Page 105 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Surgeon

I nodded, and rolled my lips inward, trying not to cry. “Th… thank you.” I managed to get out.

“I had to fight a whole bunch of people to get to be the one to do it,” he said. “Carmen almost wrestled me to the ground until she found out I’d already booked the tent, the caterer, and half of everythingelse.”

I smiled.

“Everyone,” Carmen said, “let’s start packing all of this up for her.” Immediately everyone jumped to do as she asked because, well, she was Carmen.

It left me sitting in a chair, a huge box of scrubs beside me, a Tiffany’s bag in my lap, and Paolo watching me. He slowly walked down the back steps towards me. He pulled up a chair and sat in front of me. “Have you had a good day?” His gray eyes were locked on mine.

I nodded. “The best.”

He smiled. “I’m so glad. You deserved the very best. You look so beautiful. I miss you so much, Jell.”

I looked away, biting my lip. I missed him, too, obviously. But did I admit that? Should I admit that?

Screw it. I turned back to him. “I miss you, too.”

His eyes filled with hope. “You do?”

I nodded, and he smiled. We stared at each other for a long moment before he finally nodded to the package on my lap. “Aren’t you going to open it?”

“Okay.”

I opened the bag to find four boxes inside. I opened the first one, and it was a set of diamond solitaire earrings. Next came a delicate bracelet with two solitaire diamonds on it. Then came a diamond solitaire necklace. Finally, I opened a box that contained a stunning ring with a large aquamarine surrounded by circles of diamonds. I looked up at him, shocked. “Why did you get me these?”

He shrugged. “Because I wanted to. And I knew they’d look beautiful on you.” He stood up to come and put the necklace on me. “If I’m being honest, I also knew it wouldn’t be long until some wealthy doctor at the hospital falls head over heels in love with you and wants to give you these kinds of gifts. I wanted to be the one to give them to you.” He fastened the necklace at the back of my neck and bent down to kiss me there, too.

“That’s kind of…”

“Possessive? Neanderthal-y? I know. I just couldn’t help it.”

“I was going to say nice or sweet.”

“Oh. Well, those are better than what I said.” He moved to put his hands on my shoulders but I turned in my chair to look up at him.

“Youreally threw me this party?”

He nodded, never taking his eyes off mine. “A woman like you deserves to be celebrated. You’re amazing, and I wanted everyone, especially you, to know it. You deserved a party every year of your life, sweetheart. But from now on you’ll get them, whether I get to be the lucky bastard who throws them for you or not.”

I got tears in my eyes, and for someone who spent a lifetime never crying, things had definitely shifted over the past few months. “Thank you.” I reached out and grabbed his hand. “This has been one of the best days of my life.”

His eyes looked suspiciously glassy then, and he looked away. But he didn’t let go of my hand. “I’m so glad. That makes me happier than you’ll probably every know.”

We stared at each other for a moment, and then the spell was broken as everyone started leaving. I wiped my eyes quickly, gave him a quick kiss on his cheek, and turned to go thank everyone as they left.

Carmen and the girls had moved everything inside and were in the process of organizing it as I stood at the door and told everyone goodbye and gave them a bakery box with a piece of cake in it to go.

Finally, it was just my closest friends and Paolo left in the house. “Could I see you outside, Jelly?” he asked me.

I nodded, casting a glance over my shoulder. I wasn’t surprised to see all the women’s eyes locked on me and Paolo.

“Sure,” I said. I felt his hand at the small of my back as he carefully ushered me onto the front porch. We sat on the front porch swing. It was that weird part of late spring where it was hot as hell during the day, but sometimes breezy and slightly chilly at night.

“Are you cold?”

“Not really.”

“You’re lying. Hold on. I’ll be right back.”