Most Valuable Playboy

“Going twice,” Sierra says, trailing off as she waits.

I raise my arm and tap my nose, too. Violet is the only one who knows I need to get out of this jam. She’s the only one I mentioned it to. And she’s the only one now who can save me.

“Ten thousand dollars.”

Holy shit. Violet does not mess around with my money. Her eyes widen, as if she’s surprised she bid that high.

My gaze finds Trent. He’s staring at his sister, slack-jawed.

Sierra’s smile is bright and wide. “Ten thousand dollars. Do we have ten thousand, one hundred?”

The room is hushed. Maxine’s expression is blank. She must be shocked. She probably didn’t expect anyone to vie with her to this extent.

I tap my foot, willing Sierra to close this quickly. Just slam the door shut, please, fucking please.

“Going once. Going twice.”

I say a silent prayer. I cross my fingers. I hope.

Maxine blinks, opens her mouth, and I steel myself for a disgustingly high counter bid.

But there’s only silence. No words come. Violet has shocked her speechless. This type of bid wasn’t in Maxine’s playbook.

Sierra raises her arm. “And a night with the quarterback is sold for ten thousand dollars.”

Talk about a Hail Mary.

4

In the movie Bull Durham, the veteran catcher Crash Davis taught a newbie pitcher what to say in interviews. Phrases like play it one day at a time. Just happy to help the team. I want to give it my best and Lord willing, it’ll work out.

Forget that it’s a movie about baseball. My point is, there’s nothing a baller ever needs to say to the press that hasn’t been covered by the Crash Davis School of Public Relations.

I channel the fictional legend when Sierra declares she’s gobsmacked.

“Simply gobsmacked.” Sierra shakes her head like she still can’t fathom this turn of events. She places her hand on my arm. “That’s the highest amount anyone’s ever gone for.”

And I’ll be paying it all myself. Gladly.

“I’m just happy to be able to help,” I say.

“That’s more than helpful. That’s astonishing. In fact, we have a representative here from the Children’s Hospital, Connie Wolfson.”

Sierra calls a woman onto the stage who strides out from the audience in a prim royal blue suit. Connie shakes my hand, then says, “I’m so grateful. Where is the lovely lady who bid so high on you for such a good cause? I must thank her personally.”

Yes, me, too. She’s a savior.

I knew hair stylists were heavenly, but I think Violet might have earned sainthood status today. I’m so jazzed up about this turn of events that I feel buzzed and light-headed as Violet weaves through the crowd, women and men parting like the Red Sea for her. She looks dazed, like maybe she can’t quite believe she pulled this off, either. Trent appears about the same, too, rubbing his eyes, shell-shocked. As Violet walks past Maxine, the woman in red narrows her eyes and folds her arms over her chest.

Violet makes it to the front, and since the stage is two feet off the floor, I bend and offer a hand. Then I think fuck it.

I grab her slim hips, lift her on stage, and plant a quick kiss on her cheek. I catch a faint whiff of her shampoo, or maybe it’s her perfume, like peach and a soft breeze. It flutters across me and catches me off guard. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy her smell so much.

She gasps her surprise, and Sierra emits a small eek. The hospital rep beams, as if she’s a proud matchmaker. She extends a hand to Violet. “We are so very grateful for your generosity.”

“It was truly my pleasure,” Violet says, and I can tell from her voice she’s still surprised she’s on stage. “We’re so happy to give our support.”

Sierra arches a brow at the word we’re.

“I mean, I am,” Violet corrects, bringing her hand to her chest, even though, of course, I am so happy to give the support. I tug her in close, my way of letting her know her we comment was just fine. She fits nice and snug next to me. Sierra notices, her green eyes sliding over us. “You two are so adorable together. You know each other, don’t you?”

Sierra sure knows how to read a situation. Violet and I have always gotten along well. Even though she’s Trent’s sister, the three of us have been buds, and I consider Violet one of my closest friends, too.

“She’s from my hometown,” I answer quickly. “I’ve known Violet my whole life.”

“Well, he moved to Petaluma when I was five and he was six,” Violet interjects. “Not entirely our whole lives. For instance, I never saw him in diapers.”

“Thank God for that,” I say, wiping my brow in a whew gesture.

“Do you remember the day you met Cooper?” Sierra asks.

Violet nods. “I was riding my bike with the purple tassels and pink wicker basket, and I saw him moving in down the street. All I thought was boys were yucky.”

Laughter floats from the tables, and Holly shouts, “I used to think that, too.”

“We’re still yucky,” I say with a smile.

“You’re adorable,” someone shouts from the audience.

“And what do you do now, Violet?”

“I’m a hairstylist,” she says with a smile. She’s humble, too, since she’s more than a stylist. She’s a business owner.

“She’s not just a stylist,” I chime in. “She owns a salon.”

Sierra flicks her hand through her auburn locks. “I’ve been looking for a new hairdresser.”

Violet laughs. “I’ll give you your first cut on the house.”

Sierra beams. “I’m there!”

Another person yells, “Violet, I want your boyfriend. Can you share him?”

Violet swallows and blinks at that word. Boyfriend.

The hospital rep thanks Violet again then exits the stage while Sierra continues her questions. “Tell us what made you bid so high for Cooper.”

The hostess thrusts her mic at Violet. She looks at Sierra, then me, her eyes saying you decide, Coop. I was just trying to save your sorry ass.

“She wanted to make sure no one else got me, of course,” I say, as if there can’t be any other answer.

“Well, naturally, that’s the point of a high bid. But does that mean you’ve been wanting to bid on him for a long time?” Sierra asks, and as soon as the question comes out of her mouth, I know what’s happening. She’s constructing the story everyone wants to hear. The hometown girl crushing on the guy who made good. Before either of us can correct her, since that’s not the case in the least, Sierra’s eyes light up, flashing with the thrill of discovery. “Wait! You two are together. You’re boyfriend and girlfriend, aren’t you?” Sierra asks, then points to Violet. “And that’s why you didn’t want your man to go home with anyone else tonight. Am I right?”

She’s wrong. She’s so wrong she’ll never be right. Violet shakes her head, but when she sees Maxine in the crowd, still staring at me, Violet’s no turns into a maybe as she looks at me, her eyes asking me if that’s the new story.

I glance at the woman who wants me to be her hallelujah and make a split-second decision.

Fuck yeah.

Sierra has handed us the perfect cover. Who cares that Violet and I would never happen? God bless reporters and their hunt for a story.

I smile brightly. “That’s right, Sierra. That’s exactly it. We might as well admit it now.” I drape my arm over Violet’s shoulder and tug her closer. “She’s my girlfriend, and I couldn’t be more thrilled she won me, since she’s the one I want to spend every night with, but especially for a good cause.”