The-Spanish-Love-Deception-www.indianpdf

city. Spending some time there, volunteering and helping out or even taking a
few dogs for a walk.”
That was … sweet. Generous and kind and way more than I would have
ever expected from him, if my heart skipping a teeny-tiny beat and catching
me by surprise was any indication.
I looked down, realizing my fingers were playing with the cuff around my
wrist again. “That’s where you took last year’s bidder then?”
“Yes.” I could feel him silently asking me not to go there. Not to ask what
Angela had mentioned earlier.
“Oh,” I said distractedly. “Speaking of last year”—I had to ask—“what
happened during the auction?”
Aaron’s shoulders tensed, his face falling with resignation. “Not much.”
“Oh yeah?” I feigned surprise. “So, this fierce competition that Angela
was talking about, the one I should not be scared of, doesn’t ring any bell?”
I watched his lips twitch and then bend in a pout.
A pout. On Aaron’s lips.
“Like no bells whatsoever?” I pressed, getting acquainted with that
expression of his for the first time ever. “Really none?”
Aaron Blackford kept pouting, which in turn made me want to smile as
wide as I could go. Not that I would. I suppressed the urge.
“Oh, okay.” I shrugged. “I’m sure getting mobbed by overexcited bidders
is a common occurrence for you then, Blackford.” I teased him because how
could I not when he looked all … mortified and ready to come out of his
skin? Plus, he had teased me first anyway. “How did it happen exactly? Did
they fling themselves at you? Or was it perhaps something subtler? Like
hurling their money at your feet? Then their underwear?”
If this man had the ability to blush, I would have bet all my money on
those cheeks turning red any moment.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You are a big boy anyway.”
Aaron’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Yes, we have stated that.” He
moved one step closer. “I can fend for myself.”
“It didn’t sound like that.” My voice came out wobblier than I would
have liked.
Then, he took one more step, and something fluttered in my belly.
“Luckily”—he leaned closer, fixating his blue eyes on me—“you are here
tonight.”
The flutter intensified. Which did not make any sense. I should have been