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.
Pulling back, I crane my neck to stare into his eyes. “Yes, Alistair. The answer is yes.”
“Thank God. I was beginning to worry.”
He puts the ring on my finger, and it feels like a dream. I keep staring at it in a daze.
“Goldi, are you okay?”
I lift my chin, meeting his stare. “I’m more than okay. I thought grand love stories only existed in movies, but you proved me wrong, Alistair.”
“You proved me wrong too, sweetheart.” He pulls me into his arms, kissing me so gently, as if he’s afraid I’ll break.
The toe-curling kiss ends too soon, but when Alistair pulls back and stares into my eyes, the most wonderful feeling spreads through my chest. My heart is overflowing with love for this man who I was lucky enough to rescue from the side of the road.
“Do you remember the name of the car rental company you used in Italy?”
He frowns. “Not off the top of my head. I’d have to look it up. Why?”
“I need to send them a thank-you card.”
