Chapter 47

Lacey

The way Grant was looking at me, I knew something momentous was about to happen to me.

“We’ve got some important things to talk about,” Grant said.

“Do we?”

“Yes, so follow me.”

I followed him to his car and we headed toward the center of the city. There was an expensive restaurant overlooking the harbor that had always been one of my favorites. My father had taken me and Grant there for one of my birthdays a very long time ago, before any of the other brothers had arrived.

They served classical French cuisine and the waiters wore black jackets and white shirts. It was quite overpriced, and for some reason, I had always loved it. I guess because of the memories it brought back.

“I’ve always loved this restaurant,” I said to Grant as we were seated at a table by the window.

“I know that, Lacey,” he said.

We took our seats and the waiter asked what we’d like to drink. Grant deferred to me.

“This is Lacey Eden,” he said to the waiter. “She’s one of the most important wine buyers in the city. Show her your best stuff.”

The waiter went back to the counter and brought me a worn, handwritten wine list that was obviously not used for most customers. On it were some of the fanciest and most expensive bottles of wine in the world.

I was so curious about what Grant wanted to talk to me about that I probably didn’t give the wine list the attention it deserved. I chose a bottle of merlot and when I looked for the price I saw there was none printed.

“Right away, miss,” the waiter said, and I gave a little shudder as I wondered what the wine would cost.

Then I remembered, I couldn’t even drink it. I was pregnant, but I didn’t dare say anything.

I looked at Grant and the way he was looking at me. He had something on his mind. Something big.

“So,” I said. “I’m not sure what I just ordered.”

“I’m sure it will be excellent, like everything you do.”

I looked into his face. I know this is going to sound clichéd, and I know every woman in my position would say exactly the same thing, but he really was the most handsome man you ever could imagine. He was a real man, firm, as if built from steel and stone. I would trust him with my life.

“How’s your shoulder?” I asked.

“Better.”

“I still can’t believe Rob shot you.”

“Well, I’d have done the same thing in his position.”

“And what position was that?”

“Well, I was stealing you from him, and he knew it.”

“Excuse me?” I said, my cheeks flushing red.

“You heard me,” he said, and winked.

“Grant, what are you saying?”

Before I could force an explanation from him, he was off his seat and down on one knee. I felt a sudden pang of nervousness that caused my heart to flutter. I knew what this meant. I knew what was happening. And yet, it was all so sudden, so unexpected, that my mind was having a hard time keeping up with what my eyes were seeing.

Could this really be happening to me? To Lacey? The girl who never chose the right man? And could it be happening with Grant Lucas? The man who swore he’d never get married for as long as he lived?

Tears filled my eyes instantly. They blurred everything. My lip started to tremble. I looked down at Grant, through my teary eyes, and knew that everything I’d ever wanted was about to come true.

“Lacey,” he said.

All I could do was shake my head. He reached into his breast pocket and took out a small box. I struggled to hold back tears of pure joy. He opened it in front of me and I was so startled I could hardly breathe.

Inside the box was the ring I’d chosen from the jewelry store, the really expensive one I was going to make Rob buy. I remembered then that Rob had said someone else had already bought it. Had Grant had it all this time? Had he known all along he was going to make me his? Rob had said the ring had been purchased the very same day I’d looked at it. Had Grant known all of this was going to happen, even then? I couldn’t believe it.

I wanted to fall onto him and hug him. I wanted to cry. But I kept my nerve and just looked into his eyes.

“Lacey,” he said again, “would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

That was it. I couldn’t contain myself any longer. I got down and put my arms around his neck. He held me close, put his lips on mine, and we had the strongest, most passionate, intense kiss you could ever imagine.

It was heaven. I felt as if my heart was about to burst. The thing I’d been dreaming about, fantasizing about since I was a girl of seventeen and my father brought him to my house, was finally coming true.

“Yes,” I said to him. “Yes, yes, yes, yes. Of course I’ll be your wife.”

“Oh, thank God,” Grant said, and it surprised me to realize he must have been just as nervous as I was. “Thank you God,” he said again.

We kissed some more, and then sheepishly looked around the restaurant at the other diners. Everyone there knew what they were witnessing, and when we looked up, they applauded spontaneously. Even the waiters and kitchen staff joined in.

Grant took the ring from the box and slipped it onto my finger. It was a perfect fit. I was dizzy from looking at it. The diamond was enormous. Just knowing how much he’d spent on it, and the fact that he’d bought it way back when I still thought I was going to be Rob’s bride, showed me how certain he was about his decision.

It made me feel safe and secure. It meant that even if I hadn’t fully known what I’d wanted, and even though I gave him a hard time for intruding into my life and making decisions for me, he’d known, even then, that he was going to marry me. He was going to be my husband.

I looked across the table at my new fiancé.

“What the hell took you so long?” I asked, my eyes full of tears.

“I had to make sure you were ready to say yes, Lacey. You’re a very stubborn girl.”

“I’ve been waiting my whole life for you to wife me, Grant Lucas.”

“And I’ve been waiting my whole life to make you mine.”