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Yep, Colton was one of his friends. It didn’t surprise him the guy had signed on. A bachelor auction and all the attention that went with it was right up his alley.
“Drew Robinson will be there too,” she said, naming another of his acquaintances. “I wish Alec could come, but he’s been dating Sydney for two months now.”
He doubted his youngest brother’s most recent relationship would last much longer, but he understood why she hadn’t asked.
“I know you’re worried a ninety-year-old woman will win you, but the guest list is diverse.”
Actually, he wasn’t worried about a woman old enough to be his grandmother winning him. Four dates with a person like that he could handle. The idea of Tasha Marshall or someone like her putting in the highest bid scared him. He’d known Tasha forever. At one time, the woman had been obsessed with his cousin. Once Jake had gotten married though, she’d set her sights on his oldest brother. When Trent got engaged and then made the walk down the aisle, she’d turned her eyes to him. He couldn’t think of many things worse than being saddled with Tasha or someone similar for four dates.
Aunt Marilyn handed him several papers. “I brought a copy of the guest list so you can see it’s not made up of only older women. At least half the guests are closer to your age.”
“How about I make a donation?” Since the papers were in his hands anyway, he glanced through the names, many of which he recognized. Not even halfway down the first page he spotted the names Tasha and Janet Marshall. Big surprise there. The Marshalls and Sherbrookes went way back. “You name the figure, and I’ll take care of it first thing tomorrow morning.”
His aunt’s eyebrows pinched together. “I suppose you could.”
Derek waited for the but he heard.
“With your name added to the event it would sell out. Please reconsider, Derek. You don’t have to marry the winning bidder, only go out with them. You can pick the when and where. And who knows, you might have fun. Meet someone you enjoy spending time with.”
He hated to disappoint her. If only she could guarantee who’d win him. Of course she couldn’t. No one could and somehow he guessed that if he agreed he’d end up saddled with Tasha for some glorious nights of hell.
Derek turned to the second page of guests while he tried to choose the right words. The four names at the top caught his eye: Scarlet, Milan, Paris, and Brooklyn Novak. Those were four names he hadn’t expected to see printed there.
“So, can I add you to the bachelor lineup?”
He met her eyes. Without a doubt, Aunt Marilyn would keep pestering him until he gave in. Derek glanced down at the four unexpected names again, a plan forming that would make his aunt happy, and even better, keep him in control. “Okay, fine. I’ll do it.”
Chapter 1
Two weeks later
Brooklyn Novak stopped in front of her apartment door and searched through her gym bag for her keys. She’d spent the last hour downstairs in the pool, just one of the fabulous amenities the Hillcrest offered its residents that made it Providence’s most sought-after residence. Not to mention one of the city’s most expensive.
She could have easily spent another hour down there. Swimming was her favorite form of exercise, although she didn’t really consider it exercise. In fact, she enjoyed being in the water so much when she was young, her father had often joked she should’ve been born with gills and flippers rather than ears and hands.
Tonight though she’d headed down more because she hoped it would tire her body out than because she needed a good workout. The past two nights she’d had the worst time falling asleep at a decent hour. Her body seemed to think it was still on West Coast time. She guessed it was to be expected. She had spent the last three weeks in California for her older sister’s wedding and all the pre-wedding festivities, many of which she would have preferred to skip. Unfortunately, family was family even if you didn’t always get along with them.
Finding her keys underneath her swim goggles, she pulled them out and unlocked the door. Behind her she heard the elevator doors opening, and she expected to hear Roberta Warwick, the fortysomething stockbroker who lived next door with her husband, call out to her. Since she’d moved into the building the year before, Brooklyn had grown close to the outgoing woman. Perhaps not BFF close, she already had two of those anyway, but they frequently got together for lunch or to go shopping. In fact, it wasn’t unusual for Roberta, or Robbie as her friends called her, to pop in on a random night to just chat. Brooklyn suspected the woman was lonely. Her husband spent a great deal of time traveling for his company and they didn’t have any children or family in the area.
Brooklyn pushed open her door and turned, prepared to say hello and invite Robbie in for a little while, but it wasn’t Robbie crossing the distance between the elevator and her door. Instead, it was Derek Sherbrooke, one of her two BFFs, although she’d never call him that to his face. Regardless, she suspected he knew how much she valued his friendship.
She’d met Derek on her second day at Harvard. She’d been heading to her first class and despite her campus map she’d been utterly lost. Derek had spotted her and, perhaps sensing her confusion, he’d stopped to help. Although he was also a freshman at the university, he’d spent his fair share of time on the campus because his oldest brother, Trent, had graduated from the school and his
other brother, Gray, was a junior. Since it turned out they were both heading to the same freshman English lit class, they’d walked together. That had been the beginning of their friendship. A friendship that remained strong today. In fact, Derek was one of the few people from Harvard who remained a permanent part of her life.
“I hoped you were back,” Derek said, giving her a quick hug.
For a moment her body forgot she’d long ago accepted they’d only ever be friends, and her heart gave an extra little flutter.
“I got home late Friday night.”
“Did you go for a swim?” He pointed toward her gym bag. He knew how much she loved the water. In fact, he shared that particular love. In college they’d often meet up at the pool and do laps together.
“Yep, I spent about an hour downstairs. My body still thinks it’s in California. I’m hoping the swim will help me fall asleep earlier tonight. Otherwise, tomorrow will be a long day at the office. Come on in.” She walked through the doorway and switched on the lights.
“You should’ve called me Friday. I would’ve picked you up at the airport and we could’ve grabbed a drink or something. It hasn’t been the same without you around.”
Brooklyn dropped her gym bag inside the half bath off the kitchen. Later she’d wash out her swimsuit and hang it to dry. For now, she’d visit with Derek, perhaps the friendliest face she’d seen in three weeks.
