Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
I set the hat on the chair behind me and hang the bag on a hook to unzip it. I hold my breath as I unveil the outfit. The white material is no surprise. It looks like all the other women are wearing white tonight. It’s a silky material, and as I lift it out, I open the bag to see where the rest of it is. I look over at the woman next to me, who’s fixing her hair in the mirror. “I don’t think I’ve ever worn anything this short in my life.”
She laughs and holds up the garment. “Cute. It’s going to look great.”
I take it back from her with a doubtful look.
I strip down to my bra and panties and then put the outfit on. It’s a short dress that looks like overalls on the top. I twist side to side, thinking this can’t be right.
The woman next to me laughs again. “You can’t wear a bra with that. Did you read the instructions? No bras for this auction.”
I clench my eyes shut and shake my head. What was I thinking? Not only am I agreeing to have sex with some man I don’t even know, I’m now going to have to parade my almost naked body in a room full of men.
I release the clasp of my bra and pull the straps down my arms and stuff it into my bag. I huff and start searching through the bag that held the outfit. Surely there’s more to it. I put my hand on a piece of silk at the bottom of the bag and pull it out. Sure enough, it’s the tiniest piece of underwear I’ve ever seen. I take off my own and put the scrap of material on. The string goes up my ass, and I shift uncomfortably. You have to be shitting me. Women actually choose to wear these things?
Panic starts to rise, and I sit down in the chair. I focus on a pair of white cowboy boots sitting under the garment bag and take deep breaths. I try to clear my mind, but it’s not working. Because every thought I have is of Cole Rogers.
The woman next to me comes and puts her hand on my back. “We’re almost up. Are you okay?”
I shake my head and keep breathing. “I don’t think I can do this.”
She tilts her head and stares at me with a measured look. She grabs my arms and helps me stand up. “Okay, tell me... sorry, what’s your name?”
“Sassy. My name is Sassy.”
She smiles and nods. “Right. Sassy, tell me, if you say fuck it and walk out the door, what will you lose?”
I stutter, “A million dollars.”
She pins me with a look. “No, honey, that’s just money. I’m talking about the reason you’re here... or are you just here for the money?”
Finally, I get what she’s asking. “I lose my family’s ranch. The one that’s been in my family for generations. If that happens, I’ll probably lose my father because he won’t make it if he has to leave his ranch. He would be devastated.”
She nods, smiling. “Right. See, now we’re getting somewhere. Okay, so say you leave here and lose your ranch, let your dad down... can you live with yourself?”
I choke back a sob. “No.”
She nods excitedly. “Okay, so say you stay and go through with this. What do you lose?”
My first thought is of course Cole, but I don’t mention him. It’s not like he’s mine to lose. So I say the one thing I know I’ll lose. “My virginity.”
She laughs. “Yep, and can you live with that?”
I know what she wants me to say. I’m not proud of what I’m doing, but I’m going to do it all the same. “Yeah, I can.”
She leans over and grabs the white cowboy boots and squats down in front of me. “Lift.”
I do as she says, and she helps me put my boots on. “Now get out there. You got this, Sassy!”
I impulsively reach for her. “Thank you.”
She shrugs and pats me on the back. “It’s nothing. Good luck.”
I nod and walk over to the curtain to get in line. There are two women in front of me, and I pull my shoulders back. I can do this. I can do this.
I keep moving forward, repeating my little mantra and hoping that I’ll start to believe it soon. Because whether I want to do this or not, I have to. I can’t turn back now.
Cole
I sit on the edge of my seat and look up at the lighted stage. This whole thing is insane, but I’m not leaving without Sassy. It took me a week to get the invitation to this thing. I’ve had all kinds of credit checks, background checks, and everything done, and now here I sit waiting for the announcer to say Sassy’s name.