“You can sell them, but only at five times their normal asking price,” Miriam told her. It wasn’t worth keeping them, if there would be no Carrigan’s to keep them in. “Get with Cole for estimates. Also, check in with Noelle before you promise anything to anyone. I know she has a few pieces she’s madly in love with, and I don’t want to sell any of them without her go-ahead.”

“Aye aye, Captain.” Hannah walked off toward a buyer who was eyeing a sculpture.

Students from the local high school drama club, dressed all in black, had been pressed into acting as waiters by Jason Green, their drama teacher. They were doing a remarkably flamboyant job. Even Cass would have approved of the flair with which they were throwing themselves into their work. At least one was wearing a fake mustache. As several of them parted, carrying trays of apps, she caught a glimpse of Noelle’s hair.

“How are you holding up?” Elijah asked, coming up behind her.

She gestured to his tuxedo. “Elijah, I’m not sure lawyers are supposed to be this hot.”

“Weren’t you engaged to a lawyer for years, Miriam?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, but she didn’t look this good in a tux.” Miriam laughed. Although, in Tara’s defense, lack of hotness had never been one of her faults.

“You’re dodging my question. How are you holding up?”

“My father tried to burn down my life, take everything I love, and he may have forced me into this transformation, but I am transformed, and I’m going to show that asshole he should have left well enough alone.”

She stopped, realizing she was monologuing.

“Well, I’m into this Dark Phoenix energy,” he said, putting an arm around her shoulder for a squeeze. “Let’s use it to sell a lot of art for a lot of money.”

“Carrigan’s Home for Gifted Youngsters?” she joked.

“It has a ring to it.”

She left Elijah and climbed the stairs to the hayloft to get a better view of the crowd. And maybe, a little bit, to try to catch a glimpse of Noelle before she pulled off her big surprise.

There, by the makeshift auction podium, stood her heart. Miriam tried to remember how to breathe. Noelle was in a perfectly tailored tuxedo and tails, in a rich navy that made her skin glow. The tux hugged her curves and accentuated her broad shoulders, strong arms, and thick thighs. Her undercut was freshly shaved, her hair waxed into a pompadour.

She was the hottest fat butch dream of Miriam’s most secret fantasies, and the jolt of lust she felt almost knocked her over.