Eight months later

The fresh, languid air filled Mia’s lungs as they sped along the highway. It was a wonderful day and the summer breeze brought with it that sense of relaxation and tranquility.

They had The Red Hot Chili Peppers latest album playing. Nick said it was good road trip music, and she definitely agreed.

She just wished she knew where he was taking her.

He often came up with these wild ideas and she’d end up somewhere amazing. The last time she thought they were going on a weekend break to New York, the man took her to Paris. He did all sorts of things like that for her and she got the feeling today would be no different.

They’d been driving for a few hours now, but the drive was great because they always enjoyed each other’s company. They’d both gotten very busy with work. Him more than her because his business took off the minute he got more organized. Sometimes he’d be travelling all over the country working on different cases.

As for her, she was probably about another two years away from reaching her goal. When she started looking into things properly and got an idea of cost, she realized she was going to be working a little bit longer than she hoped. But it was fine.

Her family annoyed her daily with their offers to help, but she still refused and insisted that she didn’t want to fall back into old habits. It was better this way and she’d feel like she’d earned it. She still didn’t have any idea where she’d base the business, but the constant thing in her mind was she knew what she wanted.

Nick knew, too. She enjoyed talking about her dreams with him. He kept her going and, surprisingly, Glenn did too.

Things improved dramatically between them all after the night he came to apologize. It was clear that what was missing before was respect. With that added element, it made him a better brother to her and a better friend to Nick.

However, she could still see that there was some element of hurt that Nick felt when they were all together. He seemed to be working on it, though, because he made the effort to see Glenn, regardless of how busy he was.

She looked over at him, sitting next to her with that sexy grin on his face. He’d had the same self-satisfied look since yesterday, keeping some sort of secret he wouldn’t share. He’d simply came up to her and told her they were going on a road trip.

It wasn’t how they usually spent their Saturdays but she thought hey, why not? They were always doing different things.

“Are we going to Canada?” she giggled. They were in Michigan.

The gorgeous lake was to their left. She’d had the privilege of admiring it from about two hours ago.

“No, baby, we are not going to Canada,” he laughed.

“India, are we driving to India? You crazy man.” She widened her eyes and looked at him. He laughed even more.

“Baby, I told you I’m not telling you. It’s a surprise. If I tell you I’ll spoil it.”

“Nick, we’ve been driving for three hours. I’m going crazy.” She winced. “Do you want me to go crazy and lose my mind. I could end up doing weird things like collecting carrots, or tooth picks.”

“Baby, you’re already crazy, over me,” he chuckled.

“Yes I am,” she smiled. “Nick, come on, give me a hint. At least tell me how much farther we have left.”

“Okay, we’re nearly there.” He smiled widely, enhancing his gorgeous dimples.

“Nearly?” She looked around and wondered how far nearly was and where were they going. Where they were now was absolutely beautiful. She’d never driven this way before. It had that cool vibe she felt when she did her work, like back in Florida but with a more chilled pace.

“Twenty minutes.”

“Okay. I’ll survive for twenty minutes.”

Twenty minutes later they verged off the highway and into the country roads that verged out to the woodlands, closer to the lake. The place was so beautiful she forgot the long journey and focused on the surroundings.

Nick stopped in a park area surrounded with oak wood and those foreboding sequoia trees. She smiled as they got out of the car and went over to him to take his hand.

“What is this place Nick?”

“Come on. This is just the start of it. You’ll love it,” he promised, tugging on her hand.

He was right. He led her to a massive clearing that had a substantial view of the lake with the gentle woods adorning it. Her skin tingled as she took it all in, feeling the reverence that surrounded it and the natural beauty. There was the land, the lake, and a truly stunning two-story Victorian-looking house off in the distance. The place looked like a scene from a film. Like a scene from her dreams when she imagined her spa retreat.

The house looked like the one she’d live in, but better than what she imagined. And all this land over there in the woods would be what she’d turn into cabins for her guests, who could enjoy the beauty of the lake and the tranquil surroundings.

“Nick, this place is beautiful,” she breathed.

“I know. It looks like the place you want, right?” He smiled at her.

She laughed and gazed up at him, loving the way the afternoon sun beamed down on him. She’d never shown him any pictures of what she wanted. All she did was talk about it.

“How do you know? I was just talking and imagining somewhere… Somewhere that looked like here. Is that why we’re here? You wanted to give me an image of what I wanted?”

“Yes and no.”

“Yes and no? What does that mean?” She smacked him playfully in his chest.

“It’s yours if you want it,” he replied, taking her hand.

She widened her eyes instantly in complete disbelief. “What?”

“This.” He motioned to their surroundings and smiled.

“I don’t understand. I…” All she could do was look at him. “Nick.”

“I saw this last month, this whole area for sale, and I thought it looked exactly like the place you talked about for your spa retreat. So we can get it if you want it.”

“How can we afford this?” They were still in that little apartment on the edge of town, talking about moving somewhere bigger. She just never imagined it would be somewhere big like this.

“I got this, baby. I knew you wouldn’t take the money from your family, so I figured I’d start saving, too. Turns out my skills are worth a pretty penny. So do you want it?” There was that smile again, the one that made her fall deeper in love with him every time she saw it.

She opened her mouth to answer but didn’t quite know what to say. “You’d do this for me?”

“Mia, what kind of question is that?” He laughed. “I’d do anything for you. Besides, the land part with the woods is the you part. I’ll have it built up to look exactly like what you want.” He chuckled pulling her closer. “That,” he pointed to the house. “That is for you and me. It has five bedrooms, so our children can have a bedroom each, and there’s space for a dog, maybe two or five. You’ll probably want guard dogs around the place as well.”

Again she looked at him. “Nick,” she started to laugh. “You really planned this well. How many kids are we having?”

“Four,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone, as if she should know this. “But if you want more, that’s fine.”

She started to laugh and couldn’t stop. “Four or more kids and possibly five dogs? Does each child get a dog?”

“Don’t you laugh, baby, I’m being serious.” He nodded.

“Are you? You want all of that with me?”

He pulled in a breath and gazed at her lovingly. Then he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a little pink velvet box.

She was fascinated with the soft hue in the color and didn’t really take note of what it was until he flicked the box open and revealed the delicate engagement ring inside with a stunning princess-cut diamond placed at its center. It gleamed in the sunlight, sparkling radiantly with a spectrum of color.

Mia gasped and brought her hand up to her mouth. Tears were already running down her cheek, even before she watched him lower to one knee and take her hand.

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, then he pressed it to his cheek. She touched his face and smiled.

“I want everything with you. Everything. You are my angel and I’ll love you until I draw my last breath and beyond that. Will you marry me, Mia?” He smiled up at her with hope.

“I’ll love you forever, too, Nick. Yes, yes, of course I’ll marry you.” Mia could barely get the words out against the tears of joy that flowed straight from her soul. She couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe the moment and how perfect it was.

“Yes?” His smile widened.

“Of course.”

“Thank you,” he said, kissing her hand again, and then he slipped the ring on her finger.

Her heart soared when she saw it.

He stood up and she fell into his arms, into him, where happiness would always be.

He was her dream come true.