Wes and his partner Paul had adopted three fur babies through Ruby’s shelter and they’d become fast friends. When she’d asked him to be the MC for the evening, he’d been thrilled. “Oh, honey, whatever you need. Seriously, if anyone can whip up a crowd to part with their money, I’m your guy.”
Ruby sat in a chair off to the side of the stage and watched him work the crowd. The food and drink had certainly opened their wallets tonight. With Wes cajoling and challenging them, the bids rose as people tried to compete over each donated big ticket item. She’d lost count of how much they’d raised because she got so involved watching the crowd fighting over their bids.
Wes called for quiet, taking a dramatic pause. “And now, the final auction for the evening. I want you all to get out the big checkbooks here, folks. This is going to be expensive because this woman hasn’t accepted a date in more than five years. Miss Ruby Costello is going to take one lucky buyer on a night to remember to one of Sausalito’s finest restaurants. This date will take place one night in the next week. An evening chosen by mutual agreement.”
“No.” Ruby stood and hurried over to Wes, grabbing his arm. “I never put this on the list.”
He held the mic away from his face. “It’s a surprise I organized but don’t worry, honey. I know this is going to be the talk of the town for weeks. People will love that you put yourself on the line for what you believe in.” The stage whisper reverberated around the room and everyone stared at them.
“No. I won’t let you do it. Don’t waste your money on buying me meals.” She wasn’t ready to date anyone. “Make a donation to the shelter instead.”
“You can take me out.” A voice from the crowd called out.
“Me too. How much do you want?” Came another voice. Soon the room erupted in a sea of noise as people shouted for the auction to go ahead. Her protests were quickly drowned as more people shouted their support for the idea.
“Let’s start the bidding high folks. As you can see,” he winked at Ruby standing stunned beside him, “this divine woman is in high demand and it’s for a fabulous cause. You won’t be getting this date cheap, I can tell you that. As I said, she hasn’t dated in ages and after tonight, she may lock herself away in a cave and never forgive me so make the most of it.”
Wes grinned at her. “Every morsel of food, every drop of wine has been donated so chill, girlfriend. It’s a gift from Paul and I. Now let me get you the best price I can for this. Okay?”
Ruby glanced over the crowd. They wanted the chance to spend some more money and who was she to deny them that opportunity? It was for a good cause. Her cause. As much as she hated being in the spotlight, he was giving her no choice. Not if she wanted what was best for her beloved animals.
“Fine.” But she didn’t feel good about it. A sick rolling in her stomach had her holding her hand over her belly as Wes started the auction.
“What’s the opening bid? Someone start me at ten thousand dollars.”
She blinked and her mouth dropped open. What the heck!
“Twenty.”
“Fifty.”
The bidding was ferocious, quickly rising to almost seventy-thousand-dollars before a voice boomed over the crowd. A voice she recognized. “I challenge Miss. Costello to make that date a tour. How about we say a week of dates? Really give the crowd something to bid for.”
“But I have to work. I can’t take that much time off from the shelter.”
Simon shrugged. “Around business hours, of course.”
Wes grinned. “Now there’s a novel idea.” He gave her a slow stare. “Leave it with me, sweet girl.”
Before she could form a coherent word in her brain, the bidding started again.
“Seventy-five.”
“One hundred.”
Her ears began to ring and heat rushed over her face. Her legs trembled. Ruby felt as though she was a bystander watching from behind a thick pane of glass. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be happening. Every voice became white noise, all rushing around in her ears making no sense whatsoever. Ruby wanted to pass out, drift away from the madness surrounding her.
The hammer went down on the lectern scaring her and Wes grabbed her in his arms as the room erupted with thunderous applause.
He swung her around the stage and everything blurred. When he finally stopped and she managed to grab a breath, Ruby clutched his jacket lapels and stared at him. “How much?”
“Would you believe, one million dollars.” He squealed and kissed her on the lips. “You, my love, are in hot demand. And here you were, hiding yourself away in the shelter. Not one, but two billionaires in a bidding war over you. Two! Can you believe it? You are one special lady.”
Ruby looked over the crowd. She only knew one billionaire here tonight who would do such a thing. Beside Simon, Tyler raised his glass and gave her a shrug. Not Tyler too.
The sneak. She wanted to kill them both.
* * *
“She’s going to hate me.” Tyler pushed out a breath. “Sorry. I got carried away. Not like I was trying to outbid you or anything but I wanted Ruby to have the money.”
“No she won’t. She loves you, always has.” As much as he wanted to believe his own words, Simon had a measure of unease running down his spine. He’d come with the sole purpose of speaking to her again, trying to gauge her feelings for
