Page 58 of Fake Married to the Grumps

“No,” I answer, while smiling at her. “But I have to go now. There’s something I need to handle and I’ll explain later.”

“Thought we had a dinner date after this?” A frown plays out on her face, and she pouts.

“I know, and I’m sorry, but I really have to handle this, so we’ll have to re-schedule.”

A flicker of disappointment crosses her eyes before I kiss her forehead. “I’ll make it up to you, Nelly. I promise. My driver will wait outside with a car for you. I’ll drive myself.”

She reluctantly agrees with me, and I pull her in for a hug before hurrying out of the dressing room. Once alone, I dial Josie’s number to get an update on the arrangements.

“Everything’s set for tonight,” Josie tells me. “Julia will be here to take the pictures and make the videos, and I’ve placed the order for flowers and a dress, just as you requested. Tonight’s going to rock.”

“I hope so,” I answer dryly, then she ends the call with an excited squeal. I suck in a deep breath before my driver arrives with another car to take Nelly home. “Make sure she gets home safe,” I tell the driver before walking over to my Mercedes to get in.

The drive to my grandfather’s house is the longest of my life. I spent days thinking of the best way to propose to the woman, and the only thing I could come up with was something romantic and yet challenging.

There’s a puzzle waiting for Nelly tonight, and hopefully, she will find her way to me, just like I did to her.

Chapter 23

Nelly

“Ethan Everhart, you’re so dead when I finally see you tonight,” I complain through gritted teeth after trying Ethan’s number for the third time that evening.

He canceled dinner, and it's been three hours since past that time now.

Why isn’t he home? Why hasn’t he called?

Worry cripples my thoughts as I pace around our living room.Ethan is never unreachable, especially to me, so is something up?A knot twists in the pit of my stomach, but I try not to dwell on any negative thoughts.

Sighing, I dial his line again, but it rings straight to voicemail. I’m about to storm out of the living room when the doorbell suddenly dings.

“Ethan,” I call, hurrying to open up with a smile on my face. There’s a delivery man on the other side, an impatient look on his face as he hands over a box to me. “Mrs. Everhart?”

“Yes,” I answer with a frown because I’m not expecting any deliveries today, and Ethan didn’t mention any package either.

“Sign here, please.”

The man hands me a pen, and I scribble down my signature before he hands over the box, and salutes me. After he drives away, I head inside and lock the door carefully.

There’s a card securely placed under the black ribbon tied in a bow on top of the box, and I take out the card first, before lowering myself to a couch in the living room.

To the love of my life. You deserve the best, and tonight’s all about that.

A smile creeps over my lips once I read the note, and I finally open the box to peep at the red dress inside.

“Oh my,” I gasp, admiring the vivid red dress as I lift it out of the box to stare at its intricate designs. It has lace patterns witha long, thigh-high slit in front of it and a low neck-cut that will expose just the right amount of skin.

There’s a pair of silver sandals sitting next to it, and a jewelry box containing a pair of silver earrings. I find another card inside, one that reads:

In the city where we first met, there’s a rooftop restaurant. It should have been our first night together, but I screwed it up. It’s the start of our journey. See you there …

The smirk on my lips widens while I’m shaking my head. Ethan’s taking me on a memory ride, and excitement jumps through my nerves as I glance down at the dress one last time, then chuckle.

I take about an hour to dress up, and by the time I’m exiting the house, there’s an exotic Audi SUV waiting out front for me.

“Right this way, ma’am,” the driver says to me before holding the door open for me. I get in the car and hold the single red rose sitting on the chair close to my chest.

My heart pounds during the drive over to the restaurant. It’s the same rooftop spot where I planned to confess my feelings five years ago. I had told him about that night after he confessed his feelings to me.

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