Page 46 of Billionaire Bad Boy Auction

“Everything okay?” she asked as I sat back down.

“Fine.” I put the napkins on the table. “Just Seth being Seth.”

She smiled. “You know, you don’t always have to rescue him. Or protect everyone from his idiocy.”

She wasn’t wrong. But old habits died hard.

“So, Dean,” Portia’s mom said. “What’s next for you? Any big plans?”

I hesitated, not sure how to answer. “Just keeping the shop going. Maybe take on a few new projects. We’re already pretty packed with orders.”

The conversation went through the usual swings about fall and what the weather might be like and who retired and whose house was up for sale.

Portia leaned over, her shoulder brushing mine. “You okay?” she asked quietly.

I glanced at her, surprised by the concern in her eyes. “Yeah. Why?”

She shrugged. “You just seem distracted.”

I didn’t answer right away. The truth was, I was distracted. By her. By Seth. But I didn’t know how to explain that. So I just shrugged. “Just thinking.”