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СКАЧАТЬ one-on-one times were rare and the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers an unexpected pleasure.

      “I should speak with Lexi.” Yet he made no move to step away.

      Though Cassidy sometimes wondered how she could be the only one to feel the sizzle that was so blatant whenever they stood close, she wasn’t foolish enough to entertain the thought that Tim hesitated because he wanted to spend a few more moments with her. He was simply uneasy about what he’d agreed to do and was trying to put off beginning the process for as long as possible.

      “I have this image of standing up there and not getting a single bid.” He emitted a slightly embarrassed chuckle. “I’m a middle-aged dad. Who’s going to bid on me?”

      Tim wasn’t fishing for a compliment; he wasn’t that kind of guy. He obviously had no idea just how appealing he was to the opposite sex.

      “You’re thirty-four. You’re successful. You’re hot.”

      He laughed. “Yeah, right.”

      “If it will ease your mind, I’ll start the bidding,” she promised him. “Kick things off.”

      Gratitude flooded his face. “You’d do that for me?”

      “Hey.” She punched him in the shoulder. “We’re buddies.”

      Okay, perhaps that was a stretch, but saying it felt incredibly good.

      “You’re a very nice person.” His gaze lingered on her face so long that her lips began to tingle. For a second, she had this crazy thought he might kiss her.

      Instead he squeezed her shoulder and strolled off in Lexi’s direction.

      * * *

      After Cassidy finished making Zippy even more stunning, she took a few moments to touch up her own makeup and hair.

      The auction of five women and five men had already started. The order had been predetermined beginning with a female and following a female–male format. Liam, or rather Tim, would be last on the auction block.

      From the laughter and applause that arose from the ballroom each time the bidding concluded for an individual, Cassidy decided it wouldn’t take long to get to Tim.

      Still, she lingered in front of the long mirror, taking a second to add a touch more orange-marmalade gloss to her mouth before fluffing her hair with her fingers. For the evening festivities, she’d resurrected the true blond of her childhood then tipped the ends with royal blue to match the color of her eyes.

      Though she often wore glasses in vivid hues or patterns, the frames were a fashion accessory rather than a necessity. Tonight she’d left them in the small apartment over her shop, the place she now called home.

      Cassidy smiled broadly, making sure there were no lipstick smudges on her teeth. Satisfied, she sauntered into the ballroom on five-inch heels.

      After obtaining a number for bidding, she secured a spot halfway back from the stage and watched the spirited bidding for a date with Zippy. Mr. Business Exec with the receding hairline and Mr. Snowboarder with the sun-streaked shaggy hair both seemed equally determined to win a date with the beautiful attorney.

      Zippy was the last woman on the list. The bidding reached one thousand dollars before Business Exec conceded to Snowboarder. Once the applause ended, many of those who’d stayed to watch headed to the adjacent ballroom where silent-auction items flanked the perimeter of the room and a champagne fountain anchored the center. A plethora of hot hors d’oeuvres were dispensed by waiters in black pants and white shirts, holding silver trays.

      Thankfully, not everyone left in search of food and drink. Cassidy calculated at least a hundred remained in the ballroom when Lexi stepped forward to introduce Tim. The dark-haired social worker, lovely in navy chiffon, included in her introductory remarks that Tim had grown up in Jackson Hole, was a respected member of the medical community and the father of twin girls.

      The young doctor’s face remained calm but Cassidy wasn’t fooled. He was nowhere as relaxed and confident as he appeared. Her fingers tightened on the numbered paddle in her hand. She’d made a promise and was ready to do her duty.

      Nick, Lexi’s husband and well-known family law attorney, was serving as the event’s guest auctioneer. He took the microphone from his wife and his gaze scanned the audience. “Do I hear a bid of one hundred?”

      For a second the room was silent. One hundred was the lowest acceptable bid. From what she’d overheard while she waited, the lowest winning bid so far had been three hundred, while eleven hundred was the night’s record. Most had come in around five hundred.

      Cassidy was just lifting her paddle when she saw a redhead off to her right raise hers.

      She recognized the woman in the sexy black dress that hugged a taut body and emphasized ample breasts. Leila Daltry was a customer at Clippity Do Dah. She stopped by regularly to get her hair cut and for an occasional color boost. A registered nurse, the striking redhead worked in the obstetrics department at the hospital. Though she wasn’t the right woman for Tim, Cassidy liked her well enough.

      Nick asked for a two-hundred-dollar bid. When none was forthcoming he moved into his going once, twice speech. Cassidy stopped him by lifting her number. No way was she letting Leila get Tim that cheap.

      Leila turned slowly and her cat-green eyes narrowed. Though the RN had always been friendly enough, Cassidy absorbed the feral gleam directed her way and grinned back.

      If Leila thought a hostile glance could intimidate her, she was mistaken. Cassidy Kaye ate feral cats for breakfast.

      “Three hundred,” Nick confirmed when Leila waved her paddle as he upped the bid.

      The curious gazes of the well-dressed men and women in the room were now shifting between her and Leila. Once again, Nick upped the bid. Without even thinking, Cassidy lifted her number.

      “Four hundred is the bid,” Nick called out. “Do I hear five?”

      The redhead hesitated now, her gaze shifting from Tim’s impassive expression to Cassidy’s cool gaze. Though nurses were paid well, the cost of living in Jackson Hole was through the roof. Five hundred dollars was a lot of money.

      Leila tossed her head and raised her paddle.

      “We’re at five hundred dollars,” Nick pronounced. “Will someone give us six?”

      Let it go, Cassidy told herself. Five hundred was a respectable bid.

      “Going twice,” she heard Nick say.

      Without taking a second to talk herself out of it, Cassidy shot her hand into the air.

      “We have six hundred.”

      Leila’s head snapped around and the satisfied smirk on her face vanished. If looks could kill, Cassidy would be six feet under.

      “Going once, going twice. Six hundred dollars to number ninety-eight.”

      It was a charitable donation, Cassidy told herself as she wrote out the check. Though she had to admit dropping that amount of money in a single night hurt.

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