Arson & Ache (Surrender to Them 8)

Okay, they’re getting started. I just need to buy two extremely hot firefighters—I can do this.

Mr. January walked up to the front of the stage and flexed a little bit, which got the attention of the crowd. Someone started the bidding at ten thousand and then the place erupted with multiple people raising their auction paddles. The auctioneer talked so

fast I could barely keep up, and the bids came in pretty quickly until someone bid one hundred thousand dollars. After that, most of the paddles went down and only a few people kept bidding. They appeared to be high rollers, because they started bidding in higher increments and before the last one dropped out, the bid was nearly three hundred thousand. The older woman who won jumped up and ran to give him a hug once the auction was complete. He posed for a couple of photographs with her and then headed backstage while she went to the window to complete her transaction.

Well, if they stopped at three hundred thousand, I should be able to get Mr. February for a million dollars—I still can’t believe I’m going to spend that much money, even if it isn’t mine.

“Okay ladies and gentleman, we’ve got a hot one for you now. You know him as the Valentine’s Day treat—Mr. February!” The auctioneer motioned to the gorgeous firefighter.

“One million dollars!” I jumped to my feet and held up my paddle.

Was I supposed to be that enthusiastic? Why is everyone looking at me?

“Well then—one million dollars from the lovely young lady from Livingston Capital!” The auctioneer smiled and pointed at me.

I looked around the room and I felt my stomach twist into a knot. I wasn’t used to being the center of attention and everyone was turned around in their seat to look in my direction. I waited to see if there was going to be another bid and held my breath when a few people started to murmur. No other paddles went up, so the auctioneer declared me the winner. I looked at Mr. February and smiled, but he didn’t seem to be as enthused about the purchase as I expected. I quickly sat down in my seat and he walked towards the backstage area. I didn’t have to go to the window to complete my transaction since Livingston Capital was sponsoring the event, so I just sat there and waited for Mr. December to walk across the stage.

“You work for Veronica Stone?” The girl next to me looked up from her cell phone and turned her head towards me.

“I do, yes.” I looked at her and nodded.

“Is she as ruthless as people say?” Her eyebrows raised inquisitively.

“I like working at Livingston Capital.” I shrugged and looked back towards the stage.

I’m sure not going to say anything bad about my boss in front of a complete stranger—that’s not a good way to get a promotion.

I watched the rest of the firefighters walk across the stage one-by-one, until it was time for Mr. December to take his spot on the auction block. He looked directly at me as he walked out to the end of the stage and flexed for the crowd. There was no doubt that he was a crowd favorite. I heard comments about his tattoos, his physique, and some of the comments were dirty enough to make my eyes bulge out of my head. People were already on the edge of their seats and ready to bid before the auctioneer even started. I was about to crush all of their hopes and dreams once the auctioneer started taking bids, because I was going to lock him down just as fast as I locked down Mr. February.

“Okay ladies and gentleman. You know him as the Christmas fantasy that could definitely keep you warm—Mr. December!” The auctioneer motioned with his hand and started taking bids.

“One million dollars.” I stood up with a little more confidence than I did when I bid for Mr. February.

“Well—this is unexpected. It looks like Livingston Capital is going to be walking away with two firefighters this year.” The auctioneer smiled.

“One point one.” A voice echoed from the other side of the room.

What? No!

“Ah, it seems that we’re about to have some competition for Mr. December. I’ve got one point one—do I hear one point two million?” The auctioneer, and everyone in the room, looked directly at me.

Well there goes my confidence.

The woman that had bid against me was Olivia Adams. She was the CEO of Sanderson Investments, which just happened to be one of Livingston Capital’s biggest rivals. I was only authorized to bid one million—Ms. Stone didn’t give me permission to spend more than that. I had no idea what to do. My future was on the line. Would Ms. Stone be upset that I waited until the end of the auction to try and get the second guy? Would she hang me out side of her office by my toes because I didn’t win the auction? She hated losing—and losing to Olivia Adams? That would have been a slap in the face. I swallowed hard and raised my paddle, increasing my bid to one point two million dollars. There was a damn good chance I would get fired for going over the budget I was given, but I couldn’t lose the auction to one of our biggest rivals.

“One point three.” Olivia Adams looked at me with a stare so intense it could have melted my soul right out of my body.

Ms. Stone is going to fire me—maybe kill me—maybe both.

“One point four.” I nearly choked on my words as I raised the paddle again.

“Two million dollars.” Olivia Adams raised her paddle and the room went quiet—so quiet that it was an eerie silence.

I can’t bid again—that’s way too much. Oh god. Why is my hand raising?

“Two point—five.” I narrowed my eyes at Olivia Adams and watched as the color drained out of her face.

Did I say two point five million? Oh my god!