Free Keys to Love by S. J. Frost Page B

“Alright, Kenny, you’ve beat Keys to Love 63
    Brad by a thousand bucks, which is pretty lame for a lead guitar.
    Sorry, but I either got to open the floor to the men, or you need to drop your drawers and show the ladies what they’re really bidding for.”
    Kenny’s jaw dropped rather than his pants.
    As the raucous crowd settled, a female voice called out, “Twenty-seven thousand.”
    Julian looked to the crowd and let out a surprised cough.
    Sitting toward the back of the hall, Krista Hansen held up her numbered paddle.
    “Awesome!” Jesse said. “We have twenty-seven. How about twenty-eight?”
    The blonde who Krista outbid snapped her paddle up.
    “Twenty-eight!”
    Just as she finished her last word, Krista shoved her paddle high. “Twenty-nine!”
    Julian watched as Kenny staggered back a step, and for an instant, he thought Kenny might faint. But Kenny kept himself standing, if not a little wobbly.
    Jesse looked to the blonde. “Your bid. She jumped it to twenty-nine. How about thirty?”
    With a discontented look, the blonde shook her head.
    Jesse raised his gavel above the podium, called out for other bids, and when none came, he slammed it down, declaring Kenny sold.
    Julian saw Krista glowing in her victory, but he couldn’t help but wonder where she’d get the money. He doubted Greg would fund her going on a date with Kenny, not even for such a good cause. He glanced to his side as Evan walked up. “Well that was unexpected.”
    “For everyone except me, Jess, and Krista.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Remember when Krista pulled me and Jess aside last week?
    64 S.J. Frost
    She asked if we could help her get him. Of course we said yes. We looked at it that we’ll just be donating a little extra to the foundation and told her to go as high as she needed. Plus, you know Jess was bouncing off the walls at getting to play matchmaker. His saying he was going to open the floor to men was her cue to jump into the bidding. We wanted it to go as high as it could on it’s own, then see if her coming in at the last second could up it some more.”
    Julian grinned. “You guys are horribly wicked.”
    Evan laughed. “Yeah, but it feels so good.”
    Kenny walked off stage, his eyes and expression glazed.
    “Krista…Krista bought me.”
    “That’s awesome, man!” Robbie said. “You got your girl!”
    Kenny whipped his head toward him, his dazed look replaced by panic. “No I don’t! Now I have to go out on a date with her!
    Like, just the two of us!”
    Brad snorted. “Uh, yeah, that’s how most dates work.”
    “But then I’ll really make an ass of myself!”
    Julian gave him a shove. “Like you said last week, making an ass of yourself in front of her is a habit. But since she still showed up to bid on you, obviously it doesn’t bother her.”
    Kenny’s panicked expression dropped as a non-amused one took over. “That doesn’t really help.”
    “And as I’m sure Jesse would put it,” Evan added, “she probably thinks your dork ass is sexy.”
    Kenny looked at him. “Yeah, that’s exactly what he’d say and it doesn’t help either. What do you say?”
    Evan smiled. “I say she must feel the same way about you, if she’s willing to pay just for some time alone with you.”
    Kenny nodded thoughtfully. “I like that better.”
    Having announced the line-up for the next items, Jesse walked off stage while a crew brought out a white grand piano, and to give the audience a moment to catch their breath and gather their Keys to Love 65
    wallets. Evan handed him a bottle of water and Jesse took it while smirking at Kenny. “So, what do you think of your winner?”
    Kenny stared at him. “You were behind this, weren’t you?”
    “Well, I didn’t work alone.”
    Kenny shook his head slightly, as if still in disbelief. “I don’t even know what to say, how to thank you—”
    Jesse held up a hand, stopping Kenny’s words. “You don’t have to say anything, and you sure as hell