Page 49 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Surgeon

“Excuse me, please,” I said, getting up and heading outside where it was both cooler and I could have at least some privacy while I made a call.

He picked up on the third ring.

“What’s up?” Nico asked softly. “You know I’m at theauction, right?”

“Yeah.” I ran a hand through my hair and tried to keep from pacing back and forth in front of the country club. “Listen, do I have to be, um, present at the auction to place a bid?”

Nico went silent. “Nobody’s asked that fucking question before, man. I mean… I think so. It’s not like I can interrupt the whole auction to ask Carmen. Let me get a consensus around our table.”

I heard him asking my question and then recognized his brothers’ voices answering. While Leo and Javy sounded hopeful, Joaquin didn’t say a damn thing, and Enzo shot it straight down. “Hell, yes, he has to be present to win. What kind of question is that?”

“Did you hear…”

“I heard him,” I said, frustrated. “Look, I gotta go.”

I hurried back inside and found my parents looking very nonplussed at our table. Lyla was dancing with a handsome guy much younger than me.

“Why did you leave for so long?” Dad asked. “Your date,” he waved his hand in the direction of the dancers on the floor, “gave up and started hanging out with her ex-boyfriend.”

I took another look at Lyla. She looked positively radiant as she smiled up at her dance partner. This was an excellent break for me. Maybe I could come out of this looking like a decent guy after all.

“Excuse me,” I muttered. “I’m going to have to leave.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” Mama said, throwing up her hands in disgust. “What about your sweet date?”

“I’ll see if her friend minds taking her home.”

“Of fucking course you will.” Dad tossed back a drink and tapped the edge of the glass so a waitress nearby would come refill it.

I ignored him and walked onto the dance floor. “Lyla,” I said gently. “I have to leave. It’s a work emergency,” I lied, looking around and hoping no one from the hospital would rat me out. “Can you please make sure she gets home?” I turned to the ex-boyfriend to ask.

“Sure, man.” He looked pumped, actually. I didn’t know who had instigated the breakup between the two of them, but they both seemed to regret it tremendously.

“Thanks.” I clapped my hand on his shoulder, told Lyla I’d see her another time, and made my escape.

As I slid into the back of the limo, I had my driver take me to the back parking area behind the private Salazar clubs and wait for me there.

I got out and ran to Cinnamon, crashing through the doors and causing heads to turn. The building was styled in the form of an old-fashioned gentleman’s club, like the ones still in existence in London. Upstairs, though, is where the auction took place each month. I sprinted up the stairs and followed the signs to the auction room.

“Sir,” a bouncer moved towards me as I approached the room, “do you have the proper credentials…”

“It’s alright.” Enzo appeared out of nowhere. “He’s with me.”

“Very good sir,” the bouncer nodded and gave a weird little bow that made me wonder if he’d watched too many re-runs ofDownton Abbey.

“What are you doing here?” Enzo asked.

“I just… I know Jelly’s going to be in it,” I said quietly, stopping at the door to the luxurious room and peeking inside. There were circular tables set up throughout the room, with a runway-style stage taking up the large majority of about half the room. Tables took up the other half, with still more tables running along each of the sides of the runway.

It was packed. I couldn’t believe how many men were in attendance. I knew a lot of these men. I scanned the room quickly. There were married men, men with long-time girlfriends, single men, widowers, and divorced men. I wondered how many of them were actually going to take their Cinnamon Girl out on the town and how many would keep them tucked away in a luxury condo, far away from the sight of WestBay society.

I saw Thad Russett, and a sick feeling grew in my stomach. He was single. My guess was he would proudly take Jelly with him to social functions.

In that way, she’d be better off with him. I knew, deep down, I should let him have her.

But I was jealous as fuck.

“Is the auction over?” I asked Enzo. Almost immediately I saw the look on Carmen’s face as she saw me at the back of the room. She was the emcee for the show, and she looked truly lovely in a beaded silver gown. She was not smiling at me, though.