A Bid for Love Read Free Page B

sweet like perfume, but nice and clean. To his surprise, even this close it looked soft, quite unlike Wendy’s sculptured locks. He squelched his sudden desire to reach out and touch it.
    Maybe it’s natural, he mused silently. Naw, they’ve just invented better products since Wendy. Aloud he said, “You like him?”
    The girl’s head swung around. He had intended to explain to her why someone would want such an item, but her expression stopped him. Her dark eyes darted, avoiding meeting his, looking trapped.
    “Intellectually, yes. Physically, no,” she replied, lifting a hand to push her curly locks over her shoulder.
    Her answer implied that she knew more than he expected. He searched her smooth, slightly olive-skinned features and found them also far removed from his preconceived picture of her. She was older, about twenty-five, he guessed; not a girl, but a woman. She wore no makeup and her face, framed with all those tiny ringlets, was not beautiful in the regular, flawless sense of the word but very appealing. Jared stared.
    “Excuse me.” The woman turned abruptly and walked away before Jared could think of anything else to say. Who was this woman? An interested bystander? Or one of the buyers who cared little for convention? Jared found himself hoping for the latter. Interest rose in his heart, though he tried to stifle it.
    “Two hours,” he mumbled to himself. “It took her two hours to get it to look that way.”
    “Jared, is that you?” said a voice behind him. The words were spoken in perfect English, but with a decidedly French accent. “It is you. Whatever are you talking about?”
    “Darn carpet,” Jared said under his breath before turning to face an owner of a prominent Los Angeles gallery. Léon-Paul Medici was not only an owner but an astute buyer as well. “Léon, pleased to see you again. So what can I outbid you on this time?”
    Jared forced his mind away from the puzzle of the woman and back to his work. He had to get that Buddha for Laranda.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Jared didn’t go directly to the Buddha when the two auction guards finally opened the viewing. First he went to see the other items on Laranda’s list, keeping a sharp ear out for any information he could use. He eliminated three of the other four art objects Laranda had marked, and one of the two paintings. They either weren’t suited for her gallery or wouldn’t likely bring a large enough profit. Then he systematically worked his way over the rest of the items. Only three caught his attention. On these he would bid, leaving the rest for the smaller, less discriminating galleries.
    “That Buddha’s something else, no?” Léon said, appearing at Jared’s elbow.
    Jared shrugged with practiced nonchalance. “It’s not the most expensive item here.”
    “No, but it’s the one you came to bid on.”
    Jared turned his head and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
    “I know you,” Léon said, exaggerating his French accent. One dark eye closed in a wink. “You haven’t gone to look at it yet.”
    Jared smiled. “Are you bidding for it?” If Léon was interested in the Buddha, the price would go to the ceiling. He represented serious competition.
    “I was. It is an interesting piece. However, I am more interested in that.” Léon nodded toward the painting in front of them. It was an item that hadn’t received much publicity, but which would bring a great profit to the gallery that purchased it.
    Jared nodded seriously. “It is very good. I think it’ll look excellent in your gallery—until you sell it for a hefty profit.”
    “As the Buddha will in yours.” Léon smiled and held out his hand to seal their bargain. Jared felt like whistling again.
    Together he and Léon made their way to the Buddha. A group of people were just moving away from the display as they approached. Only two women remained. One was in the last stages of pregnancy, and the other . . .
    Jared caught his breath. With the expectant