Page 35 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Stalker

I strode across the rooftop and went to the restroom where I stared at my reflection in the mirror and breathed deeply. I had to get myself under control. I couldn’t let the way I felt about Daisy be too obvious. She might think I was nuts, and I would scare her off. I had to play it cool, go slow.

I’d just never had to worry about this before. I mean, hell. I’m pretty sure Sala was offering to fuck me or blow me in the bathroom. That’s the type of night I was used to. But here I stood, more worried that someone was going tohurt Daisy’s feelings than interested in getting laid.

“Of all the sucky coincidences,” I said to myself in the mirror. “Why would I have to see Daisy when I was out on this stupid date Tallon made me go on?” I would just have to find her and explain the circumstances.

And hope she’d still go out with me.

I splashed some water on my face, took a few more deep breaths until I felt calm, and then exited the restroom.

And almost ran right into Daisy.

She was standing in the hallway outside the bathroom, staring at her phone, and looking upset.

“Daisy?”

She jumped and spun around at the sound of my voice.

“Sorry… I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay?” She didn’t look okay. Her eyes were wide, and she was breathing fast.

“Um… fine,” she whispered. “I’m fine.” She seemed to pull herself together, not wanting me to see how she was really feeling. “Can I help you, sir?”

I winced. “Don’t call me ‘sir’. I thought we were past that.”

She got a bemused look on her face. “It’s okay,” she said gently. “I know we’re not friends. You were really nice to me after I practically murdered you with hot soup. And you like hook-ups. That’s all you wanted from me. I get it.” Her face looked fine, but her eyes were sad. “I thought I would be okay with that. But,” she shrugged, “I guess not.”

Her words hit like a punch to the gut. That’s all she thought I was. Just some rich asshole who wanted to fuck her and then blow her off. But I wanted to be so much more, and she had zero clue as to how I felt about her.

“Please say you’ll still have dinner with me tomorrow night,” I blurted.

Her eyes widened. “I don’t think your girlfriend would appreciate that very much…”

“She’s not my girlfriend. I don’t have girlfriends.” The look on her face got worse. “I didn’t mean it like that, it’s just, I’venever wanted a girlfriend.”

Daisy laughed a little. “Sorry, it’s just you’re not really selling this.”

I grinned, relieved she hadn’t just hit me and walked away. “What I’m trying to say is that I don’t normally ask girls out, and I was really looking forward to hanging out with you tomorrow…”

“I’d be tomorrow’s sure thing, right? While you’re out with tonight’s hook-up?” she said. “Like I said, I get it. We would’ve had fun, but that’s all it would be for you.”

“That’s not true. That’s not all I was looking for. And I’d really like to go out with you. Give me a chance to prove I’m not playing you?”

She shook her head. “I can’t. I think you’re an amazing guy, but I swore off men like you after my last boyfriend.”

“Guys like me?”

“Players,” she said bluntly, but not unkindly. “Good-looking, rich, players. I’m not interested in that ever again.”

“I’m not even really on a date,” I protested.

She gave me a look.

“No, I’m serious.” I explained to her about Tallon, his date, and the whole fix-up thing.

By the time I was done, it seemed like she might be softening towards me.

“You said you’re not interested in players, and I get that.” I took a step towards her, and her eyes shot up to mine. “Whatareyou interested in?”

“Honestly? I’m just trying to get through college so I can go back home. That’s all. I’m not looking for a date or a boyfriend or anything like that right now. I was being ridiculous to even agree to that date in the first place.” She gave me a small smile. “Now I need to get to work. Have a nice night, Mr. Lancaster.”