Page 8 of Auctioned to Dr. Daddy

“You aren’t too hard on the eyes yourself,” she says.

“Oh,” I say, leaning closer to her. “Now that’s the kind of compliment that I’m always looking for. I can think of a few other things that I’m good at, outside of just being eye candy.”

“This I’ve got to hear,” says Demi, though she sounds a little bit like she can’t decide if I’m going to crack a lewd joke or not. Believe me, I’ve thought about it. There are a thousand and one jokes about surgeon’s fingers, and I know them all. This just doesn’t feel like the time or the place for them.

Instead, I lean forward, brushing my fingers over the curve of her cheek. “I’m great at finding better places to spend the night than standing around here in the main lobby,” I tell her softly.

“I’m up for anything,” Demi tells me, so I take her arm in my own and start making my way through the crowd, toward the far door.

It’s a little difficult. People keep wanting to stop and chat about things; I’m going to hear about it later, certainly, but I redirect them all toward where Tyler and Selma are standing.

Besides, there’s no sense in asking me about the hospital—I don’t actually work here.

I’m instantly relieved when we step out into the main hallway and there’s a bit more breathing space.

It’s not about the crowd. It’s just—I don’t want to get caught up by someone that knows me from a conference or work and wants to spend the whole night talking shop.

Especially not when I’ve got such a beautiful young woman on my arm.

The clack of her heels against the white tile is the only thing that I can hear. We pause briefly in the lobby, glancing around. No one else is there. Everyone has opted to stay where the champagne and the food are.

“How do you feel about stepping outside for a little bit?” I ask her, jerking my chin toward the door. “I thought that the fresh air might be good for both of us.”

Demi glances outside.

Late evening has fallen over the parking light, but the hotel keeps it lit up. The city might not be as big as Seattle, but that doesn’t mean that my parents haven’t picked the nicest venue possible for the charity auction to take place at.

After she thinks about it for a moment, Demi nods and smiles. “I’ll never say no to some fresh air.”

“That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear,” I tell her, guiding her over to the doors.

They slide open automatically when we step near them, letting in a burst of fresh air. “Come on, Demi. Let me show you the wonders… of the parking lot!”

Chapter Four

Demi

Thenightbringswithit cooler weather, but we're still in the middle of summer. Being outside doesn’t leave me that chilled.

“This way,” says Nathan, leading me down the length of the sidewalk and toward a large stretch of well-manicured grass on the far side of the building.

There’s a large statue sitting next to a rather ornate-looking bench, with a plaque about its benefactor sitting next to it. It’s too dark to make out the words written on the plaque, but let’s be real.

I’m not focused on the scenery.

“It’s no garden by the lake,” says Nathan, bidding me to sit down on the bench. “But I think that it’ll do for now, right?”

“It’ll do more than well,” I tell him, using one hand to tuck the skirt up under my thighs and sit down.

There’s just the faintest bit of dew on the seat beneath me, only just starting to form. The dampness is barely enough to be felt through the fabric.

“So,” Nathan asks, sitting down on the other side of the bench. It’s short enough that our legs are pressed together, knees and thighs both.

He puts a hand on my shoulder, and the touch sends heat racing through my skin. “What really made you want to come out to this thing?”

“I told you; I wanted to do something good for the hospital. You know, give back to my roots and that kind of thing. And you?”

“I mean, my parents—”

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