Page 17 of Auctioned to the Devil

“So am I.”

“Making friends?”

“Trying.”

His gaze slides toward the bar. Toward Caleb. “You should be careful who you make them with.”

I smile sweetly. “Funny. Caleb said something similar.”

Richard’s jaw tightens.

Before I can push, the emcee’s voice booms through the speakers. “Next up, we’re changing things around.”

A chorus of whistles erupts.

“We’ve got one of Devil’s Peak’s newest residents volunteering for a dinner date.”

My stomach drops.

No. No. No.

Absolutely not.

The emcee looks directly at me and smiles. “Emily Harper.”

The room erupts.

I spin toward Sally. “You signed me up?”

“For charity!”

“I’m going to kill you.”

“After the auction.”

The emcee points at me. “Come on, city girl.”

“I hate all of you.”

“Starting bid, fifty bucks!”

“Seventy-five!”

“A hundred!”

I cover my face.

Richard laughs beside me.

Then someone calls, “Two hundred!”

“Three!”

Richard raises his hand. “Five hundred.”

The room quiets slightly.

He smiles.