Page 20 of Auctioned to the Titan

He frowns. “What’s mine is yours, Alice. You know that. And I’ll try and join you later, I promise. Just don’t clear out the bookstore before I get there.”

I giggle, already picturing myself sitting in a pile of novels beside a well-decorated Christmas tree with Damon helping me sort them out.

It’s a perfect picture. Too perfect.

“I’ll try to leave a few for the rest of the city.”

He leans down and kisses my lips before grabbing his coat. “Have fun, baby girl. I’ll see you in a bit.”

As I head out the door with his driver, I glance back at the penthouse. Damon’s home is like something out of a magazine—everything sleek and expensive. And even though it’s breathtaking to look at, it’s also a bit cold and impersonal.

What’s mine is yours.

I giggle as I think,He may come to regret that.

I’m giddy at the idea of adding my own touch to Damon’s house, and I slide into the back of the car, ready to get started.

Once we’re in the car, I feel a little thrill at the thought of shopping. Christmas is my favorite time of year, and as we drive down the busy streets, I can see that people are slowly getting into the holiday spirit.

Lights are strung up on buildings, snow lightly dusts the sidewalks, and I can even hear Christmas music playing from some of the more festive shops.

We pull up to the first shop, and I step out, already making a mental list of everything I need: ornaments, garlands, wreaths, and, of course, a few - or many - new novels. The bookstore is right next to the decor shop, so it’s a win-win.

I’m about to walk in when, out of the corner of my eye, I think I see a familiar face. Kirk.

I blink, my heart skipping a beat, but when I look again, he’s nowhere to be seen. I shake my head, brushing it off.It’s just nerves. You’re safe, I reassure myself.

Pushing all thoughts of Kirk out of my mind, I focus on the task at hand.

I step into the shop and browse through rows of shiny Christmas decorations, running my fingers over delicate ornaments and wreaths made of holly. The festive atmosphere helps ease my mind, and soon I’m lugging two big bags full of decorations back to the car.

But just as I’m about to head into the bookstore, I hear a voice. A voice I’m not sure I ever wanted to hear again.

“Alice.”

I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest. Slowly, I turn, and there he is—my father. His face is drawn and tired, and the perpetual sadness in his eyes is even more pronounced.

I swallow hard, the memory of his betrayal rushing back.

“Dad?”

“My baby girl.”

The sound of the name from his lips makes me physically recoil and step back. It feels so wrong to hear him call me that.

“Don’t call me that. Call me Alice.”

He looks slightly hurt, but it doesn’t matter to me.

“Alice, I- “

“What are you doing here? How…how did you find me?”

“I…I didn’t.” He looks around like he can’t bring himself to look me in the eye after selling me off.

“I figured you’d either be in a bookstore or doing some Christmas shopping. This place has both and that’s why I came here, hoping to run into you.”

I narrow my eyes.

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