Page 54 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Bodyguard

“I’m sorry. It just happened that way. But maybe you’ll realize now that you do want some things from life that you never thought you did. And I believe there’s a man out there waiting for you just like Jess and I were waiting for each other.”

She nodded, biting her lip. She gathered up the paperwork in front of her, looking through it carefully before putting it in an envelope to hand to me. “You don’t have any problem meeting her needs? She wants a townhouse for her mother, a house for herself, and so on. You can afford that?”

“Where did you get the idea I was poor?” I was confused. I’d gone to the same exclusive private school as her brothers. She’d met my family. She had to know we were well off.

“I knew you weren’tpoorby any means. I just didn’t know you were this level of wealthy.” She waved her hands over the contract.

I shrugged. “It’s true that my father built his business from the ground up after being an Army Ranger and then an FBI agent. But maybe you don’t know my mother was a Waverly before she got married?”

Carmen blinked. “The DC Waverlys or the Virginia Waverlys?”

“Yes,” I said with a smile. “It’s all the same family. My grandparents left me quite a bit of money.”

“So… wow. I didn’t know that. Does Reynolds know?”

I nodded. “But he’s the only other one besides your parents. So, please keep it under wraps.”

She chuckled. “I hate to tell you, but I think people are going to be asking you some questions after you dropped all that money for Jess.”

“Ah. You’re right. Oh, well. I’ll handle it.”

“I guess your mom’s parents didn’t think too much of her marrying your dad, huh?”

“It’s similar to your parents’ story. I think that’s why our families have always gotten along so well. Your parents do know my mom’s background, by the way. They always have. They’re just very good at keeping secrets.”

“That they are.” She stood up. “Okay. Well. I hope it all works out with you and Jess.”

“Thanks, Carmen.” I hugged her one last time before I picked up the contract. I pretended not to see the tears in her eyes. I knew she wouldn’t want me to acknowledge them. I hadn’t even known Carmen had a sensitive side until lately. I doubted she’d ever show it to me again.

“Oh,” she turned back to me. “I moved everything we got Jess down from Enzo’s to your condo. I just wanted you to know. It’s a lot of stuff since we didn’t know how much she’d be able to go out knowing Skeeter’s somewhere out there.”

“Let me know what I owe y’all.”

She waved her hand. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” She held up a hand then hurried off.

I never thought I’d see the day when Carmen Salazar walked away from me without it making me sad.

Instead? I couldn’t wait to get to Jess.

We had so much to talk about.

***

When I got to the condo, I found Jess sitting at the dining room table looking out over the bay. It was dark, so it was difficult to see much of the water. The boardwalk and city pier were brightly lit, though, so there was a lot to see along those areas and around the edges of the beach.

“Hey,” I said, as she turned to see me. She looked… so damn pretty. Like a princess. And suddenly, I didn’t know what to do with my hands. I felt awkward, strange, like a teenager again.

“Hey.” She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her eyes were distant, disconnected. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of Skeeter. Did she not feel safe with me? Had he hurt her physically and made her scared of men? She hadn’t seemed scared, but you never could tell.

“Jess,” I strode over to her and gathered her up in my arms for a tight hug, “I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

“I trust you to do that,” she said. “I really do.”

“Then why do you seem so distant? Did I do something wrong?” So much had happened over the last couple of days. From presenting the new plan to my father, to letting Carmen down, to winning Jess in the auction… it was so much. And I was exhausted.

“No. Not wrong.” She turned away from me. “Are you hungry? Carmen thought of everything. She had a ton of gourmet food delivered. There’s a huge gift basket full of fancy wine and champagne, chocolate truffles, fruits, and all sorts of things. There are really expensive meats and cheeses in the refrigerator.” She smiled at me. “They’re the kind I’ve only read about. There’s ibérico ham from Spain. I’ve never had the chance to eat things like that. Believe me, they don’t carry that at the Piggly Wiggly in Shitty Wilkins.”

“No,” I laughed, “I guess they wouldn’t. Iamhungry. Are you?”