Loving the Secret Billionaire (Love at Last #1)(17)

I shrugged. “Bus.”

“Hell, no. I’m getting you a car.” He was already fiddling with his watch thingy.

“Oh. No, that’s okay. I don’t need—”

“It’s late. Car’ll be here in two minutes.”

“I can pay for it, then.” I didn’t like him getting all those lamps for me and then shelling out for my ride home. It wasn’t my style to let the guy pay for everything.

“Too late.”

I sighed. “Look, Zach. If we went on a date, I’d pay for half, okay? That’s the type of person I am. I don’t like to—”

“It’s not about me being a domineering asshole. This is about me giving a girl a ride home.”

A girl. Wow. That felt…

“A girl I’d very much like to see again. Trying to make a good impression.” He smiled, tilted his head and did that dimple thing that was driving me wild. “So she’ll come back.”

And there it went… All the excitement, right back to my belly, while my chest fluttered like crazy. This guy… I sucked in a shuddery breath and turned at the sound of a car pulling up the drive.

“Okay. Thank you, Zach Hubler.” For dinner, the ride, the help with my campaign. Not to mention the orgasm.

“Thank you, Veronica Cruz.”

I had to run back up to where he was standing in the doorway to plant a kiss on his lips because, good lord, they were kissable. His hand was right there, at the nape of my neck, holding me still while he sipped at me. I had to pull away or I’d never leave.

“Okay.” I stepped back. “Gotta go.”

“Yeah. Take care, Veronica.”

“You too. Zach.” I nodded, feeling like an idiot. “Okay. I’m going.”

“Night.”

“Night.”

As fast as I could, I ran down the steps, through the yard and to the waiting car.

We’d just turned out of his driveway when I got a text.

You home yet?

I’m in New Mexico.

That was fast.

You’re the one who’s fast, Hubler.

I regretted my words as soon as I sent them Those three dots came up, went away, came up again. Finally, a text came through.

Is that okay?

Okay? Was he kidding? I had an amazing time tonight, Zach.

Me, too.

I was staring at the phone when it rang, making me start and nearly drop it. Was it him?

The caller ID read: O’Neal Jones.

My heart sank at the sight of my friend’s name instead of his, but I picked up with a smile.

“Hey.”

“How am I the one calling you after three days without an answer?”

“Oh. Right.”

“Right? That’s it? What the what with the hot guy from the text?” As usual, O’Neal was clearly ready for details. I’d give them to her usually, but I was so raw from tonight, the excitement so new, the whole thing so fresh in my mind and my skin, I wasn’t ready to share it with anyone.

“Yeah.”

She was quiet for a second, which was very unlike her.

“Yeah? Are you being serious with me right now, V?”

“He’s good.”

“Zach Hubler. Who is he and how did you meet him?”

“I met him canvassing. And as far as who…” I swallowed, because there was something there I wasn’t sure about yet. “He’s a guy. Younger.”

“How young?”

“Early twenties.”

She fake-gasped. “Cradle robber.”

Oh gosh. I knew she was kidding, but maybe I shouldn’t get involved with someone a few years younger. “Is it really that bad?”

“Seriously, V. How many younger guys have I shagged?”

“Um. Too many to guess. But you are O’Neal Jones, Queen of stringless sex.”

“Ew. I know what you just meant by that, but it sounds kinda gross.” She let out a disgusted little laugh. “Anyway, I’m all for this situation. Tell me more.”

I cleared my throat. “He’s kind of a shut-in, I guess. He lives over on the edge of town in a big house in the woods. He made me dinner. We talked…”

“Uh huh. I’m looking him up right now.”

“No! No, I will not let you stalk him.”

The mad clicking in the background stopped abruptly.

“Why not?”

I didn’t know. Was it because he was too good to be true? Or maybe because I preferred to shove my head in the sand rather than let O’Neal burst my bubble. I wasn’t ready to ruin it. Whatever it was.

Softly, I appealed to the sweet side that O’Neal hid way down deep, behind the bluster and ballsiness she’d needed to get where she was in life. “Let me enjoy this, O’Neal, okay? Let me like him for him, without all the external bullshit. Just…let me get to know him, not whoever he is online.”

She harrumphed, but there was no animosity in it. By the time I hung up, the car had pulled up in front of my place. I walked up the three flights to my tiny place, then ripped off my clothes and threw them in a pile in the corner before falling into bed with a smile on my face.

My phone buzzed and I grabbed it.

I put a rush on those lamps. They’ll be here tomorrow.