Loving the Secret Billionaire (Love at Last #1)(28)

“I won’t take up much of your time.” He swallowed and I could see how nervous he was. I wanted to hold him. “I’m here pr-primarily for the sake of one of your teachers—a woman who happens to be on our city council and who also happens to be the love of my life.”

A wave of sound rose up, whispers swelling into chattering, faces turned to find me in the crowd. I fought an urge to sink to my knees and hide amongst the four-year-olds, but if he was here, daring to come out for me, then I could stay here and take it.

“Veronica Cruz has taught me so much.”

I gulped at the double meaning to those words, glanced around and, thankfully, didn’t see anyone leering. They couldn’t possibly know how we’d spent our nights together.

“She taught me the importance of honesty, the importance of facing your biggest fears, and, above all, the importance of doing what’s right, even when it isn’t easy. Even if it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do.”

It occurred to me that he couldn’t possibly know if I was here. Maybe, if I told him I was, he’d stop and we could talk this out in private. It could turn out okay. I’d forgive him.

“Today, I’m here to dedicate the new library to Ms. Veronica Cruz. I’m well aware that she would hate to have her name on a plaque beside the door, so I’ll let the city or the school board or whomever decide what name to use in the end. Hopefully you’re here, Veronica. If you are, I have something to say: I’ve left the old me behind. At least part of him—the part you had a hard time with. But I can’t seem to move forward without you in my life. I’d ask you to marry me, but I’m pretty sure you’d tell me it’s premature.”

The voices got louder at that and I went from blushing to a cold sweat. What are you doing, Zach?

“I’ll ask you this instead.” He went on and I could do nothing but stare at him, my eyes big, unblinking, my face hot and dry, my chest so tight I couldn’t suck in a breath. “Would you go out with me? On a date? Dinner or a movie or whatever you want.”

He waited, the crowd quieted, except for a couple kids, and they all turned to look at me. Damn it. Was he seriously doing this? Was he really asking me out, here, in front of all these people?

No, Zach. Please don’t do this.

Beside me, O’Neal whispered something and elbowed me in the ribs. How was he doing this? The man who could barely leave his house on his own.

Someone poked my hip on the other side. I looked down to catch Jaime Girón’s face and dipped to hear what he had to say—yeah, and also to hide.

“Yes, Jaime?”

“You like that man, Miss Veronica?”

I couldn’t answer. The words were too big, too strong to fit in my mouth. I nodded instead.

“You gonna say yes?”

I finally managed to whisper. “Should I?”

He nodded earnestly, and leaned into my side and I wanted to hug him hard.

I stood and spoke aloud. “What about the school lunch debt from this year?” If I’d thought people were shocked earlier, now they tittered and pointed and overall had a cow, but frankly, I didn’t care. I had eyes only for that man up there. “Did you cover that, too?”

Zach stood there grinning like a four-year-old. “Yes, ma’am. Set up a yearly lunch scholarship fund moving forward, too.”

I bent my head to catch Jaime’s eye. “You think I should do it?”

At his nod, I lifted my head and answered. “Dinner.” I said, loud and smiling, and, God, stupidly happy. “Friday.”

“You’re on,” he responded as the crowd erupted around us.



* * *



Zach



* * *



Maybe a date wasn’t the best idea in the world—especially since word had apparently gotten around town and basically everybody spent the entire time eavesdropping on us.

Then again, who cared? I was pretty sure I’d never been so happy in my life and it would take more than a couple onlookers to destroy that. Hell, I’d have taken her out in front of that whole school and it would have been worth it.

“You didn’t have to do all this, you know.” Veronica was being very formal. I couldn’t tell if it was for the listeners, or because she just felt that way toward me. Please let it be the former.

“Yes, I did.”

“But the illegal activity—”

“I’m done with that. All of it. I’m a philanthropist now.” I pushed out a shaky breath; even after an hour and a cocktail, I was a mess.

“You okay? We can go to your place if you want.”

“No.” I put a hand on the table and slid it across, palm up. “I’ve spent the last three and a half months working toward this night.

“You have?”

“Every day, I went out. Walked farther. Down my drive, then the street.” I tilted my head toward where Daisy sat on the floor. “Got this little lady.”

“She’s a gorgeous dog.”

I leaned in. “Is she?”

I could hear the smile in Veronica’s voice. “Yeah. she’s almost entirely black, with these brown patches that look a little worn and soft…like the velveteen rabbit or something.”

God, I loved this woman. The way she saw things, the way she felt them, her emotions so caught up in her senses that it was like she lived life deeper than everyone else.