Chapter 11
JAKE
I adjust the collar of my shirt for the third time, checking my reflection in the private dining room mirror.
The Holy Rolling Steakhouse's exclusive space has been transformed according to my exacting specifications with soft lighting,a table in the center with the emerald green tablecloth that matches Trish's dress, white roses arranged precisely in crystal vases.
"Nervous, Mr. Winters?" asks the restaurant manager, appearing at my elbow with a knowing smile.
"Focused," I correct, though he's not entirely wrong.For a man who's negotiated billion-dollar contracts and overseen security for heads of state, I shouldn't feel this unsettled about dinner with a woman I've spent the past week with in various motels.
But this isn't just dinner, and Trish Walker isn't just any woman.
I check my watch: 7:45 PM. Fifteen minutes until she arrives, assuming she's punctual, and based on my observations, Trish values timelines just as much as I do, even if she's more flexible about detours.
My phone buzzes with a text from Jordyn Kane:
We're in position. Operation Hopeless Romantic is a go.
I suppress a smile at her terminology.When I approached Jordyn earlier today about my plans, she'd embraced the idea with an enthusiasm that bordered on excessive,immediately pulling Talia and the other bridesmaids into what she insisted on calling a "conspiracy of love."
Understood. Proceed as discussed, I text back, because some habits die hard, even when coordinating surprise dinner guests rather than security operations.
Another glance at my watch: 7:52.The wait is excruciating in ways I hadn't anticipated.
I've spent my entire adult life cultivating control, maintaining distance, building walls between myself and potential vulnerability.
Yet in just a few days, Trish has systematically dismantled those defenses without even trying.
The frightening truth is that I'm in love with her.
The realization had hit me this morning during the security perimeter check.
One moment I was reviewing camera placements with Riley, and the next, I was wondering if Trish would approve of the angle, if she'd notice the subtle attention to detail I'd insisted on.
Every decision, every thought, had circled back to her.
And when Riley asked a direct question about the rooftop surveillance, I'd been so lost in thoughts of Trish that I'd had to ask him to repeat himself.
That's when I knew. This wasn't just attraction or compatibility or even strong affection.It was the kind of disruptive, all-consuming love that changes the trajectory of a life.My life.
A soft knock at the private dining room door pulls me from my thoughts.The restaurant manager reappears, leading not Trish but Jordyn, Talia, and the bridesmaids into the room.They're all dressed for an elegant dinner, excitement evident in their expressions.
"Right on schedule," I note, checking my watch again.
"Of course," Jordyn says with a grin."When the notoriously precise Jake Winters sets a timeline, one does not deviate."
"We have approximately seven minutes before Trish arrives," I remind them, ignoring the teasing.
Talia, whom I've only met briefly during security consultations, gives me an appraising look."You clean up nice, Winters. No wonder Trish is smitten."
Before I can respond, my phone rings with a video call from my sister Ellie, right on time for her part in the evening.I answer and switch to video, positioning my phone on the special stand I'd arranged on the table.
"Jake!" Ellie's face appears on screen, her Seattle home visible in the background."Is everything set? Is she there yet?Did you remember the music?"
"Yes, no, and yes," I answer methodically."And thank you for doing this.I know it's last minute."
"Are you kidding? My control-freak brother falling head over heels for someone he met less than a week ago?I wouldn't miss this for the world." Her expression softens."I can't wait to meet her."
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 the breach 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 perfect truck.
" 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.
"I can be professional tomorrow," I reply."Tonight, I just need you to know how I feel."
"I know," she says softly. "I've known since you got my coffee order right at that last gas station."
I laugh, genuinely surprised."Coffee was my tell?"
"That was you showing me you were paying attention," she corrects."Just like this dress. Just like the mountain overlook.Just like a thousand little moments this week when you revealed the man behind the control freak facade."
"The control freak is still in here too," I warn her, only half joking.
"Good," she says with a mischievous gleam in her eye."I've grown rather fond of him, especially when he's giving very specific instructions."
Heat flares between us at her implication, but before I can respond, Jordyn clears her throat dramatically.
"As much as I'm loving this rom-com moment, I believe there are introductions to be made," she says, gesturing toward my phone where Ellie is watching with obvious delight.
"Right." I keep one arm around Trish's waist as I guide her toward the table."Trish, this is my sister Ellie.Ellie, this is Trish."
"The woman who finally broke through my brother's fortress of solitude," Ellie says with a wide smile."I've been waiting to meet you for approximately... my entire life."
"Don't exaggerate," I say, but Trish is already leaning toward the screen.
"I've heard so much about you," she tells Ellie."Jake talks about his niece and nephew all the time."
"He does?" Both Ellie and I speak simultaneously, equally surprised.
Trish glances between us. "Yes?He showed me pictures after breakfast in Heartstone.Said they were the only people he misses when he's on the road."
Something warm unfurls in my chest at her casual revelation.I hadn't realized she'd been paying such close attention during our conversations, filing away the small details I'd shared almost unconsciously.
"Well, they miss their Uncle Jake too," Ellie says, her expression softening."And they're going to love their new Aunt Trish."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," I interject, though the thought sends an unexpected thrill through me.
"Please," Ellie scoffs. "You bought the woman a dress that perfectly matches her eyes and arranged a surprise dinner with all her friends present just to tell her you love her.I'm not the one getting ahead of myself here."
Trish laughs, the sound pure and unrestrained."I like your sister already."
"You two joining forces is mildly terrifying," I admit, but I'm smiling.
The restaurant manager approaches discreetly."Shall we serve dinner now, Mr. Winters?"
"Yes, thank you." I help Trish to her seat at the center of the table, taking the place beside her.
As the others arrange themselves around us, the first course is served and conversation flows. I study the woman who has captured my mind, body, and soul.
She catches me staring and leans close."Everything okay?"
"Perfect," I reply honestly. "Just thinking about how lucky I am that your flight got canceled."
"Hmm, yes. Almost like it was meant to be." She gives me a considering look."You didn't happen to hack into the airline system and manufacture a mechanical failure, did you?Given your tech background and obvious control issues?"
I laugh, genuinely amused by the accusation."Even I have limits, Trish. That was pure chance."
"Good," she says, her hand finding mine under the table."Because I like the idea that some things are just meant to happen, no control or planning required."
"Like falling in love with your ride share driver?" I suggest.
"Exactly like that." She squeezes my hand."Though technically, I fell in love with a secret billionaire tech mogul with control issues and an unexpected romantic streak."
"And I fell in love with a stubborn, perceptive marketing specialist who challenges every boundary I set," Icounter.
"Sounds like the perfect match," she sayssoftly.
Looking at her, radiant in the dress I chose, surrounded by friends who clearly adore her, her hand warm in mine, I can onlyagree.
"The perfect match," I echo. "And the best detour I never planned totake."