He cracked that smile then, that real smile that always made Evie’s feet feel like they were stuck to the floor.
“You were right. It took a blunt and embarrassing-as-hell conversation with Lilah for me to see it, but you were right. When Senior left me and Jesse in charge, I became so focused on making Big Rock an even bigger success, I didn’t stop to think of a lot of things. Mainly what I wanted out of it.”
“And you’ve sorted that out.”
“I have. I want the ranch to thrive and I want it to stay in the family, but then I realized I hadn’t stopped to think about what I want formyself. I want a life with you. In Charming, in New York, in Paris. Wherever. I love you. Yes, I was putting the ranch before any chance at love, but that’s because no one I met compared to you. You’re the most important thing in the world to me, Yvonne Buchanan. I would do anything for you. Anything. Okay, Lilah told me to stop there ’cause declarations of love don’t mean anything if the other person don’t want shit to do with you.”
Evie tried to cover her laughter and failed. She owed Lilah big-time.
“I knew you wanted to be a chef and I know you want to open this restaurant, but I never asked what you wanted for yourlife. That’s where I went wrong. I was so focused on not derailing your career, I forgot that you—that we—are both so much more than the work we do. That’s where I fucked up. For the both of us. And I can’t apologize enough. Okay. Now I’ll really stop.”
“I mean, go on if you have more good points.”
“No, I’m good. Please.” He sat back against the booth and motioned to the table between them. Evie looked up at the elaborate steel light-fixture and tried to force back the tears that stung at her eyes. She’d spent years fighting against this exact feeling. Ever since her nan died, all that mattered was the work, the drive. She imagined one day she’d pull the money together on her own. She’d open her dream spot in the dream location, and magically the man of her dreams would just appear and they would start their life together. But whenever she closed her eyes and let that dream play out, she saw only one face.
But she couldn’t let Zach off that easy. Not right away. Especially when he could not stop talking.
“If you decide to do this restaurant deal, you have me along for the ride. All of my knowledge and resources are yours. You want me completely out of the way, then I’ll back off. But I’m here, I don’twantto go.”
“So your love for me? That’s it. That’s the only reason you’re gonna give me a bazillion dollars to take a swing at something I’ve never done before?”
“That and I inhaled that leftover carbonara you made. If you can cook like that when you can barely remember your name, I know you’ll kill it when you’re firing on all cylinders. Miss Leona took a gamble, giving me and Jesse the reins of Big Rock when our dad passed on it. She had faith in us and now the ranch is doing better than ever. Now let us have faith in you.”
Evie refused to cry. Her tear ducts couldn’t take it anymore. And then he had to go and slide closer and take her hand. Evie tilted her head back, willing the tears away.
“What are you doing?” he laughed.
“I used a quality setting powder, but I refuse to screw up this Fenty face.” She swallowed and then told him something she’d only spilled in the pages of that hideous diary. “I want a family. A big family. I want dogs, and one cat to rule them all. I want to see the world with my family. The dogs and the cat can stay home. I want to feel loved, like really loved. I want to feel that I have something that is mine for as long as I can hold on to it.”
Zach moved closer. “Nana was right. I wasn’t ready back then, but I’m ready now. I want to be your man. I want to be wherever you are. I want to be there for you in every way. I have dogs, but we can get more. I don’t know too much about cats, but I’ll learn. And I will do anything and everything to get started on a family, if you know what I’m saying.”
Evie groaned. “Oh my God.”
“If you can handle being seen walking around Manhattan with a man in a bad-ass Stetson, I’ll be yours forever.”
A burst of laughter came from Evie’s chest and the tears finally followed. Zach was quick to hand her a napkin. “The cowboy hat is the best part,” Evie said.
She didn’t know what she was fighting anymore. She couldn’t punish Zach forever and she certainly couldn’t punish herself. She had waited years to hear him say those words and she couldn’t think of a sensible reason not to say them back. Zach Pleasant was it for her, her Prince of Charming, California. And had been since the first day she set foot on Big Rock Ranch.
She moved closer and leaned into his open arms. Zach embraced her, pulling her in closer. She’d been right about the magic of just being in his touch. Being with him wouldn’t suddenly fix her whole life, but it would make it a hell of a lot better. She snuggled in closer still, burying her face against his neck.
“I missed you so much,” she confessed.
“I missed you too. I even dreamt about you.”
Evie pulled back and looked into his eyes. “You did?”
“Every night since you’ve been gone. It’s the strangest thing, but I can’t stop it. Lilah said my subconscious is trying to tell me something. I think she’s right.”
“I’ve dreamt about you too.”
“Pleasant dreams, I hope.”
Evie groaned even louder, her eyes rolling. “See, why’d you have to go and ruin—”
He grabbed her hand mid-shove and pulled her right to his chest. “Kiss me already, Buck.”
She didn’t hesitate this time. She kissed Zach Pleasant like she’d been wanting to do for years. She kissed him hard and deep, their tongues slowly tangling together, and only when she remembered they were in public did she stop herself from climbing across his lap.