Page 12

GRACE

I can’t believe Nash forgave me so easily.

How could I have ever let myself believe–even for a second –that Nash would ever have been capable of the things that horrible woman said?

I almost ghosted him, and he still came looking for me.

Still looked at me like I was everything to him.

And he held me in the middle of that coffee shop, unashamed, and told me he loved me.

And asked me to marry him.

“He loves me…” I whisper to myself, smiling. I see it in everything he does. The way he watches me like he’s the luckiest man alive. How he holds me like I’m a delicate treasure. The way he whispers lovingly into my ear, words that sends my soul soaring.

We’re engaged.

My whole body goes hot every time I think about it.

Just a few days ago, Emily was trying to set me up with a guy I would never go out with, and now I’m off the market forever.

I smile to myself as I sit in the shop, wearing yet another one of Nash’s old T-shirts, watching Craig and Nick work on a flashy new Mustang they’ve got up on a lift.

Nash left about an hour ago. He said he had some errands to run and that he was going to sort things out for us. Make things all better. I asked him for more details, but he just kissed me on the forehead and left. I know better than to doubt him now. Whatever he’s up to, I trust him completely.

“Yo, girl!” I look up as Emily walks in through the open garage door. She’s got two iced coffees with her and is looking at me with that look she always has when she knows exactly how I’m feeling.

“Somebody’s on cloud nine,” she teases, dancing over to me and handing me my cup. “Mrs. Nash.”

“Mrs. Nash!?” I laugh. “It will be Mrs. Emerson when the day comes.”

“Oh, good. Because that’s much better than Mrs. Nash.” I smile and take a sip of my drink.

“You know, I thought you were going to punch him yesterday,” I say. “The way you got all up in his face.”

Emily rolls her eyes and chuckles. “I honestly was close. But he had the receipts. Smart guy.”

“ Very .”

“And you two are obviously completely obsessed with each other.” She smiles. “But if he didn’t have those pics on his phone? If he was just stammering and trying to get past me? I might have laid him out!”

Emily mimes throwing a punch in the air, drawing odd looks from the boys.

I smile but look down. Guilt still runs through me, like ice in my veins. “I hate that I doubted him.”

“Grace,” Emily says gently. “You were ambushed by a psycho bitch. The fact that you even gave Nash a chance to explain himself shows that you have a good heart. Most girls wouldn’t have.”

“You think?” I ask.

Emily wraps an arm around me–a comforting arm like a mom teaching her daughter a lesson. “ I know ,” she tells me. “From what I saw yesterday, Nash would die before hurting you. You found yourself a goodie.”

Tears sting my eyes. I wipe them on the sleeve of Nash’s T-shirt. Nodding, I look at Emily. “Yeah, I did.”

The loud sound of an engine and a car pulling up outside startles me. Emily and I both look up, and my stomach drops as a black SUV pulls up and parks. I know who it is before he even steps out.

It’s my father.

Bill Sinclair, in a tailored navy blazer, a pressed white dress shirt, and designer leather loafers that have never seen a speck of dirt until today. Emily glances at me, her eyes wary.

He walks straight at me, two of his bodyguards behind him in step. His face is stiff with the same look he always has when he looks at me: disapproval. He stops in front of me and glances around the garage, his nose twitching like he’s found himself suddenly in a landfill.

“I heard the rumors but I didn’t believe them. This is where you’ve been hiding?”

“Not hiding,” I reply. “Living my life.”

He sighs, putting a hand to his brow. “This has gone on long enough, Grace. You’ve had your fun playing house with the riff-raff. It’s time for you to come home where you belong.”

“Where I belong?” I scoff. “You mean living under your thumb? Being just another pretty little rich girl at one of your business galas, smiling for men who just want me so they can get to you?”

“Grace, be reasonable. You have no idea how privileged you are.”

“Privileged?” I laugh. “I’ll gladly give up all that ‘privilege’ for a life that truly makes me happy.”

My father’s eyes narrow, accentuating his sharp, stern features. “Where is this man? ” He growls. “This…mechanic who has tricked my daughter? He’ll ruin you, Grace–”

“She’s happier than I’ve ever seen her,” Emily says protectively, stepping forward.

“She’s a child! And she has no idea what she’s doing.” He glares at me with fiery anger in his eyes. “Grace, if you remain here, you’ll lose your grandmother’s cottage. It’s in my name. I can sell it tomorrow.”

“Fine.” I glare back at him. “If you want to be that petty and get rid of Grandma’s cottage, so be it. But you won’t control me anymore. I’ve made a choice for my life, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

My dad looks stunned. He was definitely not expecting that response from me.

“And Nash is his name, Dad. This mechanic you disapprove of. We’re in love, and we’re getting married. I don’t want your money. I don’t want any part of your world. I have everything I need right here.”

My dad stares for a moment. I see Nick and Craig looking over at me out of the corner of my eye. Just like Nash, they’re ready to defend me if need be. I’m sure he told them to watch out for me in his absence.

My dad sees them, mutters something under his breath, then turns away. “Fine, Grace. Do what you want. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I watch him as he walks back to his SUV, climbs in, and pulls away. Only after he’s out of the lot do I finally relax. Emily exhales slowly beside me. “Jeez, talk about intense.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath and realize just how tense I am. Slowly, I try to relax as Emily places a hand on my shoulder.

“He’s always been that way,” I say. “Cold, controlling. His way or the highway. I should have said all that to him years ago.”

“Oh, years ago when you were a minor with nowhere to go?” Emily replies. “No, I think now was the perfect time.”

The sound of tires outside makes my stomach flip.

He didn’t come back, did he?

I open my eyes, and my heart nearly explodes as I see Nash step out of his truck, a broad smile on his face. He walks in with a swagger that I can only interpret as pride. Is he proud to have me? It’s almost too much to think about, but I rush to him and leap into his arms.

“Hey,” he says, catching me and pressing a kiss to my cheek. “You all right?”

I nod. “My father was just here. He tried to–he tried to ruin everything. To take me from you. But I told him to get lost.”

“I’m so sorry,” he replies, squeezing me tight. “I should have been here.”

“It’s okay.” I shake my head as he lets me down. “I need to be able to stand up for myself sometimes , right?”

Nash smiles, brushes my hair back, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelope. He hands it to me.

“What’s this?”

“Open it.” He grins.

Tentatively, I peel the envelope open and find myself staring at legal forms I’m not sure I understand. I do, however, see the names Sheila Cosgrove and Nash Emerson. I swallow hard and look up at him.

“What is it?”

“It’s my restraining order,” he says triumphantly. “Got it today. My lawyer expedited it. Sheila will never bother us again. Not unless she wants to end up in jail.”

My eyes go wide. “Are you serious?”

“Damn right I am.” He nods. “The cops told me she’s already skipped town. Got out as soon as the process server showed up.”

This is almost too much for me to handle. My heart is pounding so fast I swear everyone in the garage can hear it. I glance back at Emily, who is smiling at me. She gives me the thumbs up.

“So she’s…gone?” I ask Nash.

He leans in and kisses me.

“Gone.”

“So this is what you were doing today?” I ask. “When you said you were going to sort things out for us?”

Nash nods, and a curious smile twists over his lips–a smile unlike anything I’ve ever seen. And before I realize what’s happening, he drops to one knee.

My heart stops.

He pulls out a small velvet box and presents it to me. “I felt so bad about not having a ring. I had to make it official and let the whole world know that you are mine.”

He opens the box, and I gasp. Inside is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen, and I’m a rich girl who has been raised around all kinds of jewelry.

It’s not the most expensive ring in the world, or the most ornate, but something about it is me .

It’s like it was custom made to fit my personality.

And somehow, Nash knew it when he saw it.

Tears spill from my eyes as he slips it onto my finger. “Grace Sinclair.” He smiles. “I know you already said yes, but will you tell me one more time that you will marry me and let me love you forever?”

“Yes!” I blurt out, gasping for breath as I’m overcome with joy. “Of course I will, baby! Of course!”