Page 27 of Billionaire Bad Boy Auction

Alexis shook her head, still grinning. “You were always so determined, though. Even with a needle stuck in your finger, you finished that pillowcase.”

“Yeah,” I said, rolling my eyes. “And it looked like Frankenstein’s monster stitched it together.”

We both laughed before Alexis’s smile faded.

“You know, Portia, you’ve always been the kind of person who makes things happen. Even when it’s messy or hard. You’ll figure this out too.”

“Thanks, Alexis. I needed that reminder.”

She waved me off with a smile. “Now go enjoy the lake before I change my mind and make you sort through my fabric scraps.”

“Deal,” I said, grabbing my sunglasses and heading toward the door.

I stepped out of the shop, the sun warm on my face. The lake was calling. I was being negative. I understood that. I was lucky enough to have grown up in this place that so many paid a lot of money to visit. Yes, I could dwell on all the negatives about why I was here, or I could shift my way of thinking and appreciate everything the town had to offer. Like the lake.

I could use a little color. Manhattan didn’t offer a lot of opportunities to sunbathe. Between the clouds, smog, and the constant shade from the tall buildings, I didn’t get a lot of time in the sun.

I went back to the rental and dug out one of my bikinis. The dock was private, part of the property I was renting from. I may as well enjoy the perks the property offered.

I found a bikini and hoped it fit. I hadn’t worn it in at least a year. I put it on, pulled on the cover-up, and made myself an iced drink to take down to the dock.

It was a Thursday afternoon, which meant it wouldn’t be as crowded as the weekends when tourists and families descended en masse.

The dock was quiet, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against the wooden planks. I spread out my towel, setting my drink down beside me, and leaned back, letting the sun soak into my skin. For the first time in weeks, I felt a sense of calm. The tension in my shoulders began to melt away. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth envelop me.

Okay, maybe I should have done this when I first showed up in town. It was making me hate it a lot less.

The sun was warm, the drink was cold, and for a moment, I let myself forget about the mess I’d left in New York. The weight of my failures, the sting of rejection—it all felt a little more distant out here. Maybe Alexis was right. Maybe I needed to stop fighting so hard and just breathe for a while.

But of course, my peace didn’t last long.

I heard the low rumble of an engine before I saw it—a sleek black motorcycle pulling into the driveway of the property next door. My stomach dropped as Dean Jackson swung his leg off the bike. He pulled off his helmet, his sharp blue eyes scanning the area before they landed on me. For a split second, he looked as surprised to see me as I was to see him. Then his expression hardened, and he gave me a curt nod before turning away.

I frowned as I watched him disappear into the house. Did he know the owner? Weird. That explained why he showed up the other day when the screen door was giving me trouble.

Whatever.

I considered packing up and heading back inside, but that felt too much like letting him win. I wasn’t going to let Dean Jackson ruin my perfectly good afternoon.