Caio whistles. “Whoa. I did not see that coming.”

When Phillip steps back, Robbie’s face is flushed. The poor guy looks stunned. He then turns to Monica and Tessa and introduces Phillip as his boyfriend.

I can’t help but smile from ear to ear.

“Aw, look at you,” Chiara teases me. “You’re not going to cry, are you?”

I pinch her waist. “Shush, woman.”

“Don’t you know, Chiara? Alistair is the biggest crybaby I’ve ever met,” Caio pipes up. “Cries over cereal commercials.”

Chiara loops her arms around my waist, smiling so hard, her eyes twinkle. “I was right all along. You are a big cuddly bear.”

I lean forward, touching my nose to hers. “I can be whatever you want.” I pause to bring my lips to her ear. “As long as I get to eat you.”

CHIARA

After graduation and the following celebratory lunch with Robbie and his family, I expect Alistair to drive back to his condo, so when he takes the highway heading in the opposite direction, I glance at him sideways.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise, Goldi.”

“Oh, I’m intrigued. Are you going to give me a clue?”

He smirks. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon enough.”

“Is that so? Hmm.”

When I see the sign to Sonoma, I understand his meaning. “We’re going to wine country?”

“Maybe.” He smirks.

I haven’t been to Sonoma since the fire. Alistair didn’t want me to see the destruction that devastated most of the valley. I saw plenty of pictures online though, so I’m a little anxious.

During the three-hour drive, I try my best to make him reveal his plan. I even offer sexual favors in exchange for clues, something he denies me vehemently for safety reasons. Thanks to that, I’m on pins and needles when we approach our destination.

I recognize the driveway that leads to his parents’ property even though I’ve only been there once. I expect to find nothing but an empty lot, so when a brand-new construction appears in front of me, I gasp.

“Oh my God.”

Alistair chuckles. “What do you think?”

“You rebuilt the house?”

“Yep.”

He parks the car in front of the porch. It’s not a replica of his parents’ former home, but it’s the same style.

“When?”

“As soon as I was allowed to. Do you like it?”

I’m stunned for a moment and don’t answer right away. When I do find my voice, I smack Alistair’s chest with the back of my hand. “And you kept this a secret from me?”

“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“Come on. I can’t wait to show you inside.”

He gets out of the car, and I do the same. As much as it was a lovely surprise, I’m a little mad that he didn’t share it with me. I could have helped him.

I wait for him to unlock the door, biting my tongue to avoid saying something that would ruin the moment.

He moves out of the way and says, “Ladies first.”

I only take a few steps in before I freeze. The house is empty.

“No furniture yet?”

“I knew it was a gamble building the house without asking for your input. I wouldn’t dream of decorating it on my own. I value my life.” He chuckles.

I smirk. “Smart man.”

“Come on. Let’s check out the back porch.”

He ushers me through the empty living room space toward the wall-to-wall sliding doors. The sun is setting, casting the valley in the most amazing orange hues. But the best part of the landscape is that there’s no trace of the charred destruction the fire left behind. The land is ready for new crops.

While I was busy at DuBose, Alistair decided to take some time off to figure out what he wanted to do next. Rebuilding the vineyard was an option—one I was more than one hundred percent on board with. I can’t believe he kept it a secret for so long.

“Oh, Alistair. This is amazing.”

“Well, it’s not as amazing as it can be.”

“What do you mean?” I turn to him, finding him on one knee, holding a diamond ring in his outstretched hand. “Oh my God.”

“I know it’s soon, and we have our entire lives ahead of us, but I don’t want to wait another second. You’re it for me, Chiara. It may have taken me a few detours to find you, but I know you’re the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

“Do you want me to marry you?”

He chuckles. “Yes, I do. I was getting to the question part. What do you say, Goldi? Will you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife?”

I want to say yes from the top of my lungs, but I end up bawling my eyes out instead. It’s ugly, and if Alistair were any smarter, he would run for the hills.

He doesn’t. He gets up and hugs me tight instead, kissing the top of my head. It takes me a minute to get the hysterics under control.