He leaned forward. “Such an event might boost the restaurant’s reputation, I agree. But it would bring more money to the town than to this place. You don’t need that massive inflow of travelers once a year. It doesn’t make much financial sense. It’s better to invest in a second restaurant and build up a chain.”
Yes, that would be the right move. If Ryan was to keep this place with the current design, things should be standardized so they could easily be transferable to multiple locations.
“Money can’t be the main focus.” Bianca wrinkled her nose. “Think of the benefit the entire community would draw from such a cultural happening. Also, I wouldn’t want The Sapphire to turn into a boring chain. It’s unique because there’s only one of it.”
Ryan’s eyes widened. Was Bianca for real? How could she disregard money like that when she was driving around in a wreck of a car? All the women in Ryan’s acquaintance recognized the value wealth brought to their life.
He tilted his head while keeping his gaze on her face. “I thought women were more rational and materialistic than that.”
Bianca flushed. “You obviously hang out with the wrong kind of women then. Money isn’t something you need to be happy. If you have your basic needs met, then the rest doesn’t make a difference.”
Ryan stifled a groan. No. It could determine whether someone you love lived or died. “You’re mistaken. Money makes it possible to care for the ones you love. See Stefano? He knows this. Isn’t he selling his restaurant to me because he wants to support his daughter?”
“Well, that’s what she makes him believe anyways.” Bianca’s mouth moved into a sour grimace. Then she waved with her hand. “Stefano is a grown man who can make up his own mind. I’m not going to question the rightness of his decision. But since it impacts my life, I’d love to make you see why the festival isn’t just a silly dream. It also makes business sense, and at the same time, it’s more than a simple get-rich strategy. It’ll make this town a better place. Isn’t this something you, Ryan, as a native of this region would want?”
Her expression was challenging and her neck appeared longer as she held up her chin. She looked almost like a princess in her satin dress with her proud posture.
Before Ryan could answer, a woman stepped over to their table.
“Excuse me for interrupting, Bianca, but we’ve got a problem.”
Chapter 9
Bianca needed a second to get a grip on her swirling emotions. Her conversation with Ryan had left her heart pounding in her throat. How was she to convince him that turning The Sapphire into a chain would be a mistake?
Clarissa touched her shoulder. “Bianca, did you hear what I said?”
Bianca flinched then glanced up at the waitress. “What’s wrong, Clarissa?”
Clarissa lowered her voice so the other tables couldn’t hear her. “Mr. Forbes just bailed on us. He says his rabbit got sick, so he can’t come to the auction.”
Bianca’s heart dropped. Oh, this was terrible news.
She smacked the table with her palm. “Fricking rabbit. Couldn’t it just choose another day for this? Henry would’ve been the highest price by far. How can I fix this? The auction is supposed to start in a few minutes.”
Henry Forbes was one of Rocky Harbor’s most desirable bachelors, as well as the town’s cherished veterinarian. How were they supposed to do the auction without him?
Ryan touched Bianca’s hand. “What kind of auction? Any way I could help out?”
His voice was warm, and his brows furrowed.
Bianca shook her head. It was nice of him to offer, but there was nothing Ryan could do. Nothing, unless…Bianca drew in a breath. Would he do it?
Ryan narrowed his eyes. “Say it. I can see there’s something you want to ask me.”
Bianca cleared her throat. “One of the primary incomes of the fundraiser is an auction. It’s supposed to start in a couple of minutes, but one of our main contributors just backed out. So we’re one offer too short.”
Ryan’s forehead smoothed. “No problem. Just tell me how much I’m supposed to pay and I will.”
If it were only that easy. Dropping a large sum might not be a problem to a man as rich as Ryan. But what about offering himself?
Bianca’s stomach hardened and she chewed on her lip before speaking. “It’s not your money we need.”
“Then what?” Ryan’s eyes widened. “I thought that in an auction you bid on certain objects. Or do other rules apply here?”
Bianca inhaled. Was she really going to ask the future owner of this restaurant to sell himself on stage to the highest bidder? “It’s you.”
Ryan jerked back. “Me?”
Bianca nodded. “Yes, it’s a modified auction. We sell people instead of objects. Of course, only for a very limited time. Once bought, the auctioned men and women perform a few funny services for their winners.”
Ryan’s mouth was set in a line, and his fingers drummed on the table. “What kind of services?”
Bianca swallowed. Ryan didn’t look happy that he’d offered his participation, but with the little time at her disposal Bianca wouldn’t be able to find anyone else. Especially not someone who was as appetizing for future buyers as Ryan would be.
“Nothing compromising.” She held up her hands. “The winners might require the candidates to help out in the garden, cook dinner, or take a dog for a walk. Just little mundane tasks. It’s all for collecting the costs for the annual Nostalgia Dance.”
She gazed at his strong jawline and high cheekbones. Yes, his contribution could save the evening. The wealthy women of Rocky Harbor would die to book Ryan for even an hour.
Ryan gawked at Bianca. “So you want me to be sold on stage, that’s it?”
Bianca nodded. “Yes, if you’re willing. Are you still interested in helping me out?”
Please say yes. Please.
Ryan rubbed his chin. “Perhaps. How long would my service last? A day?”
“Three, actually,” Clarissa chimed in.
Bianca rolled her eyes. She had omitted this detail on purpose. Henry had agreed to be the special prize in the auction and offer a three-day availability to his buyer. If Ryan jumped in, he would need to respect this contract. But first she’d wanted to ascertain that he was on board with the whole concept.
Ryan gasped. “Three days? But then I’d be stuck in Rocky Harbor till Tuesday.”
Bianca’s heart skipped a beat. Of course. Why hadn’t she considered this before? This auction would not only help with the fundraiser, but if Ryan agreed, he would stay longer, and Bianca’d have more time to convince him about The Sapphire’s future.
With three full days at her disposal, she might manage to change Ryan’s heart. Now she needed to convince him of participating, for sure.
She glanced at Ryan from under her lashes and brushed his arm with her fingers. “Please, we really need your help.” She tried to keep her voice pleading and soft, but not needy.
Ryan glanced down at the spot where she’d touched him, then he raised his chin. His eyes captured Bianca’s.
He didn’t speak for a moment but kept looking at her.
Bianca shifted on her seat. What was he thinking? Would he accept this proposal?
He drew in a breath then shrugged. “All right. I was planning to stay till Sunday night, anyways. I guess I can extend my stay two more days.”
Bianca’s neck muscles relaxed. “Wow, thanks. You’re saving my butt. We have a strict budget to reach with the auction. With your help, it’ll be a piece of cake.”
Clarissa clapped her hands. “Excellent. I’ll go update Angie on the changes.” She looked at Ryan. “I’m sure, Mr. O’Connor, that you’ll sell in a jiffy. I’d buy you if I could.” She giggled and left their table.
A boyish smile appeared on Ryan’s lips. “Do you actually think people will want to buy me?”
How could Ryan even ask this?
She nodded. “Yes, I’m quite certain bids on you will be high.
You’re a catch.”
Ryan raised his brows and Bianca dropped her gaze to the table. He’d be sold immediately. There was no question about it. But she shouldn’t have told him that so bluntly. He might misunderstand her comment.
Bianca dared a fleeting glance at Ryan’s well defined mouth. Yes, indeed. Ryan was going to be an irresistible bounty for any woman in her right mind.
Oh, no.
Where did this last thought come from? Not for any woman, but for her guests. Not for Bianca. No, definitely not for her.
Ryan rubbed his hands together. “Let’s just hope I get a nice buyer then.”
Bianca scanned the room for the faces of Ryan’s potential acquirers. Lilly, the daughter of the mayor would surely bid on him. Cecilia, Mr. Allbright’s sister, too. And probably Scarlett, her dentist’s cousin. All those females were single and with enough money to drop. They wouldn’t want to miss out on a good-looking man like Ryan.
Bianca’s throat dried out and blood rushed to her head. Why was she reacting like this to the idea that one of these women would buy Ryan for a few days?
She pressed her hand to her chest. If Ryan spent the next three days playing silly service games with one of Rocky Harbor’s fine ladies, then how would Bianca spend time with him discussing The Sapphire’s future?
There was only one way to avoid this.
Angie, the band’s singer, announced the start of the auction. “Please, would all the candidates who’ve agreed so graciously to help us in this noble cause come to the stage?”
Ryan pushed back his chair and straightened. “There’s my cue. Wish me luck.”
Before he stepped away, Bianca grabbed his hand and squeezed it quickly. “Good luck and thanks for doing this.”
Her skin sizzled when she touched his palm as if she had just brushed against a live wire.
Did he feel this strange chemistry between them, too?
Ryan looked like he wanted to say something, because his lips parted but then he pressed them together and nodded. “No problem.”
With that, he walked away, following the other five candidates who had already formed a queue.
Bianca watched Ryan’s back. Was she going to go through with this? In front of everyone? What would Ryan think? And above all, did she have enough savings to compete with the others?
She drew in a breath and gritted her teeth.
These were concerns for later. For now, she just had to make sure nobody outbid her. She was doing this to save The Sapphire, wasn’t she?
Ryan climbed up to the podium and turned toward the audience. His dark hair sparkled as the spotlight shone on him, and his lips moved into a dazzling smile.
A few people cheered and Scarlett gave a short applause.
Gosh, Ryan knew how to conquer people if he wanted. Her heart drummed in her throat. Would three days together with Ryan be too dangerous for her own good?
She shook her head and pulled her chair closer to the table.
She had to stop digging up emotions that weren’t there. Let’s just focus on the business at hand. It was the first time she was going to bid in this auction, and she had to make sure she won.
Chapter 10
Ryan threw a side-glance at his five companions. One elderly man, two adolescent girls, a middle-aged woman, and a teenage boy. Bianca might have been right. It wasn’t going to be that difficult to get sold.
The first one to be auctioned was the teenage boy.
The redhead who held the microphone introduced him as Stewart. “Stewart is great at mowing lawns and carrying groceries, and he’s just recently acquired the skill of painting a fence with a paint roller.”
Stewart bowed to the audience and the people clapped.
“Let the bids start,” the redhead said.
A short drum solo filled the air.
Ryan snapped his head to the drummer. He was a short man with glasses. Beside him stood the saxophonist at whom Bianca’d stared. Ryan squared his shoulders and turned back to the tables.
From the corner of his eyes he sought out Bianca. She was rubbing her forehead as if she had a headache. Ryan’s stomach stirred. Was she nervous about the outcome of this auction? Why didn’t she just accept his financial contribution?
“Ten dollars,” an elderly man from the first row called out. “I need a repaint on my terrace chairs.”
“Twenty bucks,” said a man with a long beard from the back.
“Twenty-five,” a lady with silver curls and a hunched back raised herself from her chair.
Stewart blew an air-kiss to her. “Thanks, Granny!”
Everybody laughed.
There were a few other bids, and after five minutes, Stewart had been sold to a young woman with a tight bun for fifty-two dollars.
Ryan drew in a breath. Was this the price range Bianca had been hoping for? There were six of them to be sold altogether. Was this the kind of money that made a difference for Rocky Harbor’s Nostalgia Dance?
The last forgive-me gift he’d made Helga buy for Jenna popped into his mind. It was a necklace worth probably three thousand dollars.
He shifted his weight from his left leg to his right. How could money have become such a small concern to him? It hadn’t been like that before. There was a time when he’d have done anything just to scrape those two thousand dollars together that his mother needed to…
He shook his head slightly. No, this wasn’t the best time for soul searching. His gaze drifted to the side.
Only the elderly man stood beside him now. Had all the others been auctioned already? It was soon Ryan’s turn.
“Two hundred fifty-five dollars. And sold,” the redhead announced.
The audience clapped and the man waved at them with a smile on his lips. Before stepping down from the stage, he tapped Ryan’s shoulder. “Good luck, son.”
Ryan pulled back his shoulders and stepped forward next to the redhead.
She beamed at him and said, “Our last candidate is very special. As you might have heard, our beloved Henry had to stay home tonight. However, Mr. Ryan O’Connor offered to step into Henry’s shoes. For those of you who don’t know him, Ryan is a native of our region. He graduated from UCLA with honors in business and built up the multi-figure empire Bright Future. Ryan isn’t married, has no siblings, and has a passion for paragliding. He can be yours for three days if you’re lucky.”
Ryan needed all his concentration to keep his jaw from dropping. Where had this woman gotten all this information about him on such short notice? Did they google him or what? He didn’t recall ever mentioning his love of paragliding in an interview. He hadn’t even practiced the sport since his mother died.
And the mention of his marital status? His eyes wandered to Bianca. She stared at the tablecloth and appeared to be deep in thought. Why did the idea that Bianca might find out that he was dating someone make him feel so weird? How lucky the latest tabloid that wanted to release a special about Jenna had been paid off early on.
The redhead continued, “Who offers the first bid on this most eligible bachelor?”
A young blonde with a curve-toning, red dress stood up. “Angie, tell us what Mr. O’Connor can do.” She winked.
Angie nodded. “Great question, Scarlett. Why don’t we let Ryan explain, right?”
Various people clapped and there were a few calls of, “Go for it.”
Ryan’s throat thickened. What was his problem? He spoke in front of CEOs and high-level politicians on a daily basis. Was he feeling apprehensive about addressing the folks of a small town in a silly auction game?
He cleared his voice and grabbed the microphone from Angie. “Thank you, Angie. My offer is the following: I can cook a wonderful dinner consisting of eggs and ham sandwich and plan a special excursion to one of the region’s most hidden waterfalls which, I’m almost certain, most of the locals don’t even know exists.”
A loud cheering filled the room. The woman in the red dress clapped loudly.
Ryan gave t
he microphone back to Angie. Let’s hope that making a sandwich and a trip to Silent Valley are enough to secure a few hundred dollars for Bianca.
Angie raised her hand above her head. “Three, two, one. Let the bids roll.”
“Three hundred fifty,” the blonde in the red dress yelled.
Ryan’s brows rose high. Wow, was that his starting price? It was considerably higher than that of the other candidates.
His eyes darted to Bianca sitting on the edge of her chair. Her eyes looked even larger as the light of the stage glimmered in them. Her chin was set and her shoulders looked tense.
“Five hundred.” A woman with a pixie cut raised her hand. She sat beside the man Bianca had pointed out as the interior designer of this place.
“Six hundred,” the blonde responded.
“Seven hundred fifty. You can’t outbid me, Scarlett,” a woman with a yellow dress chimed in.
Soon the three women were calling out numbers in an escalating fashion, spiraling Ryan’s price higher and higher.
A small smile conquered his lips. Maybe he’d be a useful resource to Bianca after all.
“Three thousand, five hundred, once. Three thousand, five hundred, twice. No other bidder?” Angie looked around in the room.
“Four thousand.”
Ryan jerked back at the sound of the voice.
Bianca?
His eyes flicked to her and his heart leaped. Yes, it was her. Bianca was standing beside her table, her hand raised. What was happening?
“I offer four thousand for Mr. O’Connor,” Bianca repeated.
Angie drew her brows together. “Bianca, are you sure about this price?”
Bianca nodded. She looked nervous, but she didn’t blink as she gazed at them.
Angie shrugged. “Four thousand once, four thousand twice, and four thousand for the third time. Mr. O’Connor is sold to Bianca Biagi till Tuesday nine pm. Bianca, you may come and collect your prize.”
Ryan watched Bianca’s slender figure stroll toward the stage. People from the other tables called out to her with witty comments, or threw approving glances at her.
Gambling With The Billionaire (Gems 0f Love Book 2) Page 4