Page 141 of Lovers' Dance

“Best date ever,” I said, to which he bent forward and kissed me on the lips.

“I’m glad, poppet,” he murmured as we settled back in our seats. Matt held out the bidding paddle to me. “Here you go.”

I stared at it for a second, perplexed. I raised my gaze to Matt’s handsome face.

“You want me to hold it for you? What’s wrong with your hands?”

Matt winked at me. “You’re bidding for me tonight, poppet.”

My mouth fell open. Matt grinned and shut it for me as he physically placed the paddle in my numb hand.Was he mad?

Nathan must have overheard him, because he leaned across Bella to ask, “You’re letting Madi bid?”

Matt nodded, gaze locked on mine. “She’ll be fine.”

Another item came up for sale, and I tore my gaze away from Matt’s to stare at the stage. I didn’t know how to do this, yet my grip on the bidding paddle had tightened. I was being sucked into the world of the super-wealthy…and, how shameful, I think I was beginning to like it.

The atmosphere was intense in the underground space, building with each sold item as the guests sought to outbid each other for their chosen piece.

Suddenly, Matt touched my knee. “Bid on the next item, poppet.”

I blinked fast. I hadn’t been paying attention the past half an hour, too busy staring at the paddle in my sweaty hands while listening to the voices flying across the space.

Oh, God. I gave Matt a nervous look. Hell, I was terrified. “What is it?”

“A vase,” he replied nonchalantly. “It’s a gift I want for my mother.”

The tweed jacket auctioneer announced the next item. My eyes widened to maximum capacity. It wasn’t a vase: it was a Ming vase.

Matt was crazy if he thought I could do this. I tried to give him back the paddle, but he folded his arms and shot me a smug grin.

“Matt, take it.”

The auctioneer started the opening bids. My head swivelled between Matt and the stage.

“Poppet,” Matt said in a firm voice. “I want that vase.”

Shit.I raised the paddle nervously and the bid was in my favour—for all of six seconds before someone else went higher.

“What’s your limit?” I asked Matt.

He shrugged, grey eyes glinting with pleasure at my behaviour. “I want the vase, poppet. Get it for me.”

Goddamned gazillionaire. Stupid, crazy Matt who had no idea of—

My paddle went up again. I needed to stay in the game. I think there were five other people bidding on it. Bella kept egging me on whenever I hesitated. Matt nodded in approval. After ten minutes, I felt sick to my stomach. It was me and some guy on the other side bidding now. The others had bowed out, something I wanted to do. How could a vase be worth this much and we hadn’t finished yet?

“The bid rests with the young lady.” The auctioneer pointed at me, then held his hammer aloft in the direction of the man. “Do I hear two-point-seven?”

Millions; he was talking about two-point-seven million pounds. I felt the bile rise in my throat.

“Poppet.” Matt squeezed my knee. “I know you can do it.”

The faith shining in his eyes helped push the bile back down my throat, only just. Matt was obscenely wealthy, but I didn’t want him spending so much money on a vase.

“We have two-point-seven,” the auctioneer said, eyeing me expectantly. “Two-point-eight?”

I raised the paddle, strengthening my resolve.

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