Page 75 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Stalker

My eyes widened, and I looked around. “Madeline,” I hissed. “You can’t talk like that here.” And I didn’t enjoy thinking of all the women he’d been with before me. I knew neither of us were virgins by a long shot, but I didn’t like to think of Jack being a player.

She waved a hand at my concern. “Honey, no one’s listening to us. They might be looking at us, but they’re not listening.”

I looked around, realizing she was right. Therestaurant was full of businessmen, almost all of whom were having difficulty keeping their eyes off of us.

I nodded. “Well, looks like you’re right.”

“Yep. Do you know what you want?” she asked as our waitress arrived.

After we’d both ordered, Madeline laid out a plan for me. She told me exactly what we’d be buying, and I just gave her a thumbs up.

She frowned. “You always look nice. Not trashy or anything like Nadine did when she first came to West Bay…”

“Madeline!” I was aghast at her talking about our friend that way.

She shrugged. “She’d be the first to say it,” she said.

She wasn’t wrong. Nadine was a very honest person, and, well, shehadlooked a bit skanky when she’d first come to town. Beautiful, but skanky. I knew Madeline had worked long and hard to get her up to Carmen’s standards. And now, as the mayor’s wife, she was the first lady of West Bay.

“I just don’t like to shop,” I said calmly, bringing my glass of water to my mouth for a sip.

Madeline’s fork clanked to her plate, making a loud sound in the restaurant. “What the hell? Who doesn’t like to shop?”

I raised my hand and kind of waved it at her. “This girl right here. I like to wear nice things, don’t get me wrong. I just hate going from shop to shop, trying everything on, and all of that. It’s a hassle. If I was rich, the first thing I’d do would be hire a personal shopper.”

“Really?” her tone was doubtful.

“Well, maybe not thefirstthing I’d do…”

We both laughed and enjoyed the rest of our lunch. Afterwards, she took me to a boutique where I was fitted and sized. The owner took down all of my measurements and put a pencil behind her ear. “Let me grab a few things we have in stock now that I think we could get ready in the next couple of days.”

While she walked to the back, I got nervous. “What if you don’t end up buying everything from her?” I whispered.

Madeline grinned. “I won’t. But I’ll bring it all back here for her to alter. She’s the best in town. Now,” she looked at her watch. “Do you want to trust all of this to me, or do you want to stick around and go to a few more shops?”

I made a face. “Honestly? I’d love to just go home. I completely trust you, Madeline.”

“Okay, well hang out for a couple of minutes, because you need at least one day dress, one evening gown, and one cocktail dress to take home with you today.”

“Why?”

“Because Jack has plans for you soon.”

My heartbeat quickened, and I thought if there was anything that would make me want to stick around and grit my teeth through even more measurements than I’d already put up with, it was the thought that I’d be spending time with Jack soon.

Just the two of us. On a date.

***

Date in Savannah—See Myers and Hannah (set up Myers as potential stalker)

Daisy

Jack kept casting glances my way, and I was working hard not to do the same. He was so handsome, so gorgeous, so… out of my league. I couldn’t believe I was actually with him. When I’d dated Myers and been in a sorority, I’d felt like I was living in disguise. It was like I’d just been waiting for them all to find out I wasn’t rich like they were. I was just trying to pretend to be. I hadn’t grown up in a mansion, or even a nice, middle-class home, or attended a fancy private school.

No, I grew up in an apartment over a flower shop in small-town Georgia. It was a nice, large apartment, but it still wouldn’t have been featured inanyhome and garden magazine by a long stretch. We wouldn’t have even been picked for the Crosston Tour of Homes at Christmas. The girls in my sorority? Some of them lived in homes that had been featured in movies. It had been sointimidating.

I’d been the prettiest girl at my high school, but my high school was small. It had taken me all of five seconds to realize pretty girls were a dime a dozen on West Bay University’s campus. But I must’ve still stood out in some ways.