Chapter 40

Erica

Butterflies danced in my stomach over the way he looked at me. It wasn't a passing thought or a hopeful wish for the future, but our reality. He wanted exactly what I did... us, together forever.

"Matthew. Erica. Let's get ready for the big reveal." Jonathan clapped his hands together and turned, walking toward a large canvas covered in velvety black cloth. "Everyone. If I could kindly have your attention please. Now comes the time in the evening when we're proud to share Matthew Bryant's centerpiece. The bidding will start at five hundred thousand dollars and go up from there.”

I glanced around to find Lanie talking to a handsome, older guy near the bar that Jonathan had set up in the corner. His suit fit him well, and she seemed lost to him. Interesting. I'd have to get the scoop later.

Matthew and I moved up to stand beside Kent and Damon as I realized what the painting was of. Me. Naked.

"Hey, guys." I glanced over at the two of them as embarrassment swirled in my belly, dousing my insides and leaving it hard as hell to breathe. "The centerpiece is me, so no giving me shit about it, all right?"

"Absolutely not." Kent tilted his head to the side. "Why in the world would-"

"And here you have it. Appropriately named, Passion of the Heart." Jonathan had the cloth dropped and several gasps rang out around the room.

"Oh. Wow." Damon pressed his hand to his lips and smiled. "That's beautiful."

"Intriguing." Kent took a step toward it. "I can't believe how talented you are, Matthew."

Matt pulled me against his side and smiled like a tomcat. "It's easy when you have the perfect model to use for our passion piece."

"That's stunning, bro. I'd love to have that in my house, but Beth would have a fucking conniption."

"As she should." I popped Damon in the chest.

"I'll bid a million dollars." A deep voice resounded from the back, one that was far too familiar.

"Mitch?" Kent turned and laughed. "I didn't know you were coming, you old dog."

"Yes. I got an invitation in the mail a few weeks back. I figured if the artist had the same last name as my boss, I'd better be here." Mitch walked up and shook Damon's hand before leaning forward and shaking mine and Matt's. "Matt it's beautiful. Who is she?"

"She's a figment of my imagination," Matt bit out. He was upset without a doubt.

"It's Erica. Come on, Mitch. You can't see it?" Damon lifted his hand as my stomach grew sick. "The blond hair, sexy smile, perfect lips."

"Thank you. That will do." I pushed my shoulder against Damon's and tried to figure out how the hell I was going to get us out of the possibility of Mitch ending up with my picture. The portrait showed a part of my breast, all of my back, my ass and my legs. It was insanely intimate.

"One point one million dollars." Matt lifted his hand.

"You can't bid on your own painting," I whispered to him, but the look on his handsome face told me to 'lock it up'.

Fuck. This was going to get ugly fast.

"Two million dollars." Mitch shrugged and lifted his hand.

Jonathan seemed pleased, but he had no clue what was going on. Matthew was going to spend every last penny he earned that night trying to buy back a painting that already belonged to him.

"Four million." A young guy in the back lifted his hand and smiled at us. "It's beautiful. I have to have it."

"Five." Mitch took the bid higher.

"I'm going to be sick." I fanned myself and pulled out of Matt's arms, needing a little bit of air. Nothing was going to change or be made better with me standing there and possibly hurling all over the fancy shoes around me.

I pushed the door open to the gallery and sucked in. The air was chilly, but felt good against my bare shoulders and back. The portrait was worthy of millions of dollars for sure. I wasn't, but that was the battle that was being fought. Matt and Mitch were squaring up across the ring from each other, and Matt didn't have the proper equipment to fight. Mitch was wealthy, no doubt, and Matt was too, but it wasn't his money.

It would break him in half to have to borrow that from his father, and he would have to borrow some of it. Jonathan got a cut of the final price of the pieces sold that night.

"Goddammit," I growled and turned to face the studio. What was Mitch doing? Why was he messing up the one thing Matt had going for him? This night meant everything to him.

Everything.

I pulled out my phone and texted Mitch, grateful that we exchanged numbers the week before.

Me: What the fuck are you doing? You're messing up this night.

Mitch: So ask me to stop. Offer me a reason to.

Me: Stop. Please. You don't want this painting.

Mitch: Yes, I do. I want it, and I want you. I hadn't wanted anyone since Carolyn died in my arms, but I want you something horrible. Offer me something and I'll retract my offers and the bidding will resume. He just doesn't want me to have the picture.

Me: You’re driving the price up.

Mitch: Damn straight I am. You need to see what I see, and yet you're not willing to. Why? Because he makes your heart flutter? Your body wet?

Me: Stop it. Leave him be. I'm serious.

Mitch: No. You'll thank me later.

I growled in anger and glanced up at the sky. "What do you want from me? How do I stop this? He's going to ruin the evening and steal Matt's dreams and what little bit of progress he's made. What the hell?

The phone buzzed and I pulled it out and almost swallowed my tongue.

Mitch: One night. Dinner. Wine. Sex. Nothing more if that's what you decide. No one has to know. Not ever.

Me: I can't. I love him.

Mitch: Do you? His pride is about to steal everything from him but you, which is sweet, but you're not a girl, Erica. You're a woman. What wouldn't you be willing to do for the man you love?

Me: Dinner and Wine. Nothing else.

Mitch: You have my offer. Take it and I'll walk out of here and never bother him again. Deny me and this will only be the beginning.

Tears burned my eyes as I glanced down at our string of messages. I couldn't cheat on Matt, but I couldn't let him walk into this shit without doing something to save him. If I were willing to jump in front of a gun for him, why wasn't I willing to let someone use me for a night?

Mitch turned and faced me, his handsome face filled with question. He mouthed, “Yes or No."

I swallowed hard and glanced over at Matt, who was practically shaking with fury. I couldn't see him fail. I just couldn't. I turned my attention back toward Mitch and gave him my answer, though it broke me to do it. What choice did I have?

"Yes."

To be continued…