Page 16 of Guardian
“It’s the kind that has veggies hidden in it,” he explains.“My daughter loves them.”
“Oh.Thanks.That’s nice.”It’s sweet, is what it is—the way Dean probably searched around for healthy snacks for his kid.Sweet in a way that slices into the tender skin on my stomach.
After a few sips of water and scarfing down the bar under Dean’s watchful eye, we leave the room to get back to the party.
We’re stopped in the hall by a man I haven’t seen before.Maybe he arrived late?He’s younger than some of these other ones, maybe a little older than Liam, with darker hair and a straighter nose (Liam has the look of a guy who has definitely been in some fights, including a slightly crooked nose).
“Very hot out there, the two of you,” the man says.He’s nice looking but also seems a little too slick.Like the guy I bought my crappy old car from.Maybe this guy also “forgets” to tell people about previous accidents and the fact that there’s no spare tire.
For some reason Dean’s hand is clamped down on my shoulder.Painfully.It’s hard not to want to squirm away, but the tension in his body tells me something’s not quite right.
Or maybe it’s the vibe from this guy, who definitely seems shady.Maybe not in a used car salesman way, but in a way I can’t quite put my finger on.
“Dylan Beck,” he says, holding his hand out.
“We need to get back,” Dean insists.“Mr.Oak doesn’t like it when we take long breaks.”
“Oh, of course,” this Dylan guy says.“Gotta give everyone their money’s worth.Speaking of which…” He turns to me.“You’re the one Brennan’s holding an auction for, is that correct?”
“Uh, yeah?”
I don’t know why but he seems to find that funny.“Wonderful.”He looks me up and down.God only knows what he’s thinking, but I can make some guesses.“What would you say to a preemptive bid?Two million.I’ll write you a check right now and you can skip the hassle of the auction.”
Holy shit.
I’m struck speechless.I’m pretty sure my mouth is hanging open.Two million is an awful lot of money.An awful, awful lot.More than Brennan said I might make, and enough to cover college tuition pretty much anywhere even after I gave a cut to Brennan.
It’s the kind of money I’m afraid to turn down.Looking at this guy though?The idea of saying yes makes me queasy.
Before I can formulate an answer though, Dean is hauling me away.“I’m so sorry, Mr.Beck, but any offers have to go through Brennan Doyle.I’m sure you understand.”
Usually Dean has a slight southern accent.He was born in Georgia, but I think he said his family had moved north for a while before he came to Belle Argo.All of a sudden, though, his accent’s a lot thicker and more…syrupy?
“Of course.I understand completely,” this Beck guy says with a smile that doesn’t actually look all that friendly.
He’s not moving aside so we can get back to the party though.The weird thing is, he’s almost supernaturally pretty, if you discount his vibe.I guess his eyes are a bit cold.Still, he doesn’t strike me as a guy who needs to pay for sex.Maybe he’s into some of the more fringe stuff?I shouldn’t be curious, but I kind of am.
“Dylan, there you are.”Another man comes up from behind this Mr.Beck guy, slapping a hand on his shoulder.“We should really go and sit down with Mr.Silva.He doesn’t like to be kept waiting.Sorry about my friend here; he forgets his manners sometimes.”Whoever this new guy is, he directs the last part at me and Dean.
With a last look at me, Mr.Beck reluctantly turns away to follow his friend down the hall.
“I may not know about much,” Dean whispers as we make our way back into the main room of the party, “but almost nobody in our group has worked for Brennan longer than I have.A few years ago one of our guys had a weekend boyfriend experience with Dylan Beck and afterward turned up in a downtown alley bleeding out with a broken jaw.After he got out of the hospital, the kid went back to Ohio like his ass was on fire.There was never any proof that Beck was responsible, but if you ask me, he’s someone to stay the heck away from.”
“Thanks,” I tell him, both grateful for the information and grateful Liam isn’t here.It’s exactly the kind of story he’d use to slap me with a giant “I told you so.”
As if thinking of Liam conjures him, there’s movement in one cluster of men over by the condo’s entrance.I’m convinced I can see his ocean eyes through the crowd.Then I blink again, and I realize the blue is light glinting off a wall hanging and I need to get a grip.Liam wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this.Anyway, I left my phone at home so he couldn’t track me.
What I do see, though, is Dylan Beck glaring at me from the far wall.Yeesh.
Wait.Wasn’t he supposed to be meeting with someone?
The same old man from earlier returns, waving more money at me and Dean.“I want to see you kiss him again.”
Dean sighs quietly.
“We don’t have to do it just because they ask us to, do we?”I ask quietly.
He shakes his head.“It’s fine.I’ve done worse for less.”
