Blood Eternal. Toni Kelly

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      Moonlight in a garden. Unusual theme for an auction. Not to mention, this wasn’t just any plot of earth and plants. It was a work of art. Savannah couldn’t begin to name the many varieties of flowers and foliage cradling the white balcony and steps leading down to the vast lawn. They left her in awe. “Some place for an auction. It’s beautiful here.”

      Luke cleared his throat and said low, “Many believe the environment is near as important as items brought to auction. The right ambiance creates desire to buy.”

      “I guess I could see the logic behind the belief.” She’d never quite understood the fascination of going to auctions. Sure, one could find some unique treasures but they had those at garage sales too. It depended on who was looking.

      “Going once, going twice, sold to the beautiful lady in pink.” The auctioneer raised his arms in an exaggerated stance and the audience erupted in applause as if the woman had reached the finish line of a marathon. All this for a gold-encrusted mirror that cost twenty-five thousand euro? It was nice but she could have found a comparable look-a-like at a department store for around two hundred euro.

      “You do not approve?” Luke bent close, and a shiver rippled through her.

      Was she so easy a read? She’d have to be more discrete at displaying her emotions otherwise she would invite questions she didn’t want to answer. “Why would you say that?” She brushed her fingertips along the petals of tiny pink flowers on the trimmed hedge beside her.

      “Your knit brows, pursed lips. Shall I continue with telltale signs of your facial expressions and body language? Even now you’re pretending interest in a bush to avoid my confrontation. Surely you do not believe she should have paid more.”

      She dropped her hand. She didn’t want him to think her cheap, but the auction prices seemed absurd. “I’m not avoiding you. I’m just not a fan of mirrors.” Not a complete lie. She hadn’t liked them even before her accident. The accident only made them more difficult to deal with—a necessary evil in her book.

      “Strange. I assumed a woman of your beauty would be quite fond of her reflection.”

      Then he hadn’t looked close enough, and she hoped he wouldn’t anyway. “Ah, but we’ve already discovered you have a tendency to judge too quickly.”

      “Well put.” He inclined his head and turned toward the auctioneer, allowing her a pleasant view of his strong profile. He was obviously not a native Italian and yet he appeared right at home in a country where Roman gods and goddesses prevailed. A defined jaw and thick brows. The sensual shape of his mouth softened his other features.

      As if sensing her stare, he turned. She shivered, sure she could lose herself within the infinite darkness of his eyes.

      “What is it?” he asked. “Are you cold?”

      She shook her head. “I’m okay for now.” Or at least, she hoped to convince herself she was. The night air held a frosty edge to it but the garden atmosphere astonished her with its beauty. Wind whistled through the trees and down toward them, carrying occasional scents of jasmine and lavender. Above them, stars littered the clear night sky. She wasn’t searching for a romantic atmosphere but here she’d found it, making her feel more lonely.

      She pulled up her shawl around her shoulders and lifted her chin. This wasn’t a time to feel sorry for herself. “What’s next for bidding?”

      “Handcuffs.”

      He couldn’t be serious. “Very funny.” Stretching her neck, she tilted her head to get a better view. Beside the auctioneer, a male held up a pair of gold handcuffs. Large emeralds, rubies and diamonds covered the surface. “They’re handcuffs.”

      “As I noted before.”

      She frowned and rubbed the crease between her brows. “I guess I thought it a strange item to auction. Are СКАЧАТЬ