Here we go. Another chapter and the start of the "hot" part will arrive soon so be patient, people say worth the waiting ;)

My deepest gratitude is for my wonderful beta HBRooke. Her corrections and suggestions are, al always, an improvement to the story. Without you this would be impossible. Thanks you so so much!

7

The limo stopped in front of the hotel. A mob of reporters looking for the photo of the night, starving for some gossip to fill the covers of their magazines, surrounded the entrance. Jane knew too well how that worked; she had been the subject of it too many times. She had decided to go to the gala with Frost and her brother Frankie. Korsak had arrived earlier with her mother and she didn't know where Garrett was, but she wasn't worried, she would find him soon enough.

She had chosen an impressive female tuxedo for the occasion. The cut of the jacket favored her and she wore it shirtless, atop pants that fit like a second skin. She had opted for a simple makeup, slightly smoky lined eyes and a subtle but sexy red lipstick. It was at once elegant and provocative.

"Have you decided for who you're bidding for this year Jane?" Frankie asked.

Jane gave him a wicked look. For years their mother had been in charge of organizing the gala. The main appeal was the auction to earn a date with one of the most desired bachelors in town. Five men and five women donated themselves and in exchange the majority of the proceeds they earned went to the charity of their choice. For several years Jane carried distinction of making the highest bid of the night. Many thought it was another way to show her mettle while deftly challenging her mother, as RizzCorp matched each of the winning bids, but her main goal had always been to help those most in need. If she had more than a dinner with her "dates", that was an added benefit, and this year would be no different. Frost had told her who the candidates would be and she had decided already. Sara McNamara was a lawyer at a major firm in Boston and a board member of the art museum. She was also a beauty with curves to die for, blond hair and full lips. They had met several times at the club and Jane knew for sure that the night would be more than satisfactory.

When they entered the building they saw Angela and Korsak talking to some shareholders and crossed to greet them. After that they were to look for a drink. On the way to the bar they chatted with several guests and by the time they ordered the first drinks the presenter announced the start of the bidding. First up were the men and yet again Jane was amazed at how demure, high society women turned into wolves at the sight of a young man. If she had been on that stage she was sure at that moment she would be terrified. If they behaved that way in a crowded room, she would not imagine how they could be in private.

After a short break where Jane, Frankie and Frost joked about who would be the star of the night, the presenter gave way to female choices.

"Now starts the good part" predicted Frankie sipping his drink and adding, "A hundred bucks says Garrett Fairfield gets the date with Maura Isle." He had arrived that morning from New York and had no idea what Jane and Frost had planned.

"A thousand bucks says he has to cough up a quarter mill." Frankie thought his friend was crazy. Only Jane was able to spend a sum like that and her maximum offer had only ever been $150,000. But he said nothing because that money would pay for the drinks that night

"Deal"

Jane interrupted them, "Stop gabbing and pay attention."

"And now it's time for the highlight of the evening," The presenter continued. "Our five candidates tonight are extraordinary women, all of them as beautiful as they are talented and smart, and all of them available…to the highest bidder. Our first candidate is Dr. Andrea Carmichael. She is a pediatrician at Boston Memorial; she loves Japanese food and attending the ballet. The proceeds from Miss Carmichael's auction will be going to Boston Health Initiative…"

The three of them cheered as a small woman came on stage. They bid up at least once determined to raise the bid but none of them won. Frankie and Frost seemed interested but did not have enough money to defeat the more than determined Donald Banks. Jane knew the man had spent years in love with the doctor and as his fortune was one of the largest in the country, Frankie and Frost never had a chance

"Very well. That is a respectable amount of money for our collection. Thank you very much Miss Carmichael and Mr. Banks for your bid." Both raised their hands in acceptance of applause. The presenter waited until the last applause went out to continue. "The second participant this evening is Miss Maura Isles. She currently serves on the executive board of Rizzcorp. Miss Isles will be donating her auction's earnings to Boston University's merit scholarship program." The sound of applause interrupted the presenter momentarily.

"Well!" Frankie said. "I do not know why you were so upset with her about being your secretary." Seeing that his sister did not answer him he called her "Jane...I 'm talking to you...can you hear me?" Frankie waved his hand in front of her face, but at that moment Jane could only see the woman who had just stepped forward on stage.

Maura was wearing a black dress above the knees that fit like a glove to each of her curves. The strapless neckline did every right action to sculpt a perfect cleavage. Her hair, with perfectly formed waves, fell over her shoulders framing a beautiful face. Jane was captivated. At that moment she forgot all that she had planned to do that night. The only thing she could think about was Maura.

"Well, let's start the bidding at $ 50,000," resumed the host.

"$50,000" Garrett bid while smiling at Maura. Since he had known her Garrett had wanted to sleep with her. In Chicago he had tried but had no luck. He was getting tired of waiting. No woman deserved so much effort. Maybe he had focused it wrong. Maybe Maura needed a dominant man.

"$100,000."

Garrett turned when he hear the bid and found Jane's penetrating gaze.

Without taking his eyes off Jane, he increased his bid. He knew Jane's limit, so he was going to end this before it got started. He would be damned if Jane was going to fuck this up for him too. "$150,000."

At this point no one dared to interfere. It was obvious that this was more than just a battle to win the auction. Everyone at that gala knew the enmity between Jane Rizzoli and Garrett Fairfield and nobody was stupid enough to get in the way.

Jane dropped Garrett's stare and turned to the stage. "200." Jane did not need to look at Garrett to know that he was fuming.

"$250,000," he barked, challenging Jane to go higher.

"300,000" She replied calmly, determined in her twin goals to win the date and confound Garrett Fairfield.

"400." Garrett's words a threat.

"I'm tired of this game," Jane whispered underneath her breath. Frankie was concerned when he saw his sister smiling. Those smiles foreshadowed problems

"Make it and even One million dollars!"

Garrett glared her furiously, stuttering but unable to meet the steep price set by Jane. "Care to bid Mr. Fairfield?" asked the presenter.

Garrett glowered angrily at Jane. He hated to lose, but more than that hated to lose to her. He could not afford to spend that amount of money and she knew it. Damn Jane Rizzoli! When the tension became untenable, he left the room feverish

"Jane you're crazy!" Exclaimed Frost, impressed.

"Don't worry man. It's for a charitable cause. Furthermore, the chance to humiliate that idiot is priceless." She clapped him on the shoulder.

Frost laughed, "Not exactly priceless."

Jane was too absorbed in the vision of Maura exiting the stage to pay the two men much mind. "Best money I ever spent Frost." She said absently as she moved to the collection table.

Seeing his sister drift away Frankie smiled. "Well Frost, It seems we've both lost."

Frost nodded "1000 bucks says Maura makes peace with your sister before the end of the year."

Frankie shook his head "I won't take a bet I'm bound to lose. That woman may have gotten under my sister's skin before, but there is a whole lot more to it than that now. She has somehow managed to captivate Jane's interest."

Frost nodded, "Now we need to see how Jane handles this situation. She is usually the master of her domain. I'm not sure she knows how to handle a situation that makes her vulnerable."

"I don't know what to say." Frankie found his mother's gaze watching him from across the room. He was surprised by the expression in her face. It wasn't angry about the hostility that had been deployed between Jane and Garrett, nor concerned for the excessive amount of money that his sister had spent. At bottom it was unexceptional for her. No, her face showed bewilderment, as if she didn't recognize her daughter. He partly understood her. Jane had always been a calm, unflappable woman who had never let emotions cloud her wisdom, never letting the feelings mix with her objectives. Maybe that's why she was so good in business and why she moved so well from lover to lover. But tonight she just left that entire aside and had behaved so passionately, so irrationally. He liked that Jane a lot more.