“ARE YOU SURE I SHOULD dress as a cowboy?” Russ Hall surveyed himself in the mirror, noting the tight jeans, boots, leather vest and work shirt. “I’m an architect now.”
Lindsay Duncan stared at him assessingly. “Well, I suppose we could dress you as a construction worker, but—”
“Never mind.” What difference did it make? He might be an architect now, but he’d spent enough time as a kid chasing cows. He felt comfortable in these clothes.
And if dressing like a cowboy made more money for the Lost Springs Ranch for Boys, it was the least he could do. After all, he owed just about everything he had to Lost Springs. The ranch had become his home at the age of four, when his mother had abandoned him.
If it weren’t for that, no way in hell would he go through with this bachelor auction business. But the ranch’s finances were at an all-time low, and Russ would do whatever he could to help, even if that meant being sold to the highest bidder. At least it was only for a weekend.
Most disturbing of all were the memories that had flooded him on his return to Wyoming. Once he’d gotten a scholarship and gone to Chicago, he’d never come back to Lost Springs.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Russ,” Lindsay said, patting his shoulder. The two of them had stayed close friends. Lindsay’s parents had operated the ranch until their death a few yeas ago, and now Lindsay herself was in charge.
Guilt filled Russ. When he left the ranch, he’d wanted to put his past behind him. Memories of his mother and her abandonment were too disturbing to confront. “Sorry, Lindsay. Guess I got involved in my career.” He smiled at her. It did feel good to see her.
Maybe the time was right to come back to Wyoming. When he’d stepped off the plane two days ago, a strange feeling of homecoming had filled him. A feeling he had difficulty recognizing because he didn’t really have a home. Certainly not his sterile condo in Chicago.
“Just one more thing,” Lindsay added, stepping closer.
Before Russ knew what was happening, she’d undone all but the last button on his shirt.
“Hey!” he protested. “What are you doing?”
“Showcasing your sex appeal,” she said with a grin. “We’ll make more money that way.”
You’re doing this to make money, Russ reminded himself. This is for the ranch. But he suddenly felt like a hunk of cheese set out for the mice.
* * *
MELISSA BRIGHT QUESTIONED her sanity. What was she doing at a bachelor auction? Was she crazy? She stared down at the list she’d made a few minutes ago, waiting for the auction to begin. All the logical reasons for her attending the auction were there.
Publicity for her business, a donation for the ranch, the chance to help out a friend. She’d met Lindsay Duncan, the owner of Lost Springs Ranch, through Melissa’s fiancé, Greg, and they’d become fast friends. That friendship had deepened with their mutual mourning after Greg’s death in a traffic accident over four months ago.
Before that time, she and Greg had discussed using the auction to gain publicity for her greeting card business. Bidding on a bachelor to model for her cards would not only help her fledgling company but benefit the ranch, as well. Greg had even teased her about falling for one of the hunks.
There was no chance of that. Her heart had belonged to Greg and still did. A kinder, gentler man had not existed, making his untimely death impossible to accept.
She eyed some of the women around her as they whispered among themselves. Most were dressed casually in jeans and vests, although some had gone all out for the occasion. The redhead next to her wore a revealing scarlet cocktail dress. She certainly wanted to draw attention to herself.
Melissa looked down at her conservative navy-blue suit. She sure couldn’t compete with the other woman’s plunging neckline.
Taped music suddenly filled the air, alerting the audience that the auction was about to start. Lindsay stepped on stage to welcome the crowd packing the bleachers, and Melissa drew a shaky breath.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for joining us today,” Lindsay began.
Melissa stared at the paper in her hand, trying to concentrate on her list.
“—volunteered their services for a fantasy weekend of the woman’s choice—”
Melissa sighed. She hoped her “hunk” wouldn’t be upset with her plans. They hardly qualified as fantasy.
“Let the bachelor auction begin!” Lindsay finished to rousing applause.
Melissa drew a deep breath. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for. Someone who would draw publicity for her company, first of all. She nibbled her bottom lip as the auctioneer introduced the first bachelor.
The women around her went wild when the sexy man took Lindsay’s hand and lifted it to his lips for a courtly kiss. He was a doctor, and breathtakingly handsome, but Melissa was more entertained by the behavior of the women around her. There was such exuberance and enjoyment of life in their rowdiness that it made her own spirits lift.
Sometime later, a cowboy stepped up to the stage. Tall, muscular, he was dressed in western clothes, his shirt unbuttoned down his admittedly magnificent chest. What on earth would she do with a cowboy?
Suddenly she lifted her arm in the air. Of course! A sexy cowboy would be the perfect prototype for her line of greeting cards.
* * *
WHEN RUSS HEARD THE WORD sold, he grinned. He’d brought a good price. His smile disappeared when the woman who’d purchased him stood to go pay for her bid.
She was pregnant.
He hurried off the stage, his gaze zeroing in on his old friend Lindsay. “What’s going on?” he demanded.
“You did great!” Lindsay assured him. Then she turned to the next bachelor.
“That’s not what I mean, Lindsay. The woman’s pregnant. How am I supposed to romance a pregnant woman?”
“She’s pregnant?” Lindsay asked, spinning around to face him. “Did she have dark hair?”
“Yeah, with sad brown eyes. You know her?”
“Oh, Russ, it’s my friend Melissa. Don’t worry, she’s not looking for romance. She’s going to use you as a model for her business, if you agree, and for publicity.”
“Of course I’ll agree. She’s paying. But—”
“Don’t worry,” Lindsay interrupted him. “You’ll like her. She’s very sweet.”
Sweet? Russ stood there in shock as Lindsay was summoned by someone outside the arena.
Sweet? He’d figured he’d be with someone fun, interesting, enticing. Maybe even hot. But sweet?
He equated sweet with boring. He worried the sweet lady who’d just purchased a weekend of his time would make him want to give up women entirely.