A Bid For Love

stepped forward.
    Anonymous? No one else had an unknown bidder. All had been eager to cart away their temporary date. What sort of person spent huge amounts of cash and then...hid?
    "All I have here is an email address." Monica glanced out again, but to no avail. "Well, Agent Hall, I guess you'll just have to catch up with your lady afterward."
    He took the card she gave him and managed a smile that conveyed pleased anticipation. When need be, he could lie with the best of them. "I look forward to the pleasure."

    * * * *
    "So, are you going to email your new owner or not?" Holly's grin outshone the sequins on her dress as they danced under the lights of the banquet hall.
    "Not owner--date. This wasn't a slave auction." If anything, it was closer to prostitution than slavery. Neither appealed at the moment. Asher moved in easy time with Holly, years of friendship adding to their grace. "I suppose I should."
    She read his trepidation far too easily, rubbing her hand over his shoulder. "I was teasing, Asher. Look, just because your date chose to be mysterious for the moment doesn't mean there's anything to worry about. Just email her and get it over with." Her grin flashed again. "I didn't set up your phone email for my health, you know."
    The music faded into a more rock and roll tempo, and he led her from the floor to a white-draped table. "I suppose I should at least acknowledge the rather hefty donation she's made." He sank into an uncomfortable straight chair. "Shouldn't I?" The stage fright returned.
    "Yes, you should." She moved his now-refilled Scotch out of his reach. "And you don't need that to gear up. Just say hi, thanks for bidding, are you here tonight, and when would you like to make arrangements for our date. Nothing overly scary. I promise. And no, I can't hold your hand. You need both to hold the phone and type."
    "I remember now why I have absolutely no desire to date you. My life would be utterly under your control." Even so he pulled his cell from his pocket and retrieved the paper with the email address. [email protected]. Even the email gave no hint of his soon-to-be travelling companion's identity. Unless she happened to be an expensive call girl.
    Under Holly's commanding gaze, he typed a very simple introduction--a more elegantly worded version of her dictation--and swallowed as he hit the send command.
    "See? Utterly painless." She moved his drink back. "You can have that now if you feel the need. Or you can come dance with me again."
    He lifted the Scotch as he stared around the room, hoping to see some fair lady reaching for her phone. While several people seemed to be emailing or texting, none looked his way. Well, one of his fellow agents did, and Asher immediately refocused on Holly. He didn't want to think of the ribbing he was going to receive at the hands of Scott Jamison and the other members of his unit. "Can we dance, too? I think I may need both the liquor and the comfort."
    Her laugh eased the knot in his stomach. A little. "Sure. Come on." She took his hand and let him pull her up before she smiled just off to his right. "Hey, Scott. You got Edna Lindsey eating out of your hand two years running. She bought you at the children's hospital charity function last year."
    Jamison grinned, all boyish charm and masculine beauty. Of course the lady was charmed. Asher wasn't sure if he felt better or worse at the sight of the octogenarian on Scott's arm. On the happier side of speculation, such a woman would make a lovely companion and not expect any tawdry sexual encounters. On the worrisome side of the equation, such a woman wouldn't lead him to want any tawdry sexual encounters.
    Perhaps he needed to be more vigorous in his pursuit of romance.
    "Aw, Holly, Eddy just loves me 'cause nobody else will take her to the batting cages." Scott smiled down at the plump lady who barely stood to his biceps. "She's good, too. Yankees need a good cleanup hitter this year. I'm thinking of calling the owners on her behalf." He looked down suddenly as his cell phone chirped. "Oops. Better get that. Hope it's not business. I hate having to skip out on a party." Dropping a kiss to the top of Ms. Lindsey's head, he grinned as she beamed up at him. "Be right back, darling. Duty calls." He stepped away, phone already to his ear.
    Asher tried to let himself be distracted by Edna's witty conversation and her impressive political and social connections. But he could think only of the cell phone in his