Simon & Rose Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Fifty thousand.”
    Mark mouthed, “Thank you” to her and grinned.
    The woman in front of Sharon crossed her arms and snarled in frustration. It was obvious the bidding had gotten too rich for her blood.
    Isaac chuckled. “I have fifty thousand from Miss Sharon Lejeune, do I hear fifty one?”
    The woman in the front row pouted and shook her head when Isaac looked her direction and raised an eyebrow.
    “Fifty thousand once…Fifty thousand twice…Fifty thousand to Miss Sharon Lejeune.”
    The crowd clapped loudly, but Mark didn’t hear them. He was too entranced by his date for the night. His prayer was answered. He had been won by the beautiful fifty-something woman and couldn’t be more pleased with his date. He may only be thirty-eight and she looked closer to fifty, but that meant little to him. He’d dated women older than him before, as a matter of fact, he preferred it.
    Simon returned to the stage to lead Mark toward a back stage area.
    “Wait. When do I get to meet her?” he whispered as they crossed the stage.
    “In just a moment. Cade is getting her now. As soon as she pays Rose, she’ll join us.”
    Mark breathed into his cupped hand and sniffed. He couldn’t tell so he huffed a breath in Simon’s face. “How’s my breath?”
    “Jeez, Mark!” Simon leaned away. “What the hell, man?”
    “Dammit, Simon. I can’t meet her if my breath smells. Do you have a mint or gum?” 
    “No. And calm down, your breath is fine. Your body odor, now that’s another matter.”
    “What!”
    “Oh, settle down. I’m teasing you. You’re fine. You smell like a delicate flower.”
    Mark scowled at Simon. “I won’t forget this and pay back’s a bitch.”
    “Yeah, yeah. If I remember correctly the last time you said that, you put a scorpion in my boot. I’ll be sure to check my shoes before I put them on.”
    “Big baby. It was dead. It wasn’t like it could sting you.”
    Simon cut a hand across his throat to silence Mark. “Here they come.”
    Mark stood straighter the instant she rounded the corner and held his breath.
    Her wolf rumbled in pleasure when their date came into view. The man was even more devastatingly handsome up close. For now, she just wanted to spend time with him and get to know her mate. Explaining shifters could wait until later. Much later.
    She wanted to run to Mark, but she forced herself to walk. Her wolf cocked its head as Rizzo came to her feet, alert and curious. Both she and her wolf were pleased to see him smiling at them. That was a good start. She’d been pretty sure he wanted her to win the auction. His smiling face verified she was right. Not that she wouldn’t have done it anyway. There was no way another female would lay her hands on Mark. Not tonight or any other night.
    Simon stepped forward and hugged Sharon. “Congratulations, cher. You won a date with a very good man.” Simon released her and turned to face Mark. “Sharon, this is Mr. Mark Anderson. Mark, this is Miss Sharon Lejeune, a very good friend of the family, and a wonderful woman.”
    Mark took a step in her direction. He stood close enough to Sharon to feel the heat from her body. His throat worked to swallow his nervousness as he extended his hand to her. “I’m very pleased to meet you, Miss Sharon.”
    She took his outstretched hand and his heart did cartwheels.
    “Hello, Mark. I’m very pleased to meet you, as well.” Her soft sexy voice wrapped around him, and like a siren lured him closer.
    He didn’t notice that Simon and Cade had walked away, or that they stood alone with hundreds of people just feet away on the other side of the heavy curtain. He was too entranced by the woman whose hand he still held, and who smelled like his grandmother’s banana nut bread, to care. He took a deep breath enjoying the scent of his favorite baked good in the world.
    He wasn’t sure if she baked like his grandmother or if she had recently been in a bakery, it didn’t really matter. The scent