Highest Bid - Dustin's Story - Chapter One

Today I am sharing with you the first chapter to my part of Highest Bid, Dustin's story! Please note that it's unedited so there are most likely some grammatical errors and a few typos. Either way, enjoy!

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​Chapter One
 
Dustin
 
My nerves were shot as my heart raced. This was so out of my usual element, I could hardly breathe. On a typical Friday evening, I’d be home with a book, getting lost in an alternate reality. Instead, I was at a bachelor auction. What year was this? How in the world had my brother Nathan and my cousins Hudson and Liam Maddox, talked me into this?
“You look handsome, Dustin.” My aunt Janet rubbed my shoulder. “I can see the tension all over you. Just breathe and relax. This is good for you. Ever since you were a child, you were always the one we worried about.”
Huh?
“Your nose always in a book and you had no common sense at all.”
Uh, thanks…
“But you’ve grown into a successful man. You and your brother Nathan running one of the country’s top coffee house chains. There won’t be a woman in this room tonight that won’t desire the chance to be with you and Nathan.”
“Only because your sons are off the market.”

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She practically beamed as she said their names. “Liam and Hudson surely are. Happy as can be. Kennedy and Chelsea have been exactly what my boys needed. But with your mother passing a few years ago, I feel as though it’s my duty to take you and your brother under my wing and guide you both out of the hole you’ve been living in.”
I resisted the urge to laugh. Nathan and I were doing remarkable for ourselves. Yes, the passing of our mother was a hard hit. She’d left us much too early, but she had been a wonderful role model.
“You and your brother have always been so reserved. Even as teenagers.”
“Tonight we both seem to be stepping out of our comfort zone. Speaking of my brother, perhaps I should go find him.” And away from this conversation with my aunt. I loved her, but I had a mother, a damn good one, and I wasn’t looking for my aunt to become my new mommy.
“He’s in the dressing room giving our stylist a hard time.”
Aunt Janet spun around on her heels and skirted away quickly after some woman, yelling something about flowers. She ran this auction yearly, bringing in money for local charities that she and her husband ran. The Maddox name was well known. My mother was Janet’s sister, and while our family was also wealthy, my brother and I had made our last name a household name for coffee.
I entered the back room where I’d gotten dressed. I was always early to everything, this being no different. If only I could come late to have killed more time and left me less time wanting to find the closest exit and jet. Later calling my aunt to apologize.
Nathan stood in front of a full-length mirror, studying himself. His gaze caught mine and I could see his nerves were as lit up as mine.
“Want to ditch this?” I asked as I leaned against the wall.
“It’s good marketing for the company.”
I snickered. “Maybe we’ll eventually pass Dunkin’ and Starbucks.”
“Our numbers are closing in on them.”
They had. I was blown away at our last quarterly meeting. We were really making headway. The app we’d just launched had been exactly what we needed to show the two big companies that we weren’t backing down.
“This evening, we are putting business behind us and for once, our dating life first.” Nathan straightened his tie. “It’s time we both start to live a little. Mom has been gone for a while now and we’ve both locked ourselves into business, leaving no time for women.”
“Yes, big brother.” My tone laced with sarcasm.
He leaned close to my ear. “My dry spell has been nothing compared to yours, we should be ashamed of where we’re at in the love department.”
“Maybe that will all change tonight.”
Nathan had a look of hope on his face. “You never know, we just might meet the right women here tonight.”
I wished I shared the same sentiment as him. The chances were slim, as far as I was concerned, that this evening I would find the woman of my dreams.
 
***
 
Marilyn
 
I checked my smartwatch, waiting to see how much longer this auction was going to take place. So far, none of the men who’d walked across the stage had impressed me one bit. I’d met Janet Maddox a few months back, and she’d told me about her annual action. She thought it was right up my alley, being a single woman with money. While I was well off in the financial department, I was a penny pincher.  And I wasn’t about to spend my money on a date with just any man. I didn’t even really know what I was looking for in a man on the stage, but when the right one walked onto it, I’d know. If not, my back account wouldn’t get any lighter.
I’d always been the kind of woman to listen to my gut. So far it hadn’t steered me wrong.
Janet came back onto the stage and went to the mic. “Up next is a special man to my family, and it’s his first time at this event. He’s a bit shy and could use a woman to pull him out of his shell.” She smiled and waved for the man to come out. “Meet Dustin Wilder, my nephew.”
A shy man? Had I ever met one? Most men were arrogant assholes these days. I cleared my throat and turned my attention back to the stage to see who Janet’s nephew was.
Now, this was a hottie. I licked my lips as I took him in. Tall, light brown hair, he wore shorter than most men these days. His suit was a navy color and it fit him perfectly. I waited for a smile and when he did, it came across forced. My attention was grabbed. I was curious what his real smile would look like, and why someone like him would ever do this event. It was obvious as I took in every sexy square inch of him that this wasn’t his idea of an evening.
“Dustin co-owns the coffee chain Wilder Coffee with his brother Nathan, who will also be coming up to auction this evening. Dustin is a bookworm, soft-spoken, and generally a homebody. He’s looking for someone special who will also enjoy quiet evenings at home, a fire going in the backyard, and a dinner in that he’s prepared. My nephew loves to cook, so you’re in for a real treat. But don’t stress, ladies. If you’re worried this man would never take you out for an evening on the town, you’re wrong. So let’s get the bidding going, ladies. We’re going to start high with him at $5000.”
I glanced around as women began to raise their numbers, shouting out dollar amounts to get a date with Dustin. As Janet took in the bids, I watched him. He was the first man tonight to intrigue me. The way he rocked on his feet. He was so out of his element. A man who liked evenings in. I was used to dating men who wanted to drag me all over and call me their arm candy. Not something I wanted. I didn’t need a man or to be anyone’s arm candy.
As the number got higher, I swore I could see a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. It was as though he was in agony, and something in my wanted to end this whole thing for him. Taking a deep breath, I held my number up. When Janet pointed to me, I said, “$40,000.”
The audience of women spun looking at me, shocked by the amount I’d said. I was competitive and when I wanted to win, I went for it.
“Did you say $40,000?”
“Yes.”
“$40,000, going once, going twice.” She paused, looking around. “Sold to Marilyn Parker.”
My gaze caught Dustin’s and I smiled a devious smirk. That man didn’t know what was coming his way, but I planned on showing the quiet bookworm an evening he’d not forget anytime soon…if ever.

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Coming September 18th, 2018
Highest Bid: A Bachelor Auction!

This book will be available at all retailers!

Follow this link to grab your copy and see the cover! Go HERE

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