Kilty Pleasure (21 page)

The pub was packed. Wall to wall women. Chatting, giggling and dressed to the nines like they were at a male strip club instead of a Scottish pub.

“Why am I here again?” Muttering the question half to herself, Hailey really didn’t expect a response.

But Sarah, who sat across the table from her, had obviously heard. “So you can enjoy this glorious horse-and-pony show with me.”

“And me.” Kenzie lifted her beer in a toast. “Nothing quite like seeing women lose their shit over a bunch of middle class men up for auction.”

Hailey laughed and leaned back in the booth they’d managed to snag. It was so good to have these two back in her life.

Sarah glanced over at Kenzie. “I’m surprised you aren’t working tonight.”

“I switched shifts with Delonna. She could use the extra cash that this evening will bring in.”

“It does look as if things could get out of control,” Hailey agreed, again glancing around the pub.

A couple college-aged girls walked by their table and snippets of their conversation were easily picked up.

“I’m totally blowing my money on Aleck McLaughlin. That guy is superhot.”

“Superold too. He’s like thirty-three. I want that pretty bodybuilder who volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club.”

Hailey snuck a glance at Kenzie and couldn’t help but smile at the look of disgust on her face.

“What’s it like having your brothers be so sought after?”

“Any other day.” Kenzie snorted. “Only, during the auction women actually put their money where their mouth is.”

“What’s this? Am I being discussed?”

Hailey recognized the voice before he stepped into her line of vision. Colin’s gaze swept to hers and a small smile played around his mouth.

Her heart started pounding and her mouth went dry, but she tried her best to return what she hoped was a polite, inconspicuous smile.

“More Aleck than you,” Kenzie replied. “But don’t you look smashing in your kilt.”

His grin widened. “Aye, I do, don’t I? And most of the women seem to agree.”

Kenzie rolled her eyes. “Barf.”

His gaze slid to Hailey again and lingered. “Are you going to bid on a bachelor tonight, Hailey?”

She pursed her lips and arched a brow. “Hmm. So tempting, but no.”

“Ah, well, if you change your mind…”

Seriously? Panic rose in her throat. Was he trying to completely out the fact that they’d been screwing like bunnies?

“Aleck makes a mean chicken curry,” he continued, “and he could probably wash all those high windows in your house that you can’t reach.”

Everyone laughed and Hailey shot him a warning look. That had been too close. Fortunately, no one had picked up on—

“Wait. How would you know if she has high windows?” Kenzie asked, her laughter fading. “Have you been to her house?”

“Just a presumption. After all, Hailey and Sarah both are in the vertically challenged club.” He deflected the question easily, but Hailey noticed his smile wasn’t as easygoing.

He’d screwed up and he knew it.

Luckily, Sarah rose easily to the teasing jab at her height, promising him she’d find the foulest woman to bid on him.

“I should probably get ready in the back.” He winked and then started to turn away again. “You ladies behave yourselves tonight.”

When he disappeared, the conversation lulled, and Hailey gripped her water, trying to appear relaxed.

“Well that was weird,” Kenzie murmured. “Colin was nice to you tonight.”

Sarah nodded. “Yeah, I noticed that too. He was being kind of a jerk to you for a while there. Did you guys talk it out?”

“Yeah.” Hailey jumped on it. “We talked it out. Made peace with each other, so to speak.”

Made peace. Made love. It was all the same, right?

For a moment, the inclination to confide in them hit hard, but she couldn’t. If they ever got serious, then, yeah, she’d have to bring their relationship out of the closet.

Got serious?
What was she thinking?

She was thinking about the other night, that’s what. When Colin had teased her about getting serious. For a moment she’d been tempted to say, “Let’s give it a try.” The idea was still playing around in her head, actually.

The fear stopped her. Trusting someone that much. Getting hurt again. And, of course, the ever-present dread that Curt would flip his lid if he found out she had a new boyfriend.

“Mind if I join you girls?”

Hailey glanced up as another woman sat down.

“Not at all. Taking a break?” Kenzie asked.

“Hell yeah, while I still can. It’s going to get crazy in here.”

“Hailey, this is Delonna. She’s one of our bartenders,” Kenzie explained. “Delonna, this is Hailey. We all went to school together.”

“Nice to meet you.” Hailey gave a friendly smile and quickly sized up the pretty, young blonde.

Lots of energy. Cute. Busty. Drew plenty of glances from men. Conversation quickly turned to the auction and the crowds it would bring in.

The men—all the McLaughlin brothers and then about five other attractive bachelors on the island—were set to go onstage in the next half hour.

“Slacking off on the job, I see?”

The thickness of the Scottish accent gave away Aleck’s arrival.

Hailey watched as he hip butted Delonna over in the seat so he could sit beside her.

“I’m entitled to breaks.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “And at least I’m working tonight, unlike some who are flaunting their
ass
ets on stage.”

“Mmm. My assets are rather remarkable, I’ve been told.” Aleck grinned at Delonna. “Are you going to bid on me?”

She burst into laughter. “Hardly. I can’t afford you. You don’t pay me nearly close to what you’ll go for, boss boy.”

“Aye? Maybe we can work out a payment plan.”

“Well, you do look damn sexy in that kilt. And I could use some help with my laundry.” She pursed her lips. “But, sadly, I think my boyfriend would get a little pissy. I guess I’ll just have to let some other lucky bitch win you.”

“Boyfriend?” Kenzie queried. “You guys are officially a thing now?”

Delonna shrugged and her smile widened. “Looks like it.”

Hailey kept her attention on Aleck, curious about the exchange between him and Delonna a moment ago.

Sure enough, the area between his brows furrowed and his mouth tightened a bit at her announcement about having a boyfriend.

“Well, I say you bring the fellow by and let us get a feel for him,” he suggested.

“Oh aye,” Kenzie agreed. “Bring him in.”

“Absolutely not. You’ll all have him terrified and running for cover in minutes, I’m sure.”

Aleck smirked. “Ah, we’d never do such a crass thing.”

“Mmm hmm.” Delonna lightly shoved his shoulder. “My break’s over. Move it, boss boy.”

He slid out of the bench and let her pass. Once she was gone Aleck glanced at the stage and winced.

“I suppose I should go join up with the rest of the bachelors.”

“Yeah, you should,” Kenzie murmured.

Aleck paused and met Hailey’s gaze. “Nice to see you in here again, Hailey.”

As he walked away, she felt a flush of embarrassment rush through her. He knew. He hadn’t said a damn word, but there’d been something in his eyes that had her gut instinct kicking in. He knew what was going on with Colin and her.

Shit.

While part of her was mortified, she could also acknowledge the kindness in his remark. The acceptance and olive branch in those few words.

The discussion at the table was light and fun after that. Hailey found herself relaxing and slipping back into an easy rhythm with her friends.

When the auction finally began, all attention turned to the stage. It was actually kind of fun, and not tasteless in the least.

No naked, oiled-up chests or flexing muscles. Just attractive men walking out on stage, their attributes being listed, and then the bids beginning.

When Ian hit the stage, Sarah outbid every woman who tried to win him. Until an elderly lady raised her hand and called out a higher amount.

“Just as I predicted.” Sarah grinned. “She’ll probably have him pulling weeds for the day.”

The rest of the bachelors went just as quickly. Aleck ended up with the pretty college girl who’d earlier declared her intent to win him.

When Colin finally went up on the stage Hailey realized she was holding her breath.

The bidding was frantic and fierce. Almost more so than for any other brother. It was just as he’d cockily told her the other day—he could pretty much have any woman he wanted. The badge, the accent, the McLaughlin name. The women were eating it up tonight.

Hailey balled her hands into fists and clenched her jaw so tightly it began to hurt. There was a pounding in her head. Dammit, but she wanted to stand up and outbid them all.

She couldn’t, though. Wouldn’t. That would be crazy. She couldn’t afford to blow this kind of money on a man she was already sleeping with.

These women would have him for one day. She had him…in her bed. That was it. That was all she wanted, right?

“One thousand dollars!”
a new voice rang out. Steady and with a vibrantly feminine ring to it—unlike the drunken, almost-bawdy cries from the rest of the women.

The bid was significantly higher than any of the other women’s bids, and for a moment there was a stunned silence.

“I don’t fuckin’ believe it,” Kenzie hissed.

“What? What’s going on?” Hailey scanned the crowd to try and figure out who the bidder was.

“Bid on him,” Kenzie demanded.

“Excuse me?”

“Bid on him, Hailey.
Please.
”

Hailey exchanged a quick glance with Sarah, who looked equally puzzled.

“Going once,” the announcer said.

“Hailey.”

“I can’t blow that kind of money on some guy I get to borrow for a day.” She glanced at Colin and the stricken, furious look on his face had her heart stuttering.

He was clearly upset by whoever was bidding. What the hell was going on?

“Going twice.”

“Sarah, will you do it?” Kenzie pleaded.

“Oh, Kenzie, I can’t. It’s over a thousand dollars and we’ve got the wedding. Money is tight right now.”

“Sold to the woman in the corner.”

Holy crap.
Colin appeared as if he might just walk offstage. His jaw visibly clenched and his eyes sparked with fury.

“What just happened?” Hailey demanded. “Who just paid a grand to spend the day with him?”

“That would be Brenda.” Kenzie’s loathing expression matched her brother’s. “His ex-fiancée who jilted him at the altar.”

Chapter Seventeen

What the fuckin’ hell was she doing here?

In the back of the pub, Colin changed into his street clothes and ran a string of curses through his head.

Over a year since he’d spoken to Brenda, now here she was tonight at the pub. Not only showed up, but bought him in an auction. Whatever hellish kind of game she was playing, he wanted no part of it.

Back in his jeans and T-shirt, he made his way to the front of the pub to find the organizer of the auction. Somehow, he’d have to find a way to bow out of this nonsense.

“Colin.”

The voice was all too familiar. Even more so, now that he’d heard it while she bought him.

He turned and faced her, anger gnawing in his belly.

Brenda hadn’t changed a bit. She was still lovely, with her dark-blonde waves falling over her shoulders, and her curvy body tucked into a flirty, pink dress.

She watched him through her lashes, her blue eyes shining with uncertainty.

“I hope you’re not mad at what I just did.”

“Aye, you’re damn right I’m mad,” he ground out. “You have no right to be here. No right to—”

“I know.” She gave a sage nod. Probably the same nod she gave to her second-graders at the elementary school where she taught. “You’re absolutely right. Everything you’re saying. That you’re, no doubt, thinking. But I wanted a chance to talk to you. To apologize.”

“A text would’ve been fine.” He tore his gaze from her. Sought out something else to distract himself.

Across the room he found the table with Sarah, Kenzie and Hailey. They all stared at him and Brenda, their expressions just as unhappy as he felt. Only Hailey didn’t look upset, more just stoic and maybe resigned.

Why the bloody hell hadn’t someone else stepped in to bid on him? Save him from this moment.

Because it was a thousand dollars. He knew the answer and bit back another curse.

“So you promised to pay a grand to spend a day with me.” He flashed her a hard smile. “How selfless of you.”

“It’s not completely selfless. I have my motivation.” She folded her hands in front of her and lowered her gaze to the floor. “All I’m asking for is a couple hours. I don’t even need a whole day. Let’s just have lunch.”