“I wouldn’t say no but that’s not what I’m asking. I have the Grassroots Gala in three days. The donors and benefactors of MedLabOne will be there and I need to make an appearance. I don’t want to go alone so I need a date.”
“Wait. You said you’re fired.”
“I am, but I’ve lived and breathed MedLabOne for five years. I won’t allow Bentley to take that recognition away from me. I worked hard on developing the Zelle Mobile Lab so we could reach poverty-stricken areas in a one-hundred-mile radius. I spent hours researching and finding benefactors. I practically lived in the lab during that time.”
He paused. “Galas are really not my cup of tea.”
“What if I told you that I can arrange a meeting between you and Zack Cooper?”
His head whipped around. “Zack Cooper as in the MVP two years in a row and the cornerstone of the offensive line? He was the best damn player even up until he retired a few years ago.”
She definitely had Bear’s attention. “I heard through the grapevine that you’re a fan and I just happen to be good friends with him. He’s the largest benefactor for the Zelle unit.”
“How did I not know this?”
“Mainly because he’s a silent benefactor, per his wishes. For a star football player, he’s actually a private person. You probably didn’t know that he and his family moved near Fin’s Creek?”
“Hell, I’m living under a rock,” Bear moaned.
“When his oldest daughter was diagnosed with leukemia they wanted out of Dallas to live a simpler life. Zack said during Zella’s—hence the name Zelle— treatment he’d met so many children who had to travel for hours to get access to treatment and lab work. After Zella’s remission, Zack decided he wanted to do something to help others. His wife, Dresden, and I became friends in college, and she mentioned to him that I worked at a local lab. He reached out and said he wanted to make it possible for children to have free access for lab tests, so diseases are caught early. As you probably already know, he’s shared his success story that he grew up in an impoverished area, and his mom had to work two jobs just to make ends meet raising Zack and his brother.”
“Again, how is not local news?”
She shrugged. “After the gala, the word will spread. The lab unit is scheduled to start in six months. However, his wishes to remain anonymous will be respected.”
“And you won’t be a part of this?”
She readjusted the kitten on her lap. “As of right now, no.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“Yes, but what’s important here is the project. That’ll happen whether I’m there or not,” she said proudly.
“Fletcher lost his mind by firing you. You’re amazing. A rock star.”
“Now, now, we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. Without Zack and his connections, and the hard work making this happen, we wouldn’t have the remote unit. He’s a good man with a great intention to help others. So, what do you say? Zack Cooper?”
Bear blew out a long breath. “You certainly know how to squeeze a man you know?”
“That’s an odd way of saying it but thank you. So how about it? Put on a suit for two, maybe three, hours and be my date. Oh, and there’s an open bar.”
“Zack’s doing?”
“No. Bentley’s doing. He feels booze gives benefactors’ deeper pockets to donate. I can’t say he’s wrong.”
“There’s a problem.”
Then it came to her. “You don’t own a tux, do you? Turn here!”
He turned his turn signal on and made a quick turn onto Main Street. “Not going home?” he asked.
“I have a breakfast date with Tansy. I almost forgot. She’d kill me if I cancelled one more time. How about that tux, cowboy?”
“No and even throwing in Cooper it’s a lot to ask.” He scrubbed his hand down his jaw.
“Look…if you really don’t want to go, I can ask someone else—”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
