Page 98 of Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

Her cheeks flushed as she smiled up at me. “Happy birthday, Roman.”

The solarium had been transformed into a wonderland of soft lights, some gold and silver balloons, and a giant banner wishing me a happy birthday. The solarium was not a small room and it must have taken a fair amount of time to set this up.

“How did you do all of this?” I asked.

She laughed. “I’ve had some time on my hands. Go, greet your friends. There’s a running bet between them.”

“What’s the bet?”

“Half think you’re going to hate this and the other half? Well, they expect you to turn and run.”

“People are about to lose some money,” I said with a wink.

I mingled with friends I didn’t get to see often. I was surprised by how many of them had come at Kaira’s invitation. More than one of them had a lot to say about how charming she was. They were all impressed by how she’d pulled all of this together.

I tried the personalized cocktail she’d invented for me—whiskey-based, smoky with a hint of orange and vanilla. It was delicious, just like everything else about tonight. I couldn’t believe the detail that had gone into planning the party.

The staff served dinner in the dining room. The food was exquisite, each course more impressive than the last. I found myself laughing more than I had in ages. The staff, my friends, even Ruby seemed genuinely happy.

But it was Kaira who held my attention. Whether she was laughing with a guest, dancing in her bare feet, or sneaking a taste of the cake before it was served, she was the gravitational pull of the evening. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. She was absolutely radiant, her joy and enthusiasm contagious. I watched as she moved through the room, chatting with my friends, giggling at their jokes, and making everyone feel at home. She was an incredible hostess.

At one point, she caught me staring and winked, a mischievous grin on her face. I had to resist the urge to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless right then and there. Instead, I made my way over to her, capturing her hand and pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “You’ve outdone yourself,” I murmured.

Kaira’s eyes sparkled with delight. “I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. I wanted this to be special for you.”

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “It is. More than you know.”

She beamed up at me, and in that moment, I knew I was truly, irrevocably lost to her. This woman had worked her way past every single one of my defenses.

As the night wore on, the guests trickled out one by one, until it was just the two of us left in the solarium. The space was quieter now, the twinkle lights looking much brighter in the empty room.

She walked toward me, her emerald dress catching the light, a small smile playing on her lips.

“Dance with me?” she asked, holding out her hand.

I took it without hesitation, pulling her close as a slow acoustic ballad played softly in the background. We swayed together, her head resting against my chest, her warmth sinking into me.

“This has been the best birthday I can remember,” I said quietly, my voice thick with emotion. “Thank you.”

She tilted her head up to look at me. “You deserve it, Roman. You deserve all of this.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I kissed her instead, letting the gratitude I couldn’t put into words pour into the kiss.

When we pulled back, she smiled. “I have one more surprise.”

I arched a brow, intrigued. “More? You’ve already surprised the hell out of me.”

She took my hand, her excitement palpable as she led me toward the far corner of the solarium.

“What is it?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

She grinned as she revealed a silver dome like the kind used to serve our meals. She revealed a small cake with the words Happy Birthday, Roman written in elegant icing. But that wasn’t what caught my attention. Sitting next to the cake was a framed photograph—one I hadn’t seen in years. It was of my parents, taken on one of their anniversaries.

“How did you…” My voice faltered as I stared at the picture.

“Marilyn,” she said softly. “I thought it might mean something to you.”

Emotion swelled in my chest as I reached for the frame, my fingers brushing over the glass. “It does. It means everything.”