Page 112 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Surgeon

She gasped. “What the hell are you doing? I thought this was just a date…”

“I love you, Jelly. I always will. Those months without you were the worst of my life.”

“Now you’re being dramatic,” she folded her arms across her chest.

“No,” I grabbed her hand. “I’m serious. I thought I’d lost you forever. And I’d already decided I wanted to marry you. Then I fucked everything up so badly. I know this date was supposed to just be a new start. But I can’t wait to show you how I feel.” I opened the ring box to reveal a huge diamond solitaire. “Will you marry me?”

She covered her mouth with her hands. “Yes! Oh my God, yes.” She practically knocked me down, but ended up sitting on my leg, her arms around my neck. “I never thought I could love a person as much as I love you.”

“Jelly, I choose you. Just the way you are. I love everything about you, and I want you to always be yourself. I will never leave you. And I will never expect you to be someone you’re not. I will also never tell anyone your name is Ann Ray again. You’re perfect.” I slid the ring on her finger.

She brushed tears off her face. “Don’t tell anyone I cried, or I’ll punch you,” she laughed. I wasn’t sure she was kidding, though.

“I have a chef coming to cook a meal for us. I thought we’d eat by candlelight on the side deck. It’s screened-in, so therewon’t be any bugs bothering us.”

“That sounds amazing.”

I moved my hand under her dress and squeezed her thigh. “Now, about that idea you had about me fucking you over the couch…”

She jumped up. “How much time did you say we have?” She headed over to the couch.

“God, I love you so much.”

Epilogue

One month later…

Jelly

“All I’m saying is that I’m starting to feel like some kind of matchmaker,” Carmen said huffily. She looked at me. “Seriously, this auction is getting a reputation. Y’all are the third couple to get married after doing it.”

“Well, we’re not married yet. This is our engagement party,” I said, glass of champagne in hand.

She gave me a huge eyeroll. “Like that’s supposed to make me feel better. Don’t get me wrong,” she said quickly, “I’m happy for y’all. I really am. I love you, and I love Paolo, and I think y’all make a perfect couple. I’m just not thrilled that you got together through my auction. I’m afraid men are going to quit wanting to do it, or that I’m going to attract women who’ll expect a ring at the end of their contract.”

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about. What do you do? Like ten contracts a month? So, that’s one hundred and twenty contracts a year for three years—and you’ve had three marriages. That’s a teeny tiny percentage.”

“You’re right.” She took a deep breath. “I’m getting worked up over nothing.”

“Exactly.”

“Oh, there’s Daisy. God, she looks adorable. I can’t believe she’s pregnant. And with twins! I’m going to go talk to her.”

I smiled and watched as she and Daisy had their reunion,Jack standing close by. He still stared at his wife with so much love it almost felt like I was watching something private just seeing him look at her.

I looked away and took in everything about the engagement party. We were having it on the beach in front of the cottage. The wait staff was using the large chef’s kitchen, and I finally saw why there was a need for an elevator so they didn’t have to come up and down the front porch steps over and over again.

I looked around, thrilled with the lanterns and all the tasteful decorations Madeline had set up. It all looked perfect. Magical, even. And everyone I cared about was there.

Except Nadine. I looked at my watch and bit my lip. Where was she? She, Byron, and Reynolds were missing, and it was weird for them not to be here.

“Hey, baby.” Paolo came up and kissed my exposed shoulder, causing me to shiver. We might or might not have had wild sex in the bathroom a few minutes before. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, really. Everything is perfect,” I said, breathing in the salty sea air and enjoying the gentle breezes coming off the ocean.

“Something’s bothering you.”

“It’s just that Nadine’s not here yet.”