The Auction novel Chapter 21

Jayne POV

He thinks he is being slick. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt but I can see what he is now. I can see right through him. Tatina wants him to be innocent. I can see why she would need him to be. She wants a better life. I thought when I called Craig and begged him to bid on her that it would be for the best. I had no idea that he already had plans to bid on her. I had no idea he was buying women and selling their wombs to vampires.

“So what do you ladies plan on doing tonight?” Craig asks. His phone is buzzing crazy.

“We haven’t really made any,” Tatina says.

“I figured we would walk around and see what we could find. I thought I would book a ride on the riverboat,” I say.

“Sounds like fun,” Craig says. He looks at his phone. He looks distraught.

“Everything okay,” I ask.

“It is Lila. She is handling some business for me today,” he says.

The business my ass, he is up to no good.

“What kind of business?” I ask.

“I am closing some of my businesses and I put Lila in handling it so I can be here with Tatina,” Craig says.

Craig reaches for Tatina. She smiles at him. She does care for him.

“I am going to take my drink to go and go to a few shops. Why don’t the two of you spend some time together,” I suggest?

Tatina jumps at the idea. “Sounds great. I will meet you back at the hotel in a few hours,” she says.

I take my drink and leave the cookery. I pull out my phone. I scroll down to Glenn’s contact info and hit the message button.

*They are alone. Keep an eye on them. Lila is handling something for him today and I want to know what it is*

Craig POV

Jayne leaves Tatina and me alone. That was too easy. I feel like she is on to me. Matter of fact I know she knows. Tonight may be the only night I get with Tatina.

“I did not tell Jayne but I got a suite at the hotel across from the bourbon hotel. I wanted to be close to you. I plan to stay there for a week. I extended your and Jayne’s room for the week. So we have a week here in the city while Lila wraps up some business,” I tell her.

Tatina beams with excitement. “Good. We have a lot to talk about,” she says.

Oh damn, she knows too. Maybe I can explain myself to her. If she will forgive me and my mistakes then I can start over.

“Let’s eat then we can go for a walk,” I suggest.

The waitress brings out the food. “Another Gin and Tonic,” I tell the waitress.

“Hurricane for me please,” Tatina says.

“Have you and Jayne enjoyed your time here,” I ask?

Tatina shifts in her seat. I can tell she is stressed all of the sudden.

“Craig, I need to talk to you, but not here. Let’s eat and then leave. Don’t act any different. I will tell you everything back at your hotel,” she says.

I lean over and kiss her.  “Sounds good,” I say.

She leans over and kisses my ear. “Glenn is watching us,” she says. She kisses my cheek and snuggles closer to me.

“I saw him,” I say.

I pick up my fork and start feeding her from her plate. We laugh and enjoy our meal. We seem like a normal couple. If Glenn is watching he will not suspect she is about to tell me everything.

My phone buzzes again. “Everything okay,” Tatina asks.

I look at my phone and it is Lila again. “She can wait. I am with you now,” I say.

We finish up our meal. I pay the waitress and grab us two more to go drinks as we leave the cookery.

“What now?” I ask Tatina.

“I want to go back to your suite,” Tatina says.  She reaches for my hand. We walk hand in hand down the street drinking our to-go drinks. It is a short walk back to the hotel.

She doesn’t let go the entire walk. She sips her drink and squeezes my hand. As we get to the hotel she stops at a fishbowl vendor.

“I want one of those before we go up,” she says.

I reach into my wallet and hand her a twenty-dollar bill to grab her one. I wait on the street while she gets it. I check my phone.