Page 37 of Riding with the Secret Billionaire

We're interrupted by the restaurant manager appearing at the door again."Ms. Walker is on her way up, sir."

My heart rate accelerates in a way that would concern me under different circumstances."Everyone, places please. Remember--"

"We know, we know," Jordyn interrupts, guiding the women to their spots around the room's periphery."Stay quiet until your signal, then 'act natural' as if this isn't the most romantic gesture we've ever witnessed."

There's no time to correct her exaggeration because the door opens, and Trish appears, stunning in the emerald dress I selected.She stops abruptly, confusion replacing the smile she'd worn upon entering.

"Jake?" Her eyes sweep the room, taking in Jordyn, the bridesmaids, my sister on the video call."What's going on?"

I cross to her, taking both her hands in mine."This isn't exactly what you were expecting for dinner."

"You could say that," she replies, her voice steady despite her obvious surprise."I thought we were keeping things discreet.Professional boundaries and all that."

"I tried," I admit, aware of our audience but focusing solely on her."I spent all day trying to maintain that professional distance.Reviewing security protocols, checking camera placements, coordinating staff assignments."

"And?" she prompts when I pause.

"And I couldn't focus on any of it because all I could think about was you." The admission comes easier than I expected."Where you were, what you were doing, when I'd see you again.It was... disruptive."

A smile begins to form at the corners of her mouth."Disruption can be good sometimes."

"So I'm learning." I squeeze her hands gently."I realized something today, Trish.Something I need to tell you, regardless of professional boundaries or what happens after this wedding."

Her eyes widen slightly, a mix of hope and caution in her expression."I'm listening."

"I've spent six years building walls, creating distance, maintaining control.After what happened with Valerie, after thebreach of trust that nearly broke me, I convinced myself it was safer to stay disconnected." I take a deep breath,hyperaware of each word but determined to get through this."And then you appeared in that airport terminal, annoyed and determined and so alive it almost hurt to look at you."

A soft sound escapes her, something between a laugh and a sigh.

"I've been fighting this from the moment we met, telling myself it was too fast, too complicated, too risky.But the truth is..." I pause, letting the walls come down completely."The truth is, I'm in love with you, Trish Walker.Completely, inconveniently, wonderfully in love with you."

The room goes absolutely silent.Even Jordyn, never at a loss for words, is quiet as Trish stares at me, tears gathering in her eyes.

"That's quite a declaration from a man who wouldn't even share a bed with me in Basic Plaines," she says finally, her voice wavering slightly.

"I was trying to protect myself," I admit."Not very successfully, as it turns out."

She brings one hand up to my face, her touch feather-light against my jaw."And now? Are you still trying to protect yourself?"

"No." I turn my head slightly to press a kiss to her palm."Now I'm just trying to tell the woman I love how I feel, even if it's too soon, even if she doesn't feel the same way yet."

"You billionaire tech moguls," she says with a watery laugh."Always thinking you know everything."

I tense, uncertain of her meaning, but she continues before I can respond.

"Because if you knew everything, Jake Winters,you'd know that I've been falling in love with you since you first lectured me about proper hydration schedules in your ridiculously perfecttruck." Her fingers curl against my cheek."You'd know that I've never felt more myself than when I'm with you, even when you're being unreasonably controlling about rest stops and route planning."

Hope surges through me, powerful and unfamiliar."Trish..."

"I love you too, Jake," she says clearly, without hesitation."And I don't care about professional boundaries or geographical challenges or any other complication you might come up with.We'll figure it out."

For once in my life, I act without calculation, without weighing consequences or considering alternatives.I simply pull her to me and kiss her, pouring every ounce of newfound emotion into the connection.

The room erupts into cheers and applause around us, Jordyn's voice the loudest among them.My sister's excited squeal comes through the phone speaker, but I barely register any of it, lost in the perfect rightness of Trish in my arms.

When we finally break apart, both breathless, the rest of the room comes back into focus.Jordyn is wiping away tears while simultaneously taking photos with her phone.Talia is smiling with open approval.The bridesmaids are exchanging looks that suggest they'll be discussing this for weeks.

"So much for professional discretion," Trish murmurs against my lips, though she's smiling.

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