Saint’s chest rose with a slow breath.When he spoke again, his voice was controlled, but I could hear the edge.“You should be happy,” he said.
That word hit like a slap.
Happy.
As if happiness was a switch I could flip because a man handed a loan shark some cash.
Happy.
As if I was supposed to smile and melt into gratitude and say thank you for saving me.
My eyes stung.“Don’t tell me how to feel,” I whispered.
Saint stared at me, jaw tight.“I’m not telling you how to feel.I’m telling you the danger is gone.”
“And replaced with what?”I demanded.“Now I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” Saint said immediately.
I shook my head, backing away, the space between us suddenly too small.“Yes, I do.”
“No,” he said, voice firm.“You don’t.”
“I am not letting you pay half of my father’s debt and just pretend it doesn’t matter,” I snapped.“I will pay you back.”
Saint’s eyes narrowed.“No.”
My anger flared hotter.“Excuse me?”
He stepped forward again.“No, Belle.”
Something in me broke loose.“You don’t get to tell me no,” I shouted.
The dogs both went still.Pepper’s ears perked, and his eyes darted between us.Salt stood, body tense.
Saint’s voice dropped, sharp with control.“And you don’t get to act like I did this to hurt you.”
I laughed again, ugly and wet this time because my eyes were burning.“Then why does it feel like you don’t trust me to handle my own life?”
His expression tightened.“That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”I demanded.
Saint looked like he wanted to grab me, shake me, pull me close—something.Instead, he held himself in place, like restraint was the only reason this didn’t turn into a mess.
“I couldn’t watch you get threatened,” he said, his voice rough.“I couldn’t watch you smile at customers while you were terrified every time that bell rang.I couldn’t walk out of your bakery and leave you with that.”
My chest tightened again, and for one breath, the anger faltered.
Then pride came roaring back.
“You should have told me,” I whispered.
Saint’s face hardened.“Would you have let me help?”
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
