Page 56 of When Love Takes The Ice

“Are you sure you’re helping?” I whisper.

He chuckles. “Trust me, I am.”

My hand clutches my cell. If it gets any closer to three, I need to get hold of my clients in the Cayman Islands so they can instruct me further. Though, I know they probably won’t go higher because they still need to sell.

I don’t know how Ashton can be so calm; I guess because he’s not really buying the house or trying to get his clients into their dream home—and when did he even register for the auction?

This all runs through my mind while I have my hand ready to dial the Overtons with the bids as they are at hand.

I see the front bidder shake his head. He’s out.

Then Phil jumps back in with another fifty big ones.

Then Ashton.

Then Phil.

I’m almost mesmerized by the back and forth.

They reach three million, and Ashton shakes his head, signaling he’s out. Phil smiles like the cat who got the cream, celebrating his victory before it’s won. Something I know is a mistake. At that exact time, Ashton squeezes my leg. “Take it away, baby.”

My paddle is already up in the air. The auctioneer hones in on me as my heart nearly beats out of my chest. Phil snaps his head toward us, clearly confused as well as annoyed. I dial my clients because we’re so close and I can’t tip over the edge. I had pretty strict instructions.

Mr. Overton picks up after two rings.

“It’s three mill,” I blurt out, knowing there’s no time for a cordial salutation. “So far, there’s one bidder left to knock out. How far should I go?” I ask.

I feel Ashton glance at me, and as I look up at his dark eyes, I know he’s enjoying this a lot. It makes for a very different Friday than I’m used to. My heart is beating wildly, and I feel an adrenaline rush like no other.

“All the way,” Mr. Overton says, in no uncertain terms. “You need to go all the way.”

CHAPTER 12

Ashton

Who the hell do I think I am giving Maddison auction advice when I wouldn’t know the first thing about it? But she sure is deep in concentration, clutching her cell to her ear, quickly indicating precisely where the bidding is at.

I glance at Phil Davies, seriously disliking the guy I just met. He seems to have wavered a little but raises the bid to three million one hundred thousand.

I see it in his face, though. He’s close to resolve.

“Going once at three million one hundred thousand—” He glances at Maddison.

She nods as she raises her paddle as the auctioneer continues. “Ladies bid, at three million, two hundred thousand — do we have any other takers?” He is urging Phil to finish what he started.

Phil nods his head.

Fuck. Another hundred thousand.

I feel for Maddison. Looking at her I see she’s composed, but I know her heart must be beating a million miles per hour. It’s hot seeing her like this. All business-like, her hair pinned backwith a few loose curls escaping, the skirt suit she has going on, and then there’s the glasses. I fucking love the glasses.

The auctioneer looks back to Maddison and quickly scours the room for other bidders.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to sell—do we have any further bids at three million?—”

“Three million, five hundred thousand.” Maddison comes back in strong, not even glancing over in Phil’s direction.

Surely this has to be it.

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