Page 23 of Rescued By My Small Town Billionaire

I’m not a man who second-guesses himself, but today, I can’t shake the nerves.

Keeping a secret in Junction Falls is about as easy as keeping a barn door shut in a windstorm. Everyone talks, everyone has an opinion, and somehow, the whole town always knows what’s happening before it even happens.

Which is exactly why I have to be careful.

I glance down at my phone, reading over the texts I just got from Ellie, Lulu, and Maggie Ann. They’re already knee-deep in planning Becky’s surprise Blooming Festival, and if I don’t step in soon, I have a feeling it’ll turn into something so big the mayor will want to make it an annual town tradition.

Which wouldn’t be the worst thing.

But this isn’t about the town.

It’s about her.

Standing in the middle of Junction Falls’ town square, I glance around at the people who have gathered, each playing their part in something bigger than just me and Becky. The entire townis coming together for this—friends, neighbors, even strangers who have admired Becky’s kindness from afar.

And she has no idea.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I glance at my watch. I have three days to pull this off. Three days to give Becky something she’ll never forget. Something that proves to her that she belongs here, that she’s loved—not just by me, but by this whole town.

Pete walks up, clipboard in hand, shaking his head at me with a smirk. “You know, for a guy who usually keeps his cool, you look like you’re about to pass out.”

“Just making sure everything goes right,” I say, shooting him a dry look.

He laughs. “Mike, it’s Becky. She’s already crazy about you.”

I don’t argue because he doesn’t know how much I need this to be perfect. I can’t mess this up.

Walking over to the patio at Cake Walk Café, I join Becky’s friends, who are chatting away animatedly. Lulu and Maggie Ann are already sitting at a corner table, a pile of notes and papers between them. Ellie arrives seconds later, balancing a to-go coffee in one hand and what looks like a flower catalog in the other.

Pete, my ranch partner, and Nathan from the police department have also volunteered to make sure everything comes together. But the downside of all this?

“Alright,” I say, pulling out a chair. “What’s the damage?”

Lulu beams. “Oh, we’re already halfway there. You are gonna love this.”

“I don’t need to love it. Becky does.”

Maggie Ann nudges a notebook toward me, flipping it open to a page labeledBecky’s Blooming Festival—A Celebration of Love, Community, and Growth.

I blink. “That’s… a lot.”

Ellie grins. “We had a lot of ideas.”

I glance through the details—a floral display outside Flourish Floral, a town-wide flower arrangement competition, a fundraiser for the animal shelter, and a tea garden pop-up in Lulu’s bookstore.

But the most important part?

A dedication to Becky’s grandmother, featuring the letters she left behind and the wisdom she passed down. Becky had enough money from the insurance to rebuild and pay for her expenses until then. By my estimation, though, I know it won’t be enough to have the huge grand reopening she will need to restart the business properly.

I clear my throat, feeling something tight settle in my chest. “She’s gonna love this.”

My sister, Lulu, leans forward, her eyes twinkling. “And she’s gonna love you for doing it.”

I run a hand over my jaw. “I don’t know how she feels about me.”

Maggie Ann sighs dramatically. “Oh, we know. But this—this is gonna show her just how much you care about her.”

Glancing around the table, I realize for the first time that these women aren’t just Becky’s friends—they’re her family. They’ve been with her through everything, and right now, they’re pulling together to make this happen just as much for her as I am.

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