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until
it reached eight thousand dollars.
    Henry was the highest bidder. When the
auctioneer said, “Do I hear nine thousand dollars?” he looked to
Jeff who shook his head.
    Christy wanted to hide. Not Henry, not
Henry…
    “Going once, going—” The auctioneer gestured
toward the back.
    A familiar voice called out from the back.
“Ten thousand.”
    Zach.
    This time her jaw did drop from shock as she
saw his tall form at the back of the room. She couldn’t believe
that he had just bid on her. He wasn’t one of the bidders. And he
bid such an enormous amount of money for her.
    Henry was looking over his shoulder,
scowling, as he stared at Zach.
    “Eleven,” Henry called out.
    “Twelve,” Zach said, his voice remaining
calm.
    Unlike Henry who shouted, “Thirteen!” His
features had started to turn purple.
    “Twenty.” Zach calmly jumped to the higher
amount and Henry’s eyes nearly bugged out.
    Christy wasn’t sure if she was going to be
able to stand as weak as her knees were at that moment. This was
crazy.
    “Do I hear twenty-one?” The moment the
auctioneer looked at Henry seemed to draw out forever.
    Henry folded his arms across his chest and
scowled. “Let him have her. I’m done.”
    “Twenty going once, twice—sold to Mr. Zach
Nikas.”
    Christy remained on the stage, stunned.
    “You may join the winner now, Ms. Clarkson.”
The MC said and the escort took her arm again and directed her to
the stairs leading from the stage and saw Zach waiting for her,
that sexy smile on his face.
    Her escort walked with her down the steps
then turned her over to Zach.
    “Are you crazy?” She spoke in a hushed tone.
“Spending that much money on me?”
    “Would you rather go with the gas bag?” Zach
sounded amused as he took her arm.
    “No.” She looked into his dark eyes. “I just
can’t believe you spent that kind of money.”
    “You’re worth every cent, Christy.” His look
was intense, hungry, and she felt heat throughout her. “Besides,
the money goes to charity.”
    “How are you a bidder?” she asked. “You don’t
have a white boutonniere.”
    Zach shrugged. “It must have fallen off.”
    He rested his hand at the small of her back
and guided her toward the ballroom doors.
    She looked up at him. “Where are we going?
There’s still dessert and the dance. Drawings will be afterward if
you want to win the car they’re raffling off for the charity.”
    “I’d rather go someplace private.” He moved
his hand over the base of her spine, sending shivers through her.
“I’d really like to spend some time with you and not have to share
you with anyone.”
    That sounded good to her, being alone with
Zach.
    “Okay,” she said. “I’m all for that.”
    When they reached the lobby, they stopped at
the bell desk. She gave him her coat check receipt and he turned it
and his own over to the bellboy. While the bellboy was retrieving
the items, Zach gave his ticket to the valet to bring around his
car.
    The clerk returned with a man’s coat along
with her own as well as her purse. Zach tipped the bellboy then
helped her into her coat before putting on his own.
    He guided her out into the crisp D.C. night
and she stuck her hands in her pockets to keep them warm.
    “Is this yours?” she asked as a gorgeous
silver Jaguar drove up to the curb. The valet stepped out and gave
a slight bow to Zach.
    “Do you think I borrowed it for the night?”
Zach asked in a teasing voice.
    The valet went to the passenger side and held
the door open for Christy. Zach helped her into the low-slung car
and the valet shut the door behind her.
    After he tipped the valet, Zach climbed into
the Jag.
    It was then that the enormity of it all hit
her. Zach had just bid on her and won. Earlier in the evening she
had spilled out how much she wanted to be the woman in the pictures
Zach had. What did she get herself into?
    She swallowed. “Where are we going?”
    “I thought we’d cap off the evening with a
drink.” He