The book's lead character is both an 'object of' desire and an 'object of' pity. [=the lead character is both desired and pitied by other characters in the book]
When they take a vacation, 'money is no object'. [=they don't worry about how much something costs] They always stay at the most expensive places.
If 'cost was/were no object' [=if cost did not matter; if we had enough money] we'd buy a new car instead of fixing the old one.
(..) Crushed skull. Probable cause, repeated blows to the back of the head... by a blunt, obtuse-angled object. I wonder where her ring is. Personal effects include a watch, undergarment, pink waitress uniform. The ring's missing. (..)1992 Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me