More than a Mistress

"It's a legitimate auction," Travis had said coldly, and slammed down the phone. Then he'd picked it up, punched in the code for Slade's Boston number again and said, before Slade could say a word, that he should have known better than to have expected sympathy from his own flesh and blood.

"You got it, bro," Slade had replied, and laughed until, at last, Travis had laughed, too, and said how bad would it really be...

Travis shuddered. "Bad," he whispered, and closed his eyes.

All the senior partners and associates were in the audience. The clerks and the secretaries were waiting by their telephones, eager to hear how their entry did because this thing had taken on a life of its own, with side bets, pool bets...

How much would he go for'? Would he top the Hannan and Murphy guy'? Where would he place in the overall standings`? Would the woman who "bought" him be good-looking? A ten, on the nutty scale the secretaries had drawn up? A five? Or, as his own secretary had explained, with a shudder, would a two or even a one be the winner?

Travis groaned.

Unless he went for the right price, to the right female, he'd never live it down. And there was just no way to tell how things would go, once he got on stage and put his fate in the hands of the auctioneer and the wild-women masquerading as solid citizens. Why hadn't he had the brains to set things up? Bought a ticket for Sally-no, not Sally. He'd just sent her a bouquet of dog-toothed violets and an eight ounce bottle of Chanel. Okay, then. Bethany. He could have bought Bethany a ticket, told her to bid a thousand bucks more than whatever the Hannan and Murphy guy went for and he'd pay her back-with interest.

Except, what good was a bet, if you had to cheat to win it?

There was no choice except to leave the bidding up to fate. And he, of all people, knew that fate wasn't always kind, not even for an event as silly as this.

"Your turn next, Cowboy."

Travis jerked upright at the sound of Peggy's voice.

"Great," he said stiffly. "The sooner we get this over with, the better."

"Want me to take a peek at the house? Tell you who hasn't bought herself a hunk yet and looks as if she might be willing to pay a decent price for you?"

"It's unimportant," he said, with dignity, and she laughed.

"Move over, and let me look." "Look'? Look where?"

"There's a tiny crack, right here..." Peggy slipped up beside him and put her eye to the wall. "Aha!"

"Aha, what?" Travis asked, despite his best intentions to

appear disinterested.

"There are definitely some—what do you guys call them now? Foxes? Babes?"

"Attractive women," Travis said with dignity, and sent up a silent thank-you.

"Yeah, I'll bet. Okay, then, handsome, there are some attractive women." She sighed. "And some so-so's."

"Well," Travis said valiantly, "that's fine."

"And..." Peggy stiffened. "Uh-oh."

Travis froze. "Uh-oh, what?"

"Uh-oh, there's a lady right in the center who, uh, who probably has a great personality. A terrific personality, you might say."

"I'm sure she has," Travis said bravely.

"And I'm sure the woman with the feather boa and the rhinestone tiara at the table right behind her will fascinate you no end."

"Oh." His shoulders slumped. "As bad as that?"

"And then there's the blue-eyed blonde who just walked in. Oh, I hate her on sight! Great hair. Great face. Great bod, from what I can see of it. Mark my words, Cowboy. Any woman who looks like that probably has the intellect of a potato."

Travis laughed. "Meow."

"I'm just being honest. You get looks like that and, to compensate, you get empty space between your ears. And the disposition of a weasel."

"A weasel, huh?" Travis grinned. "Whoever said women were the gentle sex didn't know what he was talking about."

"Well, it's the truth." Peggy stepped closer, smoothed down his lapels. "So you do yourself a favor. Cowboy. Go on out there and play to the crowd. To the—what'd you call 'em?—the `attractive women.' Heck, if you're feeling generous, maybe even to the, uh, the lady with the terrific personality." She smiled. "Forget about the Ice Princess."

Travis smiled, too. Suddenly, with the moment of truth upon him, he saw all his worries for the foolishness they were. And he owed the revelation to Peggy.

He took her hand and bowed over it.

"Ah, Slave Mistress, you have my heartfelt gratitude. To hell with Pebble Beach and my reputation."

"Huh?"

"Never mind." He lifted her fingers to his lips. "Too bad you're not out there bidding, m'love. I'd be honored to be yours for the weekend."