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short runway.
    â€œLet them get a gander at you. Mr. Kinsdale’s lucky benefactor will win a day of golf at his country club along with dinner overlooking the eighteenth hole. Let’s start the bidding at one hundred dollars.”
    The bids came fast and furious. Women at two particular tables were doing much of the bidding.
    â€œThey’re nurses,” Lily explained with a smile. “I understand most of them have saved up all year for this donation.”
    The bidding ended at two thousand dollars.
    â€œYou should bid,” Lily urged Violet as one gentleman after another walked to the edge of the runway.
    â€œI’m not sure that’s the best way to get a date,” Violet joked. “I think I’d rather just write a check for the equipment—”
    However, when she saw Peter Clark step up onto the stage, she stopped midsentence. He was a sight in a tuxedo. Although he looked totally debonair, he also looked uncomfortable.
    Stacey Clark’s voice took on a teasing liveliness as she gave her brother a quick appraisal. “Here we go, ladies. I have the fun of putting my brother on display tonight. I had to talk long and hard to get him to do this so don’t disappoint me. I want this bid to go sky-high.”
    Lowering her voice, she said conspiratorially into the microphone, “He has a big ego. We wouldn’t want it to get dented, would we? Come on, ladies. For a date at the Riverwalk with Dr. Peter Clark, let’s start this bidding at two hundred dollars.”
    Peter’s stride was confident though a bit stiff as he walked to the end of the runway, and Violet suspected that he hated being put on display. He must truly love his sister to do this for her. Violet had to admire his attempt at a winning smile, the thumbs-up sign he gave the audience that told them he was doing this in the spirit of fun.
    The nurses started the bidding again but this time Violet couldn’t keep quiet. Her hand shot up with the number she’d been assigned in case she wanted to bid, and she called out, “Five hundred.”
    Lily’s elbow nudged hers. “Way to go.”
    Feeling her cheeks flush, she felt deflated when the bids kept rising above hers. Not knowing whether it was the competition urging her on or the desire to spend an evening at the Riverwalk with Peter, she helped push the price upward. Before she knew it, the bidding was up to twenty-five hundred dollars. One of the nurses, a petite blonde, wouldn’t give up. Neither would Violet. They went back and forth in increments of fifty dollars until they hit three thousand.
    â€œWell, well, ladies. It looks as if you’d like to give Peter a night to remember.”
    Violet didn’t dare look at him, but she raised her bid and did it big. “Thirty-five hundred dollars,” she called and the room went silent.
    The nurse at the other table shook her head.
    Stacey’s face broke into a wide grin as she announced, “Number twenty-four has just won the honor of listening to my brother discuss medicine for an evening. Peter, make sure she has a little bit of fun, okay?”
    Shaking his head with the tolerance of an older brother, he gave his sister a hug and descended the steps on the far side of the stage.
    Violet wasn’t sure exactly what to do.
    â€œSo go talk to him,” Lily said with another nudge.
    At least now she wouldn’t have to pretend she and Peter were strangers. Maybe she could use that as an excuse for why she’d bid so enthusiastically.
    Then she asked herself, Why do you need an excuse?
    An inner voice whispered, Because you don’t want him to know you’re attracted to him.
    Although her coral beaded gown had one very long slit from her thigh down to the hem, she didn’t feel ladylike taking long strides. Warning herself not to hurry, to pretend anonchalance she didn’t feel, she found Peter at the rear of the stage talking to a woman she