Page 35 of Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

“Don’t hold any balls on my account,” she said with a glimmer of amusement in her eyes.

“Noted,” I said, wondering if she was warming up a little.

Finally, we reached the staircase that spiraled up to the second floor. Before we ascended, she stopped, her gaze locking onto a pair of double doors on the other side of the foyer.

“What’s in there?” she asked.

Curious. I liked that. “Some would call this the crown jewel of the entire estate.”

I pushed the doors open, revealing my library. The room was a masterpiece—floor-to-ceiling shelves lined with books of every kind, rolling ladders to reach the higher levels, and a massive window that overlooked the grounds. The window was covered with a protective film to keep from damaging the book covers. Some were hundreds of years old.

The library was filled with dark wood and leather furniture that looked soft as a cloud, a perfect spot to relax and get lost in the pages of a book. There was a fireplace in one corner, with more padded chairs surrounding it. The smell of old books was something I’d always appreciated. It was warm, inviting, and utterly breathtaking.

Kaira stepped inside like she was in a trance. “This is heaven.”

“Well, it’s yours to access anytime you like,” I said. “While you’re living here.”

She didn’t say anything, but the way her fingers brushed over the spines of the books spoke volumes. Finally, something had caught her interest. She pulled out a tattered copy of “Wuthering Heights” and traced the embossed title with her fingertip. “How did you get this many books?”

“Some were my father’s,” I explained, watching how the dim light played over her face, softening her initial displeasure into something more like wonder. “Others, I added over the years.”

Kaira turned to face me, her earlier defensiveness fading into the background. “You must love reading a lot.”

“I do.” I stepped closer, pointing to a section of the shelves painted in a slightly darker shade. “That’s my favorite area. It’s filled with first editions and rare manuscripts. Feel free to explore them, just handle with care. They’re irreplaceable.”

Her eyes widened as she stepped toward the section, gently pulling out a leather-bound volume. “I’ve never seen so many first editions in one place,” she whispered, almost to herself.

I chuckled softly. “I suppose it’s just one of those passions that’s easy to feed when you have the means.”

“I don’t even want to think about how much value is in this room,” she murmured.

“Shall we move on?” I said. “You’ll have plenty of time to explore the collection.”

She nodded and gave one last longing look at the room. I closed the doors and led her back to the staircase. We climbed up to the next floor and turned down the wide hall toward the room she would be occupying. Her suite was the last stop. It was one of the finest rooms in the house—a private retreat with massive windows, a fireplace surrounded by plush sofas, and a walk-in closet bigger than most apartments.

“You’ll have your own bathroom and a coffee bar,” I said as she stepped inside, her wide eyes taking it all in. “I’ll have the closet stocked with clothes. You’ll need to look the part of my fiancée.”

She turned to me, her arms crossed again. “And what exactly does that mean? You’re going to dress me up like a little doll?”

“It means elegant,” I said, leaning against the doorframe. “Classy. Confident.”

“Expensive,” she added, rolling her eyes.

“That too. But you’ll have plenty of options and you can tell me if you want anything in particular.”

She walked to the window, looking out at the grounds, then back at me.

“Will this do?” I asked, spreading my arms.

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly. “It’ll do.”

Victory. Again.

13

KAIRA

The weight of the week hit me all at once, like a dam breaking. Roman stood before me in the most beautiful room I had ever seen, asking if it would do for the next six months—as though I were somehow making a compromise by staying here.