Read Online Destiny's Last Bachelor? by Christyne Butler - Free Book Online

deck toward the double glass doors that led inside. Snack, or Snake—damn, he was sure he was going to screw that up a few more times and probably out loud—and Daisy were right on their heels.
    Dean gave a short whistle that made not only the dogs but Priscilla hesitate, but only Daisy stopped and looked back while the rest continued on their way.
    “Hey, you stay out here with me,” he said. “Like always.”
    Daisy only offered him a grin and then disappeared through the open doors before Leeann slid it closed again.
    “Will wonders never cease?” Bobby’s voice came from close by.
    “Tell me about it. Man’s faithful companion has deserted me.”
    “No, I’m talking about the auction.” His friend retrieved the steaks from behind the bar. “For a minute there I thought you might actually say no.”
    Dean walked to the oversize stainless-steel grill, lifted the lid and pressed a button. Presto. Fire. “Yeah, right. Then your wife really would have my hide. I was down for the count as soon as Priscilla asked if I was a bachelor.”
    “You say that word like it’s a bad thing.”
    “I never thought so until today.”
    Bobby shot him a grin as he joined him. “At least this way you’ll end your dating drought. Even if the lady does have to fork over cold, hard cash.”
    “Very funny.”
    “And you know, you might have to add a clause on the auction form that states Daisy won’t be anywhere around when the actual date happens.”
    “Boy, you’re a regular comedian today, aren’t you? Besides, the auction’s not for another month.” Dean took another draw from his beer. “You really think I’m going to wait that long?”
    “If today was an example of your charming ways with the ladies, I’m not surprised at your empty social calendar,” Bobby shot back. “What was with the verbal sparring between you and Priscilla?”
    Dean sighed, not quite sure how to answer that without telling his friend the whole story. Did it matter? Would it change anything?
    “I mean for someone you’ve only met twice,” Bobby continued as he placed the meat on the heated grill, “you seem to really be—”
    “Three times.”
    Bobby paused, the last steak held in midair. “Huh?”
    Knowing this would probably lead to his buddy sharing about his own past with Priscilla—something he had no interest in hearing—Dean quickly rattled off what had really happened down at the river and his second run-in with her at the inn. By the time he got to the mix-up over massage appointments and the fact he’d walked in on her wearing nothing but an oversize bath towel, Bobby was grinning.
    “Hmm, I bet that was a nice view.” Bobby caught his stare. “What? I’m married, not dead. I can appreciate a pretty lady.”
    “Yeah, I even caught sight of her tattoo, a yellow rosebud right over her heart,” Dean said. “Is that her only one or does she have others in more interesting locations?”
    This time Bobby’s glare was incredulous. “How in the hell would I know?”
    Dean realized right away he’d been wrong. Bobby and Priscilla had never been involved, at least not intimately. Not that she wasn’t his type. Bobby had surrounded himself with supermodels, actresses and high-society dames during his racing career. Long before the man returned home and found love again with his high-school sweetheart.
    “When she told me she was in town to meet a man, I figured—” Dean was feeling stupider by the minute. “And today you said she was an old friend—”
    “Yeah, friend. An acquaintance, really. Our paths crossed a lot at charity events over the years.” Bobby went back to tending the steaks. “My company still supports some of her foundation’s causes, but that’s it.”
    “Foundation?”
    “She told you she was a philanthropist.”
    “I thought that was a fancy way of saying she writes a lot of checks.”
    “She could do that, too, I suppose. Her family owns the International Lennox Hotel chain, but as