by Debra Kayn
Beside Caiden, she held her breath. The silence and lack of commentary in the room crawled up her spine, making her nauseous. What if they couldn't see the unique beauty in the pieces.
She leaned against Caiden's arm, needing the support when Casey and Lux whispered between each other. Caiden put his arm around her. She looked up at him with a wrinkled brow.
"Perfect," he mouthed.
She rocked to her toes and kissed him. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Jolene?" said Casey.
She turned and found Casey still looking at the pieces and approached him. Her throat squeezed shut, and she croaked, "Yes?"
Casey's mouth opened. She raised her brows with expectation and pressed her hand to her stomach in dread. The wild whiplash of emotions collided. She grabbed his arms and shook him.
"Just tell me." She looked from Casey to Lux. "Somebody say something. You hate it. You love it. Something."
Lux turned and joined her husband. Jolene looked from one to the other, trying to read their faces. Still nothing.
"Please," she whispered, clutching her hands under her chin. "Did I make a mistake?"
They both shook their head.
"Do you like them?" she asked.
They both nodded.
Caiden cleared his throat. "I'm no expert, but I would say your jewelry knocked them speechless."
The collective breathes in the room all exhaled at the same time. Lux threw her arms around Jolene, swaying her back and forth. Jolene laughed, relieved beyond a level she thought possible. Casey threw out every colorful word he knew. Caiden leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed watching Jolene with a soft smile and an 'I told you so' sparkle in his eyes.
Jolene smiled until her cheeks ached. Sharing such a moment in her life with the people who had become important to her made the excitement quadruple.
"Beautiful, Jolene." Casey looked back at the jewelry. "Exquisite and one of a kind. Without those garnets being set, I wouldn't have looked at them twice without them being cut and polished, but that design is indescribable."
"Thank you," she said.
Lux let go of Jolene. "The mix of rough and polished on the garnet presents an intriguing matrix."
"Lux, babe, did you see the play on reflections with the non-uniform cuts?" Casey leaned over the table.
"Yes, that was the first thing I noticed." Lux wandered back to the table.
Jolene turned to Caiden. He winked, and she lifted her shoulders. There was no stopping now. It was happening. In three weeks, she'd learn if her decision paid off.
"I'm kicking everyone but Lux out of the room." Casey held up his camera. "I need to capture the pictures, get the form filled out and signed, and get us to the airport."
Jolene grabbed Caiden's hand and led him out of the room. Once they were alone in the living room, she jumped into Caiden's arms.
"I'd say you're happy." Caiden laughed. "I had no doubt they'd love the jewelry."
She kissed him, pulled back, and groaned. "I actually felt sick to my stomach when we brought them to the cabin from the airport. I wanted to show them so bad, and then...I don't know, I was scared."
"Of what?"
She took his hand and walked him over to the front window. "When I look at the Quintessential Line, I see us, including my past, your past, and our love. I've never shared what you and I went through to get this far with anyone."
Caiden frowned. "You never leaned on your friends for support?"
She shook her head. "After what I went through, I never allowed myself to give any part of myself to other people. I was afraid I'd look weak. That included sharing you with others because you are a part of me. So, today, it felt like showing them the line was showing them into my heart, to my imperfections...and letting them judge me."
Caiden kissed her forehead and held her close. "Only you know what your design means."
She tilted her head. "I am so glad you're here with me and took the day off."
"So, after they leave for the airport, what are we doing?" He rubbed her back.
"What do you want to do?"
He cupped her ass. "See all this happiness and energy coming off of you while you're naked and on top of me."
"Mm." She inhaled deeply and planted her hands on his chest. "I'd like that."
She stretched to the tip of her toes and finished kissing Caiden when Lux walked into the room. Without leaving his arms, Jolene smiled at her friend.
"Casey's in there hyperventilating over the jewelry. I've never seen him so excited, which tells me I need to step up my game. If you know what I mean..." Lux held up papers. "He's ordered me to have you fill the forms out, and then you're supposed to package the Quintessential Line. He wants to get the jewelry insured over the phone before we board the plane."
Jolene took the papers to the table and sat down. She'd already taken out a pen before they came over because she knew their time here would be short. Glancing quickly down the first page, she recognized the contract as the same one she always used. She initialed where she had to and signed her artist name. The last page was for the details of the pieces, and she filled out the paragraphs. Then she hovered the pen over the asking price.
It would be so easy to set a monetary value to the line and play it safe. She tapped the pen against the table and gazed across the room at Caiden talking to Lux. The money would see them through many years, and she could continue to create and put her jewelry in the shows.
Instead, she checked the box to have the line go to auction, then set the pen down and straightened the papers. "All done."
"Perfect timing, my friend," Casey said behind her. "Let's get those beauties packaged for transport. I'll look through your papers, and then we're set."
She looked up at Caiden and bugged her eyes. This was really happening.
It took the next fifteen minutes to pad and secure each piece, then put them in their individual boxes within the transport box. All Casey would have to do is remove them when it was time for the showing.
Jolene carried the box out to the living room. Casey stood by the table with his arms crossed staring at her.
"What?" Jolene set the box on the table.
"Auction?" Casey shook his head. "You do realize how risky that is. There are a lot of things that could go wrong. It could be a bad day at the show. One of the major buyers could have something come up and not attend, knowing he can make it to the next one, Jolene. Your opportunity could be lost to a low bidder."
"I understand," she said.
"And you still want to go to auction?"
She nodded and walked over to Caiden, locking hands with him. "Yes."
"No reproductions?" Casey's brows wrinkled. "One shot deal?"
She nodded. There was no way that she'd reproduce knock-offs for wholesale retailers. The Quintessential Line would only be the three original pieces. "Yes."
Casey whistled softly. "Okay. Then, we'll talk in two weeks."
Goodbyes were shared, hugs were given out, and Jolene watched the Quintessential Line leave her possession. Jolene walked back into the house, rubbing the chill out of her arms, and sat on the couch. She'd done no physical activities today, and yet every muscle in her body wanted her to sit down and not get up.
Caiden brought in some wood and sat on the hearth to light a fire. Jolene kicked off her shoes. While her body was tired, her mind remained busy. Not on the Quintessential Line. Not on taking a huge risk. Not on the world soon viewing something personal she created.
Her mind focused on Caiden. The way he kept looking at her, making sure she handled the exchange today okay. The way his hand had appeared on her hip in support before she even realized she was nervous. The way he'd walked into the house and started a fire, knowing she needed the warmth.
She'd made the right decision with the Quintessential Line, and she knew that by the way Caiden looked at her.
CHAPTER 36
There is hope in dreams, imagination, and in the coura
ge of those who wish to make those dreams a reality. — Jonas Salk
The fire crackled in the room and the heat warmed the air. Jolene stared down into the goblet of red wine, swirling around the sides of the glass. She'd managed to take three sips, hoping the alcohol would calm her, before she concluded the adrenaline coursing through her body was winning the battle.
"What time is it?" she asked Caiden.
He set his beer on the floor beside him. "You told me not to tell you if you asked again."
"I take it back," she said.
"You told me even if you take it back not to tell you." He pulled her over to him.
They sat on the floor with their backs against the couch in front of the fireplace. She took another drink of wine. The plate of cheeses, meats, and crackers in front of them half eaten. Only because the wait for the phone call from Casey at the auction never curbed Caiden's appetite the way it had her's.
"I know that's what I said, but I'm serious now. I need to know what time it is." She rubbed his thigh, slowly going higher on his leg.
He laid his hand on top of her hand at the conjunction of his crotch. "You're playing unfairly."
She set her wine glass away from her and laid her head on him. "I thought I could handle waiting for Casey to call better than this. It was such a good idea to have a nice, quiet evening together, enjoy our drinks, the food, the fire. Instead, I'm jumpy and feel like running around in a circle. If the phone rings right this second, I'll probably have a heart attack. I want him to call, and I don't want him to call."
Caiden pulled her down until she laid on her back and put her head on his lap. He stroked the hair off her forehead and looked down into her face. "Talk to me."
"I don't know what to say." She tapped her bare feet against the floor.
He ran the back of his hand down her cheek to the ticklish spot under her chin. She squirmed, grabbing his hand and placing it on her stomach.
"I spotted a moose crossing through the yard when I was knocking the icicles off the porch this morning," said Caiden, taking a drink from his beer.
She turned her gaze to him. "Do you think that was the noise I heard in the middle of the night?"
"Probably."
"I hope I see it. Maybe it'll stick around. It was almost forty degrees outside earlier before the temperature dropped this evening."
"I don't think the warmer day brought it around. The sound it was making probably meant it was looking to mate." Caiden looked at the fireplace.
"You have a lot in common with a moose. Did you know that?" She curled to her side and propped her arm on his thighs and held her head up with her hand. "Hey, do you remember the creek you took me to before you went to prison?"
"Yeah. It's on the property." He set his beer down. "If you head out between the apple trees, there's an old mining road that is probably all grown over now. It only takes about ten minutes to walk to the water."
"Will you take me this summer?"
"I'll do better than that." He leaned forward and grabbed a piece of meat off the plate. "Poppy's got a tractor. I'll have him come through and put a trail in for you."
"The plow guy has a tractor?" She laughed. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"
Bantorus Motorcycle Club, if left to their own devices, had their own little community that could self-sustain all the members.
"Poppy uses the tractor to do landscaping in the summer." Caiden picked up a piece of cheese. "It wouldn't take him but a couple of hours to knock down the brush and clear any trees that had fallen down."
"I love the snow, but I'll admit, I'm looking forward to summer. I want to be outside, explore further away than the yard, and sit on the porch and count the stars," she said.
"Yeah." He chuckled, and the rare sound was candy to her ears. "Me, too."
She hummed on her sigh. "There's not a minute that goes by that I don't think about how life would be if I never came back. I regret the years—"
"No regrets." He kissed her.
It seemed like only yesterday that they were laying on the floor in the cabin with an old blanket from Caiden's Impala, pretending they lived in the abandoned cabin. She pulled out of the kiss. "No regrets."
The buzzing startled her. She sat up and looked at Caiden. "It's Casey."
"Answer it." He kissed her again. "Whatever you find out, we'll deal."
She picked up her phone and held it to her heart. "Promise?"
"I promise." His gaze softened and a lifetime of love filled her.
She answered the phone. "Casey?"
Noise in the background muffled Casey's reply. Jolene pushed to her feet and plugged her other ear. "I can't hear you."
"Hang on."
Jolene looked at Caiden and found him watching her. She shrugged. Having only attended one auction, she found the proceedings unexciting and rather quiet. New lines were rolled out and received their three minutes of the spotlight, the silent bidding would start, and the next up and coming jewelry would be brought into the room.
"Can you hear me better?" asked Casey.
She pressed her hand to her stomach. "Yes. Where are you?"
"In the room. They've still got your bracelet to auction off. The noise was for the results of your other pieces." Casey laughed. "My God, I've never seen anything like these buyers. I couldn't wait until it was finished to call you."
"What do you mean?" She moved her hand up to her neck and cupped her thundering pulse. "Was it disqualified?"
She wracked her head. The paperwork was filled out. Casey had verified everything. While the Quintessential Line exceeded the boundaries of traditional garnets, there were no rules pertaining to artistic freedom.
"Hold on." Casey breathed heavily over the phone.
She flipped the bottom of the cell phone higher and spoke with Caiden. "I don’t know what is going on."
Caiden got up from the floor and sat on the couch. She reached out, and he took her hand. Inhaling deeply, she waited for Casey to give her the outcome of the auction.
Her wait was over when Casey spoke her name.
"Yes?"
Casey's extra calm voice made her more nervous. "Is Caiden with you?"
"Y-yes, he's right beside me." She stared into Caiden's eyes.
"The bracelet just closed, honey."
Oh, God. Casey used an endearment. He never softened his words. He shot straight and always had an honest opinion.
"The bracelet sold for—"
Clapping in the background deafened her to Casey's voice. "Casey? How much?"
"Twenty-five thousand dollars," said Casey, practically yelling at her.
Her spine bowed forward. That amount was less by ten thousand than she imagined the original design for her garnet bracelet would sell for.
"Okay." She inhaled deeply.
Bracelets, regardless of the stones and workmanship, always sold lower than rings and necklaces, because they were the lesser worn jewelry by women.
"Hold on to your man, Jolene." Casey panted. "The winning buyer for the bracelet canceled his bid on the floor. That was the noise you heard. The place is going crazy."
"Cancelled?" Her lungs failed to expand, and she sat down beside Caiden and leaned against him. Her worst nightmare came to life.
"When the buyer for the necklace and ring yelled out an offer for the whole line, the second buyer backed out." Casey laughed.
She sucked in a breath. "Who was the buyer?"
"DeBreu Jewelry."
"Oh, God," she whispered. "Please tell me it was worth something to them."
DeBreu Jewelry came from France. An elite merchant who only carried one of a kind pieces of jewelry to a very selective group of customers. People actually had to be invited personally by a representative of DeBreu to get into their store.
"More than worth it." Casey paused. "The buyer bought the Quintessential Line for two-point-eight million."
Casey's voice hitched on the last word, unable to keep his excitement down. With the news, oxy
gen filled Jolene's lungs, and calmness came over her.
"You're serious?" She straightened and turned to look at Caiden.
"I'll deliver the check to you personally." Casey laughed. "Hell, I'll leave tonight, and I'll bring Lux. Tell Caiden to have the Rainier ready."
"Oh, Casey..." she whispered. "Thank you."
"The pleasure was mine." Casey cleared his throat. "I'll finish business here and be calling you soon."
"Okay."
"Jolene?" Casey paused. "Congratulations."
She blinked hard. "Thank you."
Disconnecting the call, she set the phone beside her and turned to Caiden. She opened her mouth to share the news, and her tongue wouldn't work. She'd put her life with Caiden up for judgment. She'd taken a risk. She'd succeeded.
"Help me out," said Caiden. "Is this good news?"
She nodded. "I-I won't be making any more jewelry for the Quintessential Line."
"Why not?" He held her face, stroking her cheek.
She moistened her lips. "DeBreu Jewelry bought the exclusive line a-and paid $2,800,000.00 for all three pieces."
Caiden raised his brows. Nervous laughter escaped her. The shock hit closer to her heart, and she leaned forward. Caiden held her as her body vibrated back into awareness of what had happened.
"So damn proud of you, Jolene," whispered Caiden.
Her success was his success. It had always been about him. Nobody could take their love away.
She pulled back and kissed him, letting her lips rest on his and the breath she needed came from him. He slid his hand underneath her hair. She pulled him further into the kiss.
As soon as she did, his lips parted as her tongue entered his mouth, and all her excitement came out in a dizzying rush.
Caiden deepened the kiss. She lifted her hands to his face, centering all the love, hope, and overwhelming emotions on the man who could take the credit for never giving up on her.
He stood her up, breaking the kiss, and removed her shirt. As soon as her arms were free, she undid her jeans and removed her panties. It was only natural that they'd celebrate with each other, sharing their love.
