McDonald_TWT_GENVers_Feb2014 Read Free Page B

weak.
    Turning once more, Sabine looked at the woman just as the auctioneer was counting down for her bid. She held up her fan. “ Six thousand dollars ,” Sabine said firmly, her voice barely carrying over the now madly cheering crowd.
    “Are you are fucking crazy?” the woman shouted.
    Sabine shrugged and smiled at her competition.
    “The bid is now at six thousand . . . Going once . . . Going twice. Mr. Lake will be cooking dinner for . . . hold up your fan for me again, lady in the gold shirt. He’ll be cooking for Ms. Sabine Kendall. Congratulations, Ms. Kendall. You have the winning bid for bachelor number five.”
    The applause that broke out was the most deafening yet. Sabine laughed at the sheer amount of happy female energy in the room now directed at her. Feeling righteous and heroic, she shouldered her large purse again and headed for the back of the room.
    “You’re an idiot for spending that kind of money on Todd Lake. He’s so not worth it, lady. I was only going to make him pay for treating me like shit when we dated,” the woman yelled as she passed.
    “Maybe I am an idiot, but at least I’m the winning one this evening. And I think I just rescued a decent man from your evil bitchiness, which is the best thing I could have done at this meat show tonight. Do yourself a favor. Get help and stop hating the world,” Sabine ordered, smiling in triumph as the woman gave her the finger.
    She knew her smile would disappear the moment she signed over the remaining contents of her savings to some charity she had yet to identify, but what the hell? Rundgren was obviously supporting it too. That would look favorable for her. She would just split the difference of the money with Joe. It had been worth her half to put that bitchy woman in her place. She felt ten feet tall and thin at the moment. Those extra thirty pounds she was packing were wiped away in her triumphant female moment.
    Behind her, she heard bachelor number six being brought forward. It made her cringe. Despite the momentary rush she’d gotten bidding on Joe’s Todd, the whole auction business was still distasteful to her. Once again she shook her head at her stupidity for getting involved.
    “Joe, you owe me.”

Chapter 3
    Sabine was sighing over her checkbook when an out-of-breath Joe finally ran in and skidded to a stop beside her.
    “Did you win?” he demanded.
    “Of course I won,” Sabine declared. “And my now empty bank account can attest to that fact.”
    She handed the check over to a giggling woman who congratulated her on her win.
    “And just how much did you have to pay for his rescue?” Joe asked.
    “Six thousand, hotshot. There was some crazy woman bidding on your diamond in the rough that ran his price up to four thousand in like a minute. She was a real piece of work, let me tell you. It felt so good to outbid her that I’ve decided to split the difference with you, so you only owe me three thousand. Plus I really enjoyed rescuing him. You were right—it was the most fun I’ve had in ages.”
    “Six thousand? You paid six thousand dollars for Todd?” Joe exclaimed.
    Sabine laughed at his genuine disbelief. “Yes. Apparently, every woman in the place saw the same diamond quality in him that you did. Now come on. I’ve got to go get my picture taken with your stud who’s waiting for me in the winner’s circle.”
    “I can’t believe they got through nine bachelors so quickly,” Joe commented as they walked.
    “It was only five. Todd was bachelor number five—not number nine,” Sabine corrected.
    “No, Todd was going to be number nine. I got a text about ten minutes ago confirming his place in the auction line-up.”
    Sabine snorted. “Simply not possible, Joe. The auctioneer said Todd Lake and the room erupted in bid fans going up in the air. I bid on your Todd—trust me.”
    “ Todd Lake? Sabine . . . oh my God . That’s who you bid on and won? For six thousand ?” Joe bent from the waist as he