d have been nice as well. He'd been so relieved when he saw me from up on stage, as if everything would go as planned and

o. She'd made my high school years a living hell by treating me like the little rich brat tha

sn't playing

t hear two

en in

he paddle. It was either now or never, I reasoned. A

five thou

ystal's icy gaze locked on me, and she narrowed her eyes as if

have to do be

my breath, trying to keep a smi

Perez, the woman behind this amazing party we're all enjoying

000 p

id, not mis

emarked. "But, folks, we're

he was irritated, but she still felt

and twent

W

Let's keep the m

k, but another voice from

dred f

thy woman jo

a three-way brawl, I'd let Crystal and the new

dred f

led, her voi

to the next level. Joey was visibly nervous as he took the stage. I didn't mind seeing

undred fifty t

total of a hundred sixty?" Is that corre

make a move. "Two hu

ame to a halt when I yelled my bid. And, despite the fact that it wasn't my money, I could feel the

two hundred

ed around the room. “Wo

e from me, focusing on the older man she was married to, or was in the process of divorcing, or whatever

ake his head. I knew

her chin in her upturned hands, a pout on her face

d and thous

Going once...goin

ekend to Bora. Of course, what had actually occurred was that Joey had paid ten thou

age, Joven announced the

atch my breath. "Holy crap! " Her eyes widen

e. "And do you want to know someth

d in perplexity. "Wha

ongratulated me, telling me how jealous they were that I would be spending the weekend

n her face. "Oh my goodness! " she explained. "I still can't bel

Working behind the scenes was one of my favorite aspects of my j

have ten thousand dollars in the bank; it's quite another to have two hundred thousand dollars to spend o

ng at me with pure hatred in her eyes. I just couldn't stop myself. I gave her a wink. She slammed her fist against the tabl

t moment, his towering frame looming over the three

visit and congratulate the big winner." I'm looking forward to our weekend

k of a response. "Um..." was the o

er been in my life at the time. Joey remained a jerk, a heartless jerk. But I'd be lying if I ign

ut my foot down. "Thank you, Joey," I said as I slipped my hand from

endra inquired, her lips

I said. "However, I'm going to

ed puzzled looks from

could it be?"

let me know I'

hey haven't even said w

to be so busy with work for the next month or s

out her trusty clipboard and flipping through the

s ripped apart in front of me. So much

ndra suggested, a smile on her face.

sn't going to get out of this. All I wanted wa

ck on some...stuff." And, Kendra, I'm

perplexed by my actions. "I

usband as he bounded off the stage, now finished with the

ve a tuxedo t

y voice sterner

ed. "But first, I wanted

going to aggravate the

in, his mouth just inches away from my ear. "I can't wait for our weekend t

ke that, he knew exactly what he was doing. And the worst part was that his proximity, voice, and

as much as I resisted admitting it, no

e was going to ge