Maureen Child - The Highest Bidder

“Do you have radar or something?” she asked.

“Don’t need it,” Katie told her. “You’re all dazzle-eyed and your lips are puffy. That’s not even counting the fact that you’re practically glowing. So spill.” Katie grinned wickedly and rubbed her palms together in eager anticipation. “I want every detail. Spare nothing. He said hi, you said hi, he grabbed you up in his oh-so-manly arms and planted one on you and—”

“ I kissed him ,” Charlie said, cutting her friend off mid-sentence.

“Seriously?” Astonished, Katie stared at her openmouthed for a heartbeat or two. Then she slapped one hand to her chest and said in an overly dramatic voice, “I’m so proud. I think I’m having a moment here.”

“Very funny.”

“Well, come on,” Katie teased. “You haven’t been interested in anyone since …”

“I know.” Charlie winced. Katie knew the whole story of Jake’s father and how Charlie had been so completely conned by the first smooth-talking, good-looking guy she came across. Katie had been after Charlie for the past year to move on, find someone nice. Take a chance again. Now that Charlie finally had, Katie was ready to take a bow.

“Boy, when you step back into the dating pool, you go straight for the deep end, don’t you?”

“Seems that way. But, honestly, I don’t remember jumping in. One minute we were talking and the next—” Charlie could hardly believe it herself. Her body was still buzzing from the sensations aroused by that kiss. She could still feel Vance’s mouth on hers, the soft brush of his breath on her cheek, and the strength in his hands as he held her.

“I don’t even know what made me do it,” she confessed, then instantly said, “Oh, that’s not true. Of course I know. He’s been so nice. So un-alpha-top-dog the last couple of weeks.”

“I like alpha guys,” Katie argued.

“Oh, he’s still alpha,” Charlie assured her. The man just charged ahead, sure he could fix whatever was wrong. He didn’t take no for an answer and had supreme faith in his own abilities. Hard to argue with that kind of confidence.

She hadn’t told Katie about the blackmail threats or why she’d been so worried and distracted lately, so she didn’t bring up just how supportive Vance had been about that.

Katie sighed and cupped her chin in her hands. “And he kissed you back?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Then why is your happy-little-world glow slowly fading?” Straightening up, Katie folded her arms on her desk and frowned. “Honestly, Charlie, cut yourself a break, will you? You’re allowed to kiss a gorgeous guy and actually enjoy it.”

“Am I?” Charlie stood up and walked to the narrow window next to Katie’s desk. Not much of a view, but she could at least see the sky. “I’m a mom. It isn’t only me I have to worry about. If I make a mistake with a guy, it impacts Jake, too.”

Katie swiveled her desk chair around. “And Vance is a mistake?”

Her friend’s voice was quiet, but the question rang out loud and clear. The problem was, Charlie didn’t know the answer. If she went by how she was feeling , then, no, Vance was so not a mistake. But if she let reality into the hazy thoughts clouding her mind, then the answer was a big oh, yes . Walking into a relationship with Vance Waverly was just asking for future misery and pain.

He knew the truth about her now. Knew her background. Knew that she’d been foolish enough to be seduced by a man whose real name she didn’t even know . She’d confessed to being blackmailed and the auction house his family had founded was threatened.

They couldn’t be more different. Their worlds were so far apart they were in opposing galaxies.

“You’re going to talk yourself out of this, aren’t you?” Katie asked on a sigh.

Charlie looked over her shoulder at her friend. “Out of what? A kiss? Come on, Katie—me and Vance Waverly? That wouldn’t even make a good book . No one would believe it was possible, even as fiction.”

“You don’t read the right books,” Katie muttered, then stood up to join Charlie at the window. “You’re thinking too much. I get it. After Jake’s father, you were burned bad and I really understand why you’re being so cautious. But, Charlie, if you don’t open yourself to possibilities, you’ll never have anything in your life.”

“I’ve got Jake,” she argued stubbornly.

“You do.” Katie shook her head slowly. “But Jake’s going to grow up eventually. He’ll go out and get a life and you’ll be alone.”

Charlie choked out a laugh. “I think I’ve got a few years before I have to think about getting a cat to keep me company.”

“Okay, you’re right about that,” she admitted. “But my point is, if you don’t start living a little now, by the time you think you’re finally ready? It’ll be too late.”

Maybe she had a point. And maybe Charlie just wanted Katie to have a point. She was falling again. Just as fast and hard as she had for Jake’s father.

That relationship had turned out to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Could she really risk more pain? Then, remembering that kiss and how the warm summer breeze had wrapped itself around the two of them under the shade of that willow, she asked herself if she could really walk away.

Kendra Darling guarded Ann Richardson’s office like a well-dressed, charming dragon. Her hazel eyes were sharp behind tortoiseshell glasses and her shoulder-length, straight red hair was pulled back in a no-nonsense gold clip at the nape of her neck. She smiled as Vance approached. No one got past Kendra if they weren’t expected. Not even a senior board member.

“Mr. Waverly,” Kendra said with a brief nod, “Ms. Richardson is expecting you.”

“Thanks.” He walked past her desk, then paused for a quick look back. Kendra had been here for several years, he reminded himself. Who would know their secrets better? Then he discounted the notion entirely. After all, he’d suspected Charlie and there hadn’t been anything to it. And Kendra was loyal to the bone. For all he knew, the traitor—if there was one—could be one of the old guard. He took a moment to imagine George, Simon or one of the society ladies on the board sending threatening emails to Charlie. Or stealing information and passing it on to Dalton.

“Is there something else, Mr. Waverly?”

He met Kendra’s inquiring gaze and shook his head. “No, everything’s fine. Thanks.”

Vance dismissed his imaginings as wildly improbable. It was going to take time to find whoever was trying to sink Waverly’s. It wouldn’t be easy and it wouldn’t be pleasant. But he would uncover what was happening here.

Opening the door, he stepped inside.

Ann Richardson’s icy-cool exterior was nowhere to be seen. She was pacing her office in brisk strides, all the while staring down at a sheaf of papers she held in her hands. A smile curved her mouth and even from across the room, Vance could see the gleam of excitement glittering in her eyes when she looked up as he walked in.

“Vance! Good. Have you talked to Roark?”

“Two days ago, why?” She’d brought him here to talk about his brother?

“Then you don’t know. Even better. I want to see your reaction. See if it’s anything like mine.”

He didn’t have time for games. He needed to get back to Charlie. Look at the emails from her blackmailer. Kiss her again . Scowling at the wayward thought, he focused on Ann. Confusion settled down in him and he didn’t like it. “What’re you talking about, Ann?”

“This.” She walked to him and held out the papers. He took them and swiftly scanned the few lines of text before concentrating on the pictures.