“It’s one of the reasons.” Clay shifted closer to me, and he looked extremely uncomfortable. “The other is I don’t like getting up in front of people. I’ve never been much of a public speaker.”
“But that’s the thing,” Roberta said. “You don’t have to speak. You just have to stand there.”
Clay shook his head. “No.”
Roberta glanced at me, and I lifted my palms in the air. “Don’t look at me. If he feels this strongly about it, who am I to force the issue?”
Roberta stood and backed away from the chair, her lips twisted in a frustrated pout. “I never took you for the type of man to let pride get in the way of helping poor little children.”
“Look, Roberta,” he said, brows lowering, “I’ll make a nice donation, but I don’t need to participate in the auction. Satisfied?”
“Hardly.” She glanced at me and her expression wasn’t mean exactly—more like annoyed. “Too bad you have a girlfriend. If you didn’t, I think I might have been able to convince you otherwise.” Before either of us could respond, she flounced away to another table where a man was eating by himself. Poor guy. He was her next victim.
“Well, that was interesting,” I said, trying to hold back a snicker. “She was too friendly and then not friendly enough.”
“That’s Roberta for you,” Hunter said. “She gets a little pushy when she wants something.”
“It appears she wants you.” I looked at Clay, feeling a bit territorial. I didn’t have a reason to be jealous, but I didn’t like that some woman wanted to bid on him at this charity auction, especially when that woman appeared to have a crush on him. “What does the winner get?”
“A dinner date,” Hunter said. “Better hold on to your man or Roberta might try to win a date with him.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Clay said, “because I’m not doing it.”
I frowned. “Does Roberta have a lot of money?”
Clay shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “Not that I know of.”
“Well, then, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. I’ll just have to outbid her.”
“And what if you can’t?” Clay asked, lips tightening into a grim line.
“I’ll make sure I do.”
Clay’s jaw tightened, and a look of determination crossed his features. “Nope, can’t chance it. And besides, can you imagine me with short hair and no beard?”
I narrowed my eyes and made a show of looking him over. “I think I’d like to see that, actually.”
Clay laughed and then stood to his feet as if he were about to bolt out of the restaurant at the mere suggestion of changing his appearance. “No one’s cutting this hair. Do you hear? No one.”
Hunter put his arm around the back of Sabrina’s chair and leaned our way. “Famous last words.”
Chapter 7
Clay
“You look like a completely different man,” Melanie said, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe it. She was in her early forties and also happened to be the organizer of the annual Christmas auction. We were backstage, and in a few minutes, I would have to make my debut.
“I almost don’t recognize myself, to be honest.”
“You’re striking. You should have done this a long time ago. Women will be pounding down your door to get your attention.” She paused and smiled coyly. “I know I would if I didn’t have a fiancé already.”
I ran a hand over the smooth skin of my jaw, and it felt strange not to feel my whiskers when I did that. Honestly, I couldn’t believe I’d agreed to this madness, but Melanie Shupe had pleaded with me to participate in her charity auction, stating that a couple of men in the line-up dropped out at the last minute. Normally, I wouldn’t feel bad or pressured to do something I didn’t want to do, but then Jazmin challenged me to move beyond my comfort zone, and said if I did, I would have her respect.
The first night I met her, I’d said the exact same thing to her. I’d dared her to do the chicken dance at a wedding, and she was a good sport that day. I wasn’t the type to ask others to break out of their comfort zone when I wasn’t willing to do the same.
Besides, Jazmin had assured me she would bid on me and we would have a nice dinner afterward. I was counting on that to get me through this.
I cleared my throat. “I don’t want women pounding at my door. I only want Jazmin.”
Melanie’s eyes softened, and she smiled. “I think it’s great you found someone, especially since it’s the holiday season. She’ll be pleasantly surprised when she sees your new makeover.”
Not only had I gotten a haircut and shave, but Melanie had insisted I wear a black suit. I didn’t own one, so I had to go out and buy something specifically for this event. I’d thought about asking Jazmin to accompany me but decided against it, wanting to surprise her instead. I’d taken my friends, Derek and Callie, along and they’d helped me pick out a classic suit that I would probably never use again. It just wasn’t my typical style, but I hoped Jazmin enjoyed it.
Melanie clapped her hands together and looked at one of the other men. “Jake, you’re up!”
Jake nodded and headed out on stage. He was a man in his early thirties, and from what I gathered, women thought he was good-looking, or at least, that was what I’d heard. I didn’t have an opinion on the matter. My assumption was confirmed when screams and whistles abounded, and the bidding commenced.
Butterflies tumbled around in my stomach as I pictured standing on stage in front of so many women. They wouldn’t react the way
