Vicki Lewis Thompson - Single, Sexy...And Sold!

“I didn’t throw it away.” Natalie poured dog food into Bobo’s bowl and scooped some coffee beans into the hand grinder. “Heart Books staged the auction to benefit literacy, and that’s a very good cause.”

Alice waited for the noise of the grinding to stop. “You don’t have to tell me that, after being married to a literary critic for thirty years.”

“I guess not.” Natalie held her breath, wondering if the reference to her late husband would send Alice into a bout of weeping. It had happened plenty of times before.

“Still, I doubt Heart Books or the literacy movement expected anyone to surrender their nest egg in the name of a good cause,” her mother finished calmly.

Natalie relaxed. Apparently this fascinating new subject of the bachelor auction had claimed her mother’s full attention. “I’d hoped the bidding for Jonah wouldn’t go that high, but Mom, you should have seen those women. They went bonkers for him.”

Alice perched on a stool at the breakfast bar. “And so you went super-bonkers. Does he think you have this kind of money to throw around?”

“Probably.” She started the coffee brewing. “He also knows I live here, and I didn’t bother to explain about Great-Uncle Jerome and all that rent-control stuff.”

“Oh, boy. So he thinks the way everyone else does—that we’re rolling in it.”

“Actually he thinks I’m rolling in it. He doesn’t know you live in this building. And I’d rather have him think I’m rich than to have him know I spent my savings on him. Then he’d really question my sanity. Toast?”

Alice nodded. “Thanks.” She tapped her finger against her mouth and frowned. “So,” she said at last, “you need to get him to fall in love with you, even though he thinks you’re some spoiled rich woman who buys a boy toy when she gets bored.”

“I guess that’s about the size of it.” Or at least the version she wanted her mother to believe.

Her mother smiled. “That should be easy. Just be yourself. You’re not a spoiled rich girl, and that will become obvious the longer he’s with you. And once he’s truly in love with you, you can tell him the truth.”

“The truth?” Natalie was losing sight of what that was, exactly.

“That you have no retirement fund and are, in fact, a financial liability. That should arouse his protective instincts considering he put you in this sorry mess because he’s such an Adonis. So that should be that. Happily ever after.”

“That was more or less my plan.” Except that Jonah didn’t have to fall madly in love with her. He only had to like her enough to go along with her mother’s project.

“You know, this would make a neat plot twist in my novel,” her mother said. “A bachelor auction. I hadn’t even thought of it, but I could probably work it in.”

Natalie concentrated on buttering the toast so her mother wouldn’t notice her smile of triumph. “Maybe so.”

“And if you win him over, which I have no doubt you can do because your motives are pure, I might even be able to interview him and clear up a few details in my book.”

Natalie kept buttering. She wasn’t so sure about pure motives, but she believed they were noble ones, at any rate. “We’ll see, Mom. I can’t promise anything, but we’ll see.”

“I’m still shocked about the money, though. You’ve been contributing to your retirement account since you graduated from college, and I was always impressed with your foresight.”

Natalie looked at her, glad she could finally say something honest for a change. “What’s more important, financial security or connecting with those you love?”

“You know my answer. But it’s a good thing your father isn’t around to hear about this. He’d hit the ceiling. I’m sure he would never have understood such youthful impetuosity.”

“But you do?”

Her mother studied her with fondness in her blue eyes. “Of course I do. Why do you suppose I’ve decided to write a romance?”

A TOTAL OF FOUR GUYS from the station contributed to Jonah’s wardrobe for the weekend. The sailing date wouldn’t be a problem, clotheswise, but Jonah wasn’t accustomed to being limoed to the Plaza and treated as an honored guest there. Stewart came up with a dinner jacket, Herm produced a silk tie, Billy happened to have a good leather belt in Jonah’s size and Cal loaned Jonah his topcoat, the same one Jonah had worn over the rented tux for the bachelor auction.

There was much debate among the firefighters as to whether Jonah should buy new underwear for the occasion. No matter how many times Jonah declared that he wasn’t going to engage in any activities in which underwear would be a factor, the men still insisted he should be prepared. Red was the favored color, and there were also some helpful suggestions about birth control and bedroom technique.

Jonah hadn’t felt so fussed over since his senior prom, and he remembered not liking that much, either. Even his parents had called from Buffalo to see if he needed anything for his big date. He almost told them that a well-trained bodyguard would be a good idea.

It amazed him that everyone seemed to think it was perfectly understandable that a lady had spent thirty-three thousand for a date with him. His mother said that amount was about what a date with him was worth, because he was a real prize. Apparently she never considered that the lady in question might be totally wacko.

As Jonah packed his small suitcase on Saturday morning, he deliberately left out the red underwear Herm had presented him with. The glow-in-the-dark condoms definitely weren’t going. As long as he didn’t pack birth control, he wouldn’t be tempted to get carried away, and after that kiss he’d shared with Natalie, he knew that getting carried away was a possibility.

On the cab ride to the pier, he thought some more about that kiss. To be honest with himself, he’d thought about being with Natalie more than he should have. He’d been eager for Saturday to arrive so that he could see her again. Not that he would kiss her again. You didn’t kiss a woman like Natalie when you were going to spend the weekend with her unless you were willing to go where that kiss would inevitably lead.

He became aroused just thinking of where it could lead. Okay, so he was willing. More than willing. But he didn’t believe in making love to a woman for a temporary thrill, he told himself sternly. That’s all it could be with someone like Natalie, whose life and priorities were so different from his. And he had to keep in mind that she was nuts.

That would be difficult, he thought as he climbed from the cab and saw her leaning against the railing of the sleek yacht. She lifted her face to the warmth of the sun, and it shone on her wind-tossed blond hair. Someone had ordered up a perfect spring day for this sail and Natalie had responded by wearing all white. Her slacks, blouse and the sweatshirt she’d knotted by the sleeves around her shoulders gave her an almost virginal look. She seemed to glow as she stood on the polished wooden deck.

He remembered how irresistible she’d been when he was with her in the cab and that kissing her had seemed like the only option. Damned if he didn’t want to kiss her again, and the day was just beginning.

“Sir?”

“Hmm?” Jonah snapped out of his daze and glanced at a guy in khakis and a shirt with Satin Doll embroidered on the breast pocket.

“My name is Eric. Welcome aboard the Satin Doll. Would you like me to take your luggage?”

“Sure. Thanks.” Jonah handed him the small suitcase and crossed the gangplank.

Natalie turned to him and waved. “Isn’t this glorious?”

“Beautiful day.” He swallowed. Even her voice tempted him. He had no idea how he’d manage to keep his hands off her for the next twenty-four hours. Taking a deep breath and adjusting his sunglasses, he walked toward the bow of the boat.