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Too brightly.

“Hi.”

Mercer looks between Clara and me.

“I saw the auction.”

“Hard to miss,” Clara says.

“Twenty thousand dollars.”

There it is again.

That amused little look.

Like Clara did something adorable instead of reckless.

“I didn’t know you two were friends.”

“We’re not,” Clara says.

At the exact same time Lila says, “They’re dating.”

Clara whips toward her. I nearly laugh. Lila takes a very long drink.

Mercer’s eyebrows rise. “Dating?”

Clara freezes. This is the moment she could correct it.

Instead she looks at Evan.

Then Sienna.

Then me.

“Yes.”

Interesting.

“We’re dating.”

Very interesting.

I don’t hesitate.

I slide an arm around Clara’s waist and pull her against my side. She goes stiff for half a second, then relaxes.

I kiss her temple. “Wouldn’t miss it, baby.”

Her eyes flash up to mine.

I smirk.

Mercer looks less amused now. “How long has this been going on?”

“Long enough,” I say.

Clara elbows me.