Resist Me

Ford Harden just paid twelve thousand dollars for a date with me.<br /> <i>Me</i>. And I have no idea why.<br /><br /> Ford is bad news.<br /> He handles the money for his family's underground gambling ring, and weaponizes his smirk on every girl who looks his way.<br /> Not that I'm paying attention.<br /> I'm just trying to pass math, keep my sourdough starter alive, figure out my "sort of" thing with a very nice firefighter, and stay out of Ford's orbit entirely. Easy, right?<br /><br /> Except his brother is dating my best friend.<br /> And I showed up to a tutoring session and got a half-naked Ford instead.<br /> And I caught something in his eyes I wasn't supposed to see hidden beneath the smirk and the lime-green Jaguar.<br /> And I let my best friend talk me into a dating auction… which is for charity. Okay?<br /><br /> Now, here I am. On a stage. In a slinky black dress. Watching the billionaire prince of Harden Heights raise his hand and outbid every guy in the room.<br /> Me. June Withers. The curvy, working-class girl-next-door who's best friends with his brother's girlfriend.<br /> Twelve thousand dollars.<br /> For one night.<br /><br /> He's an experienced player.<br /> I'm in over my head.<br /> And the way he's looking at me isn't a dare anymore.<br /> It's a promise.<br /> The question isn't whether Ford Harden is trouble.<br /> The question is why a guy who's had everyone is suddenly only looking at me.<br /> And whether I'm reckless enough to find out.