Cranberry Point (Cedar Cove #4)(53)
Whoever won could take the dog or the bachelor or both. If the winner only wanted one, then the auction would start over with the remaining entrant, whether man or dog. As Grace read over the rules described in the program, she hoped this novel idea would raise the funds the shelter needed, and more.
"If I'd been one of the bachelors, I bet I would've brought in top dollar," Jack boasted with a cocky grin. "Unfortunately Olivia got me first."
Olivia glanced up from her program and arched one brow. "Unfortunately? Is that a complaint, Mr. Griffin?"
The teasing left his eyes and was replaced with a slow, easy smile. "Not at all. I meant unfortunately for these other ladies." At her smirk, he shook his head. "In all seriousness, though, I think I got the better half of this deal."
"I'm not so sure I agree." Olivia rested her head against him, and Jack's arm came around her shoulders. The gesture was so romantic that Grace had to look away. Rarely had she felt lonelier or more alone, but she was finished with self-recrimination. Life goes on, as the old saying had it, and so would she.
"I see Stanley's one of the bachelors," Charlotte said disapprovingly. She pointed out her ex-son-in-law's name to Ben Rhodes. "Stanley doesn't even live in Cedar Cove."
"I know," Grace murmured, "but Stan wanted to do his part for charity."
"Did you tell him charity begins at home?"
"Mother!" Olivia mildly chastised her.
Charlotte frowned. "I only hope his ego doesn't get the better of him—for once."
In Grace's opinion, it was too late for that. Stan had volunteered under the assumption that any number of women would battle to outbid each other for the opportunity to date him.
"I can't wait to see which dog Janet paired him up with," she said, leaning close to Olivia as the waiters started to circulate with salads.
"You mean you don't know?"
She shook her head. "Janet's not deciding until she's had a chance to mingle with the bachelors and meet them."
"This could be intriguing."
Soon everyone was seated and the main course had been quickly and efficiently served, with Justine directing the waiters from the kitchen. Janet stepped up to the podium set off to one side of the platform and reviewed the rules. Next she introduced the auctioneer and Barry Stokes stepped forward.
Barry greeted everyone with a smile and a few good-natured jokes about bachelors. He managed to work the audience to an even higher level of excitement, periodically reminding everyone of the important role the Animal Shelter played in the community. He pointed out that the final bidding price would be separate for the dog and the man. If the bidder wanted the dog and the bachelor, the bid was actually doubled. So if the bidder wanted either the dog or the bachelor, the bidding would begin again. Dogs made wonderful pets, he said at the end of his introduction. And so did bachelors—which brought a roar from the crowd.
The first bachelor presented was Bruce Peyton. Grace knew Bruce through the library; the widower often came in with his young daughter. Grace recalled his wife Stephanie, too, and was well aware that the young father continued to grieve.
Bruce was matched up with a bassett hound. Grace could tell how nervous he was by the way his gaze darted around the room. The order of the bachelors' appearances had been chosen by lottery, and she felt sorry for Bruce, whose name had obviously been pulled first.
The whispers rose as Bruce walked down the runway, the bassett hound trudging beside him. It was clear that Bruce would've preferred to hurry, but that was impossible with the slow-moving dog.
The first bid came from one of the women who worked at Get Nailed. She was immediately outbid by a woman from the local pharmacy. The bidding went back and forth between them until the last moment. Bruce—and the dog— were about to be won for the bargain price of two hundred and thirty-five dollars each when Lois Habbersmith, who worked with Maryellen at the gallery, shocked everyone.
"Three hundred and fifty dollars!"
The two women who'd been bidding stared at each other, shook their heads and sat down.
"Three hundred and fifty dollars, going once, going twice." Barry paused and pointed his gavel at the woman from the salon. "Are you sure you want to quit so soon? The bassett hound alone is a bargain at that price."
The two previous bidders shook their heads again.
"Sold," Barry announced and slammed down the gavel. "Now, which do you want? Bruce or the bassett?"
"Both!"
"Three hundred and fifty dollars each," Barry reminded her.
"Yes." Lois gleefully pulled out her checkbook and maneuvered around several chairs as she made her way to the back of the room.
Barry chuckled. "You're married, Lois. What's Don going to think when you bring home a dog and a bachelor?"
"Don approves."
Several laughs followed, along with good-natured teasing.
Lois dismissed Barry's comment with a wave of her hand. "Don and I already decided we'd get a dog. And I promised him whoever I bid on would be tall enough to reach the second-story windows on the ladder. They need a good washing, and Bruce looks tall enough to do it and young enough not to complain."
"In other words, you purchased your bachelor to relieve Don of washing the outside windows?"