Chapter One - Ava

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I mumbled. The heel of my too-high stiletto caught in the crack of the sidewalk outside of the Post Oak Hotel. I stumbled against the pillar, my clutch in one hand and my other holding myself upright. This was a nightmare. I straightened myself and slid my palms down my dress, which belonged to my twin sister Charlotte. She was the reason I stood outside of this hotel in uptown Houston with every indication that I did not fit in. The women walking into the hotel were all wealthy, which I was not. My sister was a businesswoman. The one that owned a real estate agency that bought these types of dresses. The ones I window-shopped for on the weekend. I turned away from the sliding glass doors and took a deep, much-needed, breath. This auction was out of my comfort zone. Charlotte was a beautiful, successful, woman in her late twenties. I didn’t understand her need to pay for a date with an eligible bachelor. However, I’d Googled the man she wanted me to bid on and I understood the attraction. He was Fletcher Hines. The son of a notorious mafia family that owned a chain of Italian restaurants throughout the southern states. They were loaded, and frankly, under the radar for the most part. However, I’d heard the whispers throughout the streets and it was enough to keep me away from people like that. Until tonight. Tonight, I was bidding on this man with my sister’s cash because she had the flu. It only took her pleading with me for two solid days, and one thousand dollars, that I desperately needed, for me to agree. And I was regretting it. This was supposed to be Charlotte walking into this place and bidding on her date with this billionaire. Not me. I closed my eyes, seeing an image of the eviction notice currently sitting on my kitchen counter. I didn’t share Charlotte’s love for business. I was an aspiring artist who waited tables to make ends meet. Which was the reason I agreed, because I was desperate. Inhaling deeply, I gathered my courage and strolled toward the glass doors. I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection. My blonde hair was braided along the side of my head and pulled into a ponytail that fell into soft curls against my shoulder. The black dress was low-cut, with lacy sleeves and a silky skirt that touched the floor. My makeup wasn’t remarkable. I avoided my sister’s request for a picture before I left. She’d pick me apart for not looking good enough. She should be thankful I agreed to go. I walked into the hotel, which was known for its fancy venues for anything from weddings to conferences. Auctions as well. Who knew bachelor auctions were even a thing? What happened to meeting someone the old-fashioned way? I followed the crowd toward the left and down a hall. The tile sparkled like a toothpaste commercial and led us into a giant ballroom with an overhanging chandelier fancy enough for the royal palace. There were tables set up with nameplates for us to find our seats. I found mine quickly and sat down. Nerves skated down my spine. I placed my clutch beside my plate and looked at the time on a giant clock to my right. It should be starting any minute … Other women, who did not bother speaking to me, sat around me at our round table. I didn’t care. I’d mentally checked out before I walked inside. Someone tapped on the microphone and silence ensued over the room. An older gentleman wearing a tuxedo and a late-night advertisement smile stared back at us. “Hello, Houston.” His voice was radio DJ-worthy and made everyone chuckle. “I see many beautiful women in the room tonight. I can’t imagine why.” More laughter enveloped the room and I even chuckled at his playfulness. “The food is being brought around on trays while we begin. This is for the Henrietta Foundation, a charity based on helping children with life-threatening diseases.” They would use children as an excuse to display a bunch of handsome bachelors. “I’ll call one bachelor out at a time. Ladies, get your paddles ready because we’re about to begin.” A server stopped at our table and began to pass out steaks. I was glad Charlotte and I shared the same taste in food. She slid my medium-rare steak and potato onto my plate and my mouth watered. Steak was a luxury in my world. Maybe this would not be so bad. I sliced into the first piece and took a bite. I had to keep myself together from moaning, as I wanted. This alone was well worth the trip here. “Jacob Henry,” the announcer called out. A man with dirty-blonde hair and a lopsided smile walked onto the stage. My table began to whisper while I continued to eat. “Jacob is the CEO of Henry Motors which has dealerships across the state. We’ll start the bidding at one thousand.” Paddles shot up around the room. Most of the girls hadn’t touched their food. What a freaking waste. I took another bite as two women had a showdown over him. The smug smile on his face made me cringe. The men loved this. It was pathetic. Several more bachelors came out and went to very excited women in the audience. I was on my last few bites of steak when they called Fletcher Hines out on stage. An excited whisper echoed across the room. My fingers tightened around my fork as he walked out into the spotlight. Even the way he walked was attractive. It was smooth, like butter, and his dark eyes scanned the room as if he were the predator, not the prey. His dark cherry-colored suit was tailored to fit his lean body. The slope of his deltoids rounded off into impressive biceps that made me squirm in my seat. He angled his square jaw, as he looked from table to table, as if he was the one choosing a partner and not the other way around. His hair was ebony black with a short length on the sides, and a longer length on the top. Though it was pushed back with a gel that kept it in place. Those dark eyes shifted to my table and a shiver worked its way down my body. The intensity of the way he looked at me stopped me in my tracks. The fork in my hand halted inches from my mouth. I instantly understood why my sister was attracted to him. Everything about him was dark and attentive. He was observant and in charge. Judging by the ten thousand dollars my sister told me to bid, I knew she saw everything I did standing on that stage, and more. “Fletcher Hines is the co-owner of Hines Italian Restaurant, a five-star restaurant chain scattered around Texas and Louisiana. He’s thirty-three years old with a Master’s Degree in Business Management. We’re going to start our bidding at one thousand dollars.” Oh, crap. Here we go. I grabbed my paddle and nervously kept my eyes on my unfinished plate. I raised my paddle to one thousand dollars. I could feel his eyes on me but I didn’t dare look. This was the most uncomfortable I’d ever been in my entire life. The tips of my ears grew warm from embarrassment. “Two thousand.” I raised my paddle again, feeling Fletcher’s heated stare on the side of my face. Other women around the room kept bidding until we were at eight thousand dollars. There were only two more thousand left in the amount Charlotte instructed me to spend. If she didn’t win, she didn’t. I had instructions and I needed to follow them. “Nine thousand dollars,” the announcer shouted. I lifted my paddle and the room fell silent. Glancing around, I stared at a room full of angry women. I swallowed the lump of nerves in my throat and dared a look at the stage. “Looks like we have a winner. Bring your paddle and information to the gentleman in the far corner, Ma’am. He’ll get you set up for your date with Fletcher Hines.” Scattered applause lingered around the room as I stood up and walked toward the podium. I listened to my heart beating loudly in my chest when rough fingers wrapped around my upper arm and I was turned around. Fletcher Hines stood behind me, his hand wrapped around my arm and his eyes searching mine. I opened my mouth to tell him I wasn’t exactly Charlotte Terry, but he pulled a card from his pocket and flipped it to me between his fingertips. His scent wafted over me like a douse of water. It smelled woodsy, like a man, and was no doubt expensive. He opened his full mouth and said, “What’s your name?” “Charlotte Terry,” I lied. He didn’t need to know the details. He’d never know my sister and I switched places. “Meet me at this address, at this time, Charlotte. Don’t be late.” He let go of my arm and strolled out of the place like he owned it. I looked briefly over my shoulder as he left and scoffed. Rude much? Not that I cared. It wasn’t like he was my date. Have fun with that one, Charlotte. I’m out of here.