Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
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!”
EPILOGUE
NASH
Four years later…
The sound of your children’s voice is the best kind of work interruption.
“Dad, Dad, Dad, look!” my son, Benji, shouts, his voice still baby-soft, despite the feisty speed at which he barrels into the garage.
I set down my wrench and wipe the grease from my fingers and manage to squat down just in time to snatch up my boy as he flies into my arms. His brown hair is especially wild today, and his T-shirt has crumbs and chocolate smudged across the front. He must have gotten into the cookies Grace baked last night. He’s also holding something in his right hand–something he definitely wants to show me.