My breath caught.
It was him.
Earlier he’d been dressed in a golf shirt and khakis.
Tonight, he wore an elegant tuxedo.
But those eyes. There was no way I could ever forget those eyes.
His hair had been windblown earlier, but it looked just as yummy slicked back tonight. I glanced at his hands. He casually clasped the leash for his rescue dog– a miniature dachshund, black and brown with white peppered spots. The poor thing looked like somebody had sprinkled cooking flour on him.
My mind felt fuzzy and I wasn’t’ sure if the alcohol caused it or my repressed sexual frustrations.
And then Bachelor Number five held my gaze.
I’d thought the vodka had warmed my veins; this man sent fire coursing through them. Roaring filled my ears and I could barely hear the auctioneer over my own heartbeat.
The auctioneer! Women were jumping up and bidding like crazy. “Three thousand, three thousand, five hundred.”
This was my cue. This was why I’d come tonight.
I waved my sign in the air and the whites of his teeth flashed at me. Four thousand. I’d just bid four thousand dollars on a man. Little wrinkles appeared at the edges of those amazing eyes when he grinned.
The auctioneer’s voice pushed for more. “Four thousand five? Yes? Five thousand?” I waived my sign again. Holy shit. I took another sip of my martini and was disappointed to find my glass empty. Sweat broke out behind my neck. My dress suddenly itched all over.
“Five thousand, five hundred? Yes? Six thousand? Ah, to the lady in back. Six thousand, five hundred?” The bids came in quickly. Oh, my God! Before I could raise my sign again the auctioneer pointed to another lady on the opposite side of the stage.
“Seven thousand?” My hand shot up. Dizziness threatened my equilibrium as lights flashed in the background.
“She’s got it bad over here.” The auctioneer nodded at me. “Seven thousand five hundred? Yes. How about eight?” Music thrummed and my bachelor swung his gaze back toward me.
“Ten thousand!” I was on my feet. Was that me?
It was.
Mister Key West was holding the dog now and couldn’t have looked more pleased.
Neither could the auctioneer.
“Ten thousand going once, twice? Sold to the lucky bidder up front.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Holly
My knees wereshaking so hard I nearly fell back into my seat.
“That’s my grandson!” Gert’s excitement broke through my alcohol induced haze. The spinning feeling clued me in to the fact that I’d drank far too many lemon drops. What was the saying? Martinis are like boobs. One’s not enough, three’s too many but two is just right. My eyebrows shot up as I counted three empty martini glasses in front of me. And that didn’t include the one I drank before sitting down. I nearly burst out laughing at the thought of me with four boobs.
Yep, I’d had a few too many.
Gert was talking to me though… what was she saying? Bachelor Number five was her Grandson?
“Your grandson is a senator?” I asked. My mouth had difficulty forming the words properly. I remember feeling this way when I’d been outside too long when the temperature was below freezing. My tongue refused to form words properly.
I ought to kill my friendly bartender.
Gert laughed. “Not that I know of.”
