Damaged: The Dillon Sisters Layla Frost (ebook reader with highlighter .txt) 📖

My paddle—bent, wrinkled, and crushed since I had no plans for it to see any action tonight—finds the space above my head. “Fifteen thousand.”

Brand’s eyes narrow and the doodle, as if understanding the worth of the hard-earned dollar, barks.

I don’t dare turn to see what my competition is doing and pray the small fortune I pledged is enough since my one and only credit card maxes out at sixteen thousand.

“Well, I’ll be!” The announcer waves his hand in the air and I remotely wonder if he doubles as a Southern Baptist preacher. “When they asked me to volunteer to lead tonight’s auction, I never—never—thought it would get as exciting as this. Fifteen-thousand dollars for a floppy-eared puppy and a date with a local hero. This is drama made for cable TV, if I’ve ever seen it. Do I hear sixteen?”

Please, no.

“Fifteen-five?” he eggs.

I swallow the bile that bubbles in my throat like the cauldron I’m about to dive into headfirst.

Female murmurs return and the hair on my arms stands straight. I hold my breath waiting for something.

Anything.

“Fifteen. Going once…”

Holy shit.

“Going twice…”

What have I done?

“Three times!”

I gasp as a beacon of light blinds me and I curse the audacity that masked itself as bravery just hours ago.

Bravery, my ass.

Consequences can be life changing. I fear I’ve tickled the beast.

I jerk at the slam of the gavel, sealing my fate. “The broody Brand and happy pup go to bidder six-four-two-eight, the lovely lady in black with a philanthropic heart.”

Philanthropic my ass.

As cheers erupt around me, I don’t waste any time. With the damn paddle in my sweaty grip, I turn on my cheap heel and head for the back of the room.

When I exit the ballroom doors, Kate is nowhere to be found, but there is a line at the table where I’m supposed to pay for my overwhelming obsession. I ignore every woman waiting and cut straight to the front. “Excuse me, I’m a doctor. I’ve been called out on an emergency. I need to pay for the damage.”

The young woman can’t be older than Briar. I hand her my paddle, ignore the comments from the line behind me, and turn and scan the area for Kate or, worse, my new dog and my date.

Dammit. I don’t even know what to do with a dog.

“Wow.” I look to the woman who is now staring wide-eyed at the tablet in front of her. “You’re a big spender! That will be fifteen-thousand dollars.”

My stomach roils as I hand over the credit card I keep only for emergencies, even though this does not qualify. She swipes and I sign—my gritty signature the only hint of the frayed nerves I’m barely clinging to.

“I need to leave. Please have the rescue organization contact me about the dog—”

She interrupts with a smile, reminding me of the hell I’ve just gotten myself into. “And your date.”

“Yes, that too.” I wave her off, stuffing my abused credit card back into my small clutch.

“Thank you for your donation,” she calls but I’m already halfway out the door, my dupes not carrying me nearly as fast as I need.

I type out a quick text to Kate, lying to my only friend about my non-existent emergency, telling her to take the Uber, and that I’ll call her tomorrow. She’s used to me putting my patients first—it isn’t the first time I’ve dumped her in the middle of a night out.

The cool night air fills my lungs as I move as quickly as I can around the corner of the building. I barely get ten feet into the dark alley before it happens. I drop to my hands and knees, ignoring the bite of rocks and wet, cold concrete on my bare skin. Appetizers, wine, and the protein shake I chugged on our way here haunts me as the contents of my stomach empty and splatter in front of me. Poor decisions chased by dry heaves are the very physical reminders of what I’ve done.

I tremble but it has nothing to do with the cool, moist air seeping through my barely-there cocktail dress. It offers no protection from the elements or my own self-absorbed and sick fascination.

I cough and spit as I drag myself to my feet. The buzz of my phone vibrates through my purse. I’m sure it’s Kate, but I don’t dare look. Instead, I move through the dark passageway between buildings, a place I have no business lurking by myself.

I need a taxi.

I need my treadmill.

I need a shower and definitely a toothbrush.

But what I need now more than anything…

Is a plan.

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Titles by Layla Frost

THE DILLON SISTERS

Damaged by Layla Frost

Deathly by Brynne Asher

THE HYDE SERIES

Hyde and Seek

Until Nox: Happily Ever Alpha World

The Amato Series

With Us

THE FOUR

Styx

Stoned

STANDALONES

Give In

Little Dove