Frostbite

I stare at him as he approaches. Why does he look so familiar?

“Dexie Jones?” The blue-eyed man directs his attention to my sister once he’s in front of us.

“That’s me.” Dexie’s gaze volleys between the two men. “Do I know you?”

The blue-eyed man extends a hand in my sister’s direction. “I’m Calder Frost.”

My sister, who is never at a loss for words, drops her mouth open before she slams it shut. “You…are you really him?”

She’s tongue-tied. I’m in shock that she is. I thought Dexie wined and dined with Manhattan’s elite on a weekly basis.

She’s never told me that. I assumed based on everyone she’s met in this city since she moved here.

“I’m Bauer Knight.” The brown-eyed man extends a hand to me. “I work with Calder.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Raelyn.” I take his hand for a quick shake to show my sister proper handshake etiquette since she’s still grasping Calder Frost’s hand.

It doesn’t work. She hangs onto him.

“I didn’t think I’d get to meet you tonight.” Dexie giggles. “When I noticed you had a sculpture up for auction, I knew I had to bid on it until I won.”

Calder levels his gaze on me before he turns back to Dex. “I’m grateful that you did.”

I stare at his profile. He seems so familiar. I met a least a dozen sculptors when I worked for Eleni, but this man wasn’t one of them. I would have remembered him. He’s gorgeous.

“I was hoping for something larger, but I love Fly Away. I already have a spot picked out for it.”

Bauer clears his throat. “You were hoping that the Frost sculpture up for auction tonight would be larger?”

Finally dropping Calder’s hand, Dexie nods. “I’m looking for something grand to give as a gift.”

“How grand?” Calder asks with a glance in my direction.

Why does his voice hit me that way? It feels like my body is lighting up just from the low growl in his tone.

I cross my arms over my chest. My nipples have tightened again, and this time it has nothing to do with the temperature in the room.

“Seven feet…maybe eight?” Dexie lifts a brow in question. “You wouldn’t happen to have something like that available, would you?”

Calder exchanges a look with Bauer that I can’t place. The slight cock of Bauer’s brow and the smile tugging at the corner of his lip have to mean something. These men might make my sister’s Christmas dream come true yet.

“I know that you can’t rush creativity,” Dexie goes on, disappointment wiping her smile from her face. “Raelyn is an artist. She’s told me that it’s not as simple as putting a brush to canvas. She needs to be inspired. I’m sure it’s the same for you. Besides, your sculptures are in high demand. They must leave your studio the moment you complete them.”

Calder turns toward me. “Raelyn.”

I nod. “Yes.”

“You’re a painter?”

“Oil on canvas,” I say, trying to sound somewhat professional.

“What are you working on now?”

I gulp at the question. I can’t tell him that I currently spend most of my waking hours painting intricate scenes on glass Christmas ornaments.

“She’s been working on….” Dexie jumps into the conversation.

“I just completed an assignment,” I interrupt to regain control of Calder’s impression of me. “I was the assistant to a sculptor. Before that, I worked closely with Lysa Trumell in London for over a year.”

It’s never the wrong time to namedrop. Lysa is a big deal in the art world.

“Lysa’s eye is amazing.” Bauer shoots me a smile. “I’m working with charcoal right now, and her drawings are incredible.”

Calder keeps his gaze on me. “Who are you working for at the moment?”

“No one,” I admit. “I’m in New York for a visit.”

“She’s visiting me. We’re sisters.” Dexie wraps an arm around my shoulder. “You probably already guessed that.”

“I see the resemblance.” Bauer smiles.

Calder finally directs his attention back to Dex. “If you want something larger, I’ll make it happen.”

“By Christmas?” Dexie’s eyes widen. “Are you serious?”

“Calder,” Bauer bites out his name. “We should talk.”

Calder once again turns to me. “I’ll need assistance in order to get it done in time. Raelyn can help.”

Um…what? What is happening?

I have dozens of ornament orders to complete. If I have to help Calder, I’ll need to cut sleeping out of my schedule.

“She’ll do it,” Dexie agrees without even a glance in my direction.

Before I can protest, I catch Bauer’s eye. He shrugs his shoulders and smiles.

“Bauer will work out the details with you, Dexie. I’ll get started on this in the next day or two.” Calder rubs a hand over his jaw. “I’m looking forward to working with you, Raelyn.”

I manage a small smile in response.

Something tells me that I’m about to walk into a lion’s den courtesy of my sister.Chapter 8RaelynI excused myself from the conversation with Dexie, Bauer, and Calder because I needed to find a corner where I could scream.