Page 70 of Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

Ruby wrinkled her nose. “Nonsense. Every love story is interesting. Kaira, you tell me. What was your first impression of Roman?”

I hesitated, my mind racing. If I told her the truth—that I had thought he was arrogant and insufferable—it might raise some red flags.

“He’s…” I began searching for a diplomatic answer. “He’s certainly confident.”

Ruby let out a peal of laughter. “That’s a polite way of saying he’s a pain in the ass, isn’t it?”

Roman cleared his throat, clearly unimpressed with the turn the conversation had taken. “Nothing wrong with a man who knows what he wants.”

Ruby leaned forward, her expression softening. “I’m glad he has you,” she said, her voice filled with genuine emotion. “I’ve always worried about how alone he is in this big house. He’s worked so hard, but it’s not the same as having someone to share it with.”

I glanced at Roman, who was staring into his tea.

“Roman told me you two were close,” I lied.

“Oh my, yes. After my poor sister passed away, I took him under my wing. I raised him like he was my own. I love him like a son, always have. I worry so much about him. I’m so glad I don’t have to worry about him being alone.”

That made me love her almost immediately. I loved that he had family. I was beginning to think he had no one.

“I’m fine, Aunt Ruby,” Roman said.

“You did a good job raising him,” I said. “He’s a good man.”

There was an uncomfortable, awkward silence. I sipped my tea and looked anywhere but at him.

“Okay,” Ruby said suddenly, sitting back with a sharp look. “Spit it out. What’s going on?”

I froze, my teacup halfway to my lips.

“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice higher than usual.

Ruby pointed between Roman and me. “You two are as stiff as boards. Did you have a fight? Are you pregnant? What is it?”

Roman sighed, setting his cup down with a clink. “It’s nothing, Aunt Ruby. You’re overthinking things.”

26

ROMAN

Ilooked at Kaira, desperately hoping she’d pick up on my silent plea to tread carefully. In all honesty, Ruby had an uncanny knack for sniffing out secrets. I was more than a little concerned about how much she could glean from our awkward exchanges.

“Nobody’s pregnant,” I said, attempting to paint over our unease with a brush of fatigue. “It’s just been a long day, that’s all. We weren’t expecting company.”

Ruby studied me for a moment, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to see through to my soul. I knew that look well. It was the same one she’d given me countless times when I was sixteen and got caught coming home drunk.

And she was not stupid. When I was younger, I used to believe she was clairvoyant. She had this eerie ability to see the truth despite all the smoke screens. She was doing it again now, searching my face for a hint, a clue that would give us away.

I shifted uncomfortably, feeling like a teenager under her intense scrutiny. “Really, Ruby, it’s just been one of those days,” I reiterated. My voice sounded strained even to my own ears.

“Roman Jameson Andrew Kelly.”

I grimaced. Yep, it was a flashback to the night she found me passed out cold in the front yard after I failed to make it all the way inside.

I glanced at Kaira, who looked terrified. And amused.

“Aunt Ruby⁠—”

“Don’t you dare try and Aunt Ruby me. What’s going on? Did you cheat on her?”