I sat down opposite Alejandro and George, a small table between us. George fidgeted like a kid awaiting Christmas and reached out to take the guitar from my side. He set it on the table and opened the case, staring with reverence. Then, slowly, he lifted the guitar out and blew off some dust. "Stunning." He held it out to Alejandro. "What do you think?"
Alejandro glanced at the guitar and nodded, then he grinned at me. "Yes, stunning."
Oh, please! Why wasn't he treating me like a normal person? Could it be that he did this to every woman he met? No wonder everybody loved him.
Then, I was even more surprised when he reached across the table and took my hands in his. "What would you like to drink?"
Wow, he was so intense-way too intense for me. His eyes were burning me up. It made me wonder who, exactly, was being conned here.
As much as I might have needed a glass of wine to steady my nerves, I did not need anything that would reduce me to a puddle on the deck of the pool. So I pulled my hands away from his and sat up straight. "Nothing for me, thanks."
George set the guitar back in its case. "You don't mind if we have this guitar authenticated, do you?"
I shook my head and tore my eyes away from Alejandro, relieved to be looking at George instead. Released from the gorgeous rocker's overpowering energy, I was able to focus again. I gave George a steely stare. "I'm not leaving it with you, but I'll bring it to your authenticator and wait while it's being examined." I put on my business face. "And by the way, I've done some research on this since we last spoke. Seems to me that it's worth much more than a few thousand dollars if it's real."
Alejandro curled up one corner of his mouth. "And just what do you think this guitar is worth?" He considered the guitar briefly, then returned his gaze to me.
"Well, let's see," I forced myself not to stammer. "George offered me a few thousand dollars, but I know it's worth much more. So I'll counter by asking for six hundred thousand." I let a partial smile sneak onto my face. "Your turn."
George's head snapped to attention, and he glared at me. In the ensuing silence, Alejandro just sat there, his grin even wider. After a few seconds, George grunted. "You have been doing your homework, haven't you? Okay, let's split the difference and say three hundred thousand. But I doubt we can go much higher."