The Date Auction (4 page)

He's a baby,
she reminded herself.
And he would never be interested in you.

How old was he? Thirty-one? That wasn't
too
much of a baby... right? She tried to rationalize with herself, for all the good it would do her.

“So, let's get the awkward and obvious question out of the way,” Eva suggested. “Aren't you wondering how old I am?”

“Why would you say that?” To play it safe, Jamie decided to pretend obliviousness about their age difference.

“I'm older than you. By a lot.”

“Really?” He squinted one eye as he considered her words. “I didn't think you were much older than, say... forty?”

She gave him another playful pat on the arm. “Flatterer. I'm fifty-two.”

“Ah.”

“Old enough to be your mother,” she pointed out. “But not so old that I wouldn't want to go out on a date with a gorgeous young stud.”
Stud?
She wondered if people still used that word, or was it strictly used by outdated old fogies like herself? “Actually, my friend dared me to do it.”

“Dared you to do... what?”

“To bid on a date with you,” Eva replied. “I didn't think I'd actually win.”

“Ah, so you really
didn't
want a date with me?” Jamie crossed his arms over his chest in feigned disappointment.

“Who wouldn't want a date with you, Jamie?” She gently nudged her shoulder against his. Sure, she was flirting with him, and it was probably inappropriate, but how could she resist? “You're absolutely gorgeous.”

“Gorgeous?!” Jamie's voice shrilled as he repeated her compliment. “
Now
who's trying to get into
my
pants?!”

Eva threw back her head and cackled at Jamie's joke. She hoped she didn't sound too much like one of witches in Wizard of Oz—particularly the wicked one—but that's what her laughter sounded like in her head. When her laughter subsided, she threw up her hands in pretend defeat. “Guilty as charged. I was planning on buttering you up until you had no choice but to take me home with you at the end of the night.”

Jamie's lips were tilted by a slight smirk. As strange as it was, he hoped there was some truth behind her words.

Suddenly, Eva's tone changed. “Oh my god...”

“Oh your god?” Jamie tried to follow Eva's gaze, which was fixed on the window. “Is something wrong?”

“Oh my god...” she repeated. “Would you look at that? Talk about good timing!”

“What is it?” He leaned over her lap, trying to steal a glimpse of whatever it was that caught her attention. The taxi was halted at a stoplight. Looming in the distance was a giant billboard with Jamie's face on it.

Not just his face, but his entire body. It was one of his Calvin Klein ads. He was reclining on a sofa in a pair of black boxer briefs which left little to the imagination.

“You look... impressive,” Eva said, still awed by the sight of his nearly naked body. And it truly was an awe-inspiring sight. His tanned, toned golden abs were like something out of a fantasy. Jamie Thierry couldn't possibly exist in real life, and yet, he was sitting right next her.

“Do I?” Jamie laughed. And blushed.

“Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I saw your bare butt in one of those ads.”

“You did indeed.” He remembered that photo shoot well. A female model was standing behind him, pulling down his underwear, cheekily exposing his cheeks.

“It must be a strange thing, to think that everyone's seen your bare butt.”

If she kept at it, Jamie knew he wouldn't stop blushing anytime soon. “It can be, but I'm pretty confident that my butt looks good.” When he saw her hitch an eyebrow, he added, “Or I could be horribly mistaken, and my butt actually looks like two spoiled potatoes squeezed together.”

“Your butt is delightful, and you know it.”

Jamie couldn't remember the last time he had discussed his butt at length on a first date. His first opinion of Eva Stanford: she was shameless and self-assured. And he liked it.

They arrived at the restaurant, where he took her by the arm and led her inside. They must have looked like quite a pair: an elegant well-dressed woman in her fifties and a rugged, unshaven, carelessly dressed man in his early thirties. As soon as they sat at the table, a waiter rushed over with complimentary breadsticks and salad, onto which Jamie was quick to descend.

“As you can see, this is kind of a hole in the wall place.” Jamie glanced around the unassuming little restaurant as he tried to describe it to his date. “But they've got really good food.”

“Hmm...” Eva gave her chin a thoughtful tap as she browsed the menu. “What do you recommend?”

“The manicotti, the lasagna, the baked rigatoni.” As he listed the restaurant's best culinary options, Jamie actually licked his lips. “I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu.”

When the waiter returned, Eva said, “I think I'll try the manicotti.” Jamie decided to order the same thing, because he didn't want to end up feeling envious of the oozing ricotta cheese on Eva's plate.

“So, Jamie...” Eva attempted to chat with him, despite the fact that he was stuffing his face with salad. “What can you tell me about
you
? You're a model. You're gorgeous. You're adorable. Is there anything else I should know?”

“I like dogs.”

“As do I,” Eva said. “I have a dachshund named Weenie.”

Jamie dropped his fork and smiled at her. “That seems like an appropriate name for a dachshund.”

“It is. And do you have any dogs?”

“I do. A mutt named Borus.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Eva winced. Her curiosity had gotten the best of her, but now that the question was out of her mouth, she wished she could un-ask it.

“I don't. I'm a single man,” Jamie assured her. “I wouldn't be going on this date with you if I had a girlfriend.”

“I see.” Why did she feel so relieved? Eva knew her relief was a preposterous thing, because it wasn't as if she would ever see him again after today.

“What about you? Does the ravishing Eva Stanford have a beau?”

“Ravishing?
Beau
?!” Eva had to laugh. “I don't think anyone's used the word
beau
since the Nineteenth century!”

Jamie shrugged. “Oh. Sorry.”

“You don't have to apologize. I think it's cute. And to answer your question... no. I don't have a significant other.”

“Have you ever been married?” He hoped it wasn't an inappropriate question for a first date, but he really
was
eager to know more about her life. Surprisingly so.

“I was married, but it was quite some time ago. Almost twenty years ago.” The waiter arrived with their pasta, which temporarily delayed her next question. Jamie looked so thrilled by the pasta, she wanted to give him a moment to enjoy it. Eventually, she asked, “What about you? Have you ever been married?” She knew she could probably read the information on Wikipedia, but she wanted to hear it directly from the man sitting across from her.

“No. I'm not sure I ever want to be married, to be honest.”

“I appreciate an honest answer,” Eva said. “And we have something in common. I don't think I would ever get married again.”

“Really? Why not?”

Eva was surprised that she would have to explain herself to a man who was equally disinterested in marriage. “Why? Well... I like my independence too much to relinquish it. Not only that, I think marriage can ruin a relationship. It stagnates it. You stop appreciating each other and start resenting each other.”

“You sound like you're speaking from experience.”

“I am. Unfortunately.”

The conversation had ventured into uncomfortable territory, so they turned their attention to their food. When Jamie looked across the table at the end of their meal and realized she had eaten most of her food, he felt strangely satisfied. Too often had he dated female models who took three bites of a rice cake and declared themselves full. It was refreshing to spend time with a woman with an appreciation for food. Eva Stanford looked like a real woman, more like a size 10 than a size 0.

When the waiter came around with the bill, Jamie insisted on paying for the whole thing. After she paid so much money for a date with him, it was really the least he could do. Declining dessert, they left the restaurant and went to hail a cab.

“Thank you for a lovely date. The food was wonderful.”

Their date wasn't even over, and she was already thanking him? It was like she couldn't get away from him fast enough. “I think the company was wonderful.” A cab halted in front of them, so Jamie opened the door and motioned for Eva to get inside. “You seem like a really amazing woman.”

“Now
that
is some serious flattery!” Eva laughed.

“I mean it.” When he sat beside her in the taxi, he resisted the temptation to wrap an arm around her. “You're a gorgeous, classy woman, and I would be happy to count myself among your friends.”

Friends.
Well, at least he had the decency to spell it out to her! “I feel the same way.”

When they returned to her apartment, he escorted her to the building, took her hand, and gently pressed his lips against the back of her knuckles. His send-off was so old-fashioned, she had to chuckle. “Wow. You were a true gentleman to the end!”

“Of course.” He even bowed to her.

“I hope this won't be the last time we see each other. If you really want to be my friend, I'm holding you to it.”

“I always mean what I say.” He held her gaze a bit longer than necessary, because he wanted to soak in the sight of her green-gray eyes. They were, without a doubt, some of the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. “I hope to see you again, Eva Stanford.”

It was true. Jamie meant what he said. He genuinely wanted to see her again. And again. And again.

He might have even gone on another date with her if he wasn't worried about what his friends would think.

Chapter Four

When Cora saw him heading in her direction, it was as if the space around her was moving in slow motion. She was hardly a rich girl, but it was worth it. A date with Harry Shaw was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and at that moment, she knew it was money well spent.

“Hi.” Her voice was tiny as she greeted him.

“
Hello
.” It was just one word, but it melted her heart. “I'm Harry.”

The fact that he was introducing himself made her chuckle. She wanted to tease him about it, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. “I'm Cora. Cora Crosby.”

“Cora.” Hearing him whisper her name in his British accent made her melt all over again. “It's lovely to meet you, Cora.”

Cora opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. It probably wasn't the right time to inform him they had already met once, three years ago. However,
this
felt more like a proper meeting, now that he knew her name.

“So...” Harry spoke up, “I bought tickets for a Saturday matinee. I hope you like theatre.”

“Oh yes!” Cora practically shouted her reply. “I love theatre.”

“Great. We have some time before the show starts, if you'd like to go out for lunch. I thought I'd leave the restaurant up to you.”

“Umm...” Nothing came to mind, no witty words or staggering suggestions. Being in the presence of Harry Shaw had scrambled her brain and left her speechless.

Cora's silence made him chuckle. He hadn't expected the poor girl to be star-stricken into silence. Why would he, of all people, have such an effect on someone? He never thought he was anything special. “What's your favorite restaurant, Cora? If it's close enough, I would be happy to take you there.”

“It's in Phoenix, Arizona.”

“Ooh. Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think that's close enough,” he chuckled. “Perhaps I should rephrase the question: What's your favorite restaurant in New York City?”

“Um... I really like Lombardi's Pizza.”

“Ah, pizza. Brilliant. You'll have to tell the driver how to get us there.”

When he opened the door and motioned for her to get inside the taxi, Cora's heart was doing cartwheels.
Such a gentleman.

They were silent for the duration of the ride. Harry's presence had crippled her with shyness, and Harry wasn't the most adept at social situations. In fact, the more he tried to think of an interesting topic of conversation, the more his palms would sweat.

“I'm flattered that you would spend so much money for a date with me,” he said. “I'm not sure I'm worth it, but--”

“You're worth it,” Cora quickly corrected him.

“Well... thank you.”

It was the first and probably the last time she would sit shoulder-to-shoulder with the man she had dreamt about for five years. She needed to speak up, to make the most of her time. “Do you miss London?”

“Um, well...” Harry was a bit taken aback by her question. It was always odd when a stranger knew about his life; in this case, his former place of residence. “Sometimes. I always thought I'd be based in London, but you never know where life might take you.”

“Do you like New York?”

“Uh... yeah. I do. I definitely do. It's a lot like London, but with New York accents.” Harry flashed a smile that made her eyelashes flutter. “Right now, I'm splitting my time between New York and L.A.”

“That sounds exciting.”

Harry nodded in agreement.
Say something, Harry
, his mind was begging him.
Say something clever and cute, so she won't feel like your personality is an empty vortex.

“Are you excited about filming Gone with the Wind?”

“I think
intimidated
is more like it. The classic is a terrifying thing to live up to.”

“I'm sure.” Cora turned her attention to the window. She couldn't stand to look at him, not when he was so beautiful and gorgeous and simply unreal. With his black hair and haunting green eyes, he made her think of a fallen angel. He was a wicked kind of sexy, and his smile only made him look more sinister.

“Ah, here we are,” Harry announced. “Lombardi's.”

“Have you ever eaten here before?” Cora asked her question as she climbed from the taxi.

“No, I can't say I have.”