Page 112 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Stalker

The sheriff’s face turned bright red. He looked pissed, but he managed a smile. “I guess you’re right, Enzo. That does seem far-fetched. I suppose unbelievable things happen every day.”

“Then we’re agreed, Sheriff Richards?” Carmen asked. “The only person who has done anything wrong is Ivan, Ms. Tiller’s stalker.”

“Correct.” The sheriff clenched his jaw and shot me a quicklook before turning back to Daisy.

I glanced quickly at Enzo. He had a slight smirk on his face, and his eyes were on me. He gave me a subtle wink. “We’ll talk soon, Jack,” he whispered.

I suddenly felt like I’d made a deal with the Devil. I swallowed hard, but I nodded.

Daisy looked tired. “Why did he take me? What was he going to do?”

We all exchanged glances. “He planned to take you out of the country,” Sheriff Richards said gently. “He had suitcases packed, plane tickets purchased, disguises for the two of you… it was well planned out. Thank goodness he went back to work to collect his last paycheck, or he might have succeeded.”

“I would have gone to the ends of the Earth to find you, Daisy,” I spoke up, furious the sheriff was telling her the truth. Daisy seemed too weak, too frail, to hear about Ivan’s disgusting plan.

Carmen gave me a look. “Dial the drama back a bit, huh, Jack? She’s exhausted.”

Daisy gave Carmen a quick smile. “Whatever his plan was, I’m just thrilled it didn’t work out. I… I need to know Ivan’s behind bars.” She turned her big green eyes on the sheriff.

The sheriff looked contrite. “Of course you do, sweetheart. He is most definitely behind bars. He can never hurt you again. I promise.”

She nodded, her eyes fluttering closed.

“I think we should all go,” I said, and started to follow the others out of the room.

“Jack, wait.” Daisy’s voice stopped me, and I turned around. “I want you to stay with me.”

“You do?”

She nodded and gestured to the chair by her bed.

I hurried over and sat down beside her. I barely noticed when the others left and closed the door.

I reached over to hold her hand, but she pulled it away. My eyes darted to hers, andmy heart sank.

“Why?” she asked in her croaky voice. The doctors had assured us it would go back to normal with a few days of rest.

I wasn’t going to pretend as if I didn’t know what she was talking about. I hung my head. “I’m not sure. I… became obsessed with you after that whole soup collision in the elevator. I knew it was wrong. I just didn’t seem to be able to stop myself.”

She studied my face. “That day you dropped me off at Cinnamon House and you said you lived in Estates at South, too. You didn’t, did you?”

“No. Not then.” I wiped my hands on my jeans. They were starting to sweat. She was about to dump me. “But I bought one soon after that.”

“And when you crossed paths with me while jogging?”

I shook my head. “I knew your exercise route. I think you know I prefer jogging on a treadmill.”

“Why wouldn’t you just… I don’t know. Try harder to talk to me about everything? Before the auction?”

I blew out a sigh. “I tried, remember? But after you saw me that night at Bahia Del Sol and then overheard my family… well, it didn’t go well. I’m not trying to blame you for anything, because you did nothing wrong, but you didn’t want to listen to me.” It sounded lame even to me, and I wasn’t surprised when she gave me a look.

“It’s just so hard to believe you couldn’t have expressed yourself better. You’re supposed to be so good with women…”

I laughed without mirth and ran a hand over my jaw. “Only kind of good.”

“You’re going to have to explain yourself better than that, Jack.” Her voice was firm, and the look on her face was serious. “You’re a world-famous, handsome billionaire. You designed one of the best-selling video games of all time. You’re brilliant. You’ve dated famous women and half the beautiful, rich women in West Bay.” She leaned forward a little. “And you’re telling me you couldn’t figure out a way around the deli delivery girl’s defenses?” She shook her head. “I don’t buy it.”

“I never had to ask anyone out,” I blurted. She cocked an eyebrow doubtfully. “Seriously. The heiresses and debutantes from West Bay either asked me out, or someone fixed us up. The famous women? Their PR reps called my sister and set it up, or I had her call their people. I didn’t have to do anything but show up and take them out.”