Page 30 of Rescued By My Small Town Billionaire

I am worth it.

We’re about to mount the horses when my phone buzzes in my bag. I almost ignore it, lost in the moment, but something about it makes my stomach twist.

Unknown Number.

I frown and answer. “Hello?”

Silence.

Then, a familiar voice.

Paul.

“Becky,” he says smoothly, like he has any right to say my name.

A cold chill runs down my spine.

Mike notices the change in my posture immediately. His jaw clenches, his hand resting protectively on my back. “Who is it?”

I can’t even process the question because Paul keeps talking.

“I know we didn’t end things the way we should have,” he continues, his voice falsely gentle. “I’ve had time to think, and I don’t like how we left things.”

I grip the phone tighter. “You threw a brick through my window, Paul. That’s how we left things.”

He exhales sharply. “I didn’t mean for it to scare you. I was… emotional.”

“That’s not an excuse,” I scoff.

“Listen, Becky,” he says, his voice lowering. “I just want to talk. Just you and me. One conversation. I think we owe each other that.”

I feel Mike stiffen beside me, and before I can respond, he reaches for the phone. I let him take it.

“Listen to me, Paul,” Mike says, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t owe Becky anything, and she sure as hell doesn’t owe you. Stay away from her.”

I hear Paul’s sharp intake of breath. “Wow. So you’re the one calling the shots now?”

“You had your chance,” Mike says, his grip tightening on the phone. “And you blew it.”

There’s a long, tense pause, and then Paul’s voice drops, laced with quiet anger.

“This isn’t over.”

The line goes dead.

My breath shudders out of me. I hadn’t realized I was shaking until Mike wraps his arm around me, pulling me close.

“He wasn’t like that when we were together,” I tell him. “I tried my best with him, but he got in with the wrong people and developed a gambling problem. Who knows what else… and I had to leave him for my own good.”

“Yeah, things like that can change a person,” he says soothingly. “But he’ll have to work out his demons without you.”

“He’s not going to stop,” I whisper, feeling the weight of Paul’s obsession pressing down on me.

Mike tilts my chin up so I have to look at him. His eyes burn with determination. “Yes, he will,” he promises. “Because I won’t let him hurt you.”

I close my eyes, pressing my forehead against his chest, feeling safe and terrified all at once.

I know Mike will protect me.

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