Page 31 of My Three Billionaire Rockstars

“I love it already.”

“That’s because you haven’t been stuck behind Mrs. Callahan arguing about zucchini for twenty minutes.”

“I enjoy passion,” I say. “Especially about vegetables. It’s a niche interest.”

She huffs a laugh.

I don’t react to it, don’t make a thing out of it, but I clock it anyway. That sound… real, unfiltered, not aimed at anyone.

We keep moving, her pointing things out, me listening, and not just to what she’s saying.

The way she talks with her hands when she gets into it.

The way she doesn’t soften her opinions just because I’m standing next to her.

Daisy suddenly lunges.

“Daisy…!”

The leash jerks violently, and Willow stumbles forward, completely thrown off balance as the dog takes off after something small and fast.

A squirrel.

She goes down, and I’m already moving. I catch her around the waist before she hits the ground, pulling her back into me in one smooth motion.

She collides with my chest, breath leaving her in a rush as I steady her.

And everything else drops out.

She’s right there. Pressed against me, one hand braced instinctively against my chest, the other still tangled in the leash. My hand is firm at her waist, fingers splayed, feeling the heat of her through the thin fabric of her shirt. The other steadies her arm.

She goes still.

I don’t.

I feel everything. The way she fits, the way her breath catches, the way her body reacts before her brain catches up.

“Easy,” I murmur, close to her ear. “I’ve got you.”

Her head tilts up.

And there’s a spark. Alive. A little dangerous. Her eyes lock onto mine, and neither of us moves. Then she inhales, snapping herself out of it.

She pulls back. “I was fine.”

“Obviously,” I say, not even trying to hide the grin.

“I had it handled.”

“Completely under control,” I agree.

She glares at me. I enjoy it.

Daisy barks triumphantly at the tree, clearly convinced she’s won something.

“Traitor,” Willow mutters to the dog.

“You almost died,” I tell her.