Chapter 23

twenty-three

BEN

Pastor Adam banged his gavel to start the next auction. "Lot twenty-six consists of a beautiful piece of jewelry created by B.J. Davis. Ben's lovely gold, pearl, and diamond necklace has graced the cover of Marie Claire. It's also featured in an article about up-and-coming artists of the twenty-first century. I have a pre-auction bid for five thousand dollars. Do I have another bid in the room?"

My mouth dropped open. "Who would have placed a bid for?—"

"Six thousand," Daniel yelled.

The room erupted in applause.

"No," I hissed. "You can't buy my jewelry."

"Yes, I can."

Pastor Adam looked at one of the volunteers. She had a cell phone to her ear, bidding on behalf of another person.

The volunteer stuck her hand in the air. "Six thousand five hundred."

I turned back to Daniel. "Don't even think about it."

"Ten thousand."

"Good grief," I hissed. "That's too much money."

"Ten thousand five hundred."

Daniel settled in for the long haul. "Eleven thousand."

While the audience was clapping and cheering, I sent him a ferocious scowl. "This is ridiculous. I'll make you another necklace. You can donate some money to The Welcome Center."

"It's my bid," he reminded me, "and I don't like losing."

My gaze darted to the volunteer who was on the phone. "Think of it as a strategic retreat. But whatever you do, don't go any higher."

The volunteer's hand rose. "Eleven thousand two hundred."

Daniel looked at the picture of the necklace on the data projector. Two rows of cream pearls came together in an art deco clasp of polished gold. Small diamonds shone from the clasp and wound their way through another strand of smaller pearls, adding sparkle and drama, and something even more special to the design.

Whether I agreed with the bid or not, he wouldn't be going home without it. "Fifteen thousand."

I brought the auction program up to my face and hid behind it. "This can't be happening."

The people around us were hardly breathing, waiting for what would happen next.

The volunteer shook her head and Adam smiled.

"Going once…going twice…sold to the man in the gray suit. Congratulations, Daniel."

Strangers reached out to shake Daniel's hand, but his eyes kept coming back to me. I was getting swamped with people thanking me for donating the necklace, and it was overwhelming. Noticing my anxiety, he placed his hand along the back of my chair and moved closer. I felt safe and grounded, grateful for his steady presence beside me.

In that moment, I realized how much Daniel was starting to mean to me. And that was almost as scary as telling him about my dad.