All preparations have been made for the benefit auction. The Oasis is expecting my date at eight in the morning on Saturday. I’ve allotted a four-hour time slot. A car will pick her up just before eight and will wait until her session is complete. I’ve also instructed the driver to leave a little surprise for the lucky winner on the back seat. A black and gold gift bag awaits her. Inside, she’ll find a handwritten note with instructions. By one that afternoon, she’ll board my private jet that will take her to New York City. Once she’s boarded the plane, she’ll find another note with instructions for her shopping extravaganza. I’ve arranged for a limo to meet her at the plane and drop her off on Fifth Avenue. The driver will then wait for her to finish shopping. She’ll also receive a third gift bag with instructions, as the driver takes her to Oscar Blandi’s for hair and makeup. When my lucky winner is done, my driver will take her to Lincoln Harbor, where I’ll be waiting to have dinner with her as we sail the Hudson and watch the sunset while feasting on the beauty of the NYC skyline. To end the evening, my private jet will take us back to Norfolk. Of course, the evening won’t be complete until I have whoever wins in bed.

I email Nadine Marx, letting her know that all the arrangements have been made, and provide her with the contact information for my driver that she can provide the winner with for the following morning's date. Did I tell you how much I love the anonymity of the bachelors? I’m excited to see how much my date will bring. I’m certain that whoever bids on me will be bidding on the package and not on my identity. Hell, just my name alone would bring over a thousand-dollar bid, but this way, my anonymity will give everyone an equal chance to win. Yes, I hope my gift package brings in the highest bid, and if it doesn’t, I’d like to say I won’t be disappointed, but honestly, I probably will. Hell, I put a lot of thought into this package, and I’m pretty proud that I didn't have to ask for help.

Just as I close the lid on my laptop, I catch a glimpse of Peanut dashing into the room, hiding behind the decorative tree that rests in the corner. “Peanut,” I call out to him. “Why are you hiding? Did you do something wrong?”

It takes the little guy a few moments to respond. His perfectly brown eyes peek between the branches of the tree as little tears fall from his eyes. “I no do wrong. I jus don’t wanna go to the hispital. Mommy says I gotta go to the hispital, so the dotor can fix me.” I feel a lump in my throat and find it hard to swallow. “Uncle Wuv, you take me way, so I no go to hispital? Pwease.”

Everything inside me wants to grab my nephew and make everything alright, but I know I can’t do it, not this time. Money can’t fix this. “Come here, Peanut.” I pat my leg and open my arms, waiting for him to decide whether or not he’s going to come out. I’m patient because the last thing he needs right now is to feel more scared than he already is. “Buddy, did you hear me? Come sit on my lap so we can talk about why you’re scared.”

That did the trick; Peanut jumps out from behind the tree. “I no scared. I’m a big boy.” He pokes his thumb into his chest. “Big boys no scared of nottin.” His little arms pull him into my lap. “I no wanna go. I be lone there. You an Mommy no stay wit me.” Peanut wraps his arms around my neck and begins to cry harder.

“Hey, now.” My hands soothe up and down his little back. “Your mom and I will always be there for you, Peanut. What makes you think we won’t be there for you?”

He pulls back and stares up at me, eyes red from crying, snot running from his nostrils. I reach into my desk drawer and grab a napkin, pressing it to both sides of his nose. “Blow,” I tell him and wait for the tiny puff of air, then wipe the crud away. “Now, tell me why you think we wouldn’t be there.”

“Mommy say the dotor take me to a room, an I fall sweep, but you no go wit me. Mommy say I wake up awl bedder. I no go by self; you come wit me, pwease.”

His pleading eyes gut me deeper than before. “Buddy, we can’t go in the room with you. Adults aren’t allowed in there, just little boys like you. But I promise you that when you wake up, your mom and I will be there, right by your side.” I can see his little brain thinking through the process. “Have I ever not told you the truth before?” I ask him, and he shakes his head back and forth. “See, now when I say your mom and I will be there when you wake up, do you believe me?” Once again, he moves his little head up and down. “So, are you good to go now? Just like the big boy you are?”

Peanut holds my face between his hands, looking me straight in the eye. “Pwomise?” But as I begin to tell him yes, his little hands squeeze my cheeks together, making my I promise sound somewhat distorted. “I go then, Uncle Wuv. You come, too.”

My fingers ruffle the top of his head, causing him to giggle. Bethany shows up right at that moment. “There you are, Peanut. Time to go home. We have to drop Nanna off at her house.” Bethany reaches out to pluck him from my arms, but Peanut is having none of it. His arms wrap around my neck, once again holding tight as his mother tries to pry him from my lap. “Come on, Peanut; this isn’t funny. We need to get going.” His little hold is so tight that he’s almost choking me.

“No, Mommy, I stay wit Uncle Wuv. We have man night. I no wanna go.” His little lips get as close to my ear as possible. “Shhh, Uncle Wuv, tell Mommy we have pans weady for night.” He’s trying to be as secretive as possible, but the boy hasn’t learned what it means to whisper. I watch as Bethany shakes her head, smiling as brightly as she can. I don’t say a word but give her a wink of my eye, letting her know that it’s alright if Peanut stays for the night.

“Alright, mister,” Bethany says while reaching down to tickle her son. “Tonight and only tonight, you can stay with your uncle, but this is the last time I give in to your terrorist ways.” I’m not sure who she is kidding, but she will always give in to whatever her son wants, and so will I.

The parking lot of the Mermaid Winery is full when I arrive. I never expected there to be this many attendees for a bachelor auction. Yes, there are plenty of women in this town who would love to sink their teeth into a luscious specimen of a man like myself, but surely, they don’t believe that one date will have the bachelor falling head over heels in love with them. If that’s the case, my winner is going to be very upset because I have no intentions of this going past one date. Hell, it’s not even really a date since I didn’t have the option of asking. I’m being bought and sold to the highest bidder. It’s slavery at its best in the twenty-first century, only, unlike the slaves centuries ago, I’m free after I’ve done my time.

I’ve circled the parking lot twice now, looking for the right space. I’m kind of picky when it comes to parking. I desire a space toward the back, one preferably where no one else wants to park. This way I avoid door dings and dents. Though it doesn’t appear that I’m going to be blessed with the perfect spot, so I have to settle, and everything about me burns with the notion of that.

I’m about to climb out of my car when I spot a tiny red sports car whip into a spot and barely miss the car parked to the right. I cringe at the thought that it could have been my car parked there. I watch in horror as the driver tosses open her door, barely missing the side of the car parked on her left, and wonder if the passenger will be equally careless. I watch as the door opens slowly, and a pair of tanned legs swing to the side and land on the gravel. The door barely opens enough for her body to climb out, but somehow, she is able to squeeze her frame between the car and the open door. Tall and slender yet curvy in just the right places catches my eye, but it’s the color of her hair that has my heart beating faster. I’ve seen that hair before, I know it, and just as she turns, I recognize Dr. Lillian Vicci in all her splendid glory. I sit and watch her walk, hips swaying to and fro in the tight black dress she is wearing. My dick hardens slightly with every step she takes. I may have thought she was good looking when we met at Peanut’s appointment, but the woman today is breathtakingly beautiful.

Once she enters the building, I give myself a few moments to come to my senses and think of old, wrinkly women with dentures in hopes of deflating the hard-on in my pants. There is no way in hell I’m getting on that stage with a stiffy; I don’t care if no one sees my face. After picturing grandma without her teeth leaning in for a kiss one too many times, I think I’m good to go. I pull my ball cap down over my head, shove a pair of Oakley’s on my face, tux in hand, and head for the back door. Once inside, I set my tux on a table and inconspicuously make my way through the crowd of people mingling as they drink the various wines being provided tonight. I stop in my tracks when I see Lillian with her friend bickering at each other over signing up for the auction. I can only assume that Lillian has no interest in bidding by the disgusted look on her face and the angry words whispered to her friend as she is handed a paddle with the number 24 on it.

“I told you, Ashlynn, I have no interest or time for bidding on a bachelor. I have no intention of using this thing.” She waves the paddle around in the air as she passes by me. Her frustration with her friend is so strong that she doesn’t even notice me standing right next to her.