Chapter 29
Nerves - unrelenting
nerves – plagued Colton while he waited ever so patiently for Megan to finish getting ready for the Gala. He paced the floor, unsure of the source that left him so nervous. He felt like a libidinous teenager waiting for his prom date to grace his presence. He recalled a similar feeling when they were in Portland and he waited for her to be ready for their date. Another milestone evening, another set of nerves, he concluded.
The suspense was killing him. He couldn’t wait to see her in “the perfect dress” that she had been raving about since she found it on their trip. Really, he just couldn’t wait to see her. Time away from her left a noticeable gap in his heart, a craving that was probably ridiculous in nature, but he didn’t care.
Tonight, everything would be different. He planned a dream come true, and he hoped the outside threats didn’t interfere with a single moment of this night.
She took one last look in the mirror, taking a final spin. Satisfied with what she saw, she grabbed her clutch and went to find her guy. She spied her dashing beau standing in the living room, staring out the window. As if he could feel her presence, he slowly turned and drank her in. She could feel his every thought as he soaked in her beauty from head to toe.
Meg’s cheeks blushed from the breathy sigh she released when he fully turned to face her. Daily, Colton was a sight to appreciate – in a tuxedo, he was heaven on earth. His broad shoulders and tapered waist were only the beginning. His sleeves pulled ever so slightly at the girth of his arms, and perfectly tailored pants displayed his perfect, round asset.
Her mouth was watering. This breathtaking man was lethal. If she read his reaction correctly, he was impressed by her evening attire and was likely trying to decide what was beneath it – dirty boy.
“Megan, you…you…” When he couldn’t finish his statement, Megan’s smile faded, insecurities nagging.
“You don’t like it,” she said, wide-eyed, as a statement rather than a question.
“No! I love it. There just aren’t any words worthy of how you look tonight. Stunning is an insult. You exceed beautiful, honey. I can’t even keep my thoughts together here!” he said with a nervous chuckle while tugging at his collar.
A satisfied grin crept back to her face. He was speechless, and nervous – mission accomplished.
Her champagne colored dress flowed as she moved. The deep V, Marilyn Monroe style halter revealed a tasteful amount of cleavage while the hi-lo style, full skirt displayed her tanned legs, from the shin down in front, with a trailing train following. She stalled for a moment, popping out one foot, displaying her vintage inspired, rhinestone clad feet before spinning, revealing his favorite part of her ensemble.
The halter met at her neck and a tie at the waist to hold her dress closed, revealing an entirely bare back that he would enjoy resting his large hands on all night. He loved her hair pinned high and looked forward to nipping at her long, sweet neck while dancing with her, slow and close.
She gave him a perfect pout and watched him through thickly lashed, hooded eyes, finishing her seductive sway, making her way to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a heated, intimate kiss that lacked nothing. His hands caressed her back, moving up her sides to stroke the sides of her breasts that her dress left exposed, leaving a trail of goose bumps in his wake.
“We’re never going to make it to your Gala if you keep doing this to me,” he said, leaning into her so she could feel how turned on he was by her.
“It wouldn’t be the worst idea we’ve ever had, handsome,” she flirted.
“Oh, no, honey. This is your night. You save this…” Colton said, biting her lip with a kiss, “…for later.” He grabbed a handful of her ass, pulling her in for one more teaser of a kiss.
Ooh’s and ahh’s filled the building as tourists and locals alike entered the first annual Crystal Showdown Gala. The group of friends gathered near the entrance to greet those who arrived and direct them to the various areas of the venue. Jessie, being Jessie, pointed out the bar only.
Megan was overjoyed by the flattering first impressions of the party goers.
“Wow, toots, you nailed it! We’re going to have to keep you around!” Morgan teased, pulling her into a sweet side hug. “Careful, no wrinkles,” she joked, referring to her stunning evening gown.
“Am I the only one shocked to see Jessie in a dress?” Carigan asked.
“Nope! Don’t worry – it’s still her. I’m sure she’s wearing combat boots under there!” Sam chimed in, half surprised but mostly amused.
“It’s not even short and skanky…or black! It’s like a princess threw up on her!” Evie added, arms crossed, drink in hand, assessing her friend.
“And it’s…pink?” Blake interrupted in a soft, admiring tone, unintentionally drawing all eyes and knowing grins to himself. “What? I thought the color pink died when she put it on,” he recovered.
“Yeah, yeah…I’m in a fucking dress, I have heels on, and I’m wearing…gasp…make up!” Jessie tossed back, sarcastically, putting her hands over her mouth as if she was shocked by her own admission. “Get over it, assholes!”
And there she was, like the foul-mouthed, hard-ass, bar brawling Cinderella she pretended to be.
“Geez, if we throw water on her, will she melt?” Morgan teased.
“Wrong effing fairy tale, Officer Tits,” Jessie fired, pointing to the ample cleavage Morgan displayed in her red satin strapless gown with the hand that wasn’t holding her bourbon and water.
Morgan scanned the group and followed their eyes down to her display, shrugged her shoulders and brow and said, “Touché!” before saluting Jessie, taking a long swig of her matching bourbon.
“So, how were all the kids, Ev? More importantly, how was Lou when you left?” Dawson asked of Evie, who lived with her grandmother.
“Evie took a long pull from her glass of Champaign with a dramatic eye roll. “You mean Gran and her team of old bitties…the wrinkled nanny brigade?” She questioned. “Let’s see, there were, at least, two ass grabbing warnings for I don’t even know who before I left. As I pulled away, Gran was hanging out the windows, tossing plastic bags of cookies into the bushes.”
“Cookies in the bushes?” Colton questioned with a bewildered look on his face. “They promised to stay sober!”
“Oh, they were sober. That’s what makes it so embarrassing. She’s throwing cookies at the men Declan has posted outside…in the bushes! I heard her ask the two inside if they knew CPR and how to give mouth to mouth!” Everly finished, taking another long drink, emptying her glass.
“Sounds like we may need bail money before the night is over,” Sam joked.
“I don’t know. Her cookies are really good…it may be enough!” Blake said in all seriousness. “What? I’m just saying these guys are used to dealing with hoodlums like Valdez—I’m sure they can handle some little old ladies.”
“Go Gran and the mafia!” Jessie said with a laugh, clearly the only one who found the humor in dirty old ladies and their antics. She was likely taking notes of her own.
Doc Charles and his band, The Scalpels, played throughout the evening while event goers enjoyed fabulous food, dancing, and mingling. The last event of the night was the live auction, emceed by the town’s Mayor, Jed Baker, of Baker’s Bakery. Up for bid, McKenzie Ridge’s hottest. First hottie of the night, none other than Blake Cooper.
“Does everyone have their paddles ready? This one should go quickly!” Jed said, voice full of venom. Blake shot him a go to hell look, fully aware of where Jed’s haste was coming from.
“Alright, do I have five dollars? Surely we can find someone
Officer Angry hasn’t
pulled over…five dollars folks. You get a pizza dinner, generously donated by Ponderosa Pizza, and a ride along with Officer Stickler here!” The banter between the two, genuine as it was, surprisingly engaged the crowd, drawing quite the bidding war over a very chafed Blake Cooper.
The wannabe Barney Fifes fell out of the bidding early while a few hot and bothered women battled over the now, Officer Hottie, doing great things for his alpha ego.
Finally reaching the five-hundred-dollar threshold, with no end in sight at five-dollar increments, a familiar voice shouted, “One thousand dollars!” while holding up her paddle. Jessie Clarke.
Blake’s eyes took on a smoldering gaze while a devious grin crossed his face. Not even Jed Baker could rain on this parade.
“Seriously? For him?”
Jed questioned in confusion.
“Yes!” Jessie replied. “Someone ought to put an end to this! For the kids and all…” Jessie retorted, giving the two bickering bidders the stink eye daring them to top her bid. As expected, they didn’t cross the town badass who made grown men cry.
“What the hell, Jess? You know that’s Blake
, right? Something you want to share with us about you and Blake?” Carigan asked in shock.
“What, did you see those vultures bidding on him? I saved his ass, and he knows it. He owes me a solid!” she said with a sly grin.
“Uh, honey, you realize you just spent a grand to go on a date with Blake
, right? A friggin’ grand!” Evie said, surprised.
“Yeah, like I said, he owes me…one thousand dollars’ worth…owes me,” Jessie replied with an ornery chuckle.
“He would have dated you for free,” Morgan said under her breath as she sipped on her drink, which earned her a shut the hell up look from Jessie.
“What? Just saying what everyone
was thinking,” Morgan said before polishing off her glass of wine.
The night went on with Sam winning Dawson and vice versa. Even though married, it was all for fun and in the name of charity. Everyone went through their public humiliation as the attendees bid on each of them. Evie won Doc Charles, while Carigan and Morgan were bid on by members of The Scalpels.
The last auction of the evening was for Colton. Best for last, as they say. His popularity as the town’s love-struck, dreamboat became apparent when a group of bidders, narrowed to no less than ten women, nearly resorted to hair pulling and slappy hands each bid.
When the bids climbed quickly by one hundred-dollar increments, Megan finally stepped in, doubling the highest bid, offering seven thousand dollars, getting an instant “sold” from an impressed Jed Baker and a sultry, rogue grin from her prize. This
would be the best seven grand she ever spent.
Megan met Colton on the second level. The bar had closed as the night was winding down. They had about an hour left before it was officially over. The music played while people slowly made their way out, some hanging around for one last glass of bubbly and dessert with friends.
With the upper level entirely to themselves, they danced to the slow, enchanting music in a seductive embrace. Colton held her head as he kissed her, burning with wicked desire. Her hands roamed under his jacket, dragging her nails down his back through his shirt, teasing him with her sweltering plan.
He rested his forehead to hers and whispered, “You’re killing me.”
“Good, you want to get out of here? I paid a pretty penny for you, saving you from a group of horny women. I know a way you can start working that off.”
Without another word, he grabbed her hand and rushed her to the second story exit. Once outside, he held her against the wall, pulling her leg to his hip while he grabbed her ass. Leaning into her, he kissed her hard – so hard that she let out a throaty moan, dripping in desire. She felt his excitement against her core, upping the ante. A warm tingle that only he could inspire rushed to her center.
Before they gave an Oscar worthy performance on the second story stairs for all to see, he grabbed her hand, running them down the steps to his truck. The chill in the air prompted him to drape his suit jacket over her shoulders before lifting her into the truck. He couldn’t get them home fast enough.
“I have something for you when we get home,” he said.
“Oh, I know what you have for me, and I can’t wait,” she giggled.
“You little vixen you,” he teased.
“We’ll get to that, but I have something else first.” He winked, adding to the anticipation. Tonight was going to be a night to remember beyond the Gala and bedroom.