across the ballroom speakers to announce the auction will start in five minutes.
All canines and heroes make their way to the front of the room and disappear behind a curtained wall next to the stage. The doodle and his handler are one of the last pairs to disappear, the man not giving one ounce of attention to any woman he leaves in his wake.
It doesn’t take long for Kate to find me. Excitement is etched all over her face as she hurries across the room through the crowds of women who have their bidding paddles ready to wave.
“I don’t give a shit about our pact,” she starts before she even reaches me. “I’m going to do it! His name is Clay. When he’s not fighting fires, he’s a carpenter. And when he’s not building bookshelves for his mom, he’s trying new recipes because, get this—” She grabs me and it looks like she might shed happy tears. My wine sloshes for the second time tonight as she gives me a little shake. “He likes to cook. Do you hear me, Aria? He. Likes. To. Cook. You know how much I love food! I think it’s meant to be!”
I pull out of her hold to salvage what wine I have left and shake my head. “Everyone loves food. That doesn’t make you soulmates.”
“But I really love food and I really like when someone else prepares it.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re a match made in the kitchen.”
She lowers her voice and turns to stand next to me so we’re both facing the stage. “I saw you talking to Mr. Broody. Please tell me you talked about something other than your job.”
I frown. “I don’t always talk about my work.”
“Not the good stuff anyway … just random shit about how busy you are. You need to get laid more than anyone in this room.”
“I’m trying to get my practice going, but thank you for reminding me about my lack of life,” I mutter and take another gulp.
Kate nabs my thin purse from under my arm and digs out the bidding paddle I received when we checked in. I smashed it in there as best I could since I knew I wasn’t going to use it.
Kate shoves my clutch back at me and smooths the wrinkled paddle. “You’re checking something else off your list tonight. We’re gonna find you a man.”
I grab the paddle from her. “A man is not on my list. Besides, have you seen the women here? They’re exhaling money. Even if I had the time or the inclination to bid, there’s no way I can afford it. Not with my rent and student loans.”
“That’s what credit cards are for,” she argues.
“No. Credit cards are for emergencies.”
She stares me straight in the eyes. “This is an emergency, Aria. A nine-one-one, four-alarm, all-hands-on-deck emergency. This is me saving you from your pathetic life. It has to happen.”
“No.” I shake my head and turn back to the stage that looks like something between a dog park and the set from Magic Mike. Lights bounce around the stage like a pathetic Vegas show and fire hydrants glow bright red. Music, reminding me of a strip show from a bachelorette party I once attended, vibrates from the monstrous speakers.
There’s no way I’m bidding. I came here to watch, that’s it. Nothing more.
Kate snakes her arm through mine. “Get ready. By the end of the night we’ll both be dog owners with the potential of love on the horizon.”
Shit.
“If not love, then at least maybe some rocking orgasms,” she adds.
If I follow any of Kate’s advice, the only thing on my horizon will be an ulcer.
Chapter 2
The Auction
Aria
“GOING ONCE, TWICE, three times…”
Kate bounces on her toes as she looks across the room toward her main competition. The woman who ran up the bid on Kate’s newest obsession glares back.
“Going to the pretty blonde in the red dress for three-thousand, five-hundred, and twenty dollars. Paddle number six-four-two-seven. Congratulations, little lady, you’ve got yourself a Dachshund and a date with Clay.”
Kate screeches as she throws her arms around my neck. “I won!”
“I can’t believe you just did that. So much for paying off your debt.”
“I don’t care! Okay, I’ve got to go pay. Shit, I hope I have enough credit and I’m not denied the transaction.” She doesn’t stop bouncing. “You’re next. I had no idea your guy would be right after mine. Don’t let me down, Aria. You need this. If you chicken out, I’ll literally kill