\u201cYou\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0so\u00a0bad\u00a0either,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0a\u00a0smile\u00a0spreading\u00a0across\u00a0my\u00a0face\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0took\u00a0him\u00a0in.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0grinned\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0our\u00a0bodies\u00a0only\u00a0inches\u00a0from\u00a0one\u00a0another\u00a0now.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave\u00a0fun,\u00a0you\u00a0two,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0wink.<\/p>\n
Gavin\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0never\u00a0left\u00a0mine\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0took\u00a0hold\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0ready\u00a0to\u00a0go?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
With\u00a0that,\u00a0we\u00a0left\u00a0for\u00a0the auction.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0auction\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0over\u00a0an\u00a0hour\u00a0away\u00a0in neutral\u00a0territory.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0held at\u00a0a\u00a0large and\u00a0gorgeous\u00a0museum.\u00a0White\u00a0pillars\u00a0stood\u00a0tall\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0archway entrance,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0bouncers\u00a0standing\u00a0outside\u00a0the\u00a0door,\u00a0checking\u00a0in\u00a0guests.\u00a0Those\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0wore\u00a0elegant\u00a0gowns\u00a0and\u00a0tailored\u00a0suits,\u00a0and\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0too\u00a0wore\u00a0an\u00a0elegant\u00a0gown,\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0self\u2013conscious,\u00a0like\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0belong\u00a0here.<\/p>\n
Feeling\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0hand\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0small\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0back\u00a0sent\u00a0an\u00a0unexpected\u00a0warmth\u00a0throughout\u00a0my\u00a0body,\u00a0making\u00a0my\u00a0cheeks\u00a0flush\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0him.\u00a0He\u00a0smiled\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0shining\u00a0with\u00a0love\u00a0and\u00a0admiration,\u00a0and\u00a0suddenly\u00a0I\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0felt\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0place.\u00a0I\u00a0was exactly\u00a0where\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0meant\u00a0to\u00a0be\u2026\u00a0by\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0side.<\/p>\n
We\u00a0walked\u00a0sideways\u00a0upside\u00a0up\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0entrance\u00a0where\u00a0the\u00a0bouncers\u00a0stood.\u00a0One\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin\u00a0and\u00a0they\u00a0both\u00a0bowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood\u00a0evening,\u00a0Alpha,\u201d\u00a0one of\u00a0them\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0may\u00a0enter.\u00a0Enjoy\u00a0the\u00a0auction.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0guest\u00a0list\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0that\u00a0Gavin\u00a0was\u00a0on\u00a0it.\u00a0Gavin\u00a0nodded\u00a0and\u00a0guided\u00a0me\u00a0past them\u00a0and\u00a0into\u00a0the<\/p>\n
museum.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0much\u00a0about\u00a0art,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0pieces\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0museum\u00a0looked\u00a0expensive\u00a0and\u00a0important.\u00a0The watercolors\u00a0and\u00a0passion\u00a0thrown\u00a0into\u00a0each\u00a0piece\u00a0took\u00a0my\u00a0breath\u00a0away,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0seem\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0away.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0auction\u00a0is\u00a0this\u00a0way,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0told\u00a0me,\u00a0motioning\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0door\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0side\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0which\u00a0seemed\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0gathering\u00a0a\u00a0ton\u00a0of\u00a0people.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0walked\u00a0with\u00a0him\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0crowd,\u00a0ignoring\u00a0the\u00a0stares\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0onlookers.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sure\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0something\u00a0Gavin\u00a0was\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0at\u00a0this\u00a0point,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0it.\u00a0I\u00a0still\u00a0felt\u00a0uncomfortable\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0attention\u00a0even\u00a0after\u00a0winning\u00a0the\u00a0gamma\u00a0competition\u00a0and\u00a0being\u00a0globally\u00a0featured\u00a0in\u00a0every\u00a0news\u00a0story.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0auction\u00a0was\u00a0held\u00a0inside\u00a0what\u00a0looked\u00a0like\u00a0an\u00a0auditorium;\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0vast\u00a0space\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0ton\u00a0of\u00a0chairs,\u00a0and\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0stage\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0podium.\u00a0A\u00a0man\u00a0stood\u00a0tall\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0podium;\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0balding\u00a0on\u00a0top\u00a0but\u00a0had\u00a0gray\u00a0hair\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0sides\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0head.\u00a0Like\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0men,\u00a0he\u00a0wore\u00a0a\u00a0tailored\u00a0suit,\u00a0though\u00a0his\u00a0seemed\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0too\u00a0big\u00a0for\u00a0his\u00a0form.\u00a0His\u00a0pale\u00a0blue\u00a0eyes\u00a0scanned\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0expression\u00a0remained\u00a0emotionless,\u00a0which\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0an\u00a0uneasy\u00a0feeling\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0pit\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0stomach.<\/p>\n
There\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0whole\u00a0camera\u00a0crew\u00a0as\u00a0well\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0middle\u00a0of\u00a0setting\u00a0up\u00a0their\u00a0equipment.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0idea\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0televised,\u00a0and\u00a0suddenly\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0even\u00a0more\u00a0nervous\u00a0if\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0have\u00a0reserved\u00a0seats\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0front,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0told\u00a0me,\u00a0motioning\u00a0for\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0follow\u00a0him.\u00a0I\u00a0went\u00a0with\u00a0him\u00a0towards\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0the<\/p>\n
room,\u00a0keeping\u00a0my\u00a0head\u00a0down\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0walked.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr.\u00a0Landry,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0auctioneer\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0shifting\u00a0to\u00a0Gavin.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0glad\u00a0you\u00a0could\u00a0join us\u00a0this\u00a0evening.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0something\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0miss,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0told\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cThere\u00a0is\u00a0something\u00a0important\u00a0that\u00a0is\u00a0being\u00a0auctioned\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0must\u00a0have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0see,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0auctioneer\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cWell,\u00a0may\u00a0the\u00a0best\u00a0win.\u00a0There\u00a0are\u00a0many\u00a0important\u00a0and\u00a0rich\u00a0guests\u00a0that\u00a0are\u00a0arriving\u00a0tonight\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sure\u00a0will\u00a0have\u00a0their\u00a0eye\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0prize.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0sure,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0tone\u00a0even\u00a0and\u00a0not\u00a0revealing\u00a0his\u00a0emotions.\u00a0I\u00a0admired\u00a0that\u00a0about\u00a0Gavin;\u00a0how\u00a0he could\u00a0mask\u00a0his<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter 708<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
emotions\u00a0without\u00a0effort.\u00a0I\u00a0wished\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0be\u00a0more\u00a0like\u00a0that,\u00a0bi\u00a0I\u00a0wore\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0sleeve.\u00a0\u201cBy\u00a0the\u00a0way,\u00a0Edward,\u00a0this\u00a0is\u00a0my\u00a0mate,\u00a0Judy\u00a0Montague.\u201d<\/p>\n
My\u00a0eyes\u00a0grew\u00a0large\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0candid\u00a0words.\u00a0I\u00a0stared\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0with\u00a0my\u00a0lips\u00a0parted;\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0realize\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0so open\u00a0about\u00a0our\u00a0relationship\u00a0with\u00a0outsiders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0aware\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0mated,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0auctioneer,\u00a0Edward,\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0shifting\u00a0to\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0lovely\u00a0to\u00a0meet\u00a0you,\u00a0Miss\u00a0Montague.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh\u2026\u00a0thank\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0replied,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0sound\u00a0proper,\u00a0but\u00a0failing\u00a0miserably.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0new,\u00a0but\u00a0soon\u00a0I\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0making\u00a0her my\u00a0Luna,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cA\u00a0Luna?\u201d\u00a0Another\u00a0voice\u00a0said\u00a0from\u00a0close\u00a0by,\u00a0making\u00a0my\u00a0body\u00a0freeze.\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0too,\u00a0seemed\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0tensed;\u00a0I\u00a0recognized\u00a0that\u00a0voice,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0one\u00a0I\u00a0thought\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0hear again.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0turned\u00a0my\u00a0body,\u00a0reluctantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0really\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0that\u00a0Judy\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0Luna\u00a0material\u2026\u00a0but\u00a0to\u00a0each\u00a0their\u00a0own,\u00a0I\u00a0suppose\u2026\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0continued,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0scanning\u00a0me\u00a0from\u00a0head\u00a0to\u00a0toe,\u00a0making\u00a0my\u00a0cheeks\u00a0burn.<\/p>\n
Gavin\u2019s\u00a0hold\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0waist\u00a0tightened,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0his\u00a0jaw\u00a0clenching.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are\u00a0you\u00a0doing\u00a0here,\u00a0Rebecca?\u00a0Or\u00a0should\u00a0I\u00a0say\u2026.\u00a0Lila?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 708 \u201cYou\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0so\u00a0bad\u00a0either,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0a\u00a0smile\u00a0spreading\u00a0across\u00a0my\u00a0face\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0took\u00a0him\u00a0in. He\u00a0grinned\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0our\u00a0bodies\u00a0only\u00a0inches\u00a0from\u00a0one\u00a0another\u00a0now. \u201cHave\u00a0fun,\u00a0you\u00a0two,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0wink. Gavin\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0never\u00a0left\u00a0mine\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0took\u00a0hold\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0hand. \u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0ready\u00a0to\u00a0go?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked. I\u00a0nodded. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21777"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21777\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}