What a Bachelor Needs (Bachelor Auction Book 4) Read Free Page B

irrevocably altered.
    By the time Jett stepped out of the spotlight he’d been sold for two thousand three hundred and thirty five dollars, to someone in one of the back booths, and Jett wouldn’t have been surprised if half the people in the audience thought he had wings and the other half thought him capable of building them a marble palace within a week.
    Jett shook Josh’s hand and Molly’s as well, nodded his thanks to auctioneer Buck who’d done good by him, never mind the ego dig, and then he turned his attention to Lily who was eyeing him downright fondly.
    “How does it feel to be objectified?” she asked, and he tried to look halfway offended.
    “Is that what you call it?”
    “I swear I know just the place for you if you ever want to try stripping for a living.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, although his sponsors would probably have a fit, or maybe some of them wouldn’t, best not to put ideas in anyone’s head. And then his brother was beside him, placing a beer in his hand, and wasn’t that a fine notion.
    “Do you ever get sick of the limelight?” Seth muttered, and the answer was never, not ever. He enjoyed every minute of it.
    “C’mon, it was funny. You enjoyed that.”
    His brother responded with a deadpan stare.
    “ I thought it was funny.”
    Nope. Nothing.
    Brothers.
    “Who bought me?”
    “Emersons. Booth three, over by the window.”
    “Bless ’em.” Emerson Holdings ran a stud cattle herd, commercial fat cattle, and a livestock trucking company. Old man Emerson had a reputation for fairness and a daughter with a double-barreled name that he couldn’t quite recall. He did, however, know she’d won the annual ski-mobile race across the mountains a couple of times, which was no small accomplishment. “Better go see what they want.”

Chapter Two
    ‡
    B y the time Jett had made his way from the stage to table three, Buck was telling the crowd that half the tips they gave to the waitstaff here tonight had been earmarked for Josh and Molly and that the ever loving, ever generous, never gruff owner of Grey’s Saloon – one Jason Grey – had offered to match whatever his staff donated in tips. Buck then proceeded to let the crowd know that Jason would be downright appreciative if people sought him out and thanked him for his generosity. Hugged him, even.
    The ever taciturn Jason Grey glared bullets at the leather-faced auctioneer who tilted his hat to the man and blithely asked for a rousing round of applause for their sweet, sweet host.
    And got it.
    “Mardie!” Someone held up a twenty dollar note. “Tip.”
    Mardie collected it with a wide, wicked grin. It was good to see her again, Jett decided.
    It was especially good to see her standing on her own two feet and brimming with attitude and confidence.
    If anything, it was a relief.
    He turned back towards the table of two men and four women, and offered his handshake all round. “The pleasure’s all mine, people. Who bought me?”
    “I did,” said the blonde with the cornflower blue eyes. “I’m Ella Grace Emerson, soon to be Ella Grace Emerson-Sawyer.” She gestured to the big guy sitting next to her. “This being Sawyer.”
    Jett nodded. “Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials.”
    Sawyer offered up an easy smile. No lack of confidence there. No posturing either. Both of which were good things if Jett was going to be taking them into the backcountry on skis.
    “So what can I do for you? Ski trip?”
    “Tempting,” Ella said. “But right now we’re a little more interested in your handyman abilities.”
    “Even better.”
    “And here’s why,” she continued as Jett stepped back to allow Mardie to pass by with a tray full of empties.
    “Mardie, hold up,” Ella said, and Mardie slowed to a stop and turned towards them with the same kind of I’ll-smile-for-anyone expression he’d seen on waitstaff the world over. Did she even remember him from that night?
    Maybe not.
    “Hey, Jett.