Page 52 of Billionaire Bad Boy Auction

PORTIA

I was rattled after how the festival ended. The chaos, the fire, the way everything had spiraled out of control—it was too much. I spotted Dean in the crowd a couple of times, but I was also worried about my mom and dad.

I scanned the crowd, my heart racing as I pushed through the throng of people. The acrid smell of smoke still lingered in the air. The chaos from the fire had left everyone on edge. My parents had been near the food tents when everything happened, but I hadn’t seen them since. My stomach churned with worry as I called out, “Mom! Dad!”

Finally, I spotted them near the edge of the crowd, standing close to one of the big oak trees that lined the festival grounds. Relief flooded through me as I rushed over. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

My mom turned to me. “We’re fine, sweetheart. Just a little shaken up.” She reached out and squeezed my hand, her grip reassuring. “Where were you?”

“I was on the shore.”

Dad shook his head. “If that fire had spread any faster…” He trailed off, shaking his head.

I exhaled, my shoulders relaxing slightly. “Thank God you’re both okay. I was worried.”

“What about you?” Mom asked, her eyes searching mine. “You look like you’ve been through it.”

I shrugged, trying to brush off the lingering adrenaline. “I’m fine. Everything happened so fast. One minute we were watching the fireworks, and then…”

“I saw Dean with that little boy,” Mom said. “What a hero.”

“He was in the right place at the right time.”

“I think we’re going to go home,” Dad said. “Do you need a ride?”

“No, I’ll walk. I need to find Alexis.”

I hugged my parents goodbye, promising to call them later, and watched as they made their way toward the parking lot. The adrenaline of the night was wearing off for most. I turned back toward the festival grounds, my eyes scanning for Alexis. I found her near the stage, helping clean up what was left of the decorations.

“Hey,” I called out.

“There you are! How’s Dean?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him. I was just going to find him. My parents just left.”

“That was wild,” she said. “If Dean hadn’t—” She stopped herself, shaking her head. “Never mind.”

“I’m going to head home,” I said. “I’ll have the dress drycleaned and get it back to you. Thank you for letting me wear it.”

“Are you kidding?” She laughed. “You made that dress look good. Free advertisement.”

“I hope it works.” I smiled. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I started the walk back to the rental. The streets were quieter now, most of the festivalgoers either heading home or lingering in small groups, talking in hushed tones about what had happened. My mind kept replaying it—Dean pulling that boy from the dock, the way he’d moved without even thinking, like it was second nature to him. I hadn’t seen him since and assumed he was probably on the way to the hospital. There was no way he came out of that unscathed. I didn’t feel like it was my place to go to the hospital. I wasn’t family. I wasn’t anything.

My thoughts were spinning. I couldn’t tell if it was from the adrenaline crash or something else entirely. When I saw Dean surrounded by that fire, I swore my heart stopped beating. Everyone on the shore and up in the park that witnessed the scene had collectively held their breath. I thought for sure we were watching him die.

I shook it off. I didn’t want to go dark.

When I finally reached the house, I fumbled with the key for a moment before getting the door open. I kicked off my shoes and headed straight for the bedroom. I quickly took off the dress and hung it carefully on the back of the closet door. It really was beautiful—Alexis had outdone herself—but right then, all I wanted was to be out of it. I pulled on an old T-shirt and a pair of shorts, feeling some of the tension ease from my shoulders.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the dress. The night had started with so much promise. Things had been so good between me and Dean. I thought we had really crossed into new territory.

And then the fireworks.

I couldn’t stop seeing the visual of Dean rushing selflessly out to the dock to save that boy. What had been a perfect moment had turned south so quickly. I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

I paced my living room, my mind racing. I needed to see him. I needed to know he was okay.