and I knew I shouldn’t
complain. The more they spent, the more money I raised for the hospital. Cal
was then called to the stage and looked nervous as hell. Lena and I couldn’t
help but giggle and Jane immediately perked up, and she wasn’t the only one.
She looked at me questioningly and I just shrugged my shoulders and winked.
This was going to be interesting. Mrs. Whitford, on the other hand, hadn’t
stopped smiling since the guys started coming on stage.
Horny old bag!

“Please welcome Calvin Charles to the stage. Calvin is 6’3”
likes long rides on his Harley, camping, and enjoying the more natural things
in life. Laid back and easy going, he prefers a night in rather than a night
out. You can tell by how well he wears that suit that he’s a fitness buff. He’s
also an elite member of our police squad and an Army Vet. Ladies let’s hear it
for Cal! Let’s start the bidding at $1000…yes, do I hear $1500, $1750…..”

Lena was squeezing my forearm and I was shocked; Calvin was
a natural. He removed his jacket, threw it over his shoulder and started
strutting across the stage.
Oh dear Lord
. He removed his tie and then
threw it at me. I was humiliated, a little disgusted and laughing my ass off at
the same time.

I mouthed at him to ‘stop’. He shook his head and started
unbuttoning his shirt and his bid jumped even higher.

“$3000!”

I looked over to see who had jumped the bid and it was Jane!
She was in a battle with some cougar in the back. I looked back and forth
between her, Cal and Jane and Cal was eating it up. The bid was currently
Jane’s and she had him for $3750.

“Once, twice, sold! Congrats to the lovely lady in red! I
believe the lucky lady is Miss Jane Whitford. Congrats to Jane and welcome
home.”

Mrs. Whitford was ecstatic as Jane rolled her eyes at her
mom. She won him just in time to save my eyes; his shirt was unbuttoned and he
was in the process of removing it. Jane walked to the side of the stage and Cal
descended as he took her hand and they walked to the back of the ballroom.
Go
Cal!

“Now for the top prize of the night. Get out your credit
cards, ladies. Back by popular demand, ladies, he’s finally returned to us. The
one, the only, Jackson James Benedict III, better known as JB3!”

What the FUCK?
No wonder he was avoiding me all
evening. My heart immediately sank and I was pissed off as the cheers and
whistles became ear piercing, a reminder of his popularity with the ladies. I
looked back to the stage and saw James walking out.

“Fucking hell!”
Lena and I said it at the same time.
I was glaring at him and he had the nerve to smile at me.

“Cassidy...”

“Lena, I love you, but shut up!”

Jackson James Benedict III, lady-killer, playboy
extraordinaire, JB3 and my lover. What had I gotten myself into?

“6’4.5” former West Point Academy star football player. He
enjoys concerts, rides through the country and traveling to exotic lands. Are
there any exotic ladies in the house?” The MC was clearly a fan and continued
taking liberties. The list went on and on, though she forgot one; he was an
incredible fuck. I chastised myself for my thoughts, discovering he was built
like a football player because he
was
one, though I missed where he went
to school. This couldn’t be happening. He was eye-fucking me in front of
everyone causing me to blush in response as the bidding began at $5000. There
was no way…

“$5000!”

It came screeching from behind and reached $10,000 in
seconds.
These bitches were out of their minds.
$10,000 for one date?
Before I was even aware of what was happening, Mrs. Whitford joined in on the
bidding. He was still eye-fucking me. What the hell was going on? Did he expect
me to do something? I’m broke. I was so muddled I felt my head begin to ache
and noticed Lena’s mouth was hanging open in disbelief.

“$25,000!”

“$30,000!”

“$35,000!”

Soon the bid was at $50,000 and it was down to some waif of
a brunette side stage, some lady in back and Mrs. Whitford. The brunette was
glaring at me and I pointed to Mrs. Whitford.

“$50,000!” The MC had ceased speaking as numbers were being
thrown out without hesitation.

The brunette yelled, “$60,000.”

The room dropped to a quiet hum and the MC chimed in about
making history, and JB3 beating his previous bids. James looked away from me
for a split second, nodded at Mrs. Whitford who was sitting right next to me.

“$100,000!” Dead silence.

I swear I saw James’s eyes bulge for a millisecond. Everyone
was staring between Mrs. Whitford and the brunette and I looked back at James.

The MC asked Mrs. Whitford if she was sure and she yelled
back, “I made the bid didn’t I?” A light chuckle broke through the room.

“Going once…” Everyone was staring at the brunette now.

“Going twice…” The brunette threw her hands up in disgust.

“Sold for $100,000 to Mrs. Whitford. I hope you’re not
spending $100,000 just to spend time with your own nephew!”

Nephew?!
Mrs. Whitford yanked me to my feet and
hollered, “He’s not for me, and she’s the lucky lady!”

OH. MY. GOD.

It dawned on me then that they were cohorts. I looked to the
brunette who was glaring at me like I just pissed all over her cookies. The MC
concluded the auction and asked the bachelors and their winning bidders to head
to the dance floor. My head was still spinning as James made his way over to
the three of us. Giving Mrs. Whitford—
HIS AUNT
—a kiss on the cheek, he
thanked her before looking at me.

She returned the kiss, “Anytime, James.”

Lena’s poor jaw was going to be aching if she didn’t pick it
up off the floor. James took my hand and escorted me to the dance floor as
words finally made their long anticipated appearance on my lips.

“When were you going to tell me that you’re Mrs. Whitford’s
nephew?” He merely chuckled and took us to the center of the dance floor.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me tight against him with his
other hand on the naked flesh of my back. I did my best to hide the shiver than
ran straight to the apex of thighs. I started to speak when I met his eyes, and
instantly his lips were on mine and my entire body melted into his.

The kiss was over far too soon and he whispered, “You look
amazing in that dress, but I can’t wait to get you out of it.”

The music finally began,
Wild
Horses
by The Sundays
, and he took the lead and started moving us
slowly to the beat. I was dazed and moved along to the command of his body,
noticing the lights were still so low that I could barely make out the faces of
those around me. It was the perfect setting for seduction and the song was
fitting. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away from him.

I gently placed my cheek against his shoulder and indulged
my senses. James smelled how I thought a man should; all sex and power and
fresh laundry with a little musk. I was still trying to put all the pieces
together. That meant Jane was his cousin.
How had I missed that?
I
wondered if Cal knew, but I was captivated by the song and sighed in
resignation. Closing my eyes, I let James and the song carry me away, losing
track of time and space while floating in his arms.

Suddenly aware of all the people staring at us, I looked
around and realized the song had long ended and we were still in our embrace.
“James, please.” My voice was barely above a whisper as my eyes plead with him
to let me go. He released me as I looked for the nearest exit, uncomfortable
with all the prying eyes.

Spotting the exit to the gardens, I started to head that
way, knowing some fresh air would help, but I never made it outside. I was
bombarded by inquiries—some genuine and some about James and I—before Cecily
found me and hugged me. She had never hugged me before.

“Amazing work, my girl. Well done! Take Monday off and enjoy
your birthday weekend. You deserve it.”

I thanked her as I was shocked by her generosity. She walked
away with a gentleman I didn’t recognize as I looked for James again, but
didn’t see him.