“R-rosie.” Jane fought the lump in her throat. “Was my mother.”
“Oh, dear.” Nadine wrapped an arm around Jane and sighed. “I did not know your mother, but I am one. And us mothers, grandmothers—we’re all given that same gene from God. The one that allows us to inflict fear into the most wicked of toddlers, gives us the ability to multi-task and still enjoy life, the ability to love through the mud, sweat, tears, the strength to wake up every day and breathe life into the world, to make it a better place—so know when I say this, I do not say this lightly. I say this with the utmost wisdom from years of being a woman.” She paused. “Your mother would be so proud, baby girl.”
Tears spilled over Jane’s cheeks. “Thank you.”
“Now.” Nadine gave her one last squeeze. “Use all that money I deposited into your ghost account and buy yourself a man.”
“Ghost account,” Jane repeated. “I don’t know…” Shaking her head she stared down the obviously senile woman. “What do you mean, ‘ghost account’?”
“Well, the account!” Nadine waved her hand in the air. “The one you signed for when you walked in! Did you think thirty grand would win your man? Maybe his pinky toe.” She snorted. “But you want the whole thing, am I right?”
“Um, yes please.” Jane burst out laughing. Was this really happening? It was like she’d stepped into a fairy tale.
“Just think of me as your fairy godmother.” Nadine winked. “When Brock mentioned that he needed my help, I couldn’t transfer the money fast enough. Oh, he’ll pay me back one day so it’s not like I’m losing out on anything, and even if he didn’t—it’s for love. Right?” Nadine winked. “Besides, had anyone told you beforehand that we were planning this, your shock wouldn’t look real when you actually win. It’s why I told him not to text you or make direct contact, why we enlisted Bentley, that rogue, to help. I have plans for him, too. Just you wait.”
Everything suddenly made sense.
Bentley. Brock. Trusting both of them, and how Nadine fit in with everything.
“But, I still may not win. I mean if Brock is going to be a high bid…I would need…a lot of money.”
“Eh.” Nadine coughed into her hand and waved toward the stage. “Dear, I do believe Brock and I have thought of everything. Now, let’s have some fun.”
Jane looked up to see Brock smiling down at her. “Now, let’s get the First Annual Bachelor Auction started.” He nodded to his grandfather and took a step back as Charles grabbed the microphone.
“Item number one.” Charles paused and then looked up at Brock with a mixture of shock and amusement as he called out from the cards he was holding. “Bentley Wellington.”
Someone in the crowd gasped and then several people started clapping. Jane felt herself relax. Brock’s plan just might work!
“Five hundred dollars!” Charles yelled. “Do I hear five hundred dollars for Bentley Wellington?” He was shaking his head in disbelief at Bentley, who’d appeared on the stage.
Nadine laughed behind her hand.
There were five men on stage.
Three of them were Wellingtons.
Tears filled her eyes.
They were doing this for her.
For Brock.
Jane raised her paddle out of kindness. Bentley looked ready to kiss her feet and proclaim true love—damn, that man was a danger to women with his killer smile.
“Watch this,” Nadine snickered, lifting her paddle.
Bentley went completely pale, and his mouth dropped open as he gave Jane a psychotic, wide-eyed look.
“Bid me up, dear, this is how these things work.” Nadine said out of the side of her mouth.
Jane lifted her paddle.
Bentley, once again relieved, exhaled loudly.
Only to pale again when Nadine raised her paddle.
This went on for a good fifteen minutes.
“Most stressful moments of that boy’s life,” Nadine murmured. “Although I find I’m quite enjoying myself.” She lifted her paddle again.
Jane burst out laughing. “You really should put him out of his misery. He looks like he’s about to have a stroke.”
“Oh, fine.” Nadine coughed into her hand, and instantly another paddle rose across the room.
“Ten thousand dollars.”
Jane’s eyes widened as an elderly lady shouted from the back of the room. “Who’s that?”
“My first choice,” Nadine smiled warmly. “She’ll be so great for our Bentley. He’ll have to see past a few things first, but I have faith that it will go great.”
Jane frowned. “The lady looks your age.”
“Oh, Prudence isn’t bidding for herself.” Nadine laughed. “She has a lovely granddaughter that needs a little cheering up.”
“Cheering up?”
“Going once, twice,” Charles said in the distance. “Sold! To Prudence McCleery!”
Nadine sighed. “Yes well, ever since Margot lost her leg she’s been impossible to live with.”
“Lost,” Jane repeated, “her leg?”
“Just one.” Nadine shrugged. “She has another. But sometimes when in pain we focus on the loss, not the gain.”
“But—”