Chapter Five
Amanda dropped off her things at the vet’s office and then headed home, knowing that there weren’t likely to be any more emergency calls this weekend. She couldn’t get Blake off her mind. She could almost feel his gaze like a caress when he’d looked at her. For a moment, she allowed herself to wonder how it would feel to be with him, but she quickly crushed the thought.
Her inexperienced mind couldn’t picture anything in detail, but she was filled with a deep yearning that made her middle feel hollow and uncomfortable. This was silly, and pointless. Blake was hardly the kind of man who would be willing to pay for sex. He could get it for free any time he wanted, she was sure. She wiggled uncomfortably against the tingling sensation between her legs as she drove home.
“Holy crap, Amanda. You have to come see this!”
She was barely through the front door when Aimee’s excited voice reached her ears. Amanda wandered into the living room, glad for a distraction from her thoughts about the handsome rancher whose house she’d just left.
“What is it?”
“Well, I know that the bidding doesn’t end until Friday, but I think your virginity has officially been purchased.”
“What do you mean?”
Amanda grabbed a soda from the fridge and then dropped down on the couch beside her friend.
“You smell like a horse.”
“I’m not surprised. I spent my morning in a horse barn, dear.”
Aimee had a dating website open—it looked like Charlie was going to be replaced pretty damn quickly—but she switched to another tab once Amanda settled beside her. Amanda’s ‘virginity vendor,’ as Aimee had jokingly been referring to it, filled the screen and Amanda scanned the page quickly, trying to figure out what made Aimee think that the auction was a done deal. When she saw the most recent bid, her jaw hit the floor.
Thirty minutes ago, ‘lonstar27’ had put in a bid…the previous bid had been eleven thousand. His? His was for fifty thousand. No one would be able to top that. It was true, then. She’d been bought and paid for. And for fifty thousand dollars!
This was huge. She would be able to move out of this town, where memories of her mother’s life and her father’s betrayal crowded her no matter where she went. She would be able to go to college so that she would never have to be dependent on some cheating bastard of a man to support her…she would have to sell herself to the highest bidder. She already had.
The only thing left now was to go through with it. The thought was terrifying, but she wouldn’t back down now. She’d given her word, and Amanda Bales was no liar. A prostitute? Maybe. But a liar? No sir-ee. Not this girl. A bitter laugh escaped her throat.
“You know you don’t have to go through with it, sweetie. I’d say you’ve put your dad in his place.” Her voice was soft, and it warmed Amanda to know that her friend knew her so well. She needed the money for college, though, and she would not back down on her word.
“I’m doing it, Aimee. As soon as I made that announcement, there was no going back. Let’s hope that Mr. Lonestar27 is below seventy and isn’t missing any teeth.”
“I don’t know…If you get an old enough one, maybe there will be an equipment malfunction, know what I mean? You can keep your end of the bargain and still waltz right out of there, cherry intact.”
Amanda snorted at the bizarre logic, and Aimee let out a full belly laugh in response. The both dissolved in laughter for a moment, but then Aimee’s face became serious once more.
“On a serious note, though…your dad stopped by. He seemed really upset, Amanda. I know that was your goal, but he really looks like shit. I almost feel bad for the guy, you know?”
“I do, but I’m still going through with it. I would regardless of the money, because he deserves it, but fifty thousand? Aimee, I can pay for my entire bachelor’s degree with that if I’m careful and I apply for some grants. I lost almost all my scholarships when I decided to stay home and take care of Mom. And Dad isn’t going to pay for my education. He just wants me to find a good ole boy, preferably a preacher like him, and settle down. He never did understand why that life didn’t seem like enough for me. This is my chance to take my future back, to get out of this town. I’m not giving it up because some sanctimonious, two-faced prick is a little upset.”
“I understand, and you know I’m behind you one hundred percent of the way, girl. It would have felt like lying to you if I didn’t let you know though.”
Amanda smiled at her best friend. This, she thought, was why she loved her like a sister. “I know…and thank you. Now, let’s start figuring out when and where I can meet up with Mr. Lonestar.