Three of my firefighter buddies, Donovan, Waldon, and Aiden, got bid on. And let’s just say they didn’t get nearly as lucky as I did with you.”
“I don’t see how anybody could get as lucky as we did. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime things.”
“I’m glad you see it now, too,” he says with a wink and a grin.
“So, what happened to your friends?”
He furrows his brows, looking so sexy I expect the couch to ignite beneath us. “All I know is Donovan woke up in Vegas with a ring on his finger.”
I gasp. “Are you serious?”
“And Waldon got bid on and won by his lifelong enemy, his best friend’s little sister. I can only imagine howthatwent.”
I shake my head, desperate for juicy details. “But why would she bid on him if she hates him?”
“That’s the million-dollar question … along with how they both survived the evening.”
“Wow.”
“And Aiden got roped into some kind of fake relationship deal. I tried to get them to spill the beans on our last shift, butthey were surprisingly reticent.” He shakes his head, chuckling. “I promise to get to the bottom of it, though.” He winks.
“I doubt they raised as much money as you did.”
“Not by a long shot, but Gran had a lot to do with that.”
“Thankfully, or you would have ended up in the clutches of red shirt.”
He shivers. “No offense, but there was only one woman in that room who I wanted bidding on me. I was literally praying for it under my breath.”
“Seriously?”
“You have no idea.”
“Did Kurt mention whether the evening proved a success or not?” In all that’s transpired in the past week, I haven’t even texted Roxy.
“Sure did. The auction was wildly successful, raising three times the original goal. They want to do it again as an annual event. And of course, they want me to participate each year …” He eyes me curiously as I dissolve into feral jealousy.
“No way.”
“What do you mean, ‘no way?’” he teases as I cross my arms over my chest, simmering.
“No way. Never.”
“Wait, do I detect a hint of jealousy?” he asks, satisfaction flooding his face.
“You detect me ready to murder any woman who even thinks about getting near you.”
He chuckles. “Don’t worry. I already told them I’m off the market. But we still have to make it official.” He grabs my hand, fingering my empty left ring finger.
“When you know what you want, you go for it. No hesitation.”
“Guilty as charged.”
I grab his hand, leaning forward to cover the tips of his fingers in kisses. “Good because that’s one of the many things I love about you.”
“Tell me the rest,” he invites darkly.
“You’re caring and generous, big-hearted and kind, and you always put others before yourself. You don’t have some crazy ego like most Hollywood stars, and you’re strong and steady, courageous and heroic. But most importantly, you’re the kind of man who never leaves and always comes back.”
