The Bachelor Auction(87)

Something wasn’t right. She just didn’t know what.

“Jane, did my grandfather get to you? Is that what this is about? Did he try to pay you off? Or threaten you?”

Jane froze. “Well.”

“Jane.” He exhaled loudly and placed his hands on her shoulders. “What the hell did he do to you?”

Her face flushed. “Well, he did offer me money to stay away from you. Enough money that I’d never have to clean another toilet. Ever. But then he seemed relieved when I turned him down.” But that made no sense. Why would he go to all that trouble? Something wasn’t adding up.

“Jane!” Bentley elbowed his way toward her, his smile wide.

“We’ll talk about this later.” Brock kissed her temple. “After you win.”

Bentley’s smile widened as he approached. “She cleaned up well, am I right?”

Jane rolled her eyes and stood up on her tiptoes to kiss Bentley on the cheek. At the last minute he turned so his mouth barely grazed hers. “Sorry, couldn’t help myself.”

Brock cursed beside her. “Do that again and I’m cutting off your dick.”

“Ooh…” Bentley winked at Jane and took a long sip of his champagne.

“Remember, I offered to take you off his hands. Until you have a ring on your finger, offer still stands.” His gaze heated. “Besides, he’s the one with the temper. I’m all about love…sexual healing…”

“I’ll do my best.” She shoved him away playfully as Brant approached the group. He had three different shades of lipstick spread across his neck.

“Such a selfish bastard. Leave some for us, too.” Bentley commented once Brant was in front of them.

Brant eyed her up and down again. “For the record, Brock, I approve.”

“Well, that’s a relief.” Jane stepped into his arms. Brant always smelled like women’s perfume. Always. Even at the ranch, which really made her wonder if he didn’t just wear it so that other women got jealous?

“Fruit of my loins!” Charles called out to his grandsons. “Gather ’round, my little chickens. The auction is about to start and I have something to say.”

The group fell silent.

Nadine’s lips were formed into an adoring smile as she blinked up at Charles.

“Tonight, Brock goes to the highest of the five bidders.” Jane tried to keep herself from tensing when he looked her way. His eyes lingered on her then briefly flickered to Nadine. “Now that that’s settled…” Charles eyed Brock. “Why don’t we go to the stage and get things started?”

Brock froze.

Jane squeezed his hand.

“Brock?” Charles tilted his head. “Is everything all right?”

“No,” Brock said, and turned to Jane. “But it will be.”





Chapter Forty-Five



I just love me a man market.” Nadine clapped her hands next to Jane, then fluffed up her hair with her bidding paddle. It wasn’t shocking at all that Nadine’s number was 666.

Jane’s paddle was number one.

She smiled down at it.

When she glanced back up at the stage Charles was making his way across it, smile wide as he approached the podium. “I’m very pleased to bring to you the first annual Bachelor Auction!” Applause erupted all over the building, while a very smug Brock winked in her direction.

Jane inclined her head toward him and smiled. He was really going to do it!

“You.” He mouthed the word.

Charles continued talking about the cancer society and why it was so important to donate to a cause so dear to his heart.

Cancer was a bitch. Jane knew that firsthand.

When Charles was done talking, Brock stepped forward. He probably had a speech prepared, but beyond that, she had no idea how she was to proceed except for lifting the paddle to bid on him.

“Jane.” Brock gazed across the room toward her. “Would you stand, please?”

Loud whispers erupted from the crowd as Jane locked eyes with Brock and repeated the word “trust” to herself about fifteen more times before finally rising to stand.

Nadine elbowed her sharply in the ribs and whispered. “Well? Are you just going to sit there and gape like a fish? Stand, girl! Present! And for the love of God lift your tits; your slouch is horrific!”

Jane bolted to her feet—mainly to keep Nadine from repeating what she’d just said, only louder—and beamed back at Brock

Was this part of his great plan?

Because she wasn’t really sure how pointing her out to everyone sitting there was a solid idea. Especially since her face had been plastered all over the news as his “before-auction fling.”