Page 32 of Falling for the Wrong Billionaire

I’ve been here before. Goodness, I’ve been here my whole damn life, wanting someone who keeps their walls up so high you can barely see over them.

But this time feels different. This time… I want to climb them.

"Hey," I say, keeping my tone light. "We can just… go with the flow, yeah?"

Her eyes flick up to mine, cautious but grateful. "Yeah. That sounds good."

I smile. Not because it’s good. But because it’s what she needs to hear.

For now.

I don’t want to leave it like this, though. Before I go, I turn back to her.

"Listen," I say casually. "There’s the Ocean Bay Festival this weekend. Thought maybe you’d want to come with me. I could show you around, show you what this town’s really like."

Her eyes widen slightly, and for the first time all morning, she looks genuinely excited.

"The festival?" she echoes.

"Yeah."

A shy little smile creeps across her face. "Everyone’s been telling me how beautiful it is."

I grin. "Well. Guess you’ll have to see for yourself."

She hesitates, then nods. "Okay. I’d love to."

Something loosens in my chest.

"Good," I say, and I mean it.

As I walk back to my car, I feel lighter than I have in days.

Lighter, but cautious,

Because she’s letting me in, even if just a little at a time.

And I’ll take it.

Whatever it takes to bring those walls down.

One brick at a time.

Chapter fourteen

Lucy

"You didn’t tell me it was this beautiful," I say softly, stepping through the festival gates as the late-afternoon sun glimmers across the fairgrounds.

Everywhere I look, Ocean Bay is alive. Lanterns strung between the trees sway gently in the breeze. Booths line the boardwalk selling everything from fresh taffy to homemade quilts. Children dart past me with painted faces and sticky fingers. Laughter ripples through the air.

I clutch Pip and Nibbs’s small carrier to my chest, my fingers gripping tighter than necessary. The ferrets squirm lazily, completely unbothered.

I wish I could say the same.

"Wanted you to see for yourself," Liam says from beside me, his tone light but his eyes sharp, watching me too closely.

I glance at him, and he flashes that crooked smile of his. The one that makes it just a little harder to breathe.