Bought and Paid For

Excerpt From: Bought and Paid For

�Oh, my good Lord! Tell me you�re kidding.� Parker raised his eyebrows almost comically high over his piercing blue eyes. The creases in his forehead nearly crawled up into his hairline.

�Aw, come on, Dr. Easton, you said you�d help out.�

Parker leaned down from his six-four height and put his frown right in Dixie�s face.

�We both know I did not mean I would be part of�of�that! There is no way I�m going to walk out on a stage and let people ogle me like a�a�crap, you�ve got me lost for words. You know I meant I�d donate, not participate. I think the idea of an auction for dates with people is ridiculous.�

�It�s not. It�s been proven to be a good money maker. It�s for the last bit we need for the new wing, which, by the way, will have your office in it when it�s done. It makes sense for you to be part of it. Besides, you�ll bring top dollar. Everybody says so.�

�Everybody knows? Already? What the hell!�

�Hey, I didn�t put your name on the list.� Dixie, sweet southern Dixie from the PR department, was trying not to cower in the presence of his obvious anger.

�Who did? Who put my name on that list?�

�Maybe I shouldn�t say,� Dixie said.

�Tell me.�

Dixie�s explanation ran together so quickly, Parker had a hard time following the words. �Actually, the committee got a letter saying that you would go for over ten thousand if you would participate, and as a group, we decided it would be stupid to turn down that much money for the project.�

�You�re kidding. No, I�ve got to stop saying that. This is a nightmare. You actually got a letter saying someone would pay that much to go out with me? Hell, I never go out. I never have time. Who in the world would pay that much? Do they even know I�m�?� Parker paused.

�Gay? Uh, I believe so. I guess you want to see the letter, huh?�

�Oh, yeah. I want to see it. And this is not necessarily a done deal yet.� He put out his hand for the letter he figured she had in the overstuffed folder she clutched to her ample chest.

Parker usually didn�t go for the intimidation routine, but he was not going to get roped into taking part in this auction thing the PR department had come up with to get their much-needed funds. He was all for more money for cancer research. They definitely needed the new wing. He didn�t care where his office was located, but the new equipment would make a huge difference along with the added rooms and offices.

�Here it is, but it�s not going to tell you much. It�s not signed.�

�Then how do you know it�s legitimate?� Parker asked, disgusted and looking for any way out of this. He scrubbed one hand through the dark brown curls on his head. Hell, he hadn�t even had time to get a haircut in weeks, and the damn stuff grew like crazy. Personally, he hated it. His mind jumped back on track when Dixie answered.

�There was a follow-up phone call. A man called the office, asked if we�d received his letter, and assured us it was the real thing. He said we should make sure you know that he�s good for the money and that he promises to make the date one you�ll enjoy.� Dixie blushed as she related the last part of the message.

�This is ridiculous,� Parker stated, fuming.

�But you�ll do it, won�t you? You won�t let us lose that much money, just for one night, will you?� She was still trying not to cower, and Parker began to feel bad.

�When is this damn thing again?� he asked, resigned.

�Friday night.�

�This Friday night. You�re kidding.� He had to come up with a new word!

�No, sir. Haven�t you seen the signs all over the hospital?�

�I may have seen them. I just haven�t paid any attention to them, since I�d planned on making a donation only.� Parker stalked off in his best huff strut.