“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.”
“The Rosie Breast Cancer Foundation has special meaning to me, and to this young lady here. I only hope that with the money raised tonight, we can help find a cure for such a terrible disease.” Brock’s smile grew as he continued. “Young women taken too soon, daughters stolen, and mothers.”
Choking tears clogged her throat, and Jane had to focus really hard not to break down in sobs. He’d remembered.
“Mothers who must leave their young daughters behind,” His smile was sad when he looked back at her. “The auction may be a silly way to raise money, some may say it’s stupid, asinine, the dream of an old man popping too many blood thinners.” Everyone laughed, including Brock’s grandfather. “But it’s so much more. This annual auction will bring in millions for cancer research, this silly auction, may help cure breast cancer one day. If we had this cure today then this young lady right here, Jane, would not be standing alone, without her mother.” He smiled warmly. “So today we honor Jane, we honor the fallen mothers, daughters, sisters, wives who could not be present because they were stolen from us.”
Tears filled Jane’s eyes as a warm hand grabbed hers and squeezed. “I take it you knew Rosie?” Nadine whispered kindly.