Sweet Revenge

By Peggy Hunter

On the verge of her wedding, Ally feels the need to purge the one and only grudge she's held in her life. When she learns that Randy Gallagher is up for auction at a fundraiser, she stuffs her purse full of money and heads into the city to make the purchase. She has no idea what's she in for or what his touch will evoke in her. Randy Gallagher has left his small town life behind to pursue a career as a fire fighter in Toronto. When he's talked into going on the auction block to raise funds for the Children's Hospital, he has no idea that he'll meet the one woman he loved and left behind many years ago. Now that she's back in his life, he has no intention of letting her go--even though she's engaged to be married to another man. Genre: Torrid Romance [contains graphic sexual content and adult language]

• Language: English
• Publisher: Torrid Books
• Release date: Oct 1, 2007
• ISBN: 9781593749583

Book preview

Chapter 1

Allison Peters walked into the auditorium and took a seat in the front row. Having stopped at the ATM on her way into downtown Toronto, she only hoped the cash she'd stuffed in her purse would be enough to make the purchase. One that would finally rid her of the demons that continued to dog her after fifteen years.

A bleach-blond woman with what had to be surgically enhanced breasts sat beside her. She gazed at Ally, her eyes glazed with excitement. Isn't this great? she asked gleefully. And for such a great cause too.

Ally smiled tightly. Yes, she replied. I'm always happy to support the community library.

Blondie frowned. The bachelor auction is for the Children's Hospital.

Yeah, whatever. Ally offered another forced smile, one that clearly said thanks for the information. Now shut the hell up! Blondie seemed to get it. She averted her gaze, breaking eye contact.

Ally hadn't come to the auction to make friends, nor was she here to help the library... or hospital, as the case may be. She had a single motive in mind. She intended to have Randy Gallagher all to herself for one night.

Hell, she probably wouldn't need the entire night; just a few hours would suffice. And she was willing to pay handsomely for the privilege to exact the long-overdue revenge.

It had been fifteen years since she'd been face to face with Randy Gallagher. From what she'd heard, he'd changed little from the self-centered jock he was in high school. While Wilbur hailed him a local hero, a hometown boy who'd made good, all Ally remembered was that fateful night at Lake Sherwood and the title she'd earned for her stupidity.

Sure-she-would. Even now, so many years later, the memory rankled. And Randy, who had acted so kind and thoughtful during the high school prom, had set her up for it.

Her gaze slid to Blondie. Breasts the size of small mountains and very few brains, Ally supposed. She was the type of woman Randy would enjoy keeping company with.

It wasn't that Ally hadn't moved on from the humiliating experience. In fact, she had and done very well. But now that she was planning her wedding, she felt the need to wipe the slate clean. She didn't want to go into her marriage holding a grudge from the past. She hoped to finally break free of it tonight.

Ally felt a twinge of guilt when she thought of her fiancé, Sam Ryan. He was a good man, one with common sense. He'd moved to Wilbur four years ago and became the small town's only lawyer. Staid, stoic and steady were the words people used to describe him. Her family loved him instantly. And Ally, well, she grew to love him over time.

Sex with Sam was never what she'd call exciting but it was adequate. He'd provide for her, make her a good husband and ultimately, be a good father to their children. What more could I want?

Ally learned long ago that men who offered excitement and adventure weren't the type a woman could settle down and raise a family with. Ally needed stability, someone she could count on being home every night. Sam fit the bill.

She winced when she thought of the elaborate lie she'd concocted to appease Sam's curiosity about her trip to Toronto.

I want to check out the wedding boutiques, she'd said.

But you already have everything picked out for the wedding, he'd replied.

Yes, but it can't hurt to look around a bit. She'd placed her hands on his chest and smiled up at him. I want our wedding to be perfect in every way. After all, it's the beginning of our life together.

Ally squelched the guilt that twisted in her stomach. She'd made sure to check a few boutiques when she arrived in the city that morning just so she wouldn't have to lie to Sam when he asked.

Besides, she reasoned, she wasn't lying when she said she wanted their wedding to be perfect. She really did want to marry Sam knowing she had no regrets. Ridding herself of the one grudge she had was a way of doing so.

Blondie wiggled in her seat, drawing Ally's attention. They're about to start! Blondie giggled with the anticipation of a little girl about to get her first taste of a prized lollipop. Her mega-breasts jiggled while she clapped her hands. Isn't this exciting?

Yeah, I can barely contain myself, Ally said sarcastically as she leaned back in her chair. She pulled the program out of her purse and gazed at it. Randy was the last bachelor being auctioned. She'd have to sit through fourteen sales before the one she'd come for came up.

Ally rose and glanced at Blondie. I'm gonna get a coffee.

Aren't you afraid to lose your seat?

Ally looked around the auditorium and noticed there was standing room only. Will you save it for me?

Blondie's blue eyes sparkled. Only if you get me a double latté.

Okay, so maybe she wasn't all bad. She knew how to drive a bargain. Deal.

* * * *

Randy Gallagher paced nervously backstage. What the fuck possessed me to agree to this damn auction?

He'd always managed to duck out of the annual bachelor auction by volunteering to recruit eligible firemen in the greater Toronto area. He'd always ignored the comments that he was probably the most eligible fireman of any.

It wasn't until Pearl Hanson begged him to be a bachelor on the auction block this year that he finally gave in. After all, the funds were going to the Children's Hospital, where her six year old daughter had spent several weeks recovering from injuries she'd sustained during a fire in her apartment building. Randy happened to be the fireman who'd brought the child to safety.

He had to admit the recently divorced Pearl was sexier than most women he'd met over the years. In spite of the fact he was attracted to her sexually at first, after days of sitting in the waiting room while her daughter endured reconstructive surgery, Pearl now felt more like a sibling than a woman he wanted to screw.

Thank you for your generosity! the auctioneer called over the cheering crowd as the fourteenth bachelor walked off the stage.

Randy stopped pacing and took a deep breath.

And now, the auctioneer said, I'd like to present our last bachelor of the evening.

Randy swallowed hard as his heart pumped heavily in his chest. He hoped Pearl would come through for him.

Ladies, the auctioneer said amid the cheers of the crowd, the man you've all been waiting for! Mr. Randy Gallagher!

The crowd went ballistic, clapping, cheering and stomping their feet on the auditorium floor as Randy pushed through the glittery curtains and walked onto the stage. Bright lights almost blinded him as he pasted a smile on his face and walked down the catwalk.

When he reached the end of the catwalk, he scanned the front row and caught sight of Pearl. She waved at him enthusiastically, her bleach-blond hair gleaming under the lights.

Let's start the bidding at one hundred dollars, the auctioneer called.

Pearl waved her hand only to be outbid several times by women out of his sight. The bidding quickly reached a thousand dollars and kept climbing. Pearl's bid for twelve hundred dollars was quickly acknowledged. The crowd went silent and Randy breathed a sigh of relief.

One thousand, two hundred going once, the auctioneer said.

Randy held his breath.

One thousand, two hundred going twice.

Randy expelled his breath in cautious relief. It seemed Pearl was the winning bidder. Thank God!

Two thousand dollars!

What the fuck? Randy peered at