Star of His Heart - Brenda Jackson [46]
“You lead and I’ll definitely follow, Miss Gilford. And I do hope that it is Miss.”
Rainey smiled up at the man. “Yes, it is.” She glanced down at his hand and didn’t see a wedding band there. She then met his gaze once more. “And I assume that you’re single, too.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Netherland couldn’t contain her chuckle as she watched Rainey walk away with Howard Reeves following behind. She couldn’t quite decide who appeared to be more taken with whom—Rainey with Howard Reeves or Howard Reeves with Rainey.
A few minutes later Rainey returned. She was all smiles.
“If I were to cut all the lights out in here I’d bet any amount of money that you’d glow in the dark,” Netherland whispered to her friend.
“I wouldn’t doubt it. That man is something else. Wow!”
Netherland shook her head. “I take it he turns you on.”
“And then some. I’d like to get to know that brother up close and personal.”
Netherland lifted a brow. “Are you still planning to bid on Alex Maxwell tonight?”
Rainey smiled as she glanced over to the head table. Howard Reeves looked her way and their gazes locked. The rest of the room became a blur all around her. Her smile widened and when it did, one corner of Howard Reeves’s mouth tilted likewise as his sharp, assessing eyes held her spellbound while he flirted with her using nothing more than his smile and his eyes in the process. Rainey returned the soundless flirtation, letting him know she reciprocated his interest.
“Rainey? Rainey?” Netherland finally nudged her elbow into Rainey’s ribs to get her attention. “Rainey?”
Rainey reluctantly broke eye contact with Howard Reeves. “What?”
“I asked if you’re still planning to bid on Alex Maxwell tonight.”
Rainey looked back over at the head table. Howard Reeves was still looking at her, and something electrical seemed to cross the room and pass between them. She reluctantly broke eye contact with him again to respond to Netherland’s question. She smiled sweetly at her friend and asked, “Alex who?”
Promptly at eight, dinner was served. Excitement in the room began building an hour or so later when everyone’s meal had been cleared away. It was time for the auction to begin.
Syneda went up on stage. Standing at the podium, she thanked everyone for coming and supporting the Children Home Society with their contributions. She then introduced the mistress and master of ceremonies for tonight’s affair. Before Sterling and Diamond could make it to the stage, the audience became even more energized, and a furor of excitement surged through the room when the two movie stars were given a standing ovation. Their movie, Black Butterfly, was predicted to be the summer’s blockbuster hit and was scheduled to be released at the theaters in a few months.
Sterling and Diamond spent a few minutes dazzling the audience before turning things over to the man who had agreed to serve as the night’s auctioneer—three-time Heisman Trophy winner and the recipient of five Super Bowl rings; a man known worldwide as the greatest running back in the history of the NFL, legendary football great Trask “The Max” Maxwell. Trask, too, got a standing ovation.
After thanking everyone he rapped his gavel on the podium to silence the crowd and get things under way. “Ladies and gentlemen, but especially you lovely single sisters out there tonight, we’ve finally reached the moment all of you’ve been waiting for. As everyone who’s come before me has stated, all proceeds, which includes the price you paid for your tickets, will go to the Children Home Society. If you will refer to your program booklet, you will find the names of all the brothers who are being auctioned tonight, along with their personal bios—which I’m sure you’ll find impressive. As indicated the persons with the highest bids for the first nine brothers are entitled to dinner at various exclusive restaurants in the city. The person with the highest bid for Brother Number Ten gets to spend a weekend in New Orleans French Quarter. We will begin the bidding with Brother Number One, Blade Madaris.”
At that moment Blade