About an hour later, Diego entered the tavern without looking around. He knew Victoria was right, but that didn't mean he had to like it. He found his father and frowned before heading toward his table. Did Victoria have to be talking to his father right at this second?

"I was afraid you were going to miss the stage. Victoria, can you bring him some stew? That should perk him up." Alejandro reached over the table to slap his son on the shoulder. "It's not that hot outside. Stop complaining."

"Complaining? I thought this trip was your idea, Don Diego?" Victoria glanced at the caballero who had yet to look up at her. Alejandro and Diego were two big reasons she'd just cut out her heart.

Victoria shook her head. She'd done no such thing. You couldn't love a ghost. She wanted a future, not an affair. Her friends and her business meant more to her than empty promises. The De la Vegas always supported her, and she'd hate to disappoint them.

Alejandro was always after Diego to get married. Diego was in love like she was, and his love was just as unrequited. She wondered sometimes, because she suspected Diego had hidden passions. Diego was very proper and controlled, and sometimes she tried to push him just to see what would happen. On the other hand, she knew Diego would be horrified if he'd caught them in the pantry earlier today. Diego spoke of poetry, of lives so entwined they could never be torn apart. She wanted that. Alejandro spoke of love, too, and always treated her with respect. She wasn't going to risk that to kiss a stranger.

"I'm still not looking forward to the trip. I think it's going to rain later, too." Diego pouted as he folded his hands on the table.

Victoria shook her head. "It's not going to rain. I'm sure your trip will go just fine."

Diego looked after her as she went to get him some lunch. Victoria didn't seem too broken-hearted right now, and that only made Diego slump further in his chair.

Alejandro smiled at his son. "I've written to my old commander. You can have dinner with them tomorrow night."

"Them?" Diego asked, completely disinterested in whatever plans his father made for him. He was going to Monterey to argue with the government, not to attend the academic conference everyone thought he was traveling to.

He glanced over at Alejandro's silence and grimaced when Alejandro smiled broadly, already knowing what was coming.

"His daughter is a teacher. Maybe she will want to go to your conference with you. You can show her your…whatever you made. She's a lovely young woman."

"Father, would you drop it?"

"Diego, I'm trying to help."

"Help what?" Victoria asked as she came back to the table. Diego poked at the stew she brought him as his father once again complained about Diego's lack of romantic interest.

Victoria shook her head at Alejandro. It wasn't right to push a man before he was ready. She would be patient, and couldn't blame Diego if he wanted to wait, too. "Don Diego, don't you listen to him. One day you'll know. You're a good man, you'll make a fine husband. One day you'll find someone, and you will be happy." And one day she'd find someone who cared more about her than about fighting.

They all turned at the sound of silky, mocking laughter. "That's rich."

Diego scowled at Ramone sitting nearby and stabbed his spoon hard into his bowl. "It's not nice to eavesdrop, alcalde."

"I couldn't help it. The taverness and the bachelor, talking about marriage as if they knew anything about it."

"And where's your wife, alcalde? You don't know anything about it, either." Victoria said with a hand on her hip.

"I don't do nothing and sleep all day, and at least I know how to talk to women. And I'm sure you'll be happy waiting forever for your precious outlaw to make an honest woman out of you."

Diego's chair echoed in the tavern as he stood and glared at the alcalde.

Victoria put a hand on Diego's arm and defended herself. "Zorro can take care of himself. I don't love him, won't be waiting for him. He'll find someone else, and so will I."

"Oh, really? Did you break the poor man's heart? Maybe I'll catch him next time. I still don't see men lining up to court you. Probably still afraid they'd be killed for touching a traitor's castoffs."

Victoria leaned her weight into Diego to keep him from attacking the malicious alcalde. "Don Diego, stop. That's what he wants. I don't care what he says."

Diego looked down at her. She truly didn't appear to be upset. Was that because she cared so little for Zorro and wasn't mourning their breakup? Or was it because she had to deal with talk like this all the time and he hadn't known? Guilt stabbed at him as he realized he'd never once thought about how his pursuit had affected her.

Ramone grinned shrewdly as Diego and Victoria stared at each other. "Or maybe Don Alejandro's worries are over. He can't seem to marry his son off to anyone. Don Diego's been infatuated with you for years. Maybe you'll take pity on poor Diego. He's rich. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you married him for his money." He grinned as silence settled over the tavern.

Victoria couldn't tell if the flush which crawled up Diego's neck was from anger or embarrassment. Infatuated with her? Not likely. Diego once again tried to advance on the alcalde. She had to grip both of his shoulders, and still he didn't stop till he knocked her off balance. He caught her, and then tried to catch hold of himself.

Ramone glanced around as the silence was interrupted by the scrape of chairs as men stood. Diego was leaving for some fool conference today. It seemed many of his ranch hands were here to see him off. It didn't matter. He smiled as he saw Diego and Victoria were oblivious to their audience. So much for that friendship. Victoria looked horrified, and Diego had never appeared so flustered.

He didn't consider this a retreat as he wiped his face and stood to leave. Victoria would never marry the coward for his money. There were enough men here for word to spread, and soon Zorro would hear about Diego's crush. Maybe Zorro would take care of Diego for him. Victoria would lose the De la Vega support when Alejandro realized his son was pining for a tavern owner. No, this wasn't a retreat.

"Have a nice trip, Diego," Ramone said, his smile charming and his voice sincere as he left the silent tavern.

Diego looked down at Victoria, affected as always by being so close to her. She didn't look too thrilled at Ramone's announcement. He felt the heat of Victoria's blush as he stroked a finger down her cheek, disappointed. Just this morning he had hope that Diego could romance her a little. Her eyes widened at his touch, her eyes sparking in reaction, and he suddenly had hope again. He couldn't let Ramone's words destroy everything. Not when he was so close.

Victoria regained her balance, and Diego reminded himself to let her go. He glanced at his father then followed Ramone outside.

"When are you going to learn some manners?"

Ramone turned, completely relaxed as he stared up at the caballero, hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Oh, was I rude?"

"You seem a little cavalier about insulting someone loved by everyone."

"Including you?"

Diego's lips firmed. "Including Zorro. She said she doesn't love him anymore, that doesn't mean he stopped loving her. He might take exception to being used against her."

"That's nothing new," Ramone said, grinning when Diego blanched. "Zorro might take exception to someone else moving in on his territory, though."

Diego's fists clenched and he took a step forward before he reined himself in again. "I'll be gone. You saw my men in the tavern. Who will defend you?"

Ramone scowled at Diego for a long moment before turning and stalking away without another word.

Diego stared after Ramone, but eventually he knew he'd have to face her again. Ramone knew he loved Victoria? Did everyone? Well, they did now!

He felt his father slap him on the shoulder. "I'm proud of you son. I'll look after her. She'll be fine."

Diego glanced at his father and rubbed the back of his neck. Would she? Or had he once again caused more trouble for her? And she'd just announced to the world that she was looking for someone else. A lot could happen in a week.

Alejandro glanced back into the tavern and chuckled. "I think your secret is out, though."

"My secret?" Diego made sure the alcalde was still walking away and no soldiers were coming to arrest him.

Alejandro laughed again. "Don't look so horrified. I'm not sure how Victoria hasn't figured it out by now. I'm not surprised."

"Father, I'm not—"

Alejandro pushed his son back toward the door of the tavern. "Don't bother trying to hide it. I always knew you liked her. You're not very good at keeping secrets."

Diego stopped just over the threshold. Victoria hadn't moved, and their eyes locked briefly. Then she looked around at the silent tavern, her face turning pink when she noticed everyone watching her. When Diego ventured another step, she ran to hide in the kitchen. Everyone around her seemed to take it as fact that Diego had a crush on her. That didn't mean love, though, and she had her doubts.

But he'd admitted it, hadn't he? He'd said the woman he loved was in love with another man. Diego knew he couldn't compete with Zorro. Would their friendship change now? She valued his friendship above anything else. Flashes came to her then: Diego talking about a new foal he'd spent the night delivering. Diego jumping in front of a bull. Diego fighting for the freedom of the press. Diego spending hours and hours at her tavern, either helping her or sitting quietly in the corner. Diego reading poetry and playing piano—always including her, always seeking her opinion and approval.

She shook her head. Nonsense. She glanced up and felt her face warm again as she met the smirk of her friend and employee.

Alicia just smiled at her and chopped more potatoes.

"What?" Victoria asked, defensive. It felt like she'd been tossed into a deep lake, and she didn't know which end was up.

"Exciting morning."

Victoria's hands came to her warm cheeks, tugging on her hair and clothes as she tried to pull herself together. "Not really."

Alicia picked up a bag. "What are these?"

Victoria stared at the bag silently as she approached the other side of the table. Alicia had often hinted that Diego spent too much time in the tavern for a young bachelor with a large estate. Victoria had laughed her off more times than she could count. She shouldn't have left the bag on the counter.

"So I can sell them then if they're not special?" Alicia prodded her when Victoria was silent.

Victoria grabbed the bag from Alicia so fast the woman laughed and Victoria scowled. "I made too many cookies."

"Oh?" Alicia looked around at the kitchen, grinning as she glanced over Victoria's shoulder. "I didn't see you made cookies."

Victoria turned a deep red. Both of them knew all the cookies were in the bag, and they were made for Diego.

"A man gets hungry on the stage. Why shouldn't I make him something?"

"You made me cookies?"

Victoria paled, then pointed an accusing finger at her so-called friend when Alicia grinned smugly. How long had Diego been standing behind her? She spun around to face her friend.

They were friends, right? They talked. She liked his eternal curiosity about the world. Not many people here appreciated his talents. Appreciation? Is that what she felt? Life could be hard in California, but Diego knew music. Wrote poetry. He made life…softer somehow. He was also the complete opposite of Zorro. She honestly hadn't had anyone else in mind this morning when she told Zorro she was not going to wait for him. She'd never listened to people who hinted the rich caballero was interested in the tavern owner.

Would she be interested in him? She leaned back against the table, the cookies in her hand drooping a little as she stared at him. She knew he wouldn't change. She'd hounded him often enough about getting involved. Had she been trying to make him more like Zorro? He probably wouldn't want his wife getting involved, either. Didn't that bother her? For some reason, today it didn't. Last night she'd realized the danger Zorro put her in time and again. Now Diego seemed the smarter of the two-quietly undermining the alcalde when he could, staying out of trouble when he couldn't. If she wanted a family, did she really want her children to have an outlaw for a father?

She looked down at the bag of treats she'd made for him early this morning. Had she just wanted him to have something to eat? Or had she wanted to send him off with a reminder of her before he went to the big city?

She would miss him this week. She'd take the time to decide if she was ready to give up on Zorro, and could return Diego's affections if he truly did care for her. Maybe that would give her time to think. Diego would be leaving before much else could be said today, decisions didn't have to be made so fast.

Or maybe not. She stared at Diego's hand as he reached out to her. "Can we go for a walk?"

Friends didn't hold hands. He never touched her. She could remember running to him, finding safety in his arms. She could even remember Diego stepping in front of her when she was threatened. But he never initiated contact. What had she thought before? Hidden passions? She'd just said goodbye to Zorro this morning. She wasn't ready for this.

She was more surprised than he was when she took his hand. She looked up and met his eyes as she felt a spark. She'd told Zorro once Diego was not unattractive. Right now, with Diego seeming to take up every inch of free space in her kitchen, completely focused on her…she'd definitely understated that attraction.

Diego felt the spark, too, when their hands touched. There was a reason he never touched her, he acknowledged as they began walking slowly down the street. Today, however, maybe Ramone had done him a favor. If everyone knew he cared for her, no one would be surprised if he courted her.

Or married her.

She'd announced she and Zorro were through. He thought of the long week ahead-of the long months ahead, without even being able to visit her as Zorro. Right now, his future looked so dreary. He wanted her as his wife. He'd lost control this morning in the pantry. He wanted her with him, no secrets. No restrictions on control.

What should he say, though? He had to say something, or he was doomed to be alone. He turned them into a garden, knowing he needed to stop wasting time. Since Ramone had revealed his 'secret', Diego had begun to feel an increasing sense of urgency. Zorro lost her this morning. He couldn't lose her to another man. The governor was expecting him in Monterey. Who knew what could happen while he was gone? Sure, he could be here after the trip. But what if she met someone this week? What if something happened to her while he was away?

He'd seen her looking for him this morning. She'd made him cookies. Maybe she'd help him eat them on the trip if they went together.

"I'm sorry about that," Diego admitted as he walked to a shaded area.

She stared at his chest, avoiding his eyes as she tried to find some balance. She'd kissed Zorro this morning, but she'd sent him away. Now her best friend, the most peaceful man in the pueblo, was making her blush?

"That wasn't your fault." She smiled up at him. "Thank you for standing up for me. I don't think the alcalde will cause any trouble when you're gone. I'll miss you, but I'm sure things will be quiet."

Diego took a step forward, and once again Victoria thought about hidden passions. She glanced at the foot or so of space between them. "You'll miss me? Do you mean that?"

"Don Diego—"

"There's no one else here. I don't need a title." Diego seemed to move closer, though she didn't see his feet move before her eyes flew back to his.

Victoria leaned sadly against the wall. "Only one of us has a title, Don Diego."

"Do you want one?"

"What?"

"Look around." Victoria took a better look at the garden, and recognized it as the mission. "Come with me."

"What? Where?"

"To Monterey." Victoria opened her mouth to protest, and now Diego did step closer. "First, come inside with me. Ramone was wrong. I'm not infatuated with you." Diego took a deep breath. "I love you. More than anything. I wasn't sad about the trip. I didn't want to go anywhere without you. Marry me, Victoria."

Zzz

Author's Note: So thoughts? Comments? Next chapter will probably go up Monday. The story takes it's time, nothing exciting. But I hope you like it.