Chapter 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

Mina

"What just happened?" I step off the stage after the most surreal experience in my life and gape at Angela.

"Someone paid one-hundred-thousand dollars for a night with you," she responds, looking as shocked as I feel. "I've never seen the bidding go that high."

That someone is Benjamin Bancroft, the super hot, super nice, maybe a little awkward but incredibly talented architect I've had a minor crush on for most of my career. Of all the things I saw happening tonight, that did not make the list.

"But did Nathan bid too?" I ask, even though I know the answer to that question. My heart raced to hear his voice. My breath caught when I saw the determined look on his face and then caught again when I realized I wanted him to win. I didn't want to spend the evening with the glaring man beside him, throwing bids my way like he intended to kidnap me afterwards. Nor did I want to spend the evening with Benjamin.

I want to share this beautiful, perfect night with Nathan.

"He most definitely bid on you too." Angela nods, smiling broadly. "Right after his friend Dom came out of nowhere for what were sure to be nefarious reasons."

"Dom." I furrow my brow. Have I ever heard Nathan talk about a friend named Dom before? I don't think so. But that guy sure seemed to have heard about me and if the look on his face means anything, he didn't like what he heard.

But if that's true, why would he bid so high?

Angela pats my cheek. A friendly gesture that warms my heart.

I guess that's what we are now. Friends.

"I'm gonna go ahead and assume you're as relieved as I am that you don't have to spend an evening with that Jerky McJerkerson," she says as Micah saunters our way. "He's a special breed, that one."

Micah grimaces, clearly not a fan of this Dom character, either. "Nathan bidding on you really didn't make sense until I saw Dom. He was saving you from a terrible night with a terrible person. That's Nator Tot's thing. Swoopin' in. Damsel in distress. Saving the world, one good deed at a time. Don't tell him I used that nickname, by the way. I promised I'd stop." Micah grins at me. "You must be feeling pretty badass right now. One hundred thousand dollars?"

Everyone's acting like I should be flattered, but I'm not. I'm a little disgusted and a lot uncomfortable. That much money could change someone's life, but Benjamin just threw it away for a few hours with me. What does it mean? Surely, he's not the kind of man who makes a play on someone else's girlfriend. Or does his bluntness extend far enough that a dramatic gesture that big doesn't seem off to him?

"I'm feeling…confused," I say. "That really happened? It doesn't even feel real."

I glance up and there's Benjamin. He smiles gently and waves, almost shy. Behind him, Nathan lurks, glaring in my direction. He sighs when our eyes lock, then cocks his head in Benjamin's direction and saunters away. I have no idea what to make of that, but it doesn't matter because suddenly we're signing contracts and Angela's reciting the rules, grinning like the whole thing's just the best thing ever instead of the confusing mess it really is.

Benjamin scribbles his signature first, then mine hits the dotted line. He offers me his arm. I drape my wrist over his elbow, and he leads me back into the gala while I search the crowd for Nathan. The string quartet has left and the band has taken their place, the lead singer cupping the microphone as he croons a popular love song. Heads turn as we pass, people whispering, grinning, wondering. In a sea of dazzling and spectacular people, I'm suddenly the most interesting person here. How does anyone know what to do with this much attention?

"I want everyone to see the hundred-thousand-dollar girl," Benjamin says as he parades me through the crowd. "I want them to wonder who you are. I want them to talk. I want your name on their lips."

"Benjamin…" I begin, growing more uncomfortable by the second. "I feel like I need to tell you?—"

He places a finger against my mouth with a conspiratorial smile. "Hush now, Mina. I'll explain once everyone has seen you."

If I was confused before, I'm downright baffled now. "Explain?"

"You're not very good at hushing, are you?" he whispers, then boops the tip of my nose.

After he's certain everyone has gotten a look at us, we stop at the bar for drinks, then find a secluded table under the stars. He pulls out my chair, then takes a seat next to me. Our backs are to the party, the ocean in front of us catching fire in the setting sun. The music is muted by distance. The waves are constant and a breeze slips across my shoulders. I cross my arms on the table, except that feels too much like I'm leaning close and I don't want to give any accidental nonverbal cues, so I uncross them and put them in my lap, but that feels too expectant, so I take a nervous sip of my champagne and wait.

Benjamin leans back, throwing an arm over the back of his chair as he rests his ankle on his knee. "A while ago, I told you I worried that Nathan might not be good for you."

I tense. Of all the times for him to make his move, he chooses now? In a grand gesture worthy of a movie, nonetheless. A couple months ago, I would have swooned right into his embrace. Now it just seems so…

…so…

…selfish.

I haven't given any hints I was interested. I'm with Nathan. What could Benjamin possibly think would happen tonight?

"You did tell me that." I twirl my glass between my hands, meeting his gaze, waiting and worrying about what he'll say next.

"And you told me everything was fine."

I nod, hoping I look calmer than I feel. "I did."

"I didn't believe you." He takes my hand and meets my eyes.

I brace for him to make his move. It's coming next, I'm sure of it. "That was pretty obvious."

"I do now," he says with a wide grin.

"Benjamin, I?—"

Hold on.

Wait.

He said what, now?

"You believe me?"

He nods.

"Then why in the world did you spend a small fortune for a few hours with me?"

Benjamin swipes his drink off the table, fighting laughter. "It's all part of my grand plan."

I harrumph back into my chair. "I figured that much out, but I'm looking for some clarity as to what that plan might be."

"For one, I promised myself at the start of my career that if I made my fortune, I'd give freely, as often as possible. What's the point of being wealthy if you can't spread goodness around where it's needed? Hence, my very large donation to a reputable charity this evening."

That's admirable enough and more in line with the man I thought I knew. I sigh in relief knowing I won't be rebutting his advances tonight. "So, it had nothing to do with me."

"Not so fast, princess." Mischief glints in Benjamin's eyes. "It had everything to do with you."

All the relief that had been seeping through my bones freezes. I press my lips together and study the man across from me for a tense second, my hands balled into fists before I cock my head and hit him with some pent-up truth.

"Now I'm downright confused," I say, shaking my head and holding up my hands. "And frankly, I'm getting tired of being confused because nothing in my life makes sense or is what it's supposed to be and if you can just clear things up for me sooner rather than later, I'd really appreciate that because I need something to be firm and defined before I lose my mind."

Benjamin lifts a brow. "We're going to circle back to all that at some point, but I need to finish the speech I started or I'll lose my place and skip something important. The house we designed for Nathan West will be the best thing I've ever produced, and that's no accident. That's because of you."

My jaw drops. "Me?"

Considering the worst thing he's ever produced is still award-worthy, that's a hell of a compliment.

"The way we work together is a rare and singular gift. A partnership like this doesn't just happen and we would be negligent not to act on it. I've recently been contacted by a high-profile client, and I want you to work with me on her project. In fact, I want you to be the only interior designer to work with me from this point forward. I want to go into business with you. Bancroft and Blake Design." Benjamin waves a hand through the air like he's reading from a sign, then cocks his head. "Though the name is open for revisions."

I blink in the darkness, my heart tripping over my stomach to see who makes sense of his proposition first. Both of them land flat on the ground and refuse to get up. There's no sense to be made here. This is surreal stacked on absurd with a twist of dream come true.

"You paid one hundred thousand dollars just to get me alone and make a business proposal?"

"Yes." Benjamin sips his drink, watching me over the rim of the glass. "And also no. I could have called you tomorrow and met you at the office and did all of this there. But!" He holds up an exclamation point of a finger. "Think of the buzz I just created. How many people are asking who you are? How many people have our names on their lips right now? After Nathan's house is complete, we'll catch even more attention. And even more after our next project. Everyone will want to hire Benjamin Bancroft and the Hundred Thousand Dollar Girl."

A quick glance over my shoulder proves his point. At least half the guests are pretending not to stare in our direction. The other half aren't bothering to pretend. I give Benjamin an approving nod and pick up my glass.

"That's savvy," I say and heft my champagne his way.

He clinks his glass to mine. "I might be too blunt to interact with most people, but that ability to see through bullshit makes me an excellent marketer."

"I'm impressed."

"Like I said, stick with me kid. We're gonna do good things together."

We drink to that. Then drink again. Then suddenly it all lands. I just got offered my dream job while drinking champagne on the beach in a dress that makes me feel beautiful. Somewhere back there, my super rich, super hot, boyfriend—because I think that must be what we are to each other—is waiting with his family that feels like sunshine. When they hear what's just happened, they'll be almost as happy for me as I am for myself.

How is this my life?

"So, what now?" I grin, catching on to the fun of the game. "Are we going to sit out here all night, whispering over drinks? Let people talk and wonder?"

"Nope." Benjamin smiles gently. "As much as it pains me, I'm giving you back to Nathan before his eyes burn hate holes into the back of my head. Not only will people wonder even more, but you deserve some time to think about my offer before you agree."

I turn and there he is. Arms crossed. Thorn and bramble gaze piercing the night. I smile and he glares and won't he think it's funny when he learns what just happened.

"To the many, many good things we'll discover together." Benjamin presses a kiss to the back of my hand before returning me to Nathan. "Thank you for letting me borrow your date. She's quite a woman."

With that, he saunters away, head held high, smile in place as people watch and whisper.

"I bet that made your night," Nathan growls, barely meeting my eyes.

"In a string of surreal days, this one takes the cake."

He's jealous. There's no hiding it. I should put his mind at ease, but there's something fun in drawing it out. I won't make him suffer long, though.

Nathan rakes a hand through his hair. "The whole reason we're…whatever we're doing…is because you had a thing for Benjamin and your drunk friend tried to play Cupid."

"I did have a thing for him." I place my palm to Nathan's cheek and meet his eyes. "But it pales in comparison to the thing I have for you."

A slow smile creeps across Nathan's face as he leans into my touch. It's like watching the dawn chase away the shadow of night. A thawing. A warming. And then, the sun in all its blinding glory.

He kisses me, his lips gentle then commanding, his hands whispering up my back, slipping over silk to find skin. His body presses to mine, strong and hard, and mine answers, supple, clenching, a low, throbbing need burning in my belly.

Nathan pulls back, brushing his forehead to mine. "Is that why he gave you back so early? Your thing for me?"

One kiss.

Another.

People are watching and I'm suddenly shy.

"Apparently this was all a big marketing scheme."

"Marketing…?" Nathan cocks his head. "What the hell, Mina?"

"This is pretty much the best night of my life for a number of reasons." With the man beside me being the biggest of those reasons. I can't stop smiling and the look in his eyes is like coming home. Like becoming whole. Like knowing all is right in my world.

Nathan glances at the gathered crowd, then leans close to whisper, "Why don't we get out of here and you can tell me all about it."

And suddenly all I want is to be alone with him, so I can finally be with him. I want to tell him I stopped faking weeks ago and I want him to agree. I want him to touch me and take me and fulfill the promise he made with that first kiss in the parking lot at The Pact when the moon was full and expectant and hinted at wonderful things.

I nod and he smiles, then takes my hand and we wind through a crowd whispering questions as we leave.

There's one thing I know for sure:

I want more time with Nathan West.