“Yes, come on.” He stood impatiently between the table and Luke. “The mayor is waiting for you.”
Luke started to follow us and Jake spun around. “Thank you, Mr. Canton. I can take it from here.”
But Luke wasn’t the kind of man Jake could push around. I recognized that about him quickly.
“I’ve put in quite a few bids. So I’d like to hear Miss Wilde tell me if I’m the night’s big winner.” His eyes traced my lips and I felt them part slightly in response to his heavy stare.
“Oh, well I didn’t realize that,” Jake stammered. Luke had him almost as flustered as he had me.
It was impossible to ignore the effect he had on people. His frame was imposing. His eyes a shocking green. And his body was like a Greek god. The killer smile didn’t hurt either. Standing next to him I didn’t care if he was the Pied Piper leading me down the wrong trail. I only knew I wanted to know what was at the end of that road.
“I’ll join the other donors. Excuse me.”
I watched him walk out of the room as if he owned the entire hospital. He was brash. He was confident. He was hot as hell. And holy shit, I wanted to spend the night with him.
“Jake?”
“Hmm?” He was practically sliding me across the polished floors to get me to the stage.
“Would you be okay if I donated something to the auction? Something last minute the donors could bid on live?”
“Sure, babe. I think it’s a great idea.” He was clearly preoccupied trying to get me up on stage as quickly as possible. He released my hand at the base of the stairs.
I pecked him on the check before I took the steps. “Thank you.” I smiled. “It’s really going to bring in a lot of money for the children. And I think the fans will love it.”
“Sounds good.” He nodded. “A signed guitar? Some of your Alexan boots? Backstage passes for the Christmas show?”
I anchored my foot to the stair and looked at the mayor, then turned over my shoulder to answer Jake. “I was thinking of auctioning off a private concert.” I jogged the rest of the way to the applause of the crowd, leaving Jake with his jaw hanging open.
I looked out into the crowd, squinting through the bright lights. But now that I knew what I was searching for he was easy to spot. There on the sideline was Luke Canton and I hoped like hell he was here to play ball.
7
Luke
I tugged at my neck. The collar on the tuxedo hadn’t gotten any looser as the night wore on, and I had been here longer than I intended. I hadn’t expect to stay for the entire concert, or wait in line for an autograph. And I sure as hell hadn’t planned on sticking around for a country girl to make a fundraising speech, but here I was, doing everything Luke Canton didn’t do.
It wasn’t as if I hadn’t been around my share of beautiful women, because I’d spent time with more than would fill a swimsuit catalog. Lexi Wilde was beautiful, but there was something else about her that got under my skin. That innocent act of hers. That sweeter than honey voice. The way she made everyone around her feel as if they mattered more to her than anything else in the world.
The cynical side of me told me that it was just that—an act. But I couldn’t ignore the curiosity she sparked. I didn’t usually go for the good girl.
I leaned against the wall, watching as she read off the auction items the mayor handed to her. She seemed happy on stage. It fit her. She was a natural performer. The purity in those baby blue eyes almost made me forget what kind of man I was. I wondered if she had that affect on all men.
Did they look at her and think they had a chance? Did they think she was so sweet she could forgive their darkest secrets? Did they hear her voice and feel it? Feel the strength she had to let a man forgive himself? For one night, for one show did they feel like they actually deserved to be with a woman as good as Lexi Wilde?
“All right ladies and gentlemen, I have the winner of the two pedigree horses,” Lexi announced. There was a bright smile on her face as she swept her hair off her shoulders.
I remembered the sassy sex kitten with the V-cut dress and wondered if she were still here in the crowd. I had thrown her number in the trash.
“Can I get a drum roll?” She paused. “And the highest bidder is Mr. Luke Canton.” The spotlight swung in my direction and the
crowd clapped. I squinted under the lights and threw a wave to the donors. What was I going to do with horses? I guessed I finally had a use for the empty stables at the ranch.
Lexi seemed pleased I had won. I waited while she ran through the list of other items. The crowd was dwindling and I thought about sneaking out the back. What was holding me here? I needed to leave. I needed to forget that for a few songs this girl had hypnotized me like a siren. I walked toward the table to make my payment for the horses and work out the details on their delivery.
Then Lexi cleared her throat and asked the drummer to give her a beat. “Austin, you have been so generous tonight. And what you’ve done for these children—well, really there aren’t words to express what it means to their families. You’ve touched lives. This money is going to make a difference.” She paused. “But I think we can do even better.” She eyed the crowd, smiling widely. “I want this to be the best auction event this side of the Rio Grade. What do you say?”
The crowd clapped, but they looked at each other trying to figure out what she meant. It was late and most of them had emptied their pockets.