Page 84 of Clueless
I was so nervous, I felt physically sick.
It had been three months since Quinn first met Grace and they’d become… friends.They went shopping and to the movies together, out for lunch, and it seemed Grace was the first person she called when she had a problem at school or with friends.I tried not to take that personally.In fact, I loved that they were getting along so well, but I still got the feeling Grace was shutting down every time I mentioned the future.
I couldn’t live in limbo any longer.I had to know if she was in this for life, which meant I had to ask her.And risk life-altering rejection.
We had been heading down a bumpy dirt road the past five minutes, with her shooting curious glances in my direction.I told her it was a surprise, and all would be revealed soon.Potentially, the biggest surprise of her life.And I prayed it would be a welcome one.
We finally turned into the winding drive, and she gasped at the sight of the dogwood trees flanking the drive.They seemed to go on for miles before the dilapidated shack came into view.
Her expression was amused when she said, “I’m pretty sure if you were a serial killer planning to do away with me, this is where you’d take me.”
I laughed, grateful she always knew just what to say to ease my tension.“Just get out of the car, gorgeous.I want to take you on a tour.”
It was the golden hour, right before sunset.The same time I’d visited the property for the first time and had been bowled over by its beauty.The Realtor told me the sellers compared the views to Tuscany, where they’d visited often.Though I’d never been to Italy, if it was anything like this piece of paradise, I wanted to go.
I rounded the truck and took her hand, before closing the passenger’s door.She was wide-eyed as we passed the shack and she took in the view.“Oh wow, I didn’t even know we had views like this here.”
“I know, right?”When I’d been locked in a small cell, I’d dreamed about being free.Fresh air.Trees.Cloudless skies.Sunshine warming my face.But I could never have dreamed this big.
“What is this place?”she asked, turning in a slow circle.
It was over a hundred acres of rolling hills, orchards, with just the hint of houses in the far distance.We were standing at the peak, on a hill, with the breathtaking landscape stretched out in front of us.The sky was putting on a show with pale orange turning into shades of copper and violet, just like I’d hoped.
“Your dream,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around her from behind.“I hope.”
She looked at me over her shoulder.“What are you talking about?”
“This land is for sale.And I want to buy it for you… for us.”
“Are you serious?”
I smiled, trying to ignore the pinch of fear.“Yeah, if you love it as much as I do.”
“Can you… I mean… is this even possible?”
It was outside of the city, which I loved, but it was still seven figures, so I understood her question.But Luc insisted I start living like the country music superstar he assured me I was becoming.My career had taken off in ways I couldn’t even have imagined when he signed me.We’d released two singles off my debut album and both had been at the top of the country charts for weeks, which still blew my mind.
“Yeah, it is.”I kissed her neck.“But this land isn’t the only surprise, baby.Let’s take a look in the bed of the truck.”
I had a cover on it, keeping my surprise safe and secure.
She ran to the back of the truck, and I opened the tailgate and slid the cover back.
“Oh my God!”Her hands flew to her mouth as her eyes filled with tears.“This is… how… what?”
I laughed, pulling her into my arms as I kissed the top of her head.
During a conversation with her mama, I learned Grace had a dollhouse growing up that she’d fallen in love with.It was a big white farmhouse with black shutters and a wraparound porch, so I’d worked with a local artisan, who’d recreated a model of that house.Exactly the way I thought she’d want our house to look.The kind of home she once told her mama she’d want, if she ever met her Prince Charming.
“I don’t believe this, Taz.”
Tears were streaming down her face now, and I couldn’t brush them away fast enough.“Baby, don’t cry.”I was smiling, but seeing her cry always did me in, even when they were happy tears.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t believe you did this.My mama told you about?—”
“She told me everything.”I kissed her forehead.“And I want to be the guy who makes all those dreams come true for you, if you’ll let me?”
She pointed at the model house.“You mean this is… it could be… for real?”
