Page 116 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

We were laughing about some other random thing when Dex’s brother Preston stopped next to our table. “I thought I recognized your laughter,” he said to Isis before turning his attention to me. “Shelby, I’ve been wanting to speak with you.”

“Oh, really? Why?”

He cleared his throat. “I just wanted to let you know I’m here to lend a friendly ear if you ever need one. You know. Just as a friend.”

“As a friendly friend?” Isis rolled her eyes and her triangle earrings clinked cheerfully as she propped her chin on her hand. “Pres, my dude, he isn’t going to break her heart. So, just keep walking, pal.”

“Break my heart?” I cocked my head as I watched the tips of Preston’s ears redden. “Why do you think he’s going to do that?”

“I didn’t say—” He broke off and shoved his hands in the pockets of his dark gray trousers. Every time I’d seen the man, he was wearing a three-piece suit and tie. “I just wanted to offer my support. If you need it.”

“She doesn’t need support now, Preston.” Isis’s tone dripped ice, befitting Dex’s nickname for her. “He’s standing up. Not only is he being the man she needs, he’s even being a father figure to her daughter.”

I aimed a sharp look at Isis, but not for the reason she probably thought. I agreed one-hundred-ten percent with what she was saying. Absolutely.

ButIneeded to be the one who said it.

Dexter was my guy and he’d supported me since day one, even when I didn’t always warrant his standing up. So, I needed to return the favor.

In fact, I was very much behind on that score.

“Exactly,” I agreed quietly to Preston, who still hadn’t lowered his eyebrows from his hairline. “Did you ever think you don’t give your brother enough credit? Or, hell, any credit at all?” I couldn’t keep the bite out of my question.

“Dexter Shaw as a father,” he said softly, shaking his head. “Didn’t think he had it in him, but believe me, I’m happy to be wrong.”

If he’d stopped there, I would’ve been happy too.

But no, he had to tack on, “If I am,” in an undertone.

“You are.” I stood and crossed my arms. “Did it ever occur to you that you see what he wants you to see?”

His lips thinned into a line. “No.”

Isis coughed into her hand. “Preston’s a little rigid.”

I stared at him. “I don’t care what he is. I’m not going to stand here and listen to him insult Dex for no reason. That man has done nothing but try to love me and my child. I still don’t entirely know why, or how exactly all of this happened so fast, but it has. He’s all in and dammit, so am I. I get that you’re shocked.”

Preston’s gaze softened. “I’m not shocked, exactly. Just…surprised. It’s not that I haven’t always known he has a lot of love to give. I have. Just he never let himself trust anyone to that level or allowed himself the time to get to know someone that well.” Preston rotated his heavy gold watch around his wrist as he seemingly thought it through. “I don’t know. Maybe everyone settling down has made him want what we have—”

“Right, because he can’t want something unless you have it first? Is that what you’re saying?” I propped my hands on my hips, realizing immediately I was channeling Berry. “You don’t have a child.”

“No, but we’ve talked about it for maybe in the future.” He expelled a long breath. “But no, I don’t. So, he’s ahead of me there. If this—if you—” He locked his hands behind his neck and sucked in air. “I’m still trying to imagine my younger brother wanting to settle down voluntarily.”

“He’s not playing anymore,” Isis said softly, joining me on her feet. “Took me aback too, but you know what? He’s always known his own mind. If he’s decided he wants something new—someones new,” she carefully emphasized the plural, “then I say good for him. He is always honest and upfront. He is here too. His honesty is just different this time.”

That was enough to have me sagging to my seat. “Yeah.” I tucked my hair behind my ears and let the truth of that sink into my bones, dissolving a lot of the worry that still dogged me.

Since my divorce, I still didn’t quite understand how to accept good things without expecting a door to slam in my face immediately afterward.

Preston dropped a hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

I looked up at him and was instantly struck by the compassion in his eyes that so reminded me of the expression I saw so often in Dex’s. As different as the two men were, Preston’s gaze was practically a damn mirror of his brother’s.

“Yeah, sorry. Ice knows him so well, and heisso honest. Brutally so. And to take a page out of his truthfulness book—looking into your eyes is just like looking into Dex’s. Well, within reason,” I hurriedly added as Preston’s grip on my shoulder went slack. “I don’t mean I feel the same way about you, but you both have so much empathy. Must explain why you’re both such good lawyers.”

Preston smiled and squeezed my shoulder before finally letting go. “Tell him you feel that way. For that matter, I think I have some things I need to tell him too. That I should’ve told him a long time ago.”

“Yes.” Isis narrowed her eyes. “You do that. And while you’re at it, maybe get your dickhead father to do some talking too. Dex could use his family around him.”

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