Chapter 101 Tessa
Tessa
Tessa didn’t look back.
She refused to.
Even though she could feel him standing there.
Watching her.
She tightened her grip on the flowers in her arms and pushed open the door to Bloom & Vine, the familiar scent of roses, eucalyptus, and fresh-cut stems wrapping around her like a shield.
Safe.
Predictable.
Normal.
Everything her life needed to be.
The bell chimed behind her as the door shut, and she exhaled slowly, setting the flowers down on the counter.
“Get it together, Tessa,” she muttered under her breath.
Because that man…
That man was a problem.
Ace Mercer.
Tall, broad, too handsome for his own good—and entirely too persistent.
And she was not interested.
Could not be interested.
Would not be interested.
No matter how his voice dropped when he said her name.
No matter how his eyes looked at her like she was something worth fighting for.
No.
She shook her head, grabbing a pair of clippers and trimming the stems a little harder than necessary.
She knew exactly what kind of life the Rangers lived.
Everyone in town did.
They were heroes, sure.
Protectors.
Men who showed up when things went bad.
But things always went bad around them.
Shootouts.
Danger.
People getting hurt.
She swallowed, her hands slowing.
She couldn’t afford that kind of chaos.
Not again.
Not when she’d worked so hard to build something stable… something safe.
The shop.
Her life.
Her future.
The bell above the door chimed again.
Tessa glanced up, expecting a customer—
And froze.
Ace stepped inside.
Of course he did.
Because apparently the man didn’t know how to take a hint.
Her heart betrayed her immediately, kicking harder against her ribs.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
“I thought you had work to do,” she said, keeping her tone cool as she reached for another bundle of flowers.
“I do,” he said, closing the door behind him.
“And this is it?”
“Right now? Yeah.”
She huffed, not looking at him. “You’re going to scare away my customers.”
He leaned casually against the counter like he belonged there.
“I haven’t seen anyone run yet.”
“Give it time.”
A beat of silence passed.
Then—
“You’re avoiding me.”
Tessa stilled.
“No,” she said, focusing on the flowers. “I’m prioritizing.”
“Me being low on that list?”
“You’re not on the list at all.”
He chuckled softly.
And that sound—
Warm. Deep. Dangerous.
It did something to her chest she did not appreciate.
Tessa set the clippers down a little harder than necessary and finally looked at him.
Big mistake.
Because up close… he was worse.
Stronger.
More real.
More tempting.
“I meant what I said,” she told him. “I’m not interested in whatever this is.”
Ace didn’t move.
Didn’t smile.
Didn’t push.
And somehow… that made it harder.
“This,” he said quietly, “is me wanting to take you to dinner.”
Her breath caught.
Just slightly.
She recovered fast.
“You should ask someone else.”
“I don’t want someone else.”
Her stomach flipped.
Nope. Not happening.
She crossed her arms, putting space—distance—anything between them.
“You don’t even know me.”
His gaze softened just a fraction.
“I know enough.”
Dangerous words.
Dangerous man.
Tessa shook her head, stepping back.
“You don’t,” she said. “And you don’t want to.”
“Yeah,” he murmured, eyes locked on hers. “I do.”
Her chest tightened.
For a second—just one—she felt it.
The pull.
The possibility.
The what if.
And that scared her more than anything else.
So she did what she had to do.
She hardened.
“You’re wasting your time, Ace.”
He studied her for a long moment.
Then nodded once.
“Maybe,” he said.
Relief flickered—
Until he added, “But I’m not done trying.”
Her breath caught again.
Dang it.
“Tough luck,” she said, turning back to her flowers.
But her hands weren’t steady anymore.
And when the bell chimed again as he left…
Tessa Bloom stood there in the middle of her shop, surrounded by wildflowers—
And tried very hard to ignore the fact that Ace Mercer was already getting under her skin.