CHAPTER 86
Emma
Before Finn, if someone would have asked me if I like surprises I would have said no. All the surprises I’d experienced had been of the unpleasant kind. Firings. Evictions. Breakups. Bad news.
But in the last couple months, the unpleasant memories have been replaced by moments of laughter and joy. Days of celebration and learning about things I never saw coming, never thought were even possible for me. Like how much I enjoyed sailing to and back from Catalina Island.
I had no idea life could hold so much good for me. Until Finn.
I don’t know what we’re doing right now, but we’re in Finn’s Jeep and he says we’re going on a date. He’s dressed up in a suit jacket, nice jeans, and a dress shirt. He’s shaved, and his hair is combed away from his face.
I look over at him, the wind in his hair, and I wonder how I ended up with a man who looks like a movie star and loves me like a superhero.
I’m wearing one of the pretty sundresses Finn had waiting for me in the beach cottage wardrobe. It’s my favorite, a crisp white cotton eyelet with delicate embroidery. It’s designed with a fitted bodice, narrow straps, and a gently pleated full skirt down to my mid-calf.
It’s the most romantic dress I’ve ever worn. My hair is down loose. I feel pretty tonight. Finn told me I’m gorgeous. There’s no better feeling in the world.
To be in the company of the man I love, going…
Somewhere.
I’m totally confused. Before when Finn’s told me to get ready for a date, we end up at the Municipal Airpark in Sweetbriar, and Declan flies us somewhere for dinner or an overnight.
But tonight, when we reached the end of the ranch lane, Finn turned left on the state highway instead of right. This isn’t the way to town.
I glance over at my handsome boyfriend, who’s got a devilish smile on his face. It’s been there all day. He’s up to something.
I’m just about to ask where we’re going when Finn turns onto a dirt road leading up a hill. Oh. I know where we are. I shoot a smile at Finn, and he grabs my hand.
As we crest the hill I’m looking past Finn to the golden sunlight on the Sierra Nevadas. I’ve only been here during the late morning, but I can already tell that the sunset will be spectacular. I drag my attention away from the scenery just in time to be totally baffled at what I’m looking at.
“What’s this?”
I see about ten people wandering around what looks like a fancy outdoor dining spot.
There’s a white linen-topped table with two chairs arranged under a canopy below the pines.
I see candles and flowers. Near the edge of the lookout is a Persian rug with tiki torches on the corners and a huge rope hammock lounge angled for maximum sunset viewing.
It’s filled with comfy toss pillows and throws.
A long table is set with several chafing dishes, ice buckets, and champagne.
“What’s going on?”
Finn just shrugs, that devilish smile even wider. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
He parks the Jeep and comes over to the passenger side, holding the door open for me as I step out. He takes my hand, drops a soft kiss on my knuckles, and leads me to the heart of the activity.
As we approach, most of the people finish what they’re doing and wander down to two waiting vans. They’re all smiling at me.
The man who seems to be in charge nods to Finn. “Enjoy your evening,” he says, and they shake hands.
And in a few minutes it’s just the two of us. I’m speechless. It takes me a moment to realize that this is for us. Finn did this for us. Only us. This is our date.
A dinner date.
“I hope you find everything to your liking, Miss Clark.”
I turn to him, my mind spinning with wonder. “This is magical, Finn! What are we celebrating? What’s the occasion?”
“You,” he says, pulling me into his arms. “You’re the occasion. You’re the celebration.”
I rise up on my tiptoes and give him a soft kiss, then lower down to the ground again.
“You look confused, Emma. That’s not what I was going for.”
I laugh. “It’s…” I shake my head. “No one’s ever done something like this for me. It’s so perfect, so sweet. I think I’m a little overwhelmed.”
“Overwhelmed is okay, as long as you’re hungry at the same time.”
“I think I can manage that.”
Finn seats me in one of the chairs and slides it in for me, then drops a tender kiss on my cheek. He lights the candles as the late afternoon light slips into early evening. He pours me a glass of champagne and raises his glass. I raise mine.
“To us,” Finn says. “To the only chick I’ll ever bring to my spot.”
“To the only man who can take me to his spot. Or even has a spot.”
“To love,” he says.
I’m smiling so big it feels like my face can’t hold the weight of all this happiness. “To love.”
We clink our glasses.
Our dinner is spectacular. Finn tells me he hired a Las Vegas chef to cater our meal, and that Phyllis, Summer, and Jasmine worked with the chef on the French menu—coq au vin, braised fennel salad, and parsley mashed potatoes. For dessert we have a vanilla crème br?lée.
I am in awe of the food, the scenery, and the company. Over dinner Finn tells me a few more stories about growing up on the ranch and more about his mother. He doesn’t talk about her much, but when he does, it’s always with a sense of reverence.
He loved her a lot, and lost her when he was thirteen.
“Finn?”
He reaches across the table and takes my hand. “Yes?”
“Is everything all right?”
“Everything’s perfect, why?”
I tip my head and study him.
“Oh, damn.”
It looks like he’s dropped something under the table, and he’s on his hands and knees. I wait for him to pop up again, but it’s taking longer than I would think.
I decide to look under the tablecloth to check on him.
He pops out in front of me and slides to one knee.
“Emma, you’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever known.”
Both my hands go to my mouth. I stare at this beautiful man with the intense violet eyes at my feet. This can’t be happening. I’m shaking.
“I love you with all that I am. I’d like to spend my life at your side. Please be my wife.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a tiny black velvet box and flips open the lid.
I have to blink a few times because my eyes can’t handle the flash. I’m not sure if it’s the dramatic sunset or the huge diamond—or just Finn—but the air itself sparkles with energy.
“Emma?”
I look at Finn. He’s waiting. What’s he waiting for? My heart’s in my throat.
Oh!
“Yes,” I whisper. I throw myself into his arms.