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“Why would you do that?” Jay leaned his chin on the back of his hand, ogling at me in utter disbelief. “Look at him. He’s a fine specimen of a man.”

“Do you want me to introduce you?”

“No.” He wagged his finger at me. “I already got one hot guy’s number tonight. We’re having dinner this week.”

“Really?” I continued to stare across the room as more people gathered around the mystery man of the evening. “That’s fantastic.”

“We’ll see.”

“Who do you think he is?” I nodded at the hottie in the red suit.

“Sexy Santa?”

“He looks important.”

“He looks suckable.”

“Jay!” I pushed his shoulder. “We’re in a classy establishment.”

“You’re thinking it.”

“We definitely don’t fit in here, do we?” I glanced around at all the people who looked like they belonged in Hollywood. “What’s it like to have all that money?”

“If we hang out with people like these, we’ll find out.” He smirked. “I’ve already scored a date with a hot, older man. You can too.”

“I didn’t come here to find romance.” The only reason I was here was because Jay scored free tickets and I had zero resistance for the word free these days. Plus, I had an early meeting in the city and staying a few blocks away beat getting up at the crack of dawn to battle Monday morning traffic from Connecticut. Tactical survival and all.

“Who said anything about romance?” He rolled his eyes. “Girl, with your current financial status screaming for help, a sugar daddy isn’t romance. It’s a rescue mission.” He raised his glass to the room. “And we’re sitting in the gold mine.”

“I don’t need a sugar daddy,” I said, eyeing the room of rich, graying hairlines. “No matter how much my credit card company despises me, I’m not trading my soul to eat. I need a miracle or a winning lottery ticket.”

“Have you given any thought to what you’re going to do at that meeting tomorrow?”

“I know what I want to do.” I wanted to keep the bed-and-breakfast that had been in my family for fifty years. “I just don’t know how I’m going to do it.”

“I think you have to put the sentimental value behind you.” He placed his hand over mine. “These people are offering you a million dollars for that old, run-down inn. You’re never going to get another deal like that.”

“I know, but it’s more than an old inn. It’s my home.” My nose crinkled when I took a bigger sip than I intended. “I can’t let it go. My grandmother trusted me with it. Selling it feels like betraying her.”

“If you sell, we could be like all of these millionaires.”

“We?” I arched a brow at him.

“We’re a team.”

“We are,” I agreed. Without him, I wouldn’t have anyone. “Thanks for bringing me here tonight. It was a needed distraction.”

“Well, speaking of distractions.” He waved to someone behind me. “Here comes one for you.”

“What?” I swiveled my barstool to find the gorgeous, silver fox headed my way. “Is he coming over here?”

“Looks that way.” Jay hopped off his stool. “I’m going to leave you to it.”

“To what?” I reached for Jay but he was too quick.

“Did I scare your friend-slash-date away?” Sexy Santa asked.

I straightened my posture and turned in my nameless stalker’s direction. Lifting my glass, I pressed it to my lips and chugged the remnants.