Playing to Win

his arms, and nodded. “You’re tougher and meaner than she is, Peaches. I know you can take her down.”
    “I intend to. There are fifteen minutes left in the bidding process and my name is going to be the last one on that sheet if I have to stuff her under the table and stand on her to make it happen.”
    “If you need backup, let me know. I’ll carry her off and lock her in the closet.”
    She batted her lashes. “You’d do that for me?”
    “In a heartbeat, honey.”
    Laughing, she hovered near the clipboard until old woman bidder hastily wrote her next bid. Then Savannah sauntered over, topped the bid and hurried off, no doubt hoping the woman hadn’t seen her.
    Unfortunately, she had and the woman hurried back, giving Savannah a glare.
    “I want to flip her off so bad.”
    “Go ahead.”
    “It would be improper.”
    “You want me to do it?”
    Savannah looked horrified. “Oh, my god, no. I found out who I’m bidding against. That’s Helen Sandingham.”
    “So?”
    “She’s on the board of directors at the children’s hospital. Apparently she’s loaded and wields a lot of power in this city.”
    “Yeah, well, Helen can shove it. I’ll make sure you win that necklace.”
    Savannah laughed. “Leave it to you to be unimpressed.”
    He kissed her cheek. “Hey, I don’t care who she is. You want the necklace, you’re going to have it.”
    With a minute left to go, that Sandingham lady had put in a bid. Savannah wandered over to the table, but didn’t write another bid in. Instead, she hovered. So did Helen, pen in hand.
    It was on.
    This should be entertaining.
    Savannah watched the clock and when it was down to fifteen seconds, she hurriedly wrote down a bid. Helen was about to get the last bid in when Cole stepped in.
    “Mrs. Sandingham?”
    She frowned, looked past Cole, her gaze riveted on the bid board. “Yes?”
    “My name is Cole Riley. I heard you’re on the board of the children’s hospital.”
    Her chest puffed up. “Why yes, I am.”
    “I’m one of the new players with the St. Louis Traders. I just wanted you to know if there’s anything I can do to help the children’s hospital, you can count on me. I just got traded from Green Bay, but St. Louis is my hometown. I like to stay active in charity work, and working with kids is very important to me.”
    She finally put her attention on Cole. “Oh. Well. Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”
    “I’ll be sure to have my agent get in touch with you. Maybe I could arrange a visit to the kids. I could bring along some of the other team members.”
    Now she was beaming. “That would be wonderful. The children love it when some of the local sports stars come by. I appreciate your dedication to your home city, Mr. Riley.”
    He’d said it to pull her attention away from bidding on the necklace, but he realized he meant it. From the excited look in her eyes, this would be something he followed through on.
    He took her hand in his. “Please. Call me Cole. And I’m happy to help out. I’ll have Elizabeth Riley, my agent, get in touch with you and you can direct her to the right people at the hospital to contact.”
    “Thank you, Cole. It would mean so much to the children. It was such a pleasure to meet you.”
    “You, too, Mrs. Sandingham.”
    “Call me, Helen. And welcome home, Cole.”
    He walked away, giving her a wink. She twiddled her fingers at him.
    Cole wasn’t sure, but he thought Mrs. Sandingham might have forgotten all about the bidding war she’d been in with Savannah.
    Savannah was at the bar sipping a glass of wine. Cole asked for a water.
    “You’re my hero,” she said. “But I think Helen Sandingham might be a little bit in love with you.”
    Cole took a long swallow of ice water. “I know. We have a hot date later.”
    “She’s out of luck because I’m claiming you for myself. Thank you for distracting her so I could win the auction.”
    “You’re welcome. You got the necklace you wanted?”
    “I did. Time ran out so it was way too late for her to write the last bid. And I’m feeling rather smug about it, too. I should feel guilty, but I don’t.”
    “No reason for you to feel guilty. You won it fairly…more or less.”
    She laughed. “With a little interference from you.”
    “Hey, whatever works. No holds barred in a bidding war.”
    The head of the auction announced it had officially closed, and for everyone to step up and check out the list of winners. Those who had won needed