Sunrise Kisses (The Kisses 8)

“Aw, honey, that man obviously cares a great deal about you,” Dad cooed, as if reading my mind. “This would have taken some time to set up. There's a lot of names on this list that aren't easy to get private access too. He pulled some serious strings.”

“But why?”

Dad hugged me tighter. “If I had to guess, between this, the not-so-secret looks the two of you were passing back and forth before I left, and that the two of you spent a week alone in his mansion, I think he loves you.”

I had been hoping Dad hadn't caught on that much, but I was a grown woman. I hiccuped and wiped my nose. “But Dad, he's a billionaire. What do I have that a billionaire would want?”

He hugged me tighter. “Everything.

“What?” I sniffled.

“Everything.” Dad smiled at me, his green eyes full of love. “You are smart and beautiful. Even as a billionaire, he's still just a man. A man who obviously wants you to be happy.”

I looked at the letter. Bastian had gone above and beyond, giving me my heart's desire. And without asking for anything in return. Even far away, he was still making my world better.

“But...” My heart was thrilling and weeping at the same time. Bastian cared for me, but it wasn't asking me to be with him. He was still giving me what I had asked for, but giving me my dreams at the same time. It was a pure act of giving and expecting nothing in return. The only reason to send this letter was to make me happy. Even if I wasn't with him.

“Do you love him?” Dad asked, putting his hands on my shoulders and studying my face.

“I...” I closed my eyes and thought for a moment. The past few days had passed in a gray haze of unhappiness. Just thinking about him made color come back to my world. I nodded.

“I thought so,” Dad said quietly. He smiled. “I thought he might be the reason.”

“The reason?” I asked. “What do you mean?”

“The reason you've been a different person the past few days. You sounded so happy out on the island, happier than I've ever heard you, but you've just been fading since you came home.” He hugged me close. “A father can tell.”

“What do I do?” I whimpered. I wiped my eyes with my shirt sleeve and looked at Dad. “He doesn't exactly live just down the street. I can't just waltz on to the island and up to his house to tell him how I feel.”

“Why not?” Dad asked. “Go to the island and tell him you love him.”

“The auction is by invite only, and I made sure to get myself uninvited. I basically told him I never wanted to see him again.” I hung my head in shame. Without a ticket, I would be lucky to get past the security guards at the airport, let alone the ones at the mansion. I had a feeling Bastian would have far more security than just Elijah working for an event as big as this one.

“We'll come up with something,” Dad promised. “I want to see you happy. If I have to sell my car to buy you an invite, then I'll walk to the grocery store.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” I whispered. He hugged me closer.

“Carl,” Jackie said, biting her lip and looking at the two of us. “You don't have to buy your way onto the island.”

“What do you mean?” Dad asked, his brows coming together.

“The tickets.” Jackie motioned to the table and grinned. Dad's mouth opened as he realized what she was talking about and then split into a ear-to-ear grin. He jumped up from the floor and kissed her, full on the lips.

“You are a wonderful woman!” he exclaimed, kissing her again. Jackie blushed a deep shade of crimson, but she grinned.

Dad went to the kitchen table and dug through the pile of mail, murmuring to himself until he found what he was looking for. He handed it to me triumphantly before going to stand next to Jackie.

“Jenny always gives me a ticket to the events I've appraised,” he explained as I opened the small white envelope with my aunt's neat handwriting and pulled out the golden invitation. He squeezed Jackie's hand and grinned. “That's how you get into the auction.”

“But what about you?” I asked, looking up. “I just got here....”

“I'll be fine. Besides, I have a new ticker.” He tapped twice on his chest and then winced at the soreness from the incision. “And I have this lovely lady to look out for me. You go.”

I opened my mouth, feeling like I should protest, even if it was halfhearted.

“I've got him, Ava,” Jackie promised. “I'll give you hourly updates if you want and I promise to make him eat his vegetables.”

“Just daily updates