“I think I’ll go get another of those mini-crab cakes before they’re all gone,” said Mrs. Weaton.
“What?” asked Jazz. “It’s about to be public. How about somebody gets to hear the real story? Anyway, it looks like that dick-splat Tom Price left and missed the best part of the night. Idiot.”
Shannon’s eye glided back and forth between us then glanced back at Jack who just happened to look up and straight at me. She swallowed. “This story is going to make my career, isn’t it?” she whispered in awe.
“Probably.” Jazz grinned. “It’s certainly going to make my night.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Mira announced, taking over the microphone near the string quartet. “Thank y’all for coming this evening and celebrating the unique artistic talents of these local artists.” She reeled off my name with several others, whom I’d met when we first arrived.
There was a polite smattering of applause, along with a gruffly yelled, “Yeah!” from the direction of my friends.
My cheeks heated as a few chuckles responded around the room. I looked across at Jack and Sheriff Graves who were a few feet away. Jack’s hands were stuffed in his pockets, a large, elegant stainless steel watch peeking out against his wrist. His skin looked amazing against the crisp white of his shirt. A few buttons were undone at his neck, and his collarbone had suddenly become the sexiest part of a man’s body in living history. I couldn’t believe that the creature in front of me was Jack. My Jack.
We had yet to greet each other in person.
He winked at me, and his eyes dropped to my mouth. He’d finally made it into the cordoned off area where the event was happening, allowing him a little more room to move without being accosted. Most of the elegant patrons of the arts that circulated herein were above indulging in such public displays of adulation.
Hotel security had been stepped up and two police officers who’d arrived and shaken hands with Butler Cove’s sheriff took their call to action very seriously. They now stood guarding our party and sending loiterers away.
“I’m sure you’ve heard by now,” Mira went on, “or been offered a bidding paddle by Allison, our events coordinator. I believe Allison could conjure up a pink elephant if we asked her nicely.” She paused for laughter. “We are changing the format of the evening slightly. Up until now, Miss Butler has been reluctant to sell the central piece of this exhibit, entitled Ever Broken Sea. She has agreed to auction it this evening, however. I’m sure those of you who’ve asked about it will be happy to hear this. And it just so happens I have my auctioneers license.” She chuckled.
Mira assured me she would use the price I had on it as our reserve. I merely went along with it, as I was still in shock that the evening was going so well, that people wanted to write articles about me, and that there were high fallutin’ people here at all.
And Jack.
I was still in shock over Jack. Being here, being in my life, being on the cusp of going public with our relationship. It was almost too freaking huge to contemplate.
The bidding started at one hundred dollars. Jack kept his paddle tucked under his arm and watched me as I nibbled my lip.
An elderly couple, the man tall and gaunt with an air of old money, his elegant wife with a sleek grey bun and wearing an understated black dress, seemed the most interested. All of a sudden Colt raised his paddle, taking the bidding up over a thousand dollars. He winked at me. Joey clapped him on the back, clearly in cahoots.
As the bidding climbed higher, my heart pounded. It hovered at the reserve price for two long seconds, and then Jack tipped his paddle almost imperceptibly. I wouldn’t have noticed except for Mira’s acknowledgement of the bid. I held my breath.
The older couple paused, then the wife nodded again.
“Holy shit,” whispered Jazz next to me.
Shannon was scribbling away madly.
I gulped. The whispering reached disturbing levels as people looked at Jack and watched him watching me.
The elderly couple finally realized Jack wasn’t giving up.
“Going once, going twice,” Mira intoned.
Jazz squeezed my hand.
“Sold!” There was a collective sigh, a release of anticipation.
I grinned, I couldn’t help it. Even though I wanted to tell him he was an idiot for wasting his money. Then I giggled and let go, happy tears clouding my eyes, and met Jack’s smile.
“Well, unless people try and say you planted the other bidders, I think that just proved anyone wrong who says you’ll be riding Jack’s coattails.” Jazz laughed.
“Ha, probably not. But you’re a good friend, Jazz. I love you.”
“I love you too, K.”
Jack went to shake the hand of his co-bidders, and I received hugs and back pats from all my friends. Even Hector, who was wiping his eyes with pride. I hugged him fiercely.
Mira approached with Jack and a photographer. “I need a picture with the artist and the high bidder.” She smiled.