1
Finn peeked out at the stage with his stomach in knots, suddenly aware of just how many people had come to this thing. The place was packed wall-to-wall with women wearing dresses that would have cost him a month’s pay, a few men scattered between them, all of them here with their checkbooks ready.
That was good—the sanctuary needed all the donations it could get—but it was also terrifying.
Especially since they were all about to bid on a date with him.
Well, probably notallof them.
Crap, what ifno onedid?
What if he stood up there and the bidding started and no one even stuck up their hand? What if he had to walk off the stage, humiliated, because not even one rich old lady wanted to hang out with him for a few hours?
“And now, our most anticipated lot for the evening,” May said, in her gorgeous sparkling gown with her big, kind voice, gesturing toward where Finn had been peeking out. “A date with the sanctuary’s very own veterinarian, Finn!”
That was his cue.
He swallowed thickly, took a deep breath that wasn’t nearly as calming as he would have liked, and stepped out onto the stage to…
Cheering. And wolf-whistles.
The roar of the crowd was deafening, matched by the way his heart was suddenly pounding in his chest. His whole body vibrated as he came to stand beside May, on full display for everyone to see.
Finn wasn’t entirely sure this was better than not being bid on at all, but he’d take it. The rush of blood in his ears was distracting him from how much he wanted to throw up right now.
He should have worn a shirt. Everyone waslookingat him, and it was a little cold up here.
At least he’d kept his pants on.
Even after Oscar had suggested they’d get more bids if he went out in his underwear.
“Shall we start at an extremely reasonable five hundred dollars?” May asked.
A dozen placards went up. Finn’s eyes widened.
“Now now, ladies, let’s not all bid at once.”
Finn stared out at the crowd as the bidding reached the thousands in what felt like a matter of seconds, his vision starting to blur as he heard things likelast call for three thousandringing in his ears.
At least he didn’t have to worry about not being bid on.
Three thousand dollars for an afternoon with him. Wow.
“Five,” came a male voice from the back of the room.
“Five thousand to Mr. Matthews in the back,” May said. “Any advances on that?”
Five thousand dollars?
Finn peered into the back of the audience, but between the bright lights and the shadow of the balcony of the auditorium they were using, he couldn’t see the man—Mr. Matthews—who’d bid on him.
He really hadn’t expected to be bid on by a man.
Not that he minded, exactly. He’d expected to end up being bought by a rich old lady who wanted to play pretend for an afternoon, not… someone who might actually be attracted to him.
Or maybe not. Maybe this was just philanthropy from someone who really liked animals and happened to be a guy.
A guy about Finn’s age, from the sound of his voice. Not that two words was really enough to judge by.
