Husband for Hire by Susan Wiggs Read Free Book Online Page B

you’ve lost me forever.”
    “You mean the auction is over? So soon?”
    “My part, anyway.”
    “So tell me.” He could picture her curling up on her black suede sofa and wished like hell he could curl up with her. “I want to hear everything.”
    He took a sip of his beer. “Okay, they made me go first.”
    “Because you’re worth the most, darling.”
    “Because it was alphabetical,” he said with a wry smile. “Anyway, the bidding went round and round, but you’ll never guess who I ended up with.”
    “I don’t want to guess. Just tell me.”
    “Somebody named Spinelli. Yeah, I think that’s her name.”
    “Sugar Spinelli?”
    “You know her?”
    “Oil money. Scads of it. Everyone knows her.”
    “Lauren, your ‘everyone’ isn’t quite the same as my ‘everyone.”’ He knew she didn’t mean to, but when she said “everyone,” she gave it a slightly exclusive emphasis. Excluding people like Rob.
    “She’s ancient, Rob. Why on earth would she bid at a bachelor auction?”
    “Beats me. I figure maybe she wants a grandson for a day.” The jogging-suit ladies finished with the auction officials and came toward him, chattering away as they neared the pavilion. “I think I’m about to find out,” he said to Lauren. “Call you later.”
    He set down his beer and put on his best smile. “Ladies,” he said. “How do you do?”
    “We’re fine, Robert,” said Mrs. Spinelli. “May we call you Robert?”
    “Please. It’s Rob.”
    “Used to be Robbie,” the other lady, the one in the pink suit, said.
    That caught his attention. He studied her hard for a moment. A cloud of bluish-white hair. Square wire-rimmed glasses. A face that held a winning combination of maternal softness, youthful mischief and something else. Steely determination.
    “Mrs. Duckworth!”
    “Well, thank goodness. I didn’t think you’d recognize me.”
    “It’s been a long time.” He stood awkwardly for a moment, at a loss. How did you greet your ex-third-grade teacher? Did you call her ma’am? Offer to clean the erasers for her?
    She took the decision away from him, opening her arms. “I daresay you’ve changed more than I.”
    Rob gave her a brief hug, then stepped back, feeling awkward again. “Thank you,” he said to Mrs. Spinelli. “Your generosity was incredible. I know the ranch will put your gift to good use.”
    “Honey,” she said with a wink, “I intend to put you to good use.”
    His blood ran cold. For a second, he thought she meant…Lord, no way.
    Mrs. Duckworth must have recognized the panic in his face. She took him by the arm and led him away from the concession area. “Sugar, we’d better get on with the plan so Robbie can make his arrangements.”
    “Arrangements?” he asked stupidly.
    “For your date.”
    Oh, man. “And this date would be…?” he asked cautiously.
    “Land sakes, not with us.” Mrs. Spinelli laughed. “Did you hear that, Theda? Isn’t he precious?” She took his other arm. “Dear boy, you’re charming, but not our type. This date is with someone else. Someone very special.”
    His imagination went into overdrive. Maybe she had a psychotic daughter who’d been through a string of husbands. Or a loony niece desperate for a man….
    “I’m listening,” he said, trying to look calm.
    “You’re going on a dream date,” Mrs. Duckworth said.
    “It’s all arranged,” Mrs. Spinelli added. “Right down to the last detail.”
    He began to feel a little better, conjuring pictures of an ocean cruise, a night of dinner and theater in the city, a round of golf at a country club—
    “To a high school reunion,” Mrs. Spinelli added.
    The pictures crumbled to dust in his mind. Swaying palm trees gave way to crepe paper garlands draping some smelly gym. “Okay, let me get this straight. I’m taking somebody to her high school reunion.”
    “Next weekend,” said Mrs. Duckworth. “It will be quite marvelous, you see. It’s being held at a town near