Page 11 of Auctioned to the Billionaire

We share a smile, and then she’s out the door, and I’m left alone with my thoughts.

I glance at myself in the mirror one last time, smoothing down the front of my dress. It’s black and fitted, hugging my curves in a way that feels daring but not over the top. My blonde hair falls in loose waves over my shoulders, and I’ve kept my makeup soft, just enough to highlight my pale green eyes and full lips.

When I hear the low rumble of his car pulling into the driveway, my stomach flips. Taking a deep breath, I grab my coat and oversized purse and head for the door. I may have also packed a change of clothes in my bag, in case things go well tonight. I just want to be prepared for anything.

Hugh is waiting when I step outside, leaning casually against the sleek black car parked at the curb. The sight of him steals my breath—his broad shoulders filling out a tailored navy suit, hisdark blue eyes bright against the backdrop of the fading evening light.

“Letty,” he says, his voice warm and deep as he straightens and steps toward me. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I reply, my cheeks heating under his gaze. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”

He smiles, holding the car door open for me. “Shall we?”

I nod, slipping into the passenger seat. The interior of the car smells like leather and something distinctlyHugh—a mix of cedar and clean, crisp air.

As he slides into the driver’s seat and starts the engine, I glance at him, my nerves bubbling to the surface. “So, where are we going?”

“There’s a steakhouse in town,” he says, glancing at me with a small smile. “I thought it might be a good place to start.”

“Sounds perfect,” I reply, my voice softer than I intended.

The drive to the restaurant is quiet at first, the kind of silence that feels charged rather than awkward. I steal glances at him as he drives, admiring the sharp angles of his jaw and the way his hands grip the steering wheel with quiet confidence.

“So,” I say finally, needing to break the silence, “is this the part where we pretend we don’t already know each other?”

He chuckles, the sound low and rich. “I think it’s safe to say we know each other pretty well by now. Or at least, I thought I did.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you surprised me,” he says, his tone thoughtful. “I never expected to see you at that auction.”

I shift in my seat, heat creeping up my neck. “Yeah, well… desperate times, desperate measures.”

He glances at me, his expression softening. “You don’t have to explain. I just— Letty, if you ever need help, you can come to me. You know that, right?”

“I do now,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

The restaurant comes into view before I can say anything else, its warm lights glowing against the backdrop of Wolf Valley’s snowy streets. Hugh parks the car and comes around to open my door, offering his hand as I step out.

The gesture is simple, but the way his fingers curl around mine sends a shiver down my spine.

The hostess greets us with a smile and leads us to a cozy booth near the fireplace. The warm, rustic decor of the steakhouse is a perfect contrast to the cold, snowy night outside.

“This is nice,” I say as we settle into our seats.

Hugh nods, his gaze lingering on me. “I’m glad you think so.”

A waiter appears, taking our drink orders—red wine for me, whiskey for Hugh—and leaving us with menus.

I study mine with far more focus than necessary, aware of Hugh’s eyes on me.

“Letty,” he says after a moment, his voice pulling my attention away from the menu.

“Yeah?”

“Are you nervous?”

I blink, caught off guard by the question. “What makes you say that?”

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