Page 56 of This Bitter Sweet Temptation
Jasper Fairfax looks at me and smiles, then places the egg back in the box. He reaches for the stack of papers we left neatly on his desk, leafing through them and reading while Steven returns to the lab.
I’m so not cut out for this.
The papers might be just as important as the physical inspection. If they’re off, if there’s any hint of fraud, we’re cooked.
And it’s going to be awful if I lose it and break down into a crying fit in here, in front of this stranger and Holden Hardass.
I grit my teeth together and swallow.
Holden looks at me carefully.
The rest of the world dissolves into a blur. I notice the way he frowns, his mouth turned down at the corners.
He’s probably expecting an outburst like the annoying mind reader he is.
Only, he hasn’t let go of my hand. He squeezes my palm like he knows the sharpness will help break the trance.
His knuckles brush my thigh, which I realize is trembling.
I’m as jittery as a squirrel on her seventh coffee. Embarrassing.
I look at him sheepishly, and he shoots me another look.
We’re done, he mouths.
Right, right.
I’m secretly relieved he doesn’t let go until I take a deep, halting breath and exhale slowly. I close my eyes for a few seconds, pulling myself back together.
My shoulders fall. My leg stops bouncing in place.
Only then does he give me one last squeeze and let go.
When I open my eyes, I can still feel his stern fingers against my skin.
The heat of his knuckles against my thighs.
How does he make meso warm?
Again, I shiver for a reason that has nothing to do with fear.
Not something I ever expected with this man. Definitely not a sensation I expected to linger.
“Right,” Fairfax says bluntly, breaking the killing tension.
He sits back in his chair across from us and steeples his fingers.
“Right,” I echo.
“Your case looks hopeful, Miss Blackthorn, I’m pleased to say. We have good reason to investigate further. I’ll have to do some more referencing and verification with my contacts, of course,” he says, holding up a finger. “However, at first glance, this jeweled egg is exceptional. There’s truly no precedent.”
The air leaves my lungs.
“Wow. Okay. So what’s next?”
“If we can determine complete authenticity with high confidence, it will certainly command a pretty penny.” His smile almost looks smug. “Luckily, you came to the right place. My thanks to you for trusting my firm with the appraisal.”
Holden stiffens beside me. He’s probably just excited.
