Page 87 of Billionaire Bad Boy Auction

“Money doesn’t change who you are,” I said flatly. “And it sure as hell doesn’t fix everything. More like it shouldn’t change who you are. I’m still the same asshole that likes to tinker in the garage. It makes me happy to get grease under my fingernails. Walking away from the shop would make me miserable.”

He got busy, wiping down the chrome. He was the guy that had taught me how to properly shine a bike. I learned a lot from him and missed having him around. Eddie was one of the few people who didn’t feel the need to fill every quiet moment with chatter. We worked side by side for a while, the rhythmic motions of cleaning and polishing keeping my mind from wandering back to Seth and his latest disaster.

“So,” he said after a while, elbow-deep in polishing the tank of the bike. “What’s the lawyer saying?”

I exhaled through my nose, focusing on a stubborn smudge on the fender. “Thinks he’s got a decent shot at community service. Maybe probation.”

Eddie snorted. “Long as the judge isn’t on some vendetta against hoodlums. Or Seth in general. Some judges are bent on sending messages, especially to someone like Seth.”

The old-fashioned word made me chuckle despite myself. “Haven’t heard that one in a while.”

“Fits, though,” Eddie said, giving me a knowing look.

I didn’t argue. Seth had been skating by on charm and my good name for too long. Maybe this would finally knock some sense into him.

After a couple hours of work, we cracked open a couple beers and sat in the lawn chairs in the shade. Again, it felt like ten years ago. Eddie and I would bust ass all day and then reward ourselves with a cold beer. Neither of us were in a hurry to get home.

“So,” Eddie said, taking a long pull from his bottle. “Been seeing someone.”

I nearly choked on my beer. “You? Voluntarily spending time with the same woman more than once?”

“Fuck off,” he said, but he was grinning. “Her name’s Rachel. Works at that custom paint shop over in Millerton.”

I nodded, filing that away. Eddie actually sounded happy. Hi grumpy ass made me look like sunshine. We were quite the pair back in the day.

“Congratulations,” I said.

“What about you?” he asked. “Got anyone special?”

I smirked. “Actually, I do. Me and Portia Watson have made things official.”

“We should go on a double date sometime,” Eddie said.

“No offense, but I’d rather be crushed under my engine lift.” I laughed. “You at a dinner table isn’t a pretty sight. I don’t want to scare her off.”

Eddie laughed. “Fair enough.”

I leaned back in the lawn chair, the beer cool in my hand.

“Never thought you’d be with the Watson girl,” he said. “She’s a little younger, isn’t she?”

“A little. But she’s not like anyone I’ve ever met. Yeah, she’s a few years younger, but the woman is smart. Savvy. Strong.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised I was even talking about her. “Different how?”

“She doesn’t take my shit,” I said with a small laugh. “Most people either tiptoe around me or bail when they realize I’m not exactly sunshine and rainbows. But Portia? She calls me out. Every damn time.”

He chuckled. “Shit, you’re describing me.”

“Not even close. She’s a hell of a lot prettier than you. She’s got this fire in her, you know? Like she won’t let anything—or anyone—knock her down. Even when she’s struggling herself, she’s still standing there, chin up, ready to fight.”

Eddie nodded slowly. “Sounds like you admire that.”

“I do,” I admitted. “But it’s more than that. She sees me. Not the money, not the business, not even the mess with Seth. Just me. And somehow, she hasn’t run screaming yet.”

I took a sip of my beer. Eddie was quiet for a moment, his eyes on the horizon.

“You know, sounds like you found something rare. Don’t screw it up.”