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"Retail at Tiffany's? Maybe twelve-five." Delighted, Margo tried to see through the crowd as hands went up. "They're still getting a bargain."
When the bidding topped nine thousand, she wanted to dance. When it hit ten, she wished she had a chair so she could see the bidders. "I never expected it to go this high. I underestimated their generosity."
"And their competitive spirit." Kate balanced on her toes. "It seems to be between two or three people, but I can't see."
"And it's serious now," Margo murmured. "No called bids."
"That's twelve thousand, looking for twelve-five." His sharp eyes darting back and forth, Thomas guided the bidding. "Twelve-five is bid. Thirteen?" At the head shake response, he zeroed in on another bidder. "Thirteen? Yes, we have thirteen. Thirteen is bid, will you bid thirteen-five? The call is for thirteen thousand five hundred. And we have it. Thirteen-five. Will you go fourteen? There's a man who knows his mind. Fourteen is bid. Calling fourteen-five. Fourteen is the bid on the floor. That's fourteen thousand going once, and going twice. Sold for fourteen thousand to the man with exquisite taste and an eye for value."
There was polite applause, pleasant laughter. Margo was too busy trying to see through the now milling crowd to notice the looks aimed her way. "We should go congratulate the winner. Make sure the paper gets a picture. Whoever gets up there first, make sure to hold on to him."
"Margo, dear."
She hadn't made it two steps before her arm was snagged. Staring into the woman's face, Margo searched desperately for a name, then settled on the usual out. "Darling, how wonderful to see you."
"I've had the best time. Such a delightful affair, and a charming little shop. I would have been in weeks ago, but I was so… swamped. If I'm asked to serve on another committee, I'll simply slit my wrists."
One of Candy's friends, Margo remembered. Terri, Merri…Sherri. "I'm delighted you were able to shuffle us into your schedule."
"Oh, so am I. I've had a wonderful evening. And I've got my heart set on those darling earrings. The little ruby-and-pearl ones. They're just so sweet. Can you tell me how much you're selling them for? I'm going to insist that Lance buy them for me since he lost the choker to Josh."
"I'll have to check the—To Josh." Her mind stopped searching for price tags and went blank. "Josh bought the choker?"
"As if you didn't know." Sherri's eyes glittered as she tapped Margo's arm again. "So clever of you to have him buy it back for you."
"Yes, wasn't it? I'll put a hold on the earrings, Sherri. Come in anytime next week during business hours and take a look at them. You'll have to excuse me."
She worked her way through the crowd, bid good night to dozens while struggling to keep that bright, careless smile on her face. She found Josh flirting ruthlessly with the teenage daughter of one of his board members.
"Josh, I have to steal you away for a minute," she began as the girl went automatically to a pout. "If you could just help me with this little thing in the storeroom." She all but shoved him inside, shut the door. "What have you done?"
"Just giving the kid something to dream about tonight." All innocence, he lifted his hands, palms out. "Never laid a hand on her. I have witnesses."
"I'm not talking about your pathetic flirtation with a child young enough to be your daughter."
"She's seventeen. Give me a break. And I was letting her flirt with me. Just target practice."
"I said I wasn't talking about that, though you should be ashamed of yourself. What do you mean buying the choker?"
"Oh, that."
"Oh, that," she repeated. "Do you know what it looks like?"
"Yeah, it's three strands, beautifully matched pearls with a bow-shaped pave diamond clasp on eighteen-karat."
She made a sound like expelling steam. "I know what the damn choker looks like."
"Then why did you ask?"
"Don't play lawyer games with me."
"It's really more politics than law."
Now she held up her hands, closing her eyes until she thought she had a shaky hold on her temper. "It looks as though I wheedled you into buying it—and paying more than it's worth on the retail market—just so I could have my cake and eat it too."
He decided that telling her she hadn't served any cake would not result in an amused chuckle. "I was under the impression that the proceeds went to charity."
"The proceeds do, but the necklace—"
