Page 97 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Stalker

She looked tempted, but also doubtful. It wasn’t a look I’d seen on her often. Nia wasn’t the type who had to ask guys out. They came to her.

But I had a feeling Byron would take some convincing, no matter how attractive he thought she was.

She changed the subject. “I think this is working.” She nodded her head at him. Then she gave me a kind of mad look. “I still can’t believe you were trying to hide this from me.”

I sighed, laying back on the quilt and looking up at the clouds. “I was trying to protect you. I didn’t want you anywhere near the stalker, and I thought you might try to move in with me or something. We’ve been over this.”

“I know. It’s just… unnerving that something that serious was going on with you and you hid it from me.”

“You haven’t hurried to tell me why you want to work at Sugar,” I clapped back.

My phone buzzed. I rolled over to check it. I’d been expecting a call from Madeline, who was going to take me for a dress fitting. Jack was having a party at Salazar Nights in a couple of days to announce progress onCaveSphere 4. He had these parties every now and then. He said his sister thought it was important to keep people connected and excited about the sequel. I’d had to hurry and shop for an appropriate gown for the event.

Jack’s last date to one of these ‘hype’ parties as Laura called them, was a famous model. That was a hard act to follow, so I wanted to look my best. Madeline had found me a slinky, floor-length beaded gown with an almost inappropriately low neckline and super high leg slit. It was a peacock gown, with several shades of blue, purple, and green fading into each other. It was the prettiest dress I’d ever tried on, and I couldn’t wait to wear it to the party.

I picked up the phone, expecting to see Madeline’s name, but UNKNOWN flashed across the screen instead. The text was simple andto the point:

Unknown:They can’t stop me.

“Fuck,” I whispered, but Nia heard me. She must’ve flagged Byron over, because before I knew it, he was beside me.

“What does it say?” he asked, crouching down next to me.

I held it out to him.

He took it, standing tall and looking around. “I bet he’s watching now. Time to pack up ladies,” he said, the casual fun of the day over.

I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’d been lulled into a false sense of security, thinking my stalker had taken one look at Byron and turned his attentions elsewhere.

But that hadn’t been the case at all.

I packed everything up hurriedly, and Byron ushered me, Jelly, and Nia into his car. He stayed on the phone for most of the short drive back to Cinnamon House. We heard him update the mayor and the sheriff.

He pulled up in front of the house. “Jelly, Nia, why don’t y’all go on inside. I’ll take Daisy to her dress fitting and then back to her condo. Nia, I know you don’t live here…”

“I’ll take her home. Don’t worry,” Jelly assured him.

He nodded. “Good. Neither of you need to walk or ride your bikes anywhere by yourself for a while. This guy knows who you are. He’s seen you with Daisy, and we don’t want him snatching either of you in order to get her to come to him.”

I winced. This was the exact thing I’d been trying to keep from happening.

“Bye, y’all.” I gave them a half wave, horrified to have brought a stalker into my friend’s lives.

They waved back, worried looks on their faces as they watched me leave.

“It’s not your fault,” Byron said kindly. “And you don’t need to worry; we’re going to get this guy.”

I smiled at him, but I could feel that it was wobbly.

What if they didn’t catch him? What if he caught me first? Or worse, one of my friends?

I couldn’t stay in West Bay with Jack. That was just a dream.Besides, he hadn’t even asked me to. Not really. I had to wake up to reality.

And if I didn’t want to endanger my friends, that reality wasn’t going to be in West Bay.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Jack