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She looked shocked. “No. I don’t date people I work with.”
Jay looked over at Clark, all gangly and geeking out over the camera. “It’s just that he sort of seems your type.”
Erin scoffed, instantly looking suspicious. “What do you mean?”
Jay shrugged. He’d known her for so long. Did she really think he hadn’t noticed? “You tend to go out with geeky guys who don’t challenge you.”
If she’d been a cat, Erin’s back would have arched and she would have hissed at him. “You don’t know that.”
“Actually, I do. I’ve been in your life a long time. And I’ve got eyes.”
She looked stunned for a second, and then put her hands on her hips. He was in for it now. “Well, Mr. Lingerie Model Dater, since you won’t go out with a woman whose assets aren’t on full display at all hours, I’d say the pot was calling the kettle black.”
He almost laughed. “Lingerie model? Can you not even say the wordunderwearto me?”
“Of course I can.”
“Then prove it.”
For some reason she blushed. He’d only been joking about her saying it out loud, but she almost stammered as she half-whispered, “Underwear.”
And then regret filled him. Regret at challenging Erin about her taste because clearly he was jealous—jealous of a geeky young guy who obviously had no chance with Erin. Regret at asking her to sayunderwearbecause now all he could think about was Erin in sexy underwear that he would very much like to peel off her. And yet he loved how she’d obliged him, how she’d said the word even though it embarrassed her. It made him wonder what else she might be willing to do just for him.
He barely stopped his train of thought before his body got in on the act and started to react. This was ridiculous. Erin was not a potential lover. He had to get that through his rebelling mind and body, no matter how hard it was.
And oh boy, was it hard.
Erin excused herself and went to rejoin Clark. Jay felt like a fool, especially since he had been looking forward to taking Erin out to dinner later to thank her for dog sitting. Now he wouldn’t be surprised if she canceled.
He walked on around the auction house, but his heart wasn’t in it anymore and nothing else took his fancy. When the auction started, he found a place near the front and then saw Clark and Erin join a little later at the back.
Clark had been right. The opening bid for the Mitchell Standard was pretty high, but Jay had already decided he was going to buy it and nobody was going to outbid him. He already had the spot picked out in the living room where it was going to stand. He’d treat it nicely, honor its heritage. He liked tothink that he was helping to preserve a little piece of movie history, and one day he’d probably donate it to a film school or a museum or something. But for now, he just wanted to enjoy it. Apparently, it still worked. It would be really fun to make a movie on it. He was positive Archer Davenport and Smith Sullivan would get behind such a project.
He watched idly as other items came and went. And then the Leica that Clark was interested in came up. He was rooting for the kid, but Clark stopped bidding when the price got too high. He could see the absolute disappointment on his face, and some impulse that he didn’t even understand made him discreetly join the bidding. He didn’t even think Clark or Erin had realized that he was in it. And Jay didn’t like not to win. So, in less than a minute the Leica was his.
With the auction over, he went to collect both his items, feeling pretty pleased with himself. The Mitchell Standard was being very carefully boxed up, and he was given a ticket to drive up and receive it, but the Leica they handed over to him. He was about to phone Erin when he caught sight of them ambling slowly away from the building.
“Hey, Erin, Clark—hold up,” he called.
When they turned, he jogged forward and presented Clark with the camera. Clark’s face transformed—first with shock, then with pure joy—and Jay felt a rush of happiness that he’d made this guy’s day. It had been a long time since he’d hung out with people who didn’t have more money than they could ever hope to spend, so it was refreshing to see someone so thrilled by a gift that was all but nothing to Jay.
Clark stammered, “I can’t believe it. Wow. Look, let me pay you what I can.”
But Jay shook his head. “It’s my pleasure. And I get it. I like to think that these pieces of history are going to people who’ll look after them and enjoy them.”
Clark nodded enthusiastically. “I will take such good care of this. I don’t know how to thank you.”
Jay smiled. “Why don’t you come and have coffee with me? I’m new to town and don’t really know many people.”
At this point, Clark would probably have given him a kidney if he’d asked, so coffee was a no-brainer. During the whole exchange, Erin hadn’t said a word. Instead, she was watching. But that was Erin all over. Quiet and observant.
As the three of them walked to a coffee bar that Clark knew near the auction house, Jay realized he was actually having a great day. He’d got himself a fabulous piece of movie history and had done a good deed for another human being. He was feeling pretty good about himself. When Clark insisted on buying the coffee, he let him.
While he was getting their order, Erin and Jay hunted for a free table, which wasn’t easy on a busy Saturday. When one became free, they jumped on it and then waited for Clark.
Erin was so quiet he wondered if she was holding a grudge about his earlier comments. But then she said, “That was a nice thing you did for Clark.”
He decided to tell her the truth. “He reminds me a little of me when I was younger. Full of passion, with some pretty geeky interests. So I knew exactly how good that camera would make him feel.”