Claiming What's His (9 page)

             
Changed?  For what?

             
Before Sam could ask, Maggie and Nat dragged her out of the main room and into one of the smaller meeting rooms that they had apparently converted into a changing room.

             
Maggie tossed what looked like a red dress to her.  “Here. Go put this on and hurry so we can do your hair and make-up.”

             
“Why do I have to change?  What’s wrong with my shorts and tee shirt?” Sam asked.

             
Maggie whipped around and gave her high brows.  “You seriously do not want me to answer that.  May I remind you that this is for charity.  All proceeds are for a good cause which means in order for us to get
any
proceeds for this, you have to look smokin’ hot.  Now go behind the screen and change already.  We don’t have much time.  And if you feel like arguing still, then we can do it while you change and we fix your hair and make-up.”

             
Twenty minutes later, Maggie and Nat had walked back to the main room ahead of Sam.                She had told them that she needed a few minutes to herself.

             
Now she was alone as she glanced at the result of her makeover.

             
She looked “smokin’ hot”, as Maggie put it.  She was wearing a very short, red dress with a very low V-neck cut down between the breasts that hugged perfectly down her hips.  Not only was the cut low in the front, it was low in the back as well.  Delicate lace covered the material that cupped her breasts.  Her hair had been teased and curled into soft waves flowing down her back. 

             
They had initially argued about Sam wanting to wear a cover of some sort so she wouldn’t feel as naked as she was.  Maggie, of course, declined.  It wasn’t until Sam threatened to leave when she agreed that Sam could wear Maggie’s off-white, wool trench coat (even though it was a hundred degrees outside).

             
Now, it was time. 

             
Maggie told her that she only had five minutes to herself before she came back in and dragged her out.

             
Shit.

             
She was actually going to do this.  There was no backing out now.  The one thing she needed to remember was that this was for charity.

             
Sam took a deep breath as she headed back to the fundraiser.  The second she stepped through the doors, she felt her face flush.

             
Clap, clap, clap.  
              “Alright everyone!  Next up is the lovely Samantha.  Line up people!  This is a fundraiser!  Every little bit counts and it’s for a good cause,” Maggie announced.               

             
Sam walked through to find Maggie was calling for attention to people in line as she stood on top of a chair.  Sam hadn’t noticed before but Maggie had on a really cute strapless sunflower dress and beige wedge sandals.  She suppose it was only fair that she dressed the part since everyone else did.

             
But, Sam tensed.  She was beyond mortified, having people stare at her like a piece of candy, let alone her being used as a kissing machine.

             
Thump, thump, thump.  

             
Her heart pounded fast.  She knew this was happening but why did, all of a sudden, she get nervous?  Why couldn’t she start being nervous earlier in the day?

             
Sam slowly took a seat in the empty chair and as soon as Maggie stepped away from her view, she saw that the first person up was a gorgeous male-equivalent to a younger Brad Pitt (like a clone), except with dirty blond hair (kind of like his Brad and Jenn days).  He was wearing dark gray slacks and a light blue polo shirt that highlighted his obvious blue eyes.  He was seriously hot enough to melt any girls’ panties off.  He stood about five feet away, arms crossing his chest, with a smile that could turn any woman or girl in the room into a puddle.

             
He took a step forward but was stopped with a hand pushing him back.

             
Her eyes followed the length of the arm up to the person’s face.  And his eyes were on her.

             
Alex.

             
“I’m cutting in, Parker,” Alex told Brad Pitt clone without taking his eyes off her.

             
Parker?  Was that the clone’s name?  And Alex was cutting in?  Why would he do that?  He had no right to cut everyone else.  This was a fundraiser.  Why would he cut everyone else?  If he wanted the kiss, he can wait like everyone else!  Not that Sam wanted to kiss him… again.  The thought of his firm lips pressed against hers had her belly swarm but she ignored that feeling.

             
Sam stood up, wanting to give him a piece of her mind and how his Neanderthal act wasn’t going to work, but before any words formed, as she opened her mouth, he moved and his mouth slammed down to hers.  His tongue swiped in her mouth, making her forget all that ran through her mind, all of her cases, all of what she wanted to say to him, and all of how wrong this was for them to be doing.

             
Her hands flattened against his chest, but instead of pushing him away, she gripped his dress shirt and pulled him closer.  His hands wrapped around her waist, pressing her lower body to his as she slid her hands up his body to wrap around his shoulders.  His erection pressed between them, throbbing to be released from its confinement.

             
For a brief second, she forgot where they were.  She melted into his arms, her knees going weak as they continued their make-out session.

             
Somewhere behind him, she heard a vague commotion of men murmuring nearby about how this kiss was worth more than was given but that just watching the show was worth it.

             
Finally, she remembered where they were. 

             
The convention center. 

             
And it was filled with people. 

             
Lots of people.

             
Crap.

             
Sam pulled back, gasping for air and wiped the corners of her mouth using her thumb and index fingers and peered around Alex. 

             
People were definitely staring – the men in line at the booth, people across the room, Maggie, Nat, Jas, Char, Dom, Eddie Mae, Hattie Sue, George and Mitch.

             
George and Mitch.

             
Oh crud!

             
George was wearing a smile on his face.

             
Mitch had a bigger smile.

             
Great.

             
Sam felt her face heated.  She quickly pulled out of Alex’s arms and sat down in the chair, trying to calm herself.  Practically everyone in her social circle saw her make-out with Alex.

             
Alex remained standing in front of her, cool as a cucumber, grinning down at her, enjoying that everyone saw our lip locking session.

             
Damn him.

             
She scowled at him.

             
He winked at her.

             
Grr!

             
Damn him to hell!

             
The guy Alex call Parker shoved him aside and stepped forward, sitting in the chair in front of her.  ”Hey there.  I think it’s my turned now.  And
fuck
but aren’t you a hot looking one.  I’ll make sure we make it worth the cost of the tickets, maybe more than you did with Conrad.”

             
What could she really say to that?  This was for charity after all.  She’ll just have to suck it up and go along with it.

             
Alex was still standing but instead of looking at her, he was glaring at the guy in front of Sam, his jaw clenching so tight that Sam was sure that his teeth would shatter.  And his face was so hard that she thought one tap and it would break to pieces.

             
Parker sat down on the edge of the chair, placing his hand on her knee, gently stroking in circles.  Their heads dipped closer, their lips close enough that she could feel his warmth of his breath. 

             
With the blink of an eye, Sam saw that Alex grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and shoved him away.  

             
Parker snapped as he fixed his shirt, “What the hell is your problem, Conrad?  You already had your turn!”

             
“I told you to stay away from her.  She’s mine,” he growled.

             
Sam saw red.  She was
his?
  Excuse him but she didn’t think so!

             
Sam shot up and shoved Alex in his shoulder which had no effect on his stance.  She went to stand in front of his and snapped in his face, “First off, I’m not
yours
.  And second, this is a fundraiser, Alex.  All the money we make here go to the police and fire department, or did you forget?”

             
Alex ignored her and turned to Maggie. 

             
“Maggs, count the number of guys in line.  I’ll pay for their tickets plus make an extra ten thousand dollars donation.  Sam is off limits.  Anyone who wants to try and get close enough answers to me.”

             
Maggie’s eyes lit up with what seemed like amusement and excitement, and turned her attention to the crowded and shouted, “Alright everyone. You heard the man claiming what’s his so everyone, shoo! Our next liplocking beauty will be here in an hour.”

             
Claiming what’s his?

             
Sam stood frozen, staring with her mouth wide open at Maggie. She couldn’t believe her best friend just made that announcement and to people who lived in Comfort.

             
The town she lived in, in front of people she knew and knew her.

             
She was going kill both the cousins and bury them side-by-side on the dirt road where no one would ever find them.  And if they were found and she was suspected, she’d play innocent like she always did and get away with it.

             
Alex was first up.

             
Shoot him, stab him, or run him over with a car?

             
Oh, the possibilities.

             
Groans erupted as the guys slowly scattered away from the line and off elsewhere.

All
except two.

             
Parker.

             
And Danny.

             
Danny stood in line, in a sweater vest, jeans, and boots, with his hair slicked (it looked to be gelled down), holding tickets in one hand, and a hand-picked bluebonnet in one.  He still had paint on his face.

             
Obviously, Danny didn’t care about the threat Alex made.  Either that or he didn’t understand what it meant.

             
Her heart melted.

             
He was so handsome.  He was going to be one serious heartbreaker when he got older.

             
Alex snapped his fingers and pointed to Danny, stating, “You, little man.  You can go.”

             
Danny pumped his little fist up and shouted, “Yes!”

             
Sam smiled and sat down.

             
He walked up, handed his tickets to her first, then the bluebonnet.  

             
Sam took the flower, grabbed both sides of his head and showered face with kisses, making him giggle nonstop.  After about a minute of kisses on his face, she planted one final long kiss on his forehead and a peck on his lips, looked him in the eyes and said, “You never have to wait in line for my kisses, Danny.  You can have it anytime.”

             
He jumped into my arms and gave me his biggest hug and gave me a peck on the lips.  

             
Sam looked up to see Char lowering her camera from us, smiling big with Gorgeous Guy standing right behind her, his smile just as big as Char’s.

             
“I think it’s my turn now, even though the little man skipped me.  But I’ll let that side,” Parker teased, seductively licking his lips.

             
Hmm.

             
Something about a guy licking their lips just turned Sam off which was a little sad at the same time because Sam thought Parker was a really good looking one.  His hotness rating just dropped a few notches just for that.  Usually when a hot looking guy was looking at you like a piece of hot fudge sundae and wants to lick you up and down, you would think that it’ll make you feel something.