A Bid for Love by Rachel Ann Nunes Page A

the grocery bag and put them into the refrigerator. She felt a touch of tenderness as she realized that Jared had remembered these items while she’d been in the store’s bathroom with Sandy and Janet.
    “Where have you been? I’ve called your cell and left messages at the hotel.”
    “I’m sorry. I haven’t had a moment to call you until now. Renae had her baby three weeks early, and there were complications. I’ve been at the hospital with her.” Cassi found her wallet at the bottom of the grocery bag. She opened it and saw that Jared had not used her money to buy the groceries. If he was into something dishonest, why would he have paid himself?
    “Is she okay?”
    “Yes, both she and the baby are doing fine.”
    “That’s a relief.” He paused before adding, “Well, how did the auction go?”
    “I didn’t get the Buddha. I had to run out in the middle of the auction because of Renae, but I wouldn’t have gotten it anyway. It sold for four hundred thousand.”
    “Did you hear who bought it?”
    “Yeah. A buyer for the Garrettson Gallery in New York.”
    “Ah, Garrettson’s. That explains a little bit.”
    “Explains what? What’s going on? This doesn’t have to do anything with that auction you want me to go to in New York this weekend, does it?”
    “Not at all.”
    “Then something strange has to be going on with the Buddha. I know it was certified by the auction authorities, but a mark on the base isn’t quite right. You don’t want to know what gallery bought it just to try to get it from them later, do you?”
    “Okay, listen. Something is going on, but I want you out of it. Come home now.”
    “But Jared seems so nice. He was with me at the hospital. I saw him at church, too. I’m almost sure he wouldn’t be into anything illegal.”
    “Jared?”
    “The buyer for Garrettson’s.”
    “Cassi, stay away from him!” Linden’s voice sounded loud in her ears. “Don’t go anywhere near him. I don’t care if he goes to a hundred churches. Many wrongs have been committed in the name of God. Just come back, and I’ll take care of the mess with the Buddha.”
    Fear clutched Cassi’s heart. “But what mess? You still haven’t explained.”
    “Will you listen? It’s dangerous. Please, Cassi, I’ll explain later.”
    “Okay. I’m leaving tomorrow. But for the record, I do know Jared isn’t leaving until Wednesday. He’s staying for a funeral.”
    “Oh? What will he do with the Buddha?”
    “I didn’t ask, but everyone has to pick up purchases from the auction by tomorrow morning, so he’ll probably put it in the hotel safe. Oh, that reminds me. I did buy two pieces that will bring a good profit, but I’ve really have fallen in love with one of them.”
    Linden chuckled. “A woman after my own heart. You’re going to end up with more art pieces than money.”
    “Just like you? That’ll be okay. Well, can I have it at cost?”
    “Of course. But remember what I said—stay away from that man!”
    Cassi hung up the phone, trying to reconcile Linden’s fear of Jared with the man she had begun to know. Was he involved somehow with the Buddha, or was he an innocent caught in between like herself?
    She dressed in a long white nightgown made of silky nylon and turned off the lights. Instead of going to bed, she lay down on the couch next to little Sandy, who smelled like the soap Cassi had used to wash her small body. She snuggled closer and sighed contentedly. The bed’s comfort held nothing over cuddling with this precious toddler—at least as long as she had a diaper on.
    Half an hour passed, yet it seemed only minutes until someone was banging on her door. Cassi jerked awake, her earlier fear returning. She felt her way to the door in the dark as quickly as her sleep-filled mind allowed. “Who is it?” she called. One hand reached out to flood the small entryway with light.
    “It’s Jared. Cassi, are you okay?” he said urgently. “I need to talk to you.”
    “I’m