Michelle Windsor and I have been known to have each other’s characters make cameos in our books. We had so much fun doing that, that we have collaborated and are bringing you an EPIC Auction series/Kingsley series Cross-over Featuring Benjamin Sapphire from the Auction series and Jill Baldwin from the Kingsley series. You all have seen the cover (Featuring the very gorgeous Stuart Reardon) and now I am going to tease you with a little sneak peek!

CHAPTER ONE

I shove two fingers between my collar and neck and tug hard as I stride through the revolving door of our newest hotel. This damn tie is strangling me. It’s bad enough I have to make an appearance at these events, but my brother Drew’s insistence that I wear a suit and tie is pure torture for me and he knows it. Fuck it. I grasp the knot of the tie, loosening it, and then yank the noose-like silk over my head and shove the offending article in my jacket pocket. I unbutton the top two buttons of my shirt as well, letting out a sigh of pleasure at the ability to breathe freely again. What’s Drew going to do, fire me? He can’t; I own thirty percent of the company, just like him.

Just to really get under his skin, I stop at the coat check and swap my suit jacket for a ticket and grin widely when I thank the attendant who has just unwittingly helped me to drag at least one eye roll out of my younger brother this evening. Yep, he’s my younger brother, but he does more to keep me on the straight and narrow then the other way around. After spending seven years in the Army, four of those years deployed overseas for active duty, he understands that my edges will always be a little rough. But that doesn’t stop him from trying to smooth them out when he can.

Strolling into the grand ballroom, I can’t help the small swell of pride that courses through me. The latest hotel in our chain, Sapphire Resorts, has turned out beautifully and without a doubt, especially with the location so central to the financial district, I believe it’s going to be a big success. When did I start caring so much about this shit? I chuckle to myself with a small shake of my head and then look for the closest bar. I need a drink if I’m going to get through the next two hours.

I head to the bar in the back corner of the ballroom, a spot I know will most likely be a bit quieter, but pause when a flash of gold catches the corner of my eye. I turn my head and draw in a long, appreciative breath as I scan the beauty making her way across the ballroom floor. Her gaze seems focused on the bar at the front of the room, so I turn my body and casually drift in that direction instead.

As I’m walking, I scan from her gold clad toes, up her bare, toned legs to mid-thigh where the hem of her sheer cream dress ends. The sheer fabric is scattered with a thousand different types of golden gemstones that hug her tiny waist and perfect breasts, and reflect against every light in the room. But what really draws my attention to her, is the large open back of the dress. Her entire back is bare, exposing skin so smooth, it appears flawless. I clasp and unclasp my hand as I fight the urge to press it flat against her skin as I move closer. It’s hard to tell if her hair is long or short as it’s all piled on top of her head, as if she knows the power her exposed back possesses.

I stop several feet from the bar and watch as she attempts to cut a path through the mingling throng and waves to try and catch the bartender’s attention. It’s a female bartender, otherwise I’m certain she would have had a drink in front her before she could have lifted a single finger. I continue watching until a rather stout gentleman slides up beside her and starts making conversation. It’s amusing to watch her try and be kind to the man until I see him reach out and slide his pinky finger down her arm suggestively and watch as a look of disgust appears on her face.

Anger surges through my body and within seconds I’m pushing myself between her and the man, a warning snarl on my lips as I glare at him, before I place my hand flat against the center of her back. It feels like silk. It’s the single thought that flies through my head before I smile down at her and brush a kiss against her cheek.

“Hello darling. Are you having a problem getting the cocktails?”

Her wide blue eyes look up at me in surprise and then in knowing relief as she immediately plays into my little game. “Yes! Have you come to rescue me babe?”

I can’t help the wide grin that breaks across my face when she gives me a small wink and mouths silently, “thank you so much”.

“I have.” I give her my full attention for only a second, my eyes locking onto hers long enough to see light grey flecks mixed into the blue surrounding her pupil, making me think of waves churning at sea. I break contact and look at the bartender’s name tag.

“Excuse me Greta?” Whether it’s because I’m a somewhat handsome male, or because she realized a Sapphire was standing in front of her, all of her attention is immediately focused on me.

“Yes sir, what can I get you?” Her cheeks turn a light pink and she begins fidgeting with the can opener in her fingers.

I smile warmly to try and settle her nerves and nod toward the back of the bar. “I’ll have a couple fingers of that whiskey please, on the rocks.” I turn my head toward the vision in gold, locking my eyes with hers again, “and darling, I’m sorry, what did you want again?”

I watch as her eyes narrow and one side of her gloss-lined lips tilt up in a smirk as she tells the bartender that she’ll have a Goose on the rocks, her eyes never leaving mine.

The bartender sets our drinks down in front of us within seconds with a loud thump and busies herself with the next person in line. I watch as fingers, tipped with short, delicate nails painted black, wrap around the glass and then move to her mouth, her lips kissing the edge of the glass, drawing in a small sip of the clear liquid before slowly lowering it.

“Thanks for rescuing me.”

I look down in shock as the hand that was on her back is suddenly cold and empty and watch her turn and start walking away. I grab my whiskey off the bar and quickly follow, calling after her.

“I’m Ben, in case you were wondering.” She stops mid-stride and turns back toward me, a cocky grin on her face.

“I wasn’t. Wondering. But nice to meet you Ben. Thanks again.” She raises the glass in salute and starts to turn again, but I take a step closer as she does, causing her to falter, one eyebrow raising in curiosity. “Yes?”

“You aren’t going to tell me your name?” Jesus, I sound like a desperate idiot who’s never seen a beautiful woman before.

She laughs lightly and I watch as she takes another sip from her glass, her eyes scanning me from head to toe, her eyes pausing briefly at what I’m sure are my tattoo’s peeking out of my open collar, and then shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so.”

I rear back in surprise and scoff. “You seriously aren’t going to tell me your name?”

She shrugs and challenges me. “Why?”

“Why do I want to know your name?”

She nods and places a hand on her hip, jutting it out slightly as she does. “Yes, why? Are you planning on sending me flowers? Or trying to get to know me better?” She lifts her glass a little in the air. “Do I owe you because you bought me a drink?”

A little unsure and a lot stunned by her response, I scratch my beard and frown down at her. “You’re a spunky little thing, aren’t you?”

She lifts her shoulders nonchalantly. “Maybe. Maybe I just know guys like you.”

I raise my brows in surprise. “Guys like me?”

She nods and takes her hand off her hip to wave it up and down with a flourish around me. “Yes, guys like you. Tall, dark and handsome.” She gives me another once over before continuing. “And I’d say rich based on your watch and shoes alone.”

I give her my most dazzling smile. “You think I’m handsome?”

A small frown tugs her lips down. “See? That’s all you heard. Guys like you think they can throw their pretty little smiles around and we women are just supposed to fall at your feet.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to fall at my feet. I was just wondering what your name was.”

She lifts the glass to her lips again, the ice clinking as she drains the rest of the vodka, and then takes a step closer to hand me the glass. “Like I said, thanks for the drink.” She looks me up and down one final time, shakes her head and then mutters as she turns to leave. “Been there, done that. Not going there again.”

I stand there dumbfounded as I watch her walk back through the crowd, her beautiful bare back taunting me as she does. I raise my own glass in response, and finish the whiskey in one swallow. As I lower the glass, I notice Gage, my friend, and photographer we hired for the evening, taking some pictures at the edge of the room. I quickly walk back to the bar and deposit the empty glasses and ask Greta for two beers. Grabbing them, I relocate Gage and make my way over to him.

“Hey man! How’s it going?” I hold one of the beers out to him, which he takes, a grateful look on his face.

“Thanks man. I need this.” I watch as he takes a long pull from the bottle. “The shoot is going great. I’m just about done I think. Just want to get some of your brother’s speech and then I think I can wrap up.”

“Thanks again for filling in last minute. I know Drew really appreciates it.”

“No problem at all. It’s easy work.” He scowls and pulls at the collar of his shirt. “I just wish I didn’t have to wear this damn thing. Hate having shit on my neck.”

I can’t help but chuckle, because I obviously know exactly how he’s feeling, but I give him some shit anyway. “Toughen up and quit your bitching.”

Gage points to my loosened collar and retorts. “Shut the fuck up with the bitching talk! Where the hell is your tie?”

I grin broadly. “I don’t work for my brother so I’ll wear whatever the hell I want.”

We both laugh and take a couple more drinks in silence before Gage points his bottle toward the stage. “Looks like Drew might be getting ready to speak, so I’m going to go find a good spot.”

“Okay, look me up after if you want to get another drink.” I tip my bottle at him in goodbye and turn to see if I can find Hannah, Drew’s wife. Scanning the crowd in front of the stage, I spot her and start working my way over, a smile breaking across her face as she sees me and lifts her hand to wave me over.

I wave back and only miss half a beat in my step when I notice the woman in the gold dress is standing next to Hannah, her features a mask of surprise as I reach Hannah and kiss her on the cheek. “How’s my favorite sister-in-law?”

She kisses me back on my cheek and giggles. “I’m your only sister-in-law.”

“Then you win, hands down.” I give her a wink and move to address the three people standing next to her, my eyes landing on the woman in gold, who is shaking her head lightly, a small grin of defeat on her mouth. “Hi, I’m Ben, Hannah’s brother-in-law, I don’t think we’ve met before.”

“Oh, I’m sorry Ben.” Hannah changes quickly into hostess mode. “This is Drew’s friend from college, Mika Kingsley and his new bride Reava.” She gives me a quick look of apology. “I thought you may have already known him.”

“No worries at all Hannah.” I grasp Mika’s firm grip in my own and shake it. “Nice to meet you both.” I give a warm smile to his wife and then move my attention to the woman on her right, extending my hand, unable to hide the devil in my grin. “And you are?”

She purses her lips and tilts her head, gracefully placing her hand in mine before finally bringing her eyes up to meet mine. “Jill Baldwin. Nice to meet you Ben.”

* * *

I’ve got to hand it to the man, he’s very resourceful. His lips curl up into a triumphant smirk. Damn it. Of course, he had to be Benjamin freaking Sapphire.

“Jill Baldwin?” He repeats my name, as if he’s mulling it over in his head. The timber of his voice travels up my spine, awakening every nerve inside my body. Sex is literally seeping from his pores. And he is 1000% the type of guy I need to stay far, far away from. “I know I have heard that name before.” He says, not taking his eyes off me.

Dear God, it feels as if he looking right into my inner thoughts. I feel the heat rise in my cheeks. Nope. Tall, dark and off limits. I tell myself sternly. I force myself to get it together.

“I think that you were supposed to be at the meeting I had with your brother last week,” I reply sweetly. “But you had to cancel last minute?”

“Jill owns that amazing spa downtown, Serenity.” Hannah chimes in.

I met with Drew, Hannah’s husband, last week after Mika set up the meeting. He thought that a partnership with Sapphire resorts would be a great way for me to expand my business. Quite frankly, I am happy Ben wasn’t at that meeting. I don’t think I could have focused. Drew Sapphire is handsome, but his brother—oh my God—that man should be illegal. From his dark hair that’s screaming to have my fingers run through it, to the intense gaze in his beautiful hazel eyes. Every inch of his impressive six feet is drawing me in, like a moth to a flame. And that is a sure sign that I need to run for the hills, and fast.

“Well, I was sorry to miss the meeting that day, even more so right now.” He replies smoothly as he flashes me a smile that could melt any pair of panties.

Good God, I need to get away from him. I force a tight smile. “Maybe next time. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go powder my nose,” I reach for Rae’s arm. “Are you coming?” I ask her urgently.

Raeva raises a brow, but nods. She kisses Mika on the cheek. “I’ll be back in a bit, love.” She tells him sweetly.

My heart is pounding against my chest, as if its wanting to escape from it. I take long strides towards the lady’s room, practically dragging poor Rae with me.

“Slow down, Jillybean. These are 6” heels, ya know?”

I slow my roll. “Sorry, Rae. I just had to get away.” I tell her as we step into the fancy bathroom. I look around. The Sapphires really take things to the next level.

Raeva chuckles. “I take it that Ben is Tall, dark, and hell no?”

I groan. “I can’t possibly do business with Benjamin Sapphire.”

Raeva rolls her eyes at me. “Are you seriously going to walk away from a huge opportunity, just because you find a man attractive? I know I don’t have to tell you how ridiculous that sounds.” She takes a step towards me and places her hand gently on my forearm.

I sigh. “Rae, guys like him—.”

“Guys like him?”

“Yeah, too handsome, too rich, too…”

“Too what exactly? Do you realize, you’ve just pretty much described Mika? And you adore him, I know you do.” She says smiling widely.

“I adore him, because he makes you happier than I’ve ever seen you.”

Rae’s face lights up like a Christmas tree. “That he does.”

“Benjamin Sapphire is just not what I need in my life right now, Rae. I’ve been down that road plenty of times. I’m not…”

“Whoa, let me stop you right there. We are talking about a business deal, not marriage. If you don’t want to date him, then don’t. It’s that simple.”

As usual, my best friend makes total sense. “You’re right, I’m being silly.” I am being ridiculous. No matter how gorgeous Ben is, I am in complete control of my actions. I tell myself, all the while knowing, that’s not entirely true.

“You good, Jillybean?”

“I’m good.”

Raeva folds her arms around me and hugs me. After a beat, I pull away, holding her upper arms. I look at my beautiful bestie. Her long, dark hair is cascading around her shoulders, and her full lips are painted the same red as her silky gown that seems to have been poured onto her. “Have I told you, you look amazing tonight?”

“Repeatedly, but thank you. And might I add, right back at ya. No wonder you had Ben drooling.”

A girlish giggle escapes from my lips. “He was not drooling.”

“Oh please.” Rae challenges.

We both are laughing as we walk out of the bathroom. “Is there any particular reason why you keep running off, Jill?”

I almost miss a step. I look up to find Benjamin Sapphire leaning against the wall across from the lady’s room.

“Well, that’s my cue.” Rae announces as she flashes me a wink.

“Traitor.” I mouth at her. I watch her walk away with an enormous grin on her face for a moment before I turn to face my accuser. “Going to the bathroom is running off?”

I’m surprised with how even my tone is. Judging from the look on Sapphire’s face, it’s thrown him off too. But he recovers fast and flashes me a smile as he approaches me.

“So, we can have a drink at the bar then?”

“Look, um. Ben, is it?”

He closes the distance between us and cocks his head. “You know it is.”

I bit my lower lip, in an attempt to hide my smile—it’s fun sparring with him. He’s so close now, close enough for me to smell his cologne. Hints of clean soap and earthy scents tickle my nostrils, and it is taking everything I have to stop myself from inhaling the scent of him. Mercifully, I manage to collect myself. Lifting my head up, I look up at him and smile sweetly.

“I’m just not that into you.”

His eyes sparkle brightly, a twinkle of amusement setting them ablaze. He takes another step closer, his right-hand slips around my waist, pulling me against him. It doesn’t even occur to me to stop him. Our eyes lock and I feel his left index finger trail slowly from my shoulder to the very tip of my index finger. The gentle touch is setting my body on fire. I gasp slightly. I scream at myself inwardly to look away, but my irises are his willing prisoners. My body trembles against his, we are so close I can feel how hard is chest is. He leans in, agonizingly slow and I know that I’m done for. His lips are now just mere inches from mine. My eyes flicker to his perfect mouth, and I swallow hard.

“Yes,” he whispers against my lips. “I can see just how little you are into me.” His lips gently brush my cheek and he releases me. The air is thick with desire, and I know it’s not just mine. Ben shakes his head, smirk on his face. “Stubborn little thing, aren’t you?”

He takes my hand once more and raises it to his lips. “I’ll definitely be in touch.”

And with those parting words, he leaves me standing there in the hallway, somewhere between feeling bereft and dumbfounded.