Page 51 of The B!tch List

I grinned. “Well, you kind of didn’t give me a chance.”

“That’s amazing.”

“It’s a shock is what it is,” I replied. “But I’m going to do the best I can.”

“I’m just going to go into the kitchen and let you two sort out whatever the problem is,” Mom said, reminding me that she was there. “And you’re staying for dinner Nancy, no argument.”

As Mom disappeared something soft happened to Nancy’s face and I was struck by how beautiful she was when she wasn’t screaming at me or throwing insults my way. The point was though, she was here to chew me a new one not to congratulate me on becoming a father.

“Listen Nance, he can’t do that just allow Ruthie to put in another bid and not you.”

“Is it illegal?”

“No, not necessarily. What is illegal though is bidder collusion.”

“Which is what?” Nancy asked.

She looked so despondent I felt a deep need to hug her but that would indicate I cared, so I folded my arms instead.

“I can’t be sure that’s what’s happened, but it’s basically you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. That must be what happened, because I sure as hell didn’t tell her what your bid was. She told me her original one though, and I promise you it was almost eight grand under.”

“How much?” Nancy’s eyes went wide. “And she told you?”

“Yes, she did.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Well, you couldn’t say let slip it was much more a brag.”

She blinked. “Did you then let slip what my bid was?”

“No! I’m a professional and a damn great poker player, so no way did I even give a hint that your bid was higher.

“So why not just sell to me?” she asked, shrugging. “Instead of getting her to bid more.”

“I don’t think that she has put a revised bid in.”

Nancy’s eyes flashed. “What?”

“I think that either Don Jennings has number blindness, or he’s accepted her bid for a reason.”

“Being?”

“He’s a contractor, Ruthie needs a contractor so I’m guessing that she offered a little sweetener just in case and the tale of a revised bid is to put us off the scent.”

Nancy collapsed back against the hall wall. “Do you think so?”

I shrugged. “I intend to find out.”

“How do you intend to do that?” she asked.

“Go and see Ruthie.”

“She won’t admit to that,” Nancy scoffed.

“Oh wow, you of such little faith, Miss. Andrews.”

She groaned and hit her head back twice. “Damnit, you’re going to sex it out of her, aren’t you?”

“What? God no.”

“How then?”

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