Page 14

The community hall auditorium was packed with women of every age, and they were in a party mood. Probably because there were two bars set up, one on either side of the auditorium entrance. Sydney hadn’t gotten anything, but Birdie had ordered a glass of white wine.

Because of the crowd, they were seated toward the back even though they’d arrived with plenty of time to spare. Sydney didn’t mind. She didn’t want to be front and center of anything anymore. Didn’t seem to matter where they were, though, because a stream of women had come by to say hi to Birdie.

Birdie had promptly introduced all of them to Sydney, who now had more names in her head than she could possibly remember. She realized she’d only scratched the surface of Birdie’s popularity. The woman was a social butterfly of the highest order.

When the MC, who Sydney had also been introduced to thanks to Birdie, started the show, things finally quieted down.

That only lasted until the first bachelor came out.

Sydney let out a delighted gasp. “He’s got a dog!”

“I think they all will,” Birdie said. “They’re trying to get as many of them adopted as possible. The dogs,” she clarified. “Not the men.”

Sydney chuckled as the bidding started. It went from a hundred dollars to a thousand in about five seconds. “Wow, these women are serious.”

Birdie sipped her wine. “You bet they are. See anything you like yet?”

“There’s only been one man out so far.”

“There are only ten bachelors altogether. You have to strike as soon as the mood hits you. Wait too long, and you’ll run out of men.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Sydney gripped the flat wooden handle of her bidding paddle, keeping it firmly in her lap. Did she really want to bid on a guy? Obviously, other women were, but it wasn’t really her style.

Sure, she knew it was for charity, but if she bid on the guy and won, she’d have to go on the date. Wouldn’t she? Maybe she could just donate the money and let that be the end of it.

Then again, would that hurt the guy’s feelings? She was trying to incorporate herself into the local community. Ditching her charity date might not be the best way to do that.

Suddenly, she wished she’d opted for a glass of wine after all.

When the next man came out and bidding was a little slow to take off, Sydney raised her paddle twice until the crowd’s interest got going and the bids climbed higher without her help. She got into the rhythm of it then, having fun by goosing the bids.

It became a little game to her, to see how high she could get the other women to go, always stopping when at least two other women were battling it out.

She figured that was safe. She wasn’t opposed to spending some money, not at all. In fact, she planned to make a sizable donation at the end of the evening. That would be better than ending up on a date she didn’t really want to go on.

A few of the men had made her take a second look. They were certainly handsome, with a lot going for them. But they just weren’t it . What it was exactly, she wasn’t sure. She assumed when the right man came along, she’d know.

The bachelors started raising their game. One juggled. The one after him walked out on his hands, holding the dog’s leash in his mouth. The dog didn’t seem nearly as impressed as the women in the audience, who hooted when the man jumped to his feet and made a couple of bodybuilder poses.

Sydney laughed. The man was nicely built but nothing like Adam.

She sucked in a breath. Why was she comparing men to him? As attractive and kind as he might be, not to mention the fact that the man baked, he didn’t seem interested in pursuing another relationship after his recent breakup.

She understood that. The heart needed time to heal, and he had clearly been hurt. Veronika sounded like a real diva.

“Almost to the end,” Birdie said. “You haven’t bought yourself a date yet.”

“I’m not sure I’m going to.” Sydney smiled. “I’m having fun, though.”

“Good.” Birdie glanced toward the stage. “I think Delaney is about to announce the last one.”

Sydney sat up a little more, watching the stage. As handsome as the men were, she found herself more eagerly anticipating the dogs. They all seemed so happy, like they thought the crowd was there for them. Dogs were the best.

Delaney leaned into the mic. “And now, last but certainly not least, is the biggest bachelor to grace our stage. Please welcome the tiniest dog at tonight’s event, the gorgeous Sugarbelle, and her handsome partner, all six feet five inches of him, Adam Rockford.”

As the applause went up, Sydney’s jaw went down. Adam? For reasons she couldn’t pinpoint in that exact moment, she did not want him to see her here. She scrunched lower in her seat but not so low that she couldn’t get a look at him.

She blinked. Not only had he gotten a great haircut, but he’d shaved. Holy moly, he looked practically edible .

Birdie shot her a look. “What’s wrong?”

Sydney slipped even lower. “That’s my neighbor. I don’t want him to see me. He might think I’m stalking him.”

“Honey, every single woman in town and half of the married ones are in this auditorium tonight. I don’t think it’s any big deal that you’re here.”

“Please,” Sydney begged.

“Okay, no worries. I’m sure the lights are in his eyes anyway. I don’t think he could see you if he tried.”

Sydney exhaled. “Good.”

Unable to stop looking at him, Sydney found a good viewing angle between the heads of the women in front of her.

Adam leaned over to Delaney and said something the mic didn’t pick up. Delaney came back to the podium. “Sorry, ladies, Sugarbelle has already been spoken for. Isn’t that great news? Now let’s see if we can find a home for Adam as well.”

The bidding started right away. The dog in Adam’s arms was absolutely precious and possibly the smallest dog Sydney had ever seen, although that might have been because Adam was so big. The dog seemed utterly enamored of Adam, which Sydney found too adorable for words.

Sugarbelle kept licking his face every chance she got, eliciting laughs from the audience. And Adam just let her, not once trying to stop the little dog’s affection.

A strange feeling rose up in Sydney, one she couldn’t name. Or maybe didn’t want to. She shoved her paddle into Birdie’s hands. “Bid.”

“How high?”

“I don’t care. Just bid. I can’t do it, or he’ll see me.” She scrunched lower.

“Okay.” Birdie raised the paddle.

“We’ve got fifteen hundred in the back,” Delaney pointed out. “Who will make it an even two grand? Come on, ladies, look at the size of him. You’re definitely getting your money’s worth.”

That got a few new bids, and the amount quickly rose to five thousand.

“Again,” Sydney said.

“You’re sure?”

She nodded from behind the safety of the woman in front of her.

Birdie stuck the paddle up and was recognized by Delaney again.

“That’s six thousand. Who will make it seven?” she asked.

In a matter of minutes, the date with Adam had reached ten thousand dollars, but Sydney was no longer the top bidder. She poked at Birdie’s elbow. “Again.”

“This is a lot of money.”

“It’s fine. Bid.”

With a sly smile on her face, Birdie raised her arm.

“Keep it up,” Sydney instructed her. The idea of losing Adam to another woman had somehow become unacceptable to her.

Of course, he must think he was being bid on by an older, blue-haired woman. Sydney had no explanation for why winning had suddenly become so important, but the idea of another woman getting him seemed unthinkable.

Women throughout the audience had their phones up and were taking pictures. Some were recording video. She hoped none of them decided to turn their cameras on her.

What was driving her? He was her neighbor. Her friend. But she could afford it, so why not?

Besides that, she knew he wasn’t looking for a relationship, so she was really doing him a favor. He wouldn’t have to go on the date with anyone.

“Keep going?” Birdie asked.

Sydney had lost track. “How much is it now?”

“Eighteen thousand dollars.” Birdie’s amusement had faded slightly, maybe because of the money.

“Am I winning?”

Birdie gave a quick shake of her head. “Not currently.”

“Get that paddle up!”

Chuckling, Birdie did as Sydney commanded. “I didn’t realize you had such a crush on your neighbor.”

“I don’t have a crush on him. I just think it’s … a nice thing to do.”

“Oh, it’s nice all right.” Birdie wiggled her paddle as Delaney tried to keep up. “But I get it, he’s a hottie. Especially if you like your men mountain-sized.”

Finally, the bidding slowed. Sydney inched to one side to get a better look. Adam seemed a bit dazed. He was just standing on the stage, holding Sugarbelle and blinking at the crowd.

Sydney prayed he hadn’t seen her.

“Anyone else want to top twenty? I have twenty. Who can do better?” Delaney asked. “If there are no more bids…”

“Twenty-one,” a woman from across the center aisle shouted, her paddle in the air.

Sydney poked Birdie in the leg. “Bid,” she hissed.

“Don’t worry,” Birdie said. “We’re winning this.” She stretched her arm up to make sure the paddle got noticed.

Delaney laughed. “Birdie Caruthers, is that you? Did Jack give you a kitchen pass?”

“There’s no ring on my finger,” Birdie yelled back, clearly enjoying this now.

That got some laughter, but Sydney could only imagine what Adam was thinking. She was too afraid to sneak another look and so low in her seat that she couldn’t see anyway.

“Last chance,” Delaney called out. “I’m about to bring my gavel down, ladies, so if there’s anyone thinking about bidding on the oh-so-worth-it Mr. Rockford, now’s your last chance.”

Sydney rolled her eyes, wishing Delaney would just yell, “Sold!” already.

Another bid came in, then a second, bringing the new total to twenty-four thousand, but Birdie was on it. “Twenty-five,” she yelled.

Finally, Delaney seemed to get the psychic vibes Sydney was sending her. “Going … last chance … going … no takers? All done? That’s it, ladies, he’s sold ! And to Birdie!” She brought the gavel down with a loud crack.

Sydney exhaled. Her heart was racing, and she felt like she’d just finished a marathon.

Birdie glanced down at her. “You okay? Is it the money?”

Sydney risked a look at the stage. Adam was walking off. She slid back into a normal sitting position. “No, I don’t care about the money. It’s going to a great cause.”

“Then why were you acting like you were suddenly in the witness protection program?”

“I didn’t want Adam to know I was the one bidding. He doesn’t even know I’m here.”

“Why would he care?”

She opened her mouth to answer, then shook her head.

“I don’t know. But I helped him buy that suit, and he didn’t tell me what it was for.

Just said he had a meeting. If he’d wanted me to know he was doing this, he would have told me.

He had plenty of opportunity. So clearly, he didn’t want me to know. ”

“True. Well, don’t you think he’ll know when he sees the name of his date? He does know your name, right?”

Sydney nodded even as she wrinkled her nose. “Would it be okay if we just left it in your name? I’ll pay, obviously.”

Birdie’s brow furrowed. “That’s fine with me, but who’s going on this date? I really do have a boyfriend, and I don’t think he’d like it if I went out with Adam. I’m already going to have to explain this to him. Word travels fast in this town.”

Sydney’s eyes widened. “I really didn’t mean to get you into trouble. I’ll go on the date. I guess.”

“I’m not in any trouble. Jack will get a good laugh out of this, I promise. But you have to go on the date. You can’t leave Adam hanging. You at least have to tell him the truth.”

Sydney nodded. “You’re right. I will.”

And wasn’t that going to be a fun conversation?