Highest Bidder

HIGHEST BIDDER SALACIOUS PLAYERS’ CLUB SARA CATE Copyright © 2023 by Sara Cate All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Created with Vellum For all the daddy’s girls CONTENTS Author’s Note: Prologue Rule #1: Put your money where your mouth is Rule #2: Avoid being predictable Rule #3: Those who live in run-down vans shouldn’t judge others Rule #4: You can’t kidnap young women living in their vans—even with good intentions Rule #5: Some opportunities are too good to pass up Rule #6: Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself Rule #7: Don’t be afraid of what’s behind the curtain Rule #8: The VIP room isn’t the best place for conversation Rule #9: There’s no shame in asking for help. Everyone ends up on the bathroom floor from time to time Rule #10: Never turn down a free trip to Paris Rule #11: If you can’t sleep in your bed, try his Rule #12: Call him Daddy Rule #13: A good daddy always listens and never laughs Rule #14: Play with fire and you’ll get burned Rule #15: Follow the rules Rule #16: Help her when you can Rule #17: If your sugar daddy wants to spoil you, let him Rule #18: Paris is the city of lights (and orgasms) Rule #19: Rules were made to be broken Rule #20: Enjoy the view Rule #21: Don’t be afraid of hope Rule #22: Listen to what she wants Rule #23: All dreams come to an end—some more abruptly than others Rule #24: Teach her a lesson Rule #25: Age really is just a number Rule #26: Best friends know everything Rule #27: If you want a man’s heart, you have to win over his best friend first Rule #28: Return the favor when you can Rule #29: You should always trust your partner—and your gut Rule #30: Give her orgasms at work. If she gets fired, it’ll be worth it Rule #31: Even pleasure can feel like torture Rule #32: A good Dom doesn’t lose control Rule #33: It’s okay to like the pain Rule #34: It’s okay if you don’t like the pain Rule #35: Heartbreak is the worst pain of all Rule #36: You can’t appreciate happiness if you don’t know pain Rule #37: A man isn’t responsible for your happiness Rule #38: Whatever you did, chances are the bartender has heard worse Rule #39: Sometimes what you need isn’t what you want Rule #40: Big risk, big reward Rule #41: Know when to walk away Rule #42: Put your money where your mouth is Rule #43: Live in the moment Rule #44: Everything is going to be okay Rule #45: You can’t knock up an already pregnant woman…but it doesn’t hurt to try Rule #46: Life is a messy dream Acknowledgments The Next Book in the series… Signed Paperbacks available! Gravity Burn for Me Also by Sara Cate About Sara Cate AUTHOR’S NOTE: Warning: This contains spoilers for the first four books in the series. Welcome back to Salacious Players’ Club! It’s been a while since we’ve stepped foot in the club, so here’s a quick refresher on what’s been happening with your favorite kinky characters. Highest Bidder picks up two years after the beginning of Praise. Charlotte is now Mrs. Grant, and her ex-beau, Beau, is now in Phoenix, running a club of his own with his new Madame, Maggie. Our favorite throuple, Drake, Isabel, and Hunter are now the proud parents of twin girls, and almost ready to start trying for a third. Garrett and Mia are happily engaged with plans for a fall wedding at the lake later this year. Things have been quiet around the club lately, leading the wealthiest member to find a little trouble of his own… Content warnings: As always, this story will have some intense themes I’d like you to be aware of before embarking on this journey with the characters. There is a heavy emphasis on grief, parental loss, as well as child loss. There is also healing, recovery, and remembrance. Rest assured that I would never write the sad parts without the happy parts. Grief and joy coexist. Much love, my readers. Enjoy. Love, Sara PROLOGUE Nine years ago Ronan From: Emerson Grant To: Ronan Kade Subject: Investment Opportunity Ronan, I’m looking to start a new company, and I’d love to meet with you regarding an investment opportunity. I can give you more information during our meeting, but I have reason to believe this would be a fitting addition to your corporate shareholding portfolio, for financial and personal reasons. Please call me at your earliest convenience. Hope you’re doing well, friend. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Emerson Grant “Ronan, are you listening to me?” I glance up from my computer screen to see Shannon standing teary-eyed in the doorway, watching me with anguish on her face. Fuck, I didn’t even see her walk in. What an asshole I am. Just a few moments ago, she tried to tell me it was over between us and rather than facing the truth, I escaped to my office. I told her I needed a moment to think. Instead, I started checking emails, as if anything in my inbox could erase the pain of losing yet another woman I love. Quickly, I click the monitor off and rise from my seat. “I’m sorry,” I reply as I cross the room to stand in front of her. “See?” she mumbles, taking my hands in hers. “We’d never make it. You’re obsessed with your work and I’m obsessed with you. I have a daughter to look after, Ronan, and she deserves my attention more.” “Bring her to Briar Point,” I reply with a desperate plea. “Let me take care of you both. I promise I’ll