Page 113 of Winning Bid

“Charles, I tell you every time that’s Dad’s name.”

He laughs politely as though they’ve had this conversation for years. “And is this Mrs. West?”

I smile up at him. “Yes.”

“Oh, he gets to call you that in public, but I can’t?”

Charles smirks. “We are fortunate for this spate of good weather. Your parents are hosting in the garden.”

“Thank you, Charles,” Anderson says as we walk in.

The place is immaculate, of course, but it’s not just the cleanliness that makes it immaculate. It’s the abundance of white everywhere. Some of the interior walls are a pale gray, but the ceilings, wide trim, and wainscoting are icy white. Thankfully, the floors are glossy pale hardwood, offsetting so much brightness, though not enough for my tastes. Wrought iron chandeliers decorate every space we walk into, as do oversized wrought iron vases with tall greenery lurching over the edges.

“The outside is exactly what I expected, but not the inside.”

“How so?”

“Everything is so … sterile.”

Anderson laughs hard. “How does this surprise you?”

“I expected some of your mother’s warmth to come through.”

“This is the handiwork of the decorator she hired last year. I don’t expect it to make it through the end of the year.”

“Ah.”

When we turn another corner, I’m lost. I’d never find my way out without Anderson at my side. He turns to a pair of double doors and says, “This is my mother.” When he flings them open, I gasp.

I’d always seen conservatories in films but never thought I’d be in one. Glass outer walls let all the sunshine in on the exotic plants in every direction. There’s even a waterfall and a small pond with a bridge over it. Koi swim contentedly, and the moment they see us, they swim right to us, opening their mouths near the surface.

“Are they okay?”

He chuckles and opens a wooden box I hadn’t noticed. There, he scoops out some pellets and tosses them to their hungry mouths. It’s a feeding frenzy, and then they go back to swimming or begging. “They’re greedy, that’s all. What do you think of the place?”

“It’s magical, but I thought we were supposed to join the party.”

“We are.” Anderson pulls me in for a kiss. “But I wanted one more private moment with you before everyone else steals your attention. You look extra beautiful today.”

“Thank you.” I sigh. “But we should go to the?—"

“I know. But I love seeing you smile like this.”

Heat rises in my cheeks. “Come along, Mr. West. Let’s not keep our guests waiting.”

He laughs. “You mean my parents.”

“Them, too.”

We reach the outside, thanks to the conservatory’s exterior exit, and the moment we do, we are bombarded with music and people I’ve never met. Being early evening, amber light pours through the treetops casting everyone in a flattering glow. A few hundred feet away, several billowing white tents delineate the party from the rest of the garden, but that doesn’t slow any of the guests down. I can’t keep up with all the introductions as people congratulate us.

But I know a few of these people. Cole, Anderson’s younger brother, beams at us. “Congratulations to the happy couple,” he says as he hugs Anderson. When he hugs me, he says, “And congratulations for skipping out on the big wedding bullshit. Smart call.”

“It was a mutual decision, actually.”

“Well, it was smart, whoever came up with it. Our family and weddings … ” He shakes his head. “You two set a good precedent. If I ever find Mrs. Right, I’m following your lead.”

“Cole, where are Mom and Dad?” Anderson asks.

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