Having managed to tear my gaze from Mr. Lee, I look down at the hardwood flooring. My heart beats a mile a minute. Should I back out now? Or should I wait? Maybe I won’t even get picked.
“What’s with this one?” Eric asks of me.
My face turns beet red. I’m sure the color takes over my whole face. I don’t blush pretty. Instead, I tend to look like fruit...cherries, apples, cranberries.
“She’s special,” Dan drawls. “The innocent girl-next-door you always wanted to bang and turn into a whore.”
I think I look more like an eggplant now. I can’t do this.
Eric looks at my chest. “Interesting, but I’m more of a tit-man.” He walks over to Sierra and takes a long look at her cleavage. “This one looks real good.”
Sierra gives him an encouraging smile.
“But I should let my guest pick first.” He turns to look over at Lee. “See anything you like?”
“If not, I’ve got more back in the city,” Dan adds. “Any color, shape you want.”
“Only five thousand each for the week.”
“Except the virgins. That would be the two lovely ladies at the end there. Mr. Drumm and I agreed their special qualities command a much higher price.”
Lee stares at Eric with a frown. “I don’t need to buy my women.”
“I don’t either,” Eric replies, “but it’s a lot more fun this way. Plus, they’ve been screened, and the NDAs are taken care of. Less hassle for us. No worries that some bitch might be trying to take secret pics of you to sell to the tabloids, though my dad’s attorney has a great connect with most of them. And there are no expectations beyond the week. So which one do you like? You can pick two if you want. I know price isn’t a concern for you.”
“I’m paying?”
Eric looks slightly abashed. “I guess—as the host—it’s my treat.”
Even though the Drumms are worth something like three billion dollars, it’s clear Eric isn’t thrilled with having to pay. He walks over to Julia. “How about this one? She’s cute.”
“The one at the end.”
I start. Is he referring to me?
“Great choice,” Dan beams.
My pulse escalates. I panic, which shuts down my thinking. If I were facing a saber-tooth tiger, I’d be dead meat.
Eric leans over to Dan. “Did you say they were fifteen thousand?”
Dan looks taken aback. “We agreed twenty-five thousand, Mr. Drumm.”
Eric purses his lip in displeasure. “Right. I guess I’ll take the blond.”
“Great choice,” Dan repeats. “I’ll be in touch with your assistant, Ms. Sanderson, about the particulars.”
Eric nods. Dan begins to usher Rachel, Abril and Julia out. I want to follow them but am still frozen to my spot. Feeling Lee’s gaze on me, I glance toward him. He doesn’t look happy at all and turns to the billiard table, aiming the stick at the cue ball.
Eric walks over. “Why does this pool table look so large?”
“This table isn’t yours?” Lee asks.
“This isn’t my place. It belongs to one of my dad’s attorneys. I don’t really like traveling to California. I mean, why come to this state when the sun in Florida is just as nice? Too many crazies and hippies live in this state.”
“So why do you want to develop here?”
“Makes financial sense. That’s what makes us Drumms such great businessmen. My dad’s willing to stomach his distaste for this commie red state if the opportunity is right.”