Chapter 53

The following day we had a blast. Although my brain kept nagging at me about this or that thing I should be doing, I forced myself to relax and enjoy the manicure, pedicure, massage and facial along with my two best friends. The stylist touched up my highlights - while my golden blonde color is natural, the sun-streaks, for obvious reasons, are not - and applied just the right amount of makeup for the minimalist look I prefer - smoky liner to highlight my gray eyes and a velvety red lipstick to offset the severity of my black, slim-fitting evening gown. Dani had hired her staff very well for the spa, which had been one of her personal projects with the hotel. They even fed us, both with blood and wine cocktails and a selection of appetizers and chocolates. Contrary to popular belief, vampires can and do enjoy human food as well as blood.
With Dani on one side of me in a bronze silk halter dress that would have the men on their knees and Ari looking adorable in violet lace on the other, I made my way up to the ballroom an hour before the bachelor auction was due to begin.
"Wow," I said involuntarily as we were met at the top of the stairs by Jackson Marceski, Ari's fiancé. Instead of his usual jeans or biker leathers, the werewolf tavern owner looked darkly elegant in a perfectly fitted tux. Though he smiled at all of us, it was clear he had eyes only for Ari. Lucky girl. She moved away from me to his side, and the sweetness of their love for one another was almost more than I could take.
Dani smirked as her two demons came up, also stunning in dinner jackets. Kaz with his long, dark hair and earrings still managed to look slightly wicked. "Don't muss the hair, boys. You paid two hundred bucks for this updo."
"And we'll have fun taking it down later." Ty's chiseled face wore a sexy grin. "But meanwhile, it's your friend we need. Kaz wants to do a sound check on her microphone."
"We're off to mingle out in the lobby." Jack drew Ari toward the door. "We'll keep the natives from getting restless." There was a buffet set up outside for the guests waiting to enter the auction room.
"And Dani and I will go make sure all is smooth in the greenroom." Ty leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Break a leg, beautiful."
"Just make sure my bachelors are onstage when they're supposed to be," I called over my shoulder as I moved toward the stage.
The next hour went by in a rush, as it always did right before one of these things. I had a professional auctioneer handling the actual bidding, but I'd decided to personally introduce each bachelor, so after I stood for lighting and sound checks, I spent a couple moments going over my notes on the volunteers who had donated their time and money to make this possible. Each of the fifteen eligible bachelors was providing a special occasion for their winning bidder - a trip to Paris, a weekend in Palm Springs, backstage passes and a cast party at a popular Broadway show. With the lineup I'd pulled together, I was confident we'd raise plenty of money to build the new women's shelter on Chicago's south side.
Finally the auction began. The room was packed to the doors with Chicago's richest women, some human, others immortals of every race imaginable. Fae sat beside vampire right next to werewolf and demon. There were a good handful of men in the audience too, some bidding and some just there to support the shelter, or accompany a female friend.
The weekend in Paris with a famous chef earned twelve thousand dollars, and the night was off to an auspicious start. The Broadway star's backstage tour netted twenty. By the time the final auction of the night came along, the earnings had surpassed even my wildest expectations. The audience buzzed happily, and even the band looked happy with themselves.
The moment he stepped onstage, the crowd went silent.
Even I swallowed hard as I took in his tall, lean form clad in a designer tux but with the shirt unbuttoned to his navel. The sculpted planes of his chest were dusted with just a fine covering of dark hair that made me want to run my fingers through it. His face belonged on a Michelangelo statue, and one shiny black curl draped rakishly, not quite obscuring his smoky brown eyes.
He looked at me, gave me a sexy smile and my pussy clenched.
"Dermott McMahon, of Dublin and New York," I said into the microphone, managing not to stammer or sigh. "Concert pianist and philanthropist." Naturally, I left out the word vampire, as the crowd roared its approval. "Mr. McMahon is providing his lucky date with three days of luxury at his private island retreat in the Florida Keys."
Lucky indeed. From the moment I'd met him, the man had revved hormones I hadn't realized I still possessed. Don't get me wrong, I hadn't been entirely celibate over the last two hundred or so years, but I couldn't ever remember being this turned-on just from looking at a man.
He winked at me as the bidding topped fifteen thousand and I swear my panties were drenched. My nipples probably looked as if I were smuggling diamonds under my dress. Since it was strapless and I'm not very well endowed, I hadn't bothered with a bra. My breasts actually ached as he gazed at me across the stage. He was just that hot.
"Twenty-three thousand." The bid rang out loud and clear before I realized it was Dani's voice. What the hell was she doing? Were two hot males not enough for her?
"Twenty-five." That bidder was a human Chicago matriarch who had to be at least sixty-five years old. Go, Gracie!

"Thirty," Dani called.
The white-haired woman shook her head and lowered her paddle.
"Sold, to Ms. DuBois." The auctioneer smacked his gavel down and ended the sale.
"Umm - thank you, ladies and gentleman." I had to kick my brain back into gear. "There's a selection of desserts on the buffet in the lobby. Winning bidders, if you'd please come up to the cashier's table, you can pay for your purchases and exchange contact information with your bachelors. Thank all of you very much for all your support. The new Cecily's House couldn't happen without you."