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She turned her head and stared up at Zach. “Really, Zach, I know it took me a while to come to my senses, and I know I’ve not been the most fun person to be around the past few weeks, but not once since I decided to stay have I questioned or regretted that decision.”
A full and true smile from Zach was one of Toni’s favorite things and it didn’t disappoint then. “You’re missing your sunset. Probably the most beautiful one we’ve seen yet,” he said.
“That’s okay.” She kissed his chin. “It’s not nearly as important as making sure you know how much I care about you.”
How much I love you.
Was it too early to admit those feelings? Because they were strong and on her mind almost every hour of every day.
It was at that moment, with the sun lowering below the horizon and the man she loved wrapped around her, Toni experienced complete and perfect happiness for the first time in her life.
~ ~ ~ ~
Six months ago, if someone had told Zach he’d be sitting in the dirt with his arms wrapped around a woman he loved, watching the sunset, he’d have driven them to the hospital. Psych ward.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted it, he’d just never given much thought to having an ol’ lady. Who needed it when there were willing women hanging around the clubhouse with no goals beyond helping the club members get off?
Turned out, he did.
And he’d found it with Toni.
“Open the letter,” he said as he nuzzled her ear.
“Okay.” Without hesitation, she ripped the envelope open. “I’ve been dying to know what it is all—holy shit,” she whispered. “Zach what the hell is this?” She held up the slip of paper with two fingers like she was holding a scorpion by the tail instead of a check for one hundred thousand dollars.
He chuckled. “Looks like a check to me.”
“Yeah…but…what…” Her mouth opened and closed at least four times.
Giving her a squeeze, he said, “Why don’t you read the note.”
Toni’s hands trembled as she unfolded the short note accompanying the very large check.
Toni,
I apologize for assuming Zach would be a repeat of your past. Clearly, I couldn’t have been more wrong. You seem happier now than I can ever remember you being. This gesture brought tears to my and Andrew’s eyes, but it is completely unnecessary. Keep it. Zach has a wonderful idea for its use. Hang on to him.
With so much love,
Mark and Andrew
Toni turned in his embrace, her brow furrowed, and the check still in her hands. “I’m more confused after reading the note.”
“I know how much it bothered you that Mark paid so much money to Shark. You told me how guilty you felt. How you feel like you owe him.” He shrugged. “I’ve worked for years with only myself to support and minimal expenses. I have money. So, I re-paid Mark.” He couldn’t help the smirk that formed. “I’d rather you owe me. I can think of some very inventive forms of payback.”
As he spoke, he squeezed her waist. His words were meant to lighten the mood. Keep her from becoming too emotional and making a huge deal of it. Because it wasn’t that big of a deal, at least not the financial part of it. He had the money. Who better to spend it on than the woman he loved?
Tears immediately filled Toni’s eyes. “I can’t believe you would do that for me, Zach. It’s so much money. Why would you do this?”
He wiped an escaped tear off her smooth cheek. “Who else would I do this for, baby? You’re the only one who matters.”
“I take it Mark wouldn’t accept it.”
“Nope.”
“Well, here,” she said holding the check out to him. “This belongs to you then.”
Zach folded his hand over hers and nudged it into her lap. “I want you to have it.”
“What? No, Zach, I can’t possibly take this. I don’t even have a use for it.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I do?” The cute furrow was back on her brow.
“I was thinking you could use it to start a work program for troubled teens. You know, training them, giving them skills they can use in the real world. You have a lot of opportunity with the diner. Cooks, servers, management, human resources, those kinds of things.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when Toni catapulted herself into his arms. “Oh my God,” she squealed as she crushed him in her embrace. “You are the most wonderful man,” she whispered against his ear. “It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
He wished he could say it was all for altruistic reasons, but the reality was, he was selfish. He never wanted Toni to regret her decision to stay in Tennessee or consider leaving again. What was the one thing she was missing from her life in Chicago? The ability to help troubled teens. Well, not anymore. This was the last piece of the puzzle. She’d have no reason to ever search for greener pastures. Zach would see to it.
