imagine a man like Kace taking.
And I’m right. He doesn’t. “I’m better with a note,” he replies, and I don’t miss the musical reference others might. “I think I’ll stay right here with Aria.”
“It’s important or I wouldn’t be standing here.”
Kace’s lips press together and he downs his champagne. “Excuse me, Aria.” He pushes off the table and turns to Mark. “I’m here.” They walk away and I’m a nervous wreck.
I grab the champagne and then set it down. No. I really do not drink well. “That’s not the way to empty your glass.”
The pretty blonde who’s joined me smiles. “We have plenty.”
Her dress is red with etched flowers on the sheer sleeves. Her eyes friendly. Her skin perfect.
“We?” I ask. “You work here?”
“I’m Crystal, Mark’s wife, but I worked here for my mother-in-law before she retired and he took over. You’re new to the auctions.”
I’m stunned at how nice she is. “You’re Mark’s wife?”
She laughs. “You sound baffled. Yes. And I get that reaction often.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just he’s so hard and you’re so—”
“Not hard? Yes, I know. He’s got a hard shell, but he’s a softy inside, though you might not want to tell him I said that.”
I laugh. “Ah no. I will not be telling your husband that you said he was a softy. I’m Aria Alard from Accent Collectibles, by the way. I’m interested in coming to the VIP event.”
“Did you talk to Mark about it?”
My hope that she can help fades. “Yes. Mark told me to come prove myself tonight and bid.”
“Oh my God. That man. What are you interested in bidding on?”
“The violin.”
“Of course. A phenomenal prize. Well, we do have a strict policy about the VIP events. We have celebrities among the crowd, but you aren’t required to buy anything to prove yourself. You just need to fill out an application. Once you’re approved, you’re cleared to attend all future VIP events. Call me here tomorrow and I can help you.”
Hope returns, a bright and shiny star in my otherwise dark sky right now. “Thank you.”
“Of course. We’re glad to have you and please do not feel it’s necessary to buy anything.”
“I really actually want one of the auction items. My client desperately wants the wine from the Thomas Jefferson collection. I don’t know why I haven’t thought of watching the auctions in the past.”
“I see we have a newbie tonight.”
The comment comes from a tall, good looking man in an expensive suit, his brown hair neatly styled. “We have a lot of new guests tonight,” Crystal replies, and a woman nudges her arm and whispers to her before she glances at me. “I need to attend to the auction, but good luck with your prize tonight. And call me tomorrow.”
“Thanks again, Crystal.”
“I’m Alexander Voss,” the man says. “And you are?”
“Aria,” I say, offering nothing more. I’ve said too much to too many people and so I do what I do often: I turn the conversation. “You’re a regular here?”
“Occasionally there’s an item that catches my attention. What are you after tonight?”
“Wine. What about you?”
“Wine.”
“Oh well. Isn’t this awkward? How vicious is our battle going to get?”
His eyes twinkle. “It depends.”
“On what?”
“How much are you going to make me pay?”
At that moment, the crowd parts and my gaze locks with Kace’s where he stands talking to Mark. He’s staring at me, his expression unreadable, but intense. I want to know why. I want to know, too badly for my own good. I can’t seem to breathe with the heat rushing over my skin. I suck in a breath and I swear his gaze lowers to my mouth. God, what is happening?
“How much?” Alexander presses.
I jerk my gaze back to his. “I guess we’ll see. Excuse me.” I fade into the crowd, desperate to reach out to my client and press his limits. And the truth is, I need out of the scorching stare of Kace August.
CHAPTER FIVE
I exit the pre-auction cocktail room and step into the hallway, spying a giant podium with hundreds of tiny red roses in it. I follow the lush scent and step behind it to dial Ed. “Did we get it?” he asks anxiously.
“Not yet. I just want to be clear. You put 400k in the escrow to include my fee. How high do you want to go?”
“I’ll go the whole four-hundred and make up your fee tomorrow morning, but I’d rather not.”
“Okay. Well, I need you to know this is a bidding situation and there is at least