The Marriage Auction: Book One(17)

Suddenly, I felt a touch as Jade took my hand in hers. Then she turned to the side and interlaced her fingers with Dakota’s, who did the same with her sister Savannah’s hand. Savannah held on to Faith who reached out to Memphis.

We were in this together. Even though we weren’t.

Once we signed on the dotted line after the bidding and auction ended, each one of us would be on our own.

Alone.

I shivered, and Jade squeezed my hand.

Dakota tapped my shoulder. “You’re going to do great. Just remember why you’re here. Focus on the reason behind this decision. That’s all any of us can do,” she said softly. “Don’t worry that Stephanie didn’t get picked. You’re not her.”

“We look a lot alike though…” I swallowed against the dryness in my throat.

“Doesn’t matter. Just do your thing out there. Sell it, girl. We believe in you,” Dakota whispered, and I took her belief to heart. They believed in me. My sister back home believed in me. I just needed to believe in myself. I could do this.

I inhaled fully and let it out, my spine straightening as I filled up on hope, security, and the endless possibilities ahead .

“Our third candidate tonight is Ms. Ruby Dawson. Please enter the stage, Ruby,” Madam Alana announced over a speaker. Then the black drapes opened.

I let go of Jade’s hand along with any lingering fear. This was just like stepping out on the stage to do a routine back home. Only tonight, I was dressed to impress. My stunning red gown cut across my shoulders in a wide sweep of fabric. Underneath, I wore a red strapless bustier that highlighted my amble bosom, making the dress ultra-sexy. I felt like a million dollars as I took the stairs carefully. The dress flowed along my form in an hourglass shape that made me look long and curvy. There was a short train that trailed behind the glittering red stilettos on my feet.

The moment I hit the top step, the lights were blinding. My instinct was to cover my eyes to try and shade my view so I could see the audience, but that wouldn’t look pretty or elegant. I was shooting for both. Instead, I smiled wide as though I were on the runway for a Miss America pageant, not about to be auctioned off for an arranged marriage.

“What did I tell you, ladies and gentlemen? We have a feast for the eyes this evening.”

I chanced a glance at Madam Alana and preened for her benefit. Then I walked my slinky self down the runway and stopped at the X at the end. I placed both my hands on my waist in the Wonder Woman pose I’d perfected with my stylist. Then I turned to the side and rested my hand on my slight booty. I didn’t have a lot of junk in the trunk, but a stripper knew exactly how to showcase her body.

I worked each side, turning around and making small movements that I knew would highlight this feature or that. Then as I stared into the blackness of the bidders, I knew there were dozens or more eyes on me. So I lifted my hand up to my mouth and blew a kiss toward the audience, ending it with a flirty wink.

“Let’s hear it for Ruby Dawson, my friends,” Madam Alana stated, and I was surprised to find the attendees clapping and the sound of fists hitting wooden tables rumbling through the open room.

With an exaggerated hip sway, I glided to the first X nearest Madam Alana and spun slowly into the standing pose I’d chosen with my stylist.

“Ruby Dawson is twenty-one with blue eyes and blonde hair. She is naturally five foot ten. Her interests include dancing, reading, walks along the beach, and picnics. She is a high school graduate with no record of any kind and has the sweetest Southern accent.” Madam Alana spoke softly into the microphone, making me sound amazing when I was anything but.

I clenched my jaw as she continued. If I was honest, I couldn’t remember the last time I read a book, but then again when asked my hobbies, I wasn’t about to put down stripping, shooting back beers while watching a football game, or enjoying a honky-tonk night at the local pub. So I did what any good liar would do. I put down my sister’s hobbies.

“Before we move to the lingerie portion of our show, it’s time to ascertain interest in Ms. Ruby Dawson, candidate number three. For all those who are eligible in this auction, please select the Yes, No, or Maybe button on your remotes.” Madam Alana held up the device I imagined each bidder had.

A slither of uncertainty wove through my veins as I held my pose. She’d never said anything about a rating system. Which was probably wise. Knowing that we would be rated before the bidding even began was a definite hit to my confidence.

Madam Alana turned to look at me and then toward something at my back. I followed her movements and eased to the side. A giant screen taking up most of the stage hung from the ceiling. On the screen was the headshot I’d taken earlier after my hair and makeup had been done. Next to the image were my physical stats. Everything was there. My age, height, weight, bra size, dress size, shoe size, and everything in between. If I wasn’t already so shocked, I’d be terrified.

Then I watched with dread as the screen changed and the audience results were clearly displayed on the screen.

My entire body heated, and my heart soared right along with my confidence. I read the scores on the screen.

YES – 20

NO – 15

MAYBE – 15

Fifty eligible bachelors were out there, and my odds of securing one of them were awesome. Twenty of them were very interested and another fifteen had said maybe. I could work with those numbers. I turned to the audience, beaming.