Page 40 of Billionaire Bad Boy Auction

PORTIA

I knew coming to the festival meant stepping back into the spotlight. But now, standing in the middle of it, drink in hand, sun setting over the lake, I didn’t care. It wasn’t so bad. Yes, people were watching me, but whatever. Most of them were too polite to actually say anything. Sure, there were looks and whispers, but I just accepted it at this point. Eventually, they would get bored. Someone would get knocked up or cheat on their wife and I would be old news.

Alexis nudged me with an elbow. “You’re actually enjoying yourself. Who knew?”

I smirked, taking a sip of my drink. “Shocking, I know.”

And I was. For the first time in weeks, I felt like my old self. I didn’t feel like the same loser that dragged her ass back into town. I was here and I was going to deal with it.

I spent time catching up with people, dodging nosy questions, and reminding myself that I wasn’t some outsider here. This was my town, my home, and these were my people. Everyone here had their own bullshit. They all had secrets and problems. Mine was just splashed all over the front page.

My parents were over the moon that I was back, proudly showing me off to their friends. “Our Portia is home,” my dad said, his arm around my shoulders as he introduced me to a couple I hadn’t seen in years.

“It’s so good to have you back,” my mom added, her eyes shining.

I smiled, but it felt tight. I wished I was here visiting. I wanted my parents to be able to brag about my accomplishments in New York, but that wasn’t the case.

“So, what’s next for you, Portia?” one of my parents’ friends asked, her tone overly bright.

“Oh, you know,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just figuring things out.”

It was the same answer I gave everyone, and it was starting to wear thin. But I didn’t have a better one.

I pasted on a smile and sipped my drink as I nodded along to yet another conversation I’d rather not be having. Mrs. Levin, one of my mother’s bridge club friends, was peppering me with questions she probably thought were polite but felt more like an interrogation.

“So, Portia, dear,” she began, her voice dripping with false cheer. “Are you planning to stay in town for good now? Or is this just a little break?”

I forced a laugh that sounded hollow even to my own ears. “Oh, you know how it is. Life takes unexpected turns sometimes. I’m just taking it one day at a time.”

She tilted her head, her painted-on smile never wavering. “Well, it’s so nice to have you back. I’m sure you’ll find your footing here. Larkspur Lake has a way of bringing people back to their roots.”

“Right,” I said, gripping my drink tighter. “Roots.”

She patted my arm like she’d just delivered some profound wisdom. “And don’t you worry about that article in the paper. People around here have short memories. They’ll move on to the next juicy story soon enough. “

“I certainly hope so,” I muttered.

“Let’s get a fresh drink,” Alexis said, pulling me away from the group.

“Thank you,” I whispered once we were on our way to the beer garden.

“You’re welcome. They mean well.”

“Do they?” I asked. “I think some of them just like knowing I’m not doing as well as they thought.”

Alexis laughed. “Well, you always were the golden girl. They’re probably shocked you don’t have it all figured out already.”

I rolled my eyes but smiled despite myself. “Shocking, right?”

We ordered spiked iced drinks at the bar. The crowd buzzed around us, familiar voices overlapping into a pleasant hum. It wasn’t New York, but it wasn’t bad.

The cold drink felt good. Despite the sun finally going down, it was still warm and humid. I would have loved to strip off the dress and dive into the lake. But a scandal was probably a bad idea given my current status in town.

As I moved through the crowd, I couldn’t help but feel Dean nearby, even when I wasn’t looking at him. It was like a magnetic pull, something I couldn’t ignore. It was crazy that I had a sixth sense when it came to him. We weren’t even together—had never been together—but there was just something about him I couldn’t resist. When I finally did glance over, I caught him watching me. There was something in his gaze that made it feel like he was touching me. I could practically feel his tongue sliding over my throat.

“Go,” Alexis murmured, nudging me again. “Have fun. Pretend like you don’t care what anyone thinks.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.