One Night with her Bachelor(22)
His chances started looking up when Beau Bennett arrived. They’d gone to high school together but had barely seen each other since Beau made the stupid decision to become a Jarhead. Tonight he showed up in sweats, and Gabriel felt pretty damn good about his wardrobe choices in comparison. But then Beau rushed off and changed into a suit and tie.
Asshole.
He should’ve made his prize better. Or at least more specific. But Lily had shocked the hell out of him, and his brain hadn’t been functioning. When she’d asked what he had to offer, he could think of only one thing. Nothing.
As he stood with the other suckers and read the menu of prizes, his stood out: Wild card. Your date, your choice.
Scanning the room of excited women, including old Mrs. Schwartz and her offer of a blowjob, he had a feeling he was going to regret that.
*
Wild card.
The words certainly described Gabriel. Whenever she saw him, she had no idea what she would get. Adorable, teasing Gabriel? Hard-as-nails, tough-guy Gabriel? Sweet, almost shy Gabriel? He was all those things, and every single one of them made her want him more.
“Well? What do you think?” Lily asked her.
Molly blinked and struggled to get her brain back on track. “About…?”
Lily followed her gaze and gave her a huge grin. “My original question was about the massive crowd we managed to get on such short notice, but suddenly that’s not what I really want to know.”
“Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.”
“Please don’t talk to me in riddles. You know they hurt my brain. Anyway, I guess I don’t need to ask who you would bid on tonight.”
“It doesn’t matter. You know I can’t. It would hardly be right for me to bid at a fundraiser that benefits me.”
Lily gave her a sly smile. “Fine. But out of curiosity, what would you have our wild card do if you won him?”
A thousand images shot through her mind, some of them sweaty, most of them naked, all of them naughty. “No idea. Shovel snow from my driveway probably.”
“I hope to God that’s code for something dirty. Now, we’re about to get started. Where’s Josh?”
She nodded toward the opposite side of the room. “Sitting at the table you reserved for us, having dinner. Before we start, though, I want to say something to the guys.”
“Sure thing, hon. You just let me know when you’re ready.”
Being the town charity case was the least of her problems right now, but it still cut deeply to know how badly she needed the help. She would accept it for Josh’s sake—so she didn’t have to read him bedtime stories by candlelight. Or worry about the heating being cut off. Or the house being foreclosed on. Pride was a small matter, but it was the only thing she still had control of. She might have to sacrifice some of it by accepting these men’s help, but she would hold her head up and accept their help with graciousness. That, at least, she could be proud of.
Lily led her up the stairs to the balcony where the brave men had gathered to look at the stage below. It probably felt like being condemned and having to watch the gallows being built. At least, Molly would’ve felt that way. These men had guts. She hoped some of it rubbed off on her.
And, good grief, they were a sight to behold. The closer she got, the more aware she became of how long she’d been testosterone deficient. Her girl parts throbbed, lonely and sad and desperate for some one-on-one time. And there was no question who she wanted that time with. She tried not to look directly at Gabriel. If she did, she would probably have a mental flail and end up stuttering something stupid, like Take me, big boy. Something that would sound sexy and appetizing from a woman like Lily but laughably ridiculous from her. She was Molly Dekker—Ms. Dekker to most of Marietta’s children—and she did not do things like that.
Except that one time. But she’d learned her lesson. No more trips out to Gabriel’s cabin, where people couldn’t reach her in an emergency. No more seeking gratification for herself when her son needed her so badly. That part of her life would have to stay on hold until she and Josh had a grip on what his different abilities meant and how to cope with them.
When they reached the balcony, Lily said, “Everyone, this is Molly. She wanted to have a quick word before we start selling you beefcakes off.”
“Hey, guys.” She gave them a little wave. “I know most of you, but a couple of you are new to me. I’m Molly.”
She shook hands with the guys she hadn’t met before and forced herself not to meet Gabriel’s eyes. “I wanted to say thank-you for all you’re doing for me and Josh. I would’ve brought him up here to thank you himself, but, well, stairs.”
Which made her think of the ramp Gabriel built, and she glanced at him. His face was inscrutable.
Mental flail. “Anyway, I just wanted to thank you all. It truly is mind-boggling that you would do something like this for us.”
“It’s no problem, Molly,” Beau said. He gave her an encouraging smile. “We’re happy to help.”
The others nodded their agreement—except Gabriel. He kept staring at her in a way that made her breath quicken and her belly tighten. She rubbed her neck, which had gone all tight and tense. How amazing would his hands feel rubbing away her knots? How badly did she wish she could redo everything, go back in time and skip that disastrous day?