Page 10 of Rescued By My Small Town Billionaire

Could flowers be speaking for us too?

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Mike takes me to the florist shop to check on the progress of the reconstruction. The insurance agent’s initial assessment had been encouraging—most of the damage is superficial, andthe structure is sound. But the repairs will still take time, which means I’ll be staying at Lulu and Mike’s house for the foreseeable future.

“Looks like it’ll be about eight weeks at most,” Mike says, gesturing to the freshly sanded walls and newly installed beams. “They’re moving fast.”

“That’s a relief,” I say, running my fingers over the counter where I used to arrange bouquets. “It feels strange seeing it like this, but I can already picture it coming back to life.”

“You’ll get there,” Mike says, his voice steady.

Glancing at him, I see his expression is unreadable but warm. There’s something in his tone that makes my chest feel lighter, like maybe I really believe everything is going to be okay.

That evening, as I’m arranging a flower vase in the kitchen of Thorn Ranch, my phone buzzes on the counter. Expecting a message from Ellie or Maggie Ann, my stomach drops when I see the name on the screen.

Paul.

I hesitate, my thumb hovering over the screen before finally opening the message.

We need to talk. Don’t think I’m going to let this go. You can’t hide behind Mike forever.

My breath catches, and I clutch the phone tightly, my heart pounding in my chest.

My hands shake as I reread Paul’s message, the words blurring together. The knot in my stomach tightens, and for a moment, I feel like I can’t breathe.

Mike’s voice startles me. “Becky?”

I whirl around. He’s standing in the doorway, his sharp eyes catching the tension I can’t hide.

“Everything okay?”

I glance at my phone as another notification flashes across the screen.

Mike follows my gaze, his jaw tightening. “Is it him?”

I nod. “It’s Paul. He sent me a message.”

Mike’s expression darkens. He picks up the phone, his face hardening. When he looks back at me, fire blazes in his eyes.

“You’re not dealing with this alone,” he says firmly.

For the first time since reading Paul’s message, I feel a flicker of safety standing in Mike’s presence.

“I’ll handle it,” Mike says, his voice resolute. “I promise.”

Chapter six

Mike

Ispot Paul the moment I turn the corner into the town square.

He’s standing too close to Becky, his body angled toward her in a way that immediately puts me on edge. Her arms are crossed defensively, her expression tight, but she’s holding her ground. That alone tells me she’s stronger than she realizes.

Still, the sight of him hovering near her sends a protective fire through me. Without thinking, I stride toward them, closing the distance in seconds.

“Paul,” I say evenly, my voice low but firm. “Didn’t we already have this conversation?”

He turns, his eyes narrowing as they land on me. “Mike,” he says, his tone dripping with disdain. “This doesn’t concern you.”

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