Page 70 of Smoke Show

Ivan clasped his hands over his head, shaking them like a winning prize fighter, and jogged off the stage to applause.

Goofball.

I cleared my throat, anticipation building. Just Zander to go, then it would be Brady's turn.

"Our next bachelor is the elder Nemitz sibling. Zander Nemitz is offering a full day of "honey-do's" to the winning bidder. He's quite handy and has carpentry skills, electrical skills, and plumbing skills. You name it, he'll do it. There's no doubt why Zander is on Santa's naughty list. Anyone want to hazard a guess?" I asked the crowd.

Zander pandered to his audience, stroking his chin thoughtfully, like he was striving to look pretty, but dumb in his fancy suit, punctuating his pantomime with an elegant shrug.

"Teasing Gwen," one brave soul shouted from the back of the auditorium.

The crowd snickered, and I grinned. "Close, but not quite. Zander hit the naughty list for his last Nemitz Construction sign. Santa did not approve of: go elf yourself."

"She started it," Zander grumbled, casting an accusatory glance toward Gwen.

Calm and composed, Gwen just arched an elegant brow.

"Let's start the bidding at fifty dollars," I said, glossing over his whining.

"Seventy-five dollars," Dee, Lydia O'Reilly's partner, offered from the back. She'd dressed up for the auction in a long green dress and boots. Her grey hair was perfectly styled and swept away from her face in a chic bob.

"Eighty dollars," Silvia Nemitz countered.

"One hundred dollars," Vicki from the sheriff's office shouted.

"Two hundred dollars," Mary Mallory called out, her voice thready with age.

"Three hundred dollars," Kimee Thuy shouted.

"Three-ten," Dee offered.

"It seems like Mr. Nemitz is quite popular," I said, grinning. "We've got a bidding war on our hands."

Zander tipped his chin, making a 'come at me' gesture, all brash confidence, like the bids were his due. For all the ego on display, I noted that his gaze had remained laser focused on Gwen's face as the other women in town fought over him.

One corner of Gwen's mouth tilted up, and she swiped a finger across her throat, the universal sign for 'cut.'

Silence pooled.

What had been a bidding frenzy trickled to nothing in a flash, making it clear who pulled the strings.

Zander shifted on stage, appearing uncertain for the first time.

Gwen's smile grew, an enigmatic slash of color in the dim auditorium, her predatory white teeth on display.

I glanced from Vicki to Silvia to Mary, who all shook their heads at me. Only Sophie was brave enough to thwart Gwen. Whether this was the famed book club in action, or just good planning, Gwen had aced proxy school.

Dee smiled, smug, as I announced her as the winner.

"Zander Nemitz, going to Dee for three hundred and ten dollars."

The crowd clapped politely. Zander looked a little crestfallen at my pronouncement, and it took me a minute to remember his bet with Ivan. He'd just lost access to his apartment for a full week. Swinging to examine Gwen, I couldn't help but speculate that his loss had been part of her master plan.

Where I had Matty as my accomplice, Gwen had enlisted half the women in town to put Zander in his place.

“Congratulations, Dee.”

I turned, smiling at Brady seated behind me in the bachelor gallery. He met my gaze, his dimple flashing.

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