Sold on You (2 page)

When it came to her causes, Gabriela was passionate and pigheaded. Her prim, businesslike manner had never appealed to Marcos, and that was precisely the reason he'd waited till the end of the auction to bid on her. Normally reserved and proper, she was the one woman who would fit the bill for his plan.

But he hadn't expected her to look so
hot
.

Marcos' jaw dropped as he took in her hourglass figure, an ample bosom above a tiny waist and round hips, and endless, shapely legs. This hip-swaying bombshell couldn't be the same Gabriela who hid behind demure, oversize suits—the same woman who always seemed to be on opposing sides from him at hospital board meetings.

"What happened to the proper social worker?" Marcos asked Dr. Alex Cortes, his colleague bidding beside him.

"I don't know, but Gabriela looks damn sexy tonight. Two thousand dollars!" Alex called out, upping the amount from a thousand.

"Quit bidding on her," Marcos muttered, raising his paddle when the auctioneer called for two thousand, five hundred.

"I can't help it. Who woulda known she was hiding a body like that? Those curves—"

"Knock it off. I need to win," Marcos retorted.

"Five thousand," another bidder called out.

Marcos' head swiveled around to find an older gentleman holding up his paddle with a determined look on his face.

"Who the hell is that?" Marcos asked Alex.

"Ruben Ball, self-made millionaire. He must want a piece of her, too."

"Well, he's not getting any. She's mine. I need her for the weekend."

Alex chuckled. "I don't blame you. Okay, I'm out. She's all yours."

Marcos lifted his card and raised the bid to ten thousand, ignoring the mocking grin on Alex's face as he concentrated on outbidding his other opponent.

"Ten thousand dollars," the auctioneer repeated. "Do I see ten thousand five?"

Marcos leveled a fierce look at his opponent.

Undeterred, Ruben raised his paddle.

"Ten thousand five. Do I see a bid for eleven for this gorgeous creature?" the auctioneer called out, revving up the audience's interest with a meaningful look.

"Fifteen thousand!" Marcos shouted, ignoring Gabriela's glower when they locked eyes.

"Fifteen thousand! Do I see fifteen five?" the auctioneer asked, his keen gaze scanning the audience.

Ruben took a moment to ponder it and then shook his head ruefully, signaling he was out of the running. Marcos flashed a victorious smile and winked at Gabriela.

"Fifteen thousand once, fifteen thousand twice. Done! The weekend date with Gabriela Morales goes to Dr. Marcos Calderon for fifteen thousand dollars!" the auctioneer announced gleefully. "This concludes our bachelorette auction. Gentlemen, please adjourn to the Vanderbilt Ballroom with your dates."

Gabriela barely made it off the stage without openly glaring at that arrogant Dr. Calderon, who'd had the nerve to wink at her when their eyes met. How dare he ruin everything!

What happened to Ruben Ball, the shy widowed lawyer, who was supposed to bid higher than everyone else for a weekend date with her?

Why would arrogant Dr. Calderon be willing to divest himself of so much money for a date with her when most of the women at the hospital were throwing themselves at him? she wondered uneasily. From what she'd seen, his tastes ran more toward cool blondes.

Once she was safely inside the dressing room, Gabriela was glad the other women had already gone into the audience to meet their respective dates. She stared at the unfamiliar seductive woman in the mirror returning her gaze. She had never worn so much makeup in her life. Her green eyes smoldered with smoky eye shadow and black eyeliner, her mouth looked like a swollen cherry, thanks to Sabrina's vivid red lip gloss, and her cheeks glowed hot pink, a combination of cream blush and being upset over her predicament.

She did
not
want have a date with Dr. Calderon, but she was stuck and it was her own fault. She had come up with the idea for a charity fashion show, and then approached Sabrina Munson, renowned for her organizational skills and contacts in the community, to chair it. Unfortunately, Sabrina had taken it a step further, urging her to combine the fashion show with a bachelorette auction. Gabriela had agreed when she realized how much money could be made off the wealthiest bachelors in Naples, especially in December, the beginning of the snowbird tourist season.

The only good thing that would come of this date was the whopping fifteen thousand dollars Dr. Calderon had pledged to the Fresh Start center for unwed mothers.
Let him spend his wealth on something worthwhile.
He had probably never known a moment of hunger or a bout of struggle in his privileged life. And if that wasn't bad enough, he was stubborn and bossy and too handsome for his own good!

Gabriela studied her bountiful cleavage in the mirror. Thanks to the provocative gown Sabrina had chosen for her, her breasts were pushed upward like an offering of cupcakes. After he got an eyeful of that display, Dr. Calderon would surely expect more than companionship during their weekend date.

With a sigh, she gathered her long hair into a heavy knot at the back of her neck, anchoring it with the tortoiseshell clip she always used to tame it. A sly smile played at the corners of her mouth as a plan began to brew in her mind. If Dr. Calderon thought she had transformed her conservative image to bait a well-to-do bachelor, he had another thing coming.

The cocky doctor was in for a little surprise.

Chapter 2

Three bold knocks on the dressing room door jarred Gabriela as she changed from the gown into a business suit.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"Marcos Calderon," a deep male voice answered.

"Oh... hi... I can't open the door now. I'll meet you at the ballroom entrance," she said, stalling.

"Don't be long. The party has begun already."

"I'll be there shortly," she assured him, but she was in no rush to start their weekend together.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said.

Gabriela made a face as she listened to his retreating footsteps. Why should he be so anxious to spend a weekend with her? It wasn't as if he had ever shown her any personal interest. The times they'd worked together on a case, he had been professional and cordial, nothing else.

She glanced in the mirror and smiled at her freshly scrubbed face. Boy was Dr. Hot Shot in for a big surprise! She shoved the halter dress and her toiletry case in the bottom of her tote bag. Zipping it shut, she took a deep breath and flung the door open, looking side to side, lest she run into Sabrina.

When she deemed it safe to venture forth, she hurried across the back of the stage, down the sides of the ballroom, and toward the entrance, where she found Dr. Calderon pacing before the double doors.

She had to admit that his tall and broad-shouldered physique cut a handsome figure in the tailored black tuxedo. Just as he was checking his watch, Gabriela came up behind him and tapped his shoulder.

He whirled around and she had the satisfaction of seeing his shock. "Where's the bombshell I bid on? Why did you change?" he asked, a slight frown marring his handsome face. One square hand rubbed the top of his cropped, dark brown hair as he stared at her with genuine puzzlement.

She looked down at her loose brown suit. "I snagged my dress, so I had to change my clothes," she lied.

"That's not all you changed. You're all buttoned up again, just like work."

"This is me, take it or leave it," she said with a defiant glint in her eyes.

Dr. Calderon studied her bare, unmade-up face and sedate hairstyle, and then did a slow once-over that ended at her feet. "Glad you kept the shoes," he said with a sardonic lift of his brow.

Gabriela glanced at her shoes and merely shrugged. "I said I snagged my dress, not my shoes. Besides, they're pretty. "

He smiled. "And hot. Let's go inside. The orchestra is beginning to play."

Beside her, Dr. Calderon stood several inches taller than her five feet eight inches. She took his extended arm and entered the ballroom, instantly charmed by the winter wonderland theme. She'd have to remember to compliment Sabrina on the whimsically beautiful decor. The grand ballroom glistened with sparkling snowflakes dangling from the massive chandeliers. Individual tables were dressed in snowy white linen with velvety scarlet roses brimming from glass bowl centerpieces.

After seating Gabriela, Dr. Calderon sat across from her and motioned to the waiter. "We'll start with a bottle of Dom Perignon, please."

Gabriela's eyebrows rose at his extravagance, but she shouldn't have been surprised. What else could she expect from a man who'd been pampered by wealth, power, and good looks? He was probably unfazed at spending a large amount of money on a single bottle of the finest champagne. After all, hadn't he just pledged
fifteen thousand dollars
for a weekend with her?

"Are we celebrating something?" she inquired.

"Not yet, but soon." The corners of his lips lifted as his hazel eyes glimmered cryptically. "When I saw your name on the list, I knew you were the one I had to bid on."

"Why am I so honored, Dr. Calderon?"

"Call me Marcos," he said with an engaging smile.

The waiter returned with an ice-filled silver bucket. Uncorking the champagne bottle, he filled two long-stemmed crystal flutes.

"Thank you," Marcos said to the waiter before raising his glass to Gabriela. "To a great weekend."

"
Salud
," she toasted, wishing him good health in Spanish
.
She took a sip and savored the tiny bubbles of delicious champagne as they slid down her throat.

"Nice," she murmured.

Marcos' eyes crinkled at the corners as he studied her. "Roll?" he said, offering her the basket.

"Thanks." She accepted the dinner roll, not able to keep her gaze from his hands as he divided his roll and buttered it. Large masculine hands, strong yet gentle enough to deliver the tiniest of babies. Dr. Calderon's professional warmth and kindness toward new mothers and their infants was renowned in the hospital. Too bad he was a notorious player in his personal life, she thought, grimacing inwardly that she'd be his date for a whole weekend.

"Why did you bid so much on me?" she asked, giving him direct look.

"Because you're worth it."

"Well, I know that," she said flippantly, "but you haven't answered my question."

"We'll get to that later." He gestured toward the plate before her. "Let's enjoy dinner first."

Despite her growing unease, she tasted the salmon terrine and enjoyed its creamy texture and tasty seasoning.

"Tell me about yourself." Marcos' tapered fingers glided up and down the flute's glass stem with a lot more ease than she felt.

"You already know my name and that I'm a social worker." She sat back in her chair and squarely met his interested gaze. "What else would you like to know?"

"Where are you from?"

"I was born in Bogota, Colombia, but raised in Miami."

He nodded. "I've been to Bogota. It's a fun place. How did you end up in a resort town like Naples?"

"After getting my master's from the University of Miami, I took a job working with the migrants in Immokolee. A year ago, I joined Naples Regional Hospital staff and you know the rest," she said, sipping more champagne.

"Your work with unwed teenage mothers is commendable," he said, his tone sincere.

"Thanks." Marcos' unexpected compliment took her by surprise, and Gabriela's face suddenly felt warm. She glanced at the near empty crystal flute before her.
Better lay off that stuff and stay sharp.

His teeth flashed white against tanned skin as he smiled at her. "Why did you really change your dress?"

"It didn't fit my style. Neither does being auctioned off for a date. I've never done this sort of thing."

"Then why did you do it?" he asked, giving her a curious look beneath straight, brown brows. Up close, his hazel eyes were gorgeous, a stunning contrast of glinting jade green and topaz surrounded by thick, sable lashes.

She looked away and took a sip of champagne. "For my favorite charity. The Fresh Start Center for unwed mothers is so dear to my heart, the sacrifice of spending a whole weekend with you is worth it."

"I hope you'll feel differently by the end of the weekend."

"We'll see," she murmured, purposely giving him a hard time. She speared a tiny red bliss potato and popped it in her mouth and enjoyed the look of surprise on Marcos' face. He was probably wondering why she wasn't eager to spend the weekend with the hospital's most eligible bachelor in his late thirties, who was tall, dark and handsome—and wealthy.

Marcos regarded her with bemusement before turning his attention to the meal before him. His eyes glittered with a hint of danger when he glanced at her briefly, then continued to savor each tender forkful.

Just when she thought she was going to have to make polite conversation, he surprised her with, "Let's dance."

Those two simple words made Gabriela's pulse quicken. She hadn't planned on dancing with Dr. Calderon tonight, but she couldn't exactly refuse. She took a long sip of champagne and didn't let on how much she loved to dance. "Are you sure you want to?"