Page 107 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Surgeon

“I want to say yes. But I don’t want it to be because I feel overwhelmed right now. Can I give you an answer at work tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

Before I could move, his arms went around me and pulled me to him. His strong chest felt so good against my cheek. And his scent. My God. It was an aphrodisiac. I would tell him they needed to bottle it and sell it except I was pretty sure it was just his dryer sheets. Somehow on him, though, they smelled fan-fucking-tastic.

I leaned back and he dipped his head down to kiss me. Before I knew it, we were going at it. I could never just kiss him once, calmly, and back away like a normal girl. Nope. I kissed him, threw my arms around him and climbed in his lap.

“Whoa.” Carmen’s voice broke through the atmosphere.

I lurched away from him and straightened my dress back out.

“Jesus, Jelly. I’m not your grandma. You could keep kissing him, you know.”

I laughed then, feeling ridiculous as all my friends started leaving one by one until all that remained were Nadine, Nia, and Paolo.

“I’m going to go.” He gave me a hug. “I’m glad you enjoyed your day, baby.”

“Thank you for everything.”

I watched him leave. He held up his hand in a casual waveas he got in his car and pulled away from the curb.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!” Nadine was jumping around. “Did he ask you out? What did you say? Let me see that jewelry!”

“Calm down, girl,” Nia groused. “Do you think he deserves to be let back in the inner circle of trust?”

I frowned. “Have you watched a spy movie lately?”

“Yes.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, does he?”

“I’m not sure,” I cried, frustrated. “He asked me out, and I told him I’d let him know tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Nadine cried. “He threw you a party and bought you those great gifts and you still didn’t forgive him?”

“Tomorrow?” Nia said. “I think you should make him suffer for at least six more months for what he did to you.”

“I’m picking up very different signals here,” I laughed, and the three of us walked inside to open some of the gourmet chocolate and wine for our slumber party.

I had a big decision to make, and I wasn’t sure which direction I was going to take.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Jelly

The next day I arrived at work, clocked in and went in search of coffee in the cafeteria.

“Jelly!” It was Otto, the massive, tatted hospital cook and cafeteria line worker with a heart of gold. He’d clearly seen me enter the cafeteria and called out to me. We’d bonded over my love for his salads over the past year or so. I stuck my head in the door to the buffet line where he worked. He knew I didn’t do the breakfast line so him calling me back here could only mean one thing…

“Scones?” I asked.

“Four kinds,” he said proudly. I tried to do a dance of happiness, but realized I was going to knock into people who were trying to load their trays up with food.

“I want some of all four,” I said.

“Already got yours packed and waiting at the register.”

“You’re a god among men, Otto,” I said, stood on my tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

He grinned at me. “Don’t let her charge you for more than one of each kind,” he whispered.