Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
She arrived back in the ballroom just as the second to last man was auctioned off, leaving one bachelor left. Neil Pierson, she assumed, except as she moved closer to the stage and he stepped into the spotlight, she realized this man was not the staid accountant that had been advertised in the brochure.
No, he was the epitome of drop-dead gorgeous, and had quite the commanding presence in his fitted tuxedo. She couldn’t help but admire his broad shoulders and the rest of his perfectly proportioned body—tall and lean and sexy as sin.
She lifted her gaze to his face, and a jolt of attraction shot through her as she catalogued his classically handsome features, taking in his prominent chin, his angular, clean-shaven jaw, and straight nose. His dark brown eyes matched the equally rich color of his hair, which was combed back and parted to the side.
For a man who exuded so much physical alpha-ness, he appeared extremely uncomfortable standing on the stage while the auctioneer introduced him to the masses as Chase Gossard, a replacement bachelor for Neil Pierson who’d gotten sick with the flu, then rattled off his attributes as a single, eligible bachelor who worked as a corporate financier.
That tight, less-than-affable smile on his face was like a deterrent in itself. Chase looked like he wanted to be anywhere but on the stage as the center of attention and up for grabs to the highest bidder. It didn’t help matters that the downward slant of his eyebrows made him look intense and intimidating enough to scare off any potential dates.
Off to the side Lauren saw an exasperated Billie trying to get his attention, and when Chase glanced her way and she pointed to the exaggerated grin on her face—as if to encourage him to turn that frown upside down—he attempted to smile, which looked more like an unpleasant grimace.
Lauren would have laughed at the man’s gloomy disposition, if he hadn’t been her only choice available.
“Okay, ladies,” the auctioneer said once his initial spiel was over. “He’s the final man standing and your last chance at a weekend date with an eligible bachelor. Who’ll start the opening bid?”
Shockingly, the room went quiet, and as Lauren glanced around at the remaining women, she saw varying degrees of wariness and hesitancy to bid on him. Lauren had no idea how much the previous bachelors had sold for, but clearly Chase’s standoffish demeanor wasn’t doing him any favors. Unfortunately for her, if she wanted a date for her sister’s wedding, he was her only option, and she was desperate enough to take a chance on him.
“Five thousand dollars!” she called out, her voice filling the silent ballroom.
She heard the surprised gasps, but what Lauren wasn’t prepared for was the way Chase’s gaze immediately sought her out, stunning her with the surprise that flickered in his eyes. Had he actually been secretly hoping that no one would bid on him? Or was he shocked that someone actually had, despite his less-than-charismatic personality?
His gaze locked on hers, and how was it that someone so seemingly aloof could jump-start her pulse and leave her a little breathless with those intense, dark eyes of his?
She caught the subtle arch of his brow, as if he were questioning her daring and reckless bravery when every other woman had interpreted his body language correctly, that he was no Prince Charming. His eyes asked her, almost mockingly, Are you sure this is what you want?
Considering she’d already blurted out an amount, it was too late to turn back now, so she straightened her shoulders and arched her own brow right back at him, just to show him that she wasn’t at all intimidated by his big, bad wolf persona.
The corner of his mouth twitched with what she could only interpret as an amused smirk.
The auctioneer continued to encourage more bids, but no one else topped Lauren’s amount. There was zero competition for Chase Gossard—surprise, surprise—and as the auctioneer banged his gavel and awarded her the man standing on the stage, Lauren felt a mixture of relief and annoyance. Relief, because he hadn’t cost her a small fortune, and annoyance because this was not the man she’d had her sights set on.
The auctioneer instructed Lauren to meet up with Chase in the greeting area, just outside the ballroom. Wanting to get their initial introduction cemented before she needed to get back to work, she headed in that direction and ran into Skye just as she was returning from her own meet and greet with Tripp.
“Hey, how is your grandfather?” she asked, worry evident in her voice.
“He’s okay,” Lauren said, appreciating her friend’s concern, and gave her a quick rundown of what her mother had told her. “He’s at home resting and he’ll have to see his doctor on Monday, but my mother assured me he’s going to be fine, and I don’t need to rush home when I’ll be there for my sister’s wedding next month.”