Noah glanced at his suit. “It’s the best I could come up with at short notice. Do you like my tie?”
She stared at his chest.
He pulled back his shoulders and his broad chest looked even more delectable.
Cassie poked him in the ribs. “Behave yourself.”
“That’s not as much fun. They’re meadowlarks.”
For a moment, she had no idea what he was talking about. Then she remembered to look at his tie.
Sitting along the edge of the blue stripes were rows of little birds. If you looked really carefully, you could just make out the shape of the meadowlarks.
“I went shopping at the general store. Mabel convinced me that this tie is a patriotic addition to my collection.”
“Because of the meadowlarks?”
Noah grinned. “They’re the state bird of Montana.”
“It’s perfect.” She laughed at the mischief in his eyes. Suddenly, she wasn’t quite as tired as when she’d arrived.
A few minutes later, Megan and William arrived with Sam and Caleb. While Megan introduced everyone, Cassie studied Noah.
She didn’t know anyone who took a suit on vacation with them, but Noah wasn’t like most of the people who visited Sapphire Bay. She had to keep reminding herself that this part of Montana would never be on his list of places to visit.
If she’d accepted the jewelry award, he wouldn’t even be here. They would have met in Manhattan at the presentation. He would have said hello and asked about her collection. They would have shaken hands, smiled for the cameras, then gone back to their separate lives.
That thought alone was enough to bring her back to earth with a bump.
By the end of next week, Noah would be negotiating with his company’s suppliers and getting the best deal he could for his wealthy clients. She would still be living in Sapphire Bay, creating jewelry and making sure Acorn Cottage was ready for the next booking.
“There you are,” Sam said to Cassie. “John’s looking for you. The auctioneer hasn’t arrived and he’s worried.”
Cassie touched the sleeve of Noah’s jacket. “I have to go. Will you be all right with everyone else?”
“Of course he will,” Megan said. “As long as we choose our seats now, we’ll be able to sit together.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Cassie assured Noah. “Save a seat for me.”
“I hope you find the auctioneer.”
“So do I.” Cassie maneuvered around the people inside the large meeting room. If they couldn’t find the auctioneer, they might not have a fundraising event. Unless Pastor John was prepared to try his hand with a gavel. And knowing John, nothing was impossible.
“Do I have five thousand dollars?”Pastor John’s voice boomed across the main meeting room of the church.
The auctioneer’s car had broken down somewhere north of Billings. Despite his best efforts to take his vehicle to a garage, it was unable to be driven. So, John had done the unthinkable and was standing at the front of the room, leading the auction process.
Cassie had no idea if he was doing everything correctly, but it sounded impressive. And more importantly, everyone in the room was enjoying themselves.
Noah stuck his hand in the air. “Ten thousand dollars.”
Everyone had been growing more and more excited as Noah and another man bid against each other for Natalie Armstrong’s painting. But even Cassie gasped this time. “Are you sure,” she whispered from beside Noah. “That’s a lot of money.”
He looked over her shoulder and leaned in close. The other bidder was two rows behind them. “Natalie’s paintings sell for more than forty thousand dollars in European galleries.”
Cassie’s eyes widened.
The man behind them placed another bid.
