Bought by the Boss

“Hi,” I say when I reach her.

She gives me a quick hug. “I’m so happy you called to meet for dinner. I did not want to cook tonight at all, and pasta sounded great.”

“Carbs always sound great.” I laugh, taking my seat across from her. “How was work?”

“Work was work.” Mallory smiles then winks. “Liam, however, is in an exceptionally good mood.”

I imagine the photo I sent him helped with that, though I can’t deny that he always seems to up the ante. I thought I owned him with that picture, but his response—your next orgasm will be mine—sent a ripple of lust through me, making me putty in his damn hands.

Before I can reply, a cute blond waitress stops at our table. “Can I start you off with some drinks, ladies?” she asks.

“We’re actually all set to order,” Mallory says with a sheepish smile.

“Two fettucine Alfredos,” I tell her with a firm nod.

Okay, so we’re totally predictable and always get the fettucine Alfredo, but it’s like sex in your mouth every single time.

“And we’ll also take two glasses of your house chardonnay,” Mallory finishes.

The waitress smiles at us, and it seems she finds our twin-like behavior cute while she gathers up our menus then hurries off to fetch our orders. That’s always been our way, Mallory and I. She’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister. And coming from divorced parents who hate each other—and who I’m not entirely close to either, having left them both back in Louisville—I appreciate how loyal Mallory is to me. I learned a different type of love when I met her.

“So, the time is counting down,” Mallory says, dragging me from my thoughts. “Three days until you climb into Liam’s bed.”

I laugh softly. We never shy away from talking about my lust for Liam. Mallory’s known I’ve wanted him since day one. It’s never been awkward, and I think that’s because Mallory isn’t close to Liam like I am to Jackson. “To be perfectly honest,” I say, reaching for my napkin and placing it on my lap, “I’m less worried about being in his bed than I’m more worried about not wanting to get out of it. What if I find out he’s this amazing guy and not at all what Jackson claims him to be?”

“He is an amazing guy,” she counters. “And why would finding out that he’s a great guy be such a bad thing?”

The waitress returns then with our wine and places our glasses down in front of us. I wait for her to leave before responding, “It’s a bad thing because I don’t want to hurt Jackson. I’m loyal to him, not to Liam. So as hot as Liam is, or even how amazing he is in bed, I can’t let it go beyond this weekend.”

Mallory takes a sip of her wine. “Honestly, I don’t even understand this feud between them. I wish they would just tell us what happened.”

“That’s the frustrating part.” I nod, then take a long sip of my wine, savoring the citrusy hints of the chardonnay. “Jackson’s mood has been horrible all week. He’s barely talked to me. And the only words he has said are work related.” I sigh heavily, hoping he gets over it soon. “The anger they have toward each other is raw. So, if you ask me, I think they are probably just a lot alike, and these two alphas can’t seem to figure out how to be friendly toward each other.”

Mallory nods agreement. “Just be careful okay? I don’t know, I’ve got this bad feeling about it all. Someone is going to get hurt here.”

“Well, it won’t be me.” I glance into the mirror that’s behind Mallory, seeing my hair is sticking up from the wind outside. I settle the unruly strands into place then add, “I get to have this weekend with Liam, and that’s it. I have no idea why Jackson hates Liam so much, but I can’t hurt Jackson. I’m all he’s got.” Because as much as I don’t have a family life, neither does Jackson.

“That’s why you’re such a good friend,” Mallory comments, giving her sweet smile. “I’m sure Jackson knows that. He’ll get past this and realize he’s being silly, and that you did this for a good cause.”

Part of me wants to believe her. The other part of me knows that I did this so that I could be with Liam for a weekend. I knew the second he saw my name on the charity auction’s list, he wouldn’t stop betting until he won the weekend with me. I did feel bad about that, a little. Though I’m also thinking of me. I need to kill this lust for Liam, and kill it quickly. I’ve been without a steady boyfriend for

three years, and I know that’s because no one compares to Liam.

To get the focus off me for a little while, I ask her, “What about your date? Any word on who bought you?” Mallory went onstage three people after me. The bidder had won her through a telephone bid of fifty thousand dollars.

Mallory half-shrugs. “The only thing I know is that we had to change our date from this weekend to start on Tuesday morning and end on Thursday instead.”

“Why?”

“Scheduling conflict or something.” She fiddles with the edge of the napkin on the table. “Anyway, Liam didn’t mind that I took a couple days off during the week, so that was that.”

I ponder. “You still don’t know who the man is that placed the bet?”

“Nope, and it’s beyond creepy. I mean, I really hope I’m not dealing with some sick serial killer who likes blondes.”

I laugh; my girl is always dramatic. “His name will be recorded with the event organizer so I think you’re probably safe.”

“That’s true,” she says with obvious relief. Apparently, she hadn’t considered that. “Regardless,” she adds with a firm voice, “keep your phone on this weekend. I’ll text you as soon as I know who he is so that you have his name and his details in case I go missing.”