Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
The same question, twice in two days. As if he had to defend himself. Jay kept his own tone light. “I’m interested in the Mitchell Standard. It’s the same camera that was used to film Citizen Kane. Can you imagine? How fun would that be as a conversation piece in the house?”
She looked slightly taken aback, probably at his enthusiasm for a camera that was over one hundred years old.
But Clark got it. “That’s going to go for a lot of money. It’s a find.”
Jay felt a bit crestfallen. “Are we going to bid against each other?” It wasn’t that he couldn’t outbid a guy who made his living as a photographer for a weekly, but he didn’t want to crush a young man’s dreams either.
Luckily, Clark shook his head. “I could never afford it. Besides, I’m after a vintage Leica from the thirties.” He wandered off to look for the camera he was hoping to bid on.
Erin remained silent, looking deep in thought, her eyes trained on the Mitchell Standard without really seeming to take it in.
Before he could stop himself, Jay blurted, “So, are you guys on a date?”
She looked shocked. “No. I don’t date people I work with.”
Jay looked over at Clark, all gangly and geeking out over the camera. “It’s just that he sort of seems your type.”
Erin scoffed, instantly looking suspicious. “What do you mean?”
Jay shrugged. He’d known her for so long. Did she really think he hadn’t noticed? “You tend to go out with geeky guys who don’t challenge you.”
If she’d been a cat, Erin’s back would have arched and she would have hissed at him. “You don’t know that.”
“Actually, I do. I’ve been in your life a long time. And I’ve got eyes.”
She looked stunned for a second, and then put her hands on her hips. He was in for it now. “Well, Mr. Lingerie Model Dater, since you won’t go out with a woman whose assets aren’t on full display at all hours, I’d say the pot was calling the kettle black.”
He almost laughed. “Lingerie model? Can you not even say the word underwear to me?”
“Of course I can.”
“Then prove it.”
For some reason she blushed. He’d only been joking about her saying it out loud, but she almost stammered as she half-whispered, “Underwear.”
And then regret filled him. Regret at challenging Erin about her taste because clearly he was jealous—jealous of a geeky young guy who obviously had no chance with Erin. Regret at asking her to say underwear because now all he could think about was Erin in sexy underwear that he would very much like to peel off her. And yet he loved how she’d obliged him, how she’d said the word even though it embarrassed her. It made him wonder what else she might be willing to do just for him.
He barely stopped his train of thought before his body got in on the act and started to react. This was ridiculous. Erin was not a potential lover. He had to get that through his rebelling mind and body, no matter how hard it was.
And oh boy, was it hard.
Erin excused herself and went to rejoin Clark. Jay felt like a fool, especially since he had been looking forward to taking Erin out to dinner later to thank her for dog sitting. Now he wouldn’t be surprised if she canceled.
He walked on around the auction house, but his heart wasn’t in it anymore and nothing else took his fancy. When the auction started, he found a place near the front and then saw Clark and Erin join a little later at the back.
Clark had been right. The opening bid for the Mitchell Standard was pretty high, but Jay had already decided he was going to buy it and nobody was going to outbid him. He already had the spot picked out in the living room where it was going to stand. He’d treat it nicely, honor its heritage. He liked to think that he was helping to preserve a little piece of movie history, and one day he’d probably donate it to a film school or a museum or something. But for now, he just wanted to enjoy it. Apparently, it still worked. It would be really fun to make a movie on it. He was positive Archer Davenport and Smith Sullivan would get behind such a project.
He watched idly as other items came and went. And then the Leica that Clark was interested in came up. He was rooting for the kid, but Clark stopped bidding when the price got too high. He could see the absolute disappointment on his face, and some impulse that he didn’t even understand made him discreetly join the bidding. He didn’t even think Clark or Erin had realized that he was in it. And Jay didn’t like not to win. So, in less than a minute the Leica was his.