Frostbite

I tuck a wayward strand of my hair behind my ear. My sister insisted on handling hair and makeup duties for the evening. She did a top-notch job on both. My makeup consists of a smokey eye and deep red lipstick. She gathered my hair into a messy bun on the top of my head. Dexie insisted that it was the right choice since the pantsuit I’m wearing is backless.

I told her it didn’t matter because I brought a blazer to cover up from what I knew would be the chill in the air. Dexie ripped it from my hands as soon as we arrived at this gallery. She handed it along with her coat over to the woman at the coat check station set up near the entrance.

I cross my arms over my chest to shield the outline of my hardening nipples from the eyes of all the men who have taken notice. Why does it feel like we’re standing in a freezer?

“Are you going to bid on this?” I glance down at the sculpture.

“I should.” Dexie bites the corner of her bottom lip. “I was hoping for something bigger, but this would fit on the mantle of the fireplace in our bedroom. I know Rocco will still love it.”

My brother-in-law is a bit of an art snob. It feels like I’m stepping into a museum whenever I wander the corridors in the townhouse. Art is displayed from almost every medium, including a few sculptures. Rocco even purchased one of my oil paintings on my birthday last year. He said it was a gift for both of us.

“He’ll love it,” I agree with a nod of my chin. “I hope the bidding stays within your budget.”

Dexie smiles. “All proceeds go to charity, Rae. Whatever I pay will be well worth it to see my husband’s face light up on Christmas morning when he opens the present containing that sculpture.”

Seeing as how I only got him a shirt with BIL emblazoned across the front, I don’t have to worry about one-upping my sister. I hope that one day I can pay both Dexie and Rocco back for being so good to me.

I glance toward the stage where the auctioneer stands and the dozens of plastic chairs lined in rows in front of it. “Let’s find our seats. You need to give your feet a rest.”

Dexie leans against my shoulder. “This is why I like having you in New York. You take extra good care of me.”

I reach for her hand to tug at it. “That’s because I love you.”Chapter 6CalderI follow Bauer into the venue just as a woman spots me on the approach. Her hand waves gleefully in the air as a gray-haired man stands by her side, looking like a lost camel on Fifth Avenue.

Judging by the expression on his face, he wants to be here as much as I do.

“Mr. Frost.” The woman waves more excitedly now. “We were worried that you wouldn’t make it.”

I pat Bauer on the shoulder.

He leans closer to me. “Mitzi Hemley and her husband Augustine. She’s the chairperson of this auction.”

I give him an extra pat in gratitude before I approach the couple. “Mitzi. Augustine. How are you both?”

Augustine mutters something that sounds a lot like “fucking miserable,” but I ignore that and focus my attention on his wife.

“Stressed.” Mitzi reaches for my hand, and who am I to deny it?

She squeezes it, and I swear to fuck she runs her fingernail over my palm in a circle as she gazes into my eyes.

“Has anyone ever told you that your eyes are mesmerizing, Mr. Frost?” She questions with a slick of her tongue over her bottom lip.

“I need a drink,” Augustine announces to no one before he heads left toward a server holding a tray of what looks like half-filled champagne flutes.

I’m going to need something more potent than that to get me to the other side of this evening.

“I tell him all the time,” Bauer replies to Mitzi’s comment about my eyes. I have no fucking idea how he keeps a straight face.

She turns to look at him. “Aren’t you handsome too? What’s your name?”

“Bauer,” he says, offering her his hand.

I’m left in the dust when he smiles at her. Bauer always has my back.

“Why don’t I get us some champagne?” He holds Mitzi’s hand close to his chest. “You can tell me what I can do to help with the stress.”

“Do you think you can help?” Mitzi sighs. “I need something to calm me down.”

“I’ll show you some of my drawings,” Bauer says with a wink.

Mitzi giggles as if she’s just won the lottery. “I can’t wait to see them.”

Little does she know that he’s literally going to show her a folder on his phone’s image app that contains pictures of his charcoal drawings.