Chapter 31
31
PORTIA
I stood in front of the full-length mirror, holding up one bikini after another, each one feeling more ridiculous than the last. The turquoise one made me look like I was trying too hard, the black one felt like I was auditioning for a spy movie, and the pink floral? Way too perky. I groaned, tossing them all on the bed in frustration. Why was this so hard? It wasn’t like Dean would care what I was wearing. If anything, he’d probably grunt something dismissive and then ignore me entirely.
Or strip it off me.
Still, I couldn’t help but want to make an impression. Not that I’d admit that out loud. I rummaged through the pile again, pulling out a simple navy-blue set with white trim. Classic. Understated. Not trying too hard. I slipped it on and adjusted the straps, turning to check myself in the mirror. Okay, this might work. It hugged my curves without being flashy, and the color brought out my eyes. Not that Dean would notice.
He was a boob man. He’d definitely be looking at my boobs and the bikini was the kind that pushed things up and together. My tits looked great in the thing.
I grabbed a lightweight cover-up from the closet and pulled it on. My favorite cut-off jean shorts were resting on the bed. I pulled them on and then slipped on my sexy, strappy sandals.
My tote was already packed with sunscreen, a towel, and a book I probably wouldn’t read. My stomach fluttered as I glanced at the clock. Dean had texted me and told me to meet him at the dock at five.
I stepped outside and put on my sunglasses. He was down by the dock wearing a pair of shorts and his typical black T-shirt. I took a moment to just watch him load an ice chest on the boat. I took a deep breath and made my way down the gravel path toward the dock. Dean didn’t look up as I approached, his focus entirely on the rigging.
“Hey,” I called out, trying to sound casual.
He glanced up briefly, his piercing blue eyes locking on me for just a moment. “Hey.”
So much for a warm greeting. I stepped onto the dock, the wood creaking softly under my weight. “Need any help?”
“Got it,” he said curtly, hoisting the cooler into the boat with ease.
Gone was the man that I had woken up with this morning. He was back to his old self.
“Look, if you don’t want to go out, that’s fine,” I said. “I’ve got a book to read.”
Dean finally straightened up, wiping his hands on his shorts. “Sorry, just a lot on my mind. I do want to go out. I thought we’d head over to Crescent Cove. It’s quiet there.” His tone was matter-of-fact, like he was giving a report rather than inviting me on an outing.
“Sounds nice,” I said, forcing a smile.
I hoped his mood improved. A little time out on the boat with a little kissing and touching and maybe other things and he would be in much better spirits.
Dean helped me onto the boat and quickly untied it before stepping in. The engine roared to life. Dean stood at the wheel and carefully steered the boat away from the dock, the water churning behind us. I sat on the bench near the bow, letting the wind whip through my hair as we picked up speed. Dean stood at the wheel, his jaw set, eyes fixed on the horizon. He looked like a man carrying the weight of the world, and I wondered what had happened since this morning to put that storm in his eyes.
“Crescent Cove, huh?” I called over the noise of the engine, trying to break the tension. “I haven’t been there in years. Remember when we used to have bonfires there back in high school?”
“Mm,” he grunted, not even glancing my way.
Okay, so small talk wasn’t going to work. I shifted in my seat, pulling my cover-up tighter around me as the breeze picked up. The lake stretched out in all directions. It was beautiful, but the silence between us felt heavy, almost suffocating. I really hoped he was going to change his mood. I could be sitting at home alone making plans for the future.
I finally gave up on conversation and leaned back, closing my eyes for a moment. The sun warmed my skin. Dean wasn’t just grumpy—something was wrong. And if I knew him at all, he wasn’t going to talk about it unless he was good and ready.
We reached Crescent Cove a little while later, the boat slowing as we approached the secluded inlet. Dean cut the engine and dropped the anchor. The cove was just as I remembered it—quiet, shaded by trees, and relatively secluded.
I didn’t care what kind of mood he was in. This was heaven. This was the kind of moment I used to dream about during those endless New York nights. It was everything New York wasn’t—quiet, peaceful, real . The kind of moment that made my chest ache with how badly I’d needed it without even knowing. But the man at the helm wasn’t sharing my golden mood.
“Are you going to tell me what’s on your mind, or do I have to guess? I know you didn’t bring me out here so I could watch you brood.”
Dean exhaled and stepped away from the wheel. The sudden silence felt heavy as the boat drifted, rocking gently with the lake’s rhythm.
“Seth turned himself in today.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. “Oh, Dean…”
“Lawyer’s already lined up.” He rubbed a hand over his face like he was trying to wipe away the feelings. “It’s the right thing. Still feels like hell.”
I got up, swaying a little and reached for him. “Because you love him,” I said quietly. “It’s tough love. It’s the right move.”
Dean gave a short nod, his gaze fixed on some distant point across the water. “I can’t fix this for him. I have all this money, and I can’t fix this or him.”
“You’re doing what you can, Dean. You’re supporting him. You’re trying to steer him in the right direction. Sometimes that’s all anyone can do.”
He didn’t pull away, but he didn’t look at me either. His jaw clenched, the muscle ticking as he stared out at the water. “He’s my brother. I should’ve seen this coming. Should’ve stopped him before it got this bad.”
“You’re not his keeper,” I said softly, though I knew the words wouldn’t ease his guilt. Dean had always been the one to pick up the pieces when Seth fell apart. It was second nature to him, as much as breathing. But this? This wasn’t something he could fix with a wrench or a checkbook.
Dean finally looked at me. “He’s going to hate me for this.”
“Maybe,” I admitted. “But he’ll hate himself more if he doesn’t face it. And when he’s ready, he’ll understand why you did it. He’ll be grateful you were there to encourage him to do the right thing. And loving him through it.”
We stood there holding each other for several minutes with the boat rocking gently. I felt him withdraw emotionally. He cleared his throat. “Want a drink?” he asked and stepped back.
“Please.” I nodded.
Dean moved to the cooler, pulling out a couple sodas and handing one to me. I popped it open and took a sip. He leaned against the side of the boat, his eyes distant again, lost in thoughts I couldn’t reach.
I wanted to say something—anything—to pull him back, but I knew better. Pushing Dean wasn’t going to work. He’d only shut down more. Instead, I sat back down on the bench, letting the quiet settle between us. The cove was serene, the water lapping gently against the boat’s hull, and for a moment. Just being out here was calming.
“It’s not your fault,” I said gently. “Sometimes people lose their way. But that doesn’t mean they can’t find it again. You just have to keep doing what you do. Stand tall. Be his rock.”
“Thanks,” he said with a sigh. “I will. I always do. It’s just so tiresome. He’s remorseful now, but I can’t help but wonder how long it lasts. He gets out of jail and goes back to his old ways. Then what?”
Dean took a long swig of his soda, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. I didn’t know what to say. Seth had always been unpredictable, even back in high school. He had a way of charming people into giving him chances, only to burn through them just as quickly. But this time felt different. Turning himself in? That wasn’t the Seth I remembered. Maybe there was hope after all.
“He’s making a choice,” I finally said. “That has to count for something. It’s not easy to admit you’re wrong, especially when it means facing consequences.”
Dean scoffed softly, shaking his head. “You don’t know Seth like I do. He’s good at saying the right things, but following through? That’s another story.”
“Maybe,” I conceded. “But people can change. If he’s serious about this, he’ll need you more than ever. And if he’s not… well, you can’t keep holding him up if he refuses to stand on his own.”
“Easier said than done,” he muttered.
“Isn’t everything?” I replied with a small smile, hoping to lighten the mood just a little.
The silence this time was a little easier, less fraught with tension.
“I have something to tell you,” I said.
“Yeah?”
Suddenly my news felt too bright, too happy for this moment. But I swallowed and pushed forward anyway. “I talked to my dad today. About reopening the brokerage.”
Dean’s expression didn’t change at first. Then slowly, a smirk tugged at his lips. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“You sure?”
“For the first time in a long time,” I admitted.
Dean studied me, his gaze traveling over my face like he was looking for any sign I wasn’t being truthful. Then he did that thing that still caught me off guard—he grinned. A real, full, devastating grin that lit up his entire face and made my stomach flip.
“I’m happy for you, Portia. I mean it.”
A tension I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying slipped from my shoulders. “I feel kind of guilty being so excited when you’re dealing with all this.”
Dean shook his head. “Don’t.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“I need something good to hold on to,” he admitted. “Something that isn’t a mess.”
My breath caught. I knew what he wasn’t saying, that I was that good thing. That in the middle of all his chaos, I’d become his calm. I didn’t need him to say it. I knew we both felt it. And somehow, he was becoming the good thing in my life.
He moved to the cooler and pulled out a meat and cheese tray. We sat on the bench, eating our snacks and drinking soda as the sun set. It was the most relaxing evening I had in a long, long time.
Dean smirked, leaning back against the railing. “Admit it, the auction was genius.”
I rolled my eyes. “It was ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously effective,” he corrected. “It got us here, didn’t it?”
I laughed. “Yes, I guess it did.”
“Is your dad excited about coming out of retirement?” he asked.
“He nearly cried when I told him my plans for the brokerage.”
Dean whistled low. “Actual tears?”
“Pretty damn close. He’s thrilled. He always envisioned us being a father-daughter team.”
“Do you think that everything falling apart was meant to happen so you could come back here—and be with me?”
“Is that what I am?” I asked softly. “With you?”
“I want you to be.”
No grand declarations. No flowery speeches. Just three simple words that meant everything.
He leaned over and kissed me. I knew this was it. This was the moment my life had been circling toward all along.