Bachelorette for Sale Read Free Page B

on her? The media had taken Ari’s side. No one had questioned his story. So, considering she’d been dumped on national TV, branded a cheating, lying harlot, walking off the stage tonight without a single bid wouldn’t top her worst day. Still, she knew some of the attendees tonight, and somewhere out there lurked at least one reporter.
    The auctioneer started off with local newscaster Jeanine Miner, Providence’s homegrown sweetheart. Like Cherry and Tawny, Jeanine had grown up in the west end and understood the need for a recreational and educational center and what a difference it could make in the lives of the residents. Twenty-eight and single, she was a rising success in her field, with a natural prettiness everyone admired. The committee had high hopes for the money Jeanine would bring in. So when the first bid came in at two hundred dollars, Cherry’s spirits sank.
    Within seconds a counteroffer came in, jacking the amount up to five hundred, and the excitement of the crowd filled the air. A third offer came in, which launched a bidding war. Dollar amounts were thrown at the speed of lightning, egged on by the enthusiasm of the attendees and the suave sophistication of the auctioneer’s comments. With each new offer Cherry’s excitement for the success of the night grew. Several times she caught herself chanting out loud with the auctioneer for the next bid or clapping along with the audience when a higher amount was pledged.
    Cherry pressed her hand to her stomach.
    “You okay, kid?” Esposito asked.
    She had to swallow several times before she could speak. “I think the butterflies are holding a rave in my stomach.”
    “Don’t worry. They’ll love you.”
    A pounding of wood on wood made Cherry jump and she had to grab onto Esposito or fall into Lawson. The auctioneer called the bidding to a close with the final amount of twenty-five hundred dollars and congratulated a man Cherry recognized as a newscaster at a rival station. A shy blush stole across Jeanine’s face, hinting at a possible crush. As far as inventive ways to ask a woman out, it was up there and guaranteed him a yes. Judging by Jeanine’s happy smile, a simpler method would have netted him the same result.
    Did all men think women needed grand gestures? Admittedly, they were hard to ignore. Cherry remembered a year ago when another man made a bold move to gain her attention and stand out in a crowd of interesting and good-looking men. With all of her heart, Cherry hoped Jeanine’s story turned out with a happier ending. As for her, she’d learned to stay away from grandstanders.
    The auction proceeded, moving on to a restaurateur, a lawyer, a fireman, and a pastry maker, along with others from their community who’d generously given of themselves to help their cause and see the center rebuilt. Numbers flew around the room, as well as a few good jabs from the participants’ friends and family members. With the bright lights it was hard to see the people in the audience, which was okay, because it meant when it was her turn she might not see who was or was not bidding. She’d just have to be careful not to trip. The reporter was here for Lawson, but he wouldn’t pass up a chance for a good laugh or anything front-page-worthy.
    Ratings. It was always about the ratings. Thanks, but no thanks. They could look elsewhere. She was done making a fool of herself for America’s entertainment.
    She hadn’t realized how much time had passed until she heard the auctioneer call for Nick Lawson, the politician to her right. Rumor had it Lawson had designs on the Oval Office someday. The auctioneer called out for the opening bid, and as with the others, the audience hesitated, waiting to see who would be first.
    “I’ll give you fifty.” The spotlight swept around the room to land on a guy in his mid-forties, a giant smile on his face, waving his paddle.
    “I’ll see your fifty and raise you four hundred.” The light moved to a stately