“Uh uh uh.” Cody sat down next to her and gently peeled the covers back. “Time to wake up.”

“Go ‘way,” she grumbled. “Wanna sleep.”

He laughed and bent to brush a kiss across her lips. “I think you’ve slept enough for both of us.” He voice gentled. “We gave you quite a workout last night. You okay?”

In a blink, it all came back to her. Heat crept over her body, but it was an erotic warmth, not one of embarrassment.

“I’m fine. Just fine.” She lifted the covers to look at herself. Naked but very clean, the scent of lavender drifting up from her skin.

Cody caught her expression. “I thought you deserved a bath. Besides, it takes away most of the soreness. Used up practically all the bath salts I bought for you.”

He’d bathed her? Seen to her comfort? Could she have asked for more from a man? Moving sideways on the bed she patted the mattress for him to lie down beside her.

He shook his head, smiling again. “If I get in that bed with you, we’ll never get through half my list today.”

She cocked an eyebrow at him. “List? What kind of list?”

He lifted one of her hands and kissed the knuckles. “I want us to move ahead with this, Lanie. I never thought I’d find a woman who could fit herself into my sexual lifestyle and still be someone I wanted to share my time with. My house. My life.”

“Cody, we’ve only really known each other for a week,” she pointed out.

”Sugar, I’ll be thirty-nine on my birthday next month. If I want the brass ring, I can’t wait much longer. I see in you all the things I thought I’d never have. I agree we should make sure we’re solid with this, so let me tell you what I have in mind.”

“Okay. Let’s have it.”

“I’d like you to move in with me. Keep your house,” he said quickly, as she opened her mouth to object. “That’s your failsafe. But let’s see where this goes. If you want to, that is.”

She gave him a slow, lazy smile. “I think that sounds like the best idea I’ve heard in a long time. So what kind of list do you have?”

“First, I’m taking you to The Towers for their Sunday champagne brunch-”

“Everyone you know will see you there with me,” she interrupted.

“That’s the plan,” he told her. “Then we’re going to visit a specialty shop I use and pick out some nice new toys.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Maybe even handcuffs and a flogger or two.”

“And then?”

“Then we’re going to your house to start moving your things over here that you need to be comfortable with. I don’t want you running across the street every time you need something. That defeats the purpose.”

“I can definitely handle that,” she assured him.

“And last night was good, Lanie? You’re all right with everything?”

She lay back on the pillows and pulled his head down to her. “Everything’s fine. You never know. If I keep reading my erotic romances, I might come up with a few variations of my own.”

His hand slid under the covers and cupped her mound, heat blazing in his eyes. “I can hardly wait.”

What with one thing and another, it was a long time before they finally left the house. But neither of them objected.

About the Author

I always wanted adventure and change in my life, and I certainly got it. I grew up in Maine, a beautiful place to live, then lived in the Midwest and Florida. Now I make my home in the Hill Country of Texas, truly God's chosen place on earth. My husband, David, is a sixth generation Texan, tracing his roots here back to the time when Texas was a Republic, so retiring here was a dream we finally fulfilled.

I've had a lot of firsts in my life – first female sports report on The Michigan Daily at the University of Michigan; first woman to own a rock and roll agency in Detroit, the home of Motown; first woman president of the Pasco (Florida) Economic Development Council.

I graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in English and History, and a minor in Economics, and went on to have at least four careers. When my children were small, I satisfied my need for writing by working for weekly newspapers. I had a wild and wacky time managing rock and roll bands. I joined the insanity of retail with a string of shoe stores. I worked in fundraising, public affairs and community relations. But writing fiction was always my dream. I had a lot of stops and starts, but it wasn't until we retired that I could devote myself to it full time.

My wonderful husband, David, encourages me and supports me in my dream. Our children are all grown and on their own, and are my biggest fans.

When I'm not writing I'm an avid reader – anything and everything – and watching football, especially my beloved Michigan Wolverines. David and I golf and target shoot, and of course enjoy life in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country, where most of my stories are based.

I am a member of Romance Writers of America, and San Antonio Romance Authors, Diamond State Romance Authors, and Passionate Ink chapter of RWA.

Email: [email protected]

Desiree loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com/.

Ashley Ladd

Charity’s Auction

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Academy Award: National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences UNINC. ASSOCIATION

Boy Scout: THE NATIONAL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FOUNDATION

NASCAR: National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.

Pippi Longstocking: Lindgren, Astrid

Chapter One

Charity “Char” Reynolds stared at Dr. Dexter Graham, her eyes narrowed, her heart doing the cha-cha while mathematical calculations flew around in her head. He was gorgeous with his dark, five o’clock shadow, the sexy glint in his eyes, and his broad, powerful shoulders. If it weren’t for that smirk on his lips, he’d be perfect. But he was far from it. He only looked perfect.

The good doctor was a bad boy through and through. It was a toss up whether he mended or broke more hearts. His record on the operating room table was stellar. Off, however, was horrendous. He’d broken so many hearts with that killer smile and huge dimples he should be thrown into solitary confinement for the rest of his miserable life.

Amy Koch, the hospital’s chief administrator, adjusted the microphone with her only hand. Then she tapped the instrument and blew into it. “Can you hear me?”

When the sound from the mic blasted through Char’s head, she clapped her hands over her ears in self-preservation. “Have mercy, woman.”

Once her brain stopped spinning and she was able to see again, she looked over a sea of other people holding their ears. Tentatively, she removed one hand, keeping it close just in case the mic went crazy again.

So far so good.Slowly, she lowered her other hand but kept it at the ready as she warily kept her eye on Amy.

Although, she felt sorry for Amy since the car wreck that had amputated the administrator’s left arm, that she couldn’t find anything to like about her caused her to war with feelings of guilt and distrust. Even before the accident, Amy had only been out for number one, stepping on anybody in her way, claiming it was for the greater good. Now people overlooked her mean tempered whining-until they came into her sights. Char had been dead centre in Amy’s far too often. As head surgical nurse, she and Amy butted heads daily.