Bachelor Auction (37 page)

the envy Charlotte had tried to suppress over the

last week.

She’d forgotten about her curiosity over the

girl’s familiarity toward Marcus and his brothers

during the benefit until Melody’s cousin called,

unable to make the wedding, and Connie Preston

suggested Natalie serve at the groom’s table. Later,

she’d learned from Melody that Marcus’s mother had

taken the ranch foreman’s daughter under her wing

after the girl’s mother died four years ago.

“Yes, well,” she dislodged the little green

monster from her throat, “I know Melody

appreciated it.”

Natalie folded her arms over ample cleavage

displayed above the plunging neckline of the green

velvet dress that made her look innocent and

provocative all at the same time. “Actually, I wanted

to thank
you
.”

Perplexed, Charlotte shook her head. “For

helping Melody? I wouldn’t have let her down to save

the world.”

“Not for that. For what you did to Marcus in

Aspen.”

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Charlotte’s stomach lurched. Had he told

Natalie what she’d done? What they’d done? “I’m not

certain I understand what you mean?”

“Before the trip, he was distracted. Now he has

focus. He’s been out to the ranch almost every night.

We’ve spent more time together these last two weeks

than in the last six months. Whatever happened

between you, and I really don’t want to know, I’m

grateful.”

“So, you and Marcus were...” She choked on the

words.

“No, Marcus would never make a commitment if

he weren’t absolutely free to do so. But I think

whatever happened in Aspen is helping him get past

the thing that was holding him back. His attraction

to you.”

She glanced in his direction and found him

watching her as he pushed his grandmother’s

wheelchair. Was that what she’d been doing?

Holding him back? Maybe she had. That
inevitable

attraction had kept her distracted for longer than

she could remember. She knew now it was more

than a physical yearning she’d felt all these years,

but was that all it had been to him? A distraction?

“Look, I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but it’s

no secret you aren’t Marcus’s type. He needs a

woman he can trust, one who believes in family

values. Not one he’s ashamed of.”

It wasn’t something she hadn’t thought herself,

but hearing it aloud, and from someone who claimed

to care for him, stung. Sure, Melody cared about him

and had still argued against Charlotte giving up on

him, but friends were often blind to one another’s

faults.

“I guess,” Natalie went on, “I’m asking you to let

him go and sever any lingering threads.”

“So you can step in?”

“I love him.”

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Love. He’d thrown it in her face numerous

times. The last being just before he’d walked out of

the suite.

There’s one thing I want more
.

His words pierced her heart as thoroughly as

any arrow. Words she finally understood. He wanted

love. But was it Natalie he loved?

She played back the times she’d seen them

together during the reception. Had she missed

something? Marcus had moved from table to table

alone, speaking with everyone and no one in

particular. When Natalie had joined the group, he’d

stood apart from her and often excused himself soon

after. But then Marcus had never been one for public

displays of affection. The only time she’d seen him

allow it was as part of their ruse in Aspen.

Her gaze drifted across the street and met his

worried frown over the roof of the luxury car. Having

the woman you loved and a former one-night-stand

together probably did that to a man.

She turned back to Natalie, anxious to leave

before he settled his grandmother in the car. And

before she let loose another round of tears. “Tell

Marcus I had to go.”

“He’ll only follow you. You need to end it here

and now.”

She swallowed. “I can’t. Just tell him I wanted

to thank him for making the trip enjoyable and that

the sponsors were extremely happy with the layout

for the Valentine’s promotion. It’ll be out the day

after New Year’s.”

“I’ll tell him.”

About to turn away, she made herself stop. She

blinked to clear the blurriness in her eyes. “And

whatever you do, Natalie. Make him happy. He

deserves that. If I’d known...” She shook her head

and backed away. “I never would have...I didn’t

know.”

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Charlotte turned away and hurried to her car as

quickly as possible without seeming desperate. As

she started the engine, she thought she heard

Marcus call her name, but she shifted the car into

gear and drove away. She couldn’t bear hearing him

confess he loved Natalie, which was more than likely

the “something” he had to tell her. Not when she’d

thought he was about to tell
her
those very words.

It all made sense now. The guilty look moments

ago when Natalie had interrupted them, the purple

tie-dyed scarf he purchased at the gift shop for a

young brunette. And though she’d assumed he spent

time the last two weeks working while out at the

ranch, he was probably spending as much time as

possible with Natalie to alleviate some of his guilt.

Guilt she’d forced upon him. Literally.

He had tried to resist. Last summer at the

mayor’s party, during the auction and throughout

the weekend in Aspen. He’d fought his desires every

step of the way and up to the bittersweet end. For

Natalie. He might have succeeded, too, if she hadn’t

tied him up.

How could she have been so stupid? So vain as

to think he wanted a relationship with
her
? Of

course not with her. She was the last person he

would get involved with. She was a project, a good

deed. The Snow Whites of this world were the ones

men like Marcus wanted when it came to settling

down and having a family.

Snow Whites like Natalie.

****

Marcus muttered a curse and honked at the car in

front of him. As soon as they cleared the

intersection, he steered his truck into the right lane

and shot past the other driver. Not that he had

anywhere to be other than downing a few shots at

the bar with Chad and Mitch. Pissing drunk. That’s

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Darah Lace

where he needed to be.

Charlotte had accused him of being good at

walking away, but she was damned good at it

herself. And he’d be damned if he was going to chase

her if she didn’t care enough to stay and listen to

him.

Still, he’d been so sure they were on the same

page, that she knew exactly what he wanted to tell

her and wanted to hear it as much as he wanted to

say it.

Sensing Natalie’s gaze on him, he glanced

sideways. She’d been so quiet he’d forgotten she was

there and that he should be using this opportunity to

straighten a few things out with her. He cleared his

throat. “We have to talk.”

Her brown eyes rounded with what looked like a

combination of fear and guilt. “About what?”

“Nat, you’re a nice kid, but...” How did he say

this without coming off like an ass or hurting her

feelings?

The wariness in her eyes faded into defiance,

and her chin lifted slightly. “I’m nineteen.”

“And I’m twenty-eight.”

“So?”

He turned down the side road that led to his

family’s home, wishing he’d had this conversation

with her weeks ago and not now when he was in a

piss-poor mood. “So, you should be spending time

with someone closer to your own age.”

“I’m not interested in anyone my age.”

“Well, I’m not interested in anyone
your
age.”

She blanched at his bluntness, but he couldn’t

feel any remorse. Loving Charlotte as he did, there

was no room in his life for anyone else. Especially

someone as young and immature as Natalie.

Charlotte might have her faults, but she was all

woman. And he loved every bit of her. In spite of

those faults. Because of them.

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“It’s Charlotte Reese, isn’t it? When are you

going to see she’s not good enough for you? She’s a

spoiled and lazy slut.”

He took the force of her words against Charlotte

as if they were meant for him. In that moment he

understood all she had endured over the years.

Granted, it was self-inflicted, but that didn’t make

the negative opinions hurt any less. “You don’t even

know her.”

“I know she’s not right for you. Everyone does.”

She turned to stare out the window. “Even she sees

it.”

Marcus slammed on the brakes, causing the

truck to skid slightly to the right as it slid to a halt.

He turned to his sullen but nervous passenger.

“What did she say?”

“Nothing.”

“Natalie, what did she say to make you think

that?”

A guilty flush stained her cheeks. “Nothing.”

“Then what did you say to her?”

“I only told her the truth, what everybody else

already knows. That with her reputation, she isn’t

the kind of woman you could be proud of. You need

someone who shares the same values as you. And—”

“Goddammit, Natalie, why would you do that?

You have no idea what I need.”

“Yes, I do. You need someone to love you,

somebody acceptable to society.”

“I don’t give a flying fuck about society.”

“Yes, you do.” Her eyes flashed. “Otherwise, you

would have dated her openly instead of slinking off

to screw her in the some dark corner when you

thought no one would know. Like you did at the

auction.”

Marcus wanted to deny the accusation, wanted

to make her take the words back. Not the screwing

part, though it wouldn’t have been anything so

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vulgar had they made love that night. And Natalie

wouldn’t believe him anyway. No, he wanted to

claim he’d never thought about what people would

think of him had he pursued Charlotte publicly. But

he couldn’t, and it made him physically ill to realize

Charlotte had known it, too.

Oh, he was sure she’d been aware of his

concerns, used them to drive him away, but until

now, he’d always believed his thoughts were private,

or between them. But to hear Natalie voice what she

and everyone else had seen him display in word and

deed made him see himself all the more clearly.

He swallowed the bile rising in his throat. He

had to make things right. “Appearances can be

deceiving. She’s not what she seems. She puts up

walls, pretending—”

“You’re defending her now?” She threw her

hands in the air. “Of course you are. She’s got you by

the balls and won’t let go. Don’t you see she’s

making a fool of you?”

“Natalie,” he warned through clenched teeth,

trying to make allowances for her age and the hurt

he’d caused by ignoring her feelings toward him.

And by not setting the example, not showing

Charlotte the respect he should have so that this girl

and so many others would do the same.

“Stupid me.” She ignored him and ranted on. “I

thought you’d get your fill of her while you were in

Aspen and come back ready to move on.” She

snorted. “She must be really good. God knows, every

man in Texas wants a piece. Most probably waiting

for seconds.”

Marcus grabbed her by the shoulders and shook

her once. “Don’t you ever,” his shout reverberated

through the car, giving voice to the rage burning

inside him, “
ever
say another word against her to me

or anybody else. Do you hear me?”

She stared up at him, startled, then with a

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horrified gasp, she whispered, “Oh, my God. You’re

in love with her.”

He released her and sat back in his seat. He