Page 67 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Surgeon

“Yep. You’re such a manwhore, I didn’t think there was anything you hadn’t already done.”

“Funny. You’re funny. You know I could ‘accidentally’ drop you.”

“But then you might have to take me back into ‘surgery,’ doctor,” she said in a sexy voice.

“Don’t get me hard. I’d look like a total perv carrying you out of here sporting a hard-on.”

She giggled as we started walking down the hall but stopped as soon as Creepy Dale peeked around the corner.

“Oh my God,” she whispered as he stared at us.

“Do you need a wheelchair?” His voice was low and raspy, and, well, creepy.

“No, I think I’ve got her, Dale, thanks.”

“I sure wouldn’t mind wheeling her out to her car. I know you’re a real busy man, doctor.” He eyed Jelly like she was the last donut in the box.

I tightened my grip on her. “No!” I said it too loud, and his eyes widened. “No,” I repeated in a softer, more controlled voice. “I don’t need any help. Thank you.”

He nodded and watched us as we left the registration office. We had made it all the way down the hall to the elevators. When we turned around and moved to punch the button we needed, we both sucked in a breath. Creepy Dale was standing with his face almost pressed against the window in the reception office just watching our every move.

“Jesus! If you ever leave work after the sun goes down, you need to be with at least two people walking out to that parking lot.”

“Noted.” She stared at him until the doors closed. “Have you ever brought up how… potentially psycho he seems with administration?”

“Yes. Everyone has. He’s never actually done anything wrong, though. The security guards have watched tons of video footage, he’s been watched, talked to, everything. But to fire him without cause is problematic.”

“Is it not cause enough that he makes all of the women and half the men feel all skeeved out?”

“Apparently not. You can’t fire someone for being creepy.”

“Well, let’s not let Creepy Dale ruin our hot office sex.”

“Agreed,” I said. “How about we stop by Dinardo’s Deli and get takeout for dinner?”

She gave me a strained smile. “I feel weird eating there after what happened to Daisy, you know?”

I winced. “Yeah. That’s right. We’ll go somewhere else.”

“She’d be the first one to tell us to go back there, though.” She looked hesitant. “Nah. I can’t do it. Let’s order Thai once we’re back at the condo.”

“Deal.” I adjusted her in my arms so I could kiss her. “And then I want to do a re-enactment of our office sex.”

“Yes, please!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Jelly

Paolo and I were still getting used to each other. We’d spent a ridiculous amount of time in bed; long enough that I thought he might be getting tired of me.

But as the days and weeks went by, that didn’t seem to be a concern. He spent the night every night, which surprised me. I woke up in his arms some mornings, and some mornings he’d already left for work.

I reported at the same time every day for my internship at the hospital, but I knew his hours varied from day to day. I would see him sometimes during the day, and I did my best to appear nonchalant when we passed each other. I’d try to give him a basic greeting, like one I would give to a former employee or co-worker.

When I got home, I did my best to do what Carmen had said to do. It was my job, she wasn’t shy to remind me, to keep him happy.

“Remember,” she’d said the last time I’d gotten coffee with her and Madeline, “you have two jobs now. You have the internship, and you have the contract. You know what you need to do for the internship, but I’m here to remind you what you need to do for the contract. And there is one main thing.” She’d given me an intense look. “That is keep Paolo Lanetti happy. Very happy. He’s paying a lot of money for you to be his every fantasy for the next few months. You will fulfill that contract.”