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An hour later, when Emi’s got only one gift left to open, Jill crosses the room and takes the pad from me. “Let me finish that up, Tess.”
“What? Why?”
She flashes her engagement ring. “My maid of honor doesn’t get to ask questions.”
“What are you talking about?” I snort. “I don’t rememberthatrule in the handbook.”
She sets down the pad and paper and pulls a blindfold from her pocket. “The games and food are all done,” she says, “and Emi’s almost through opening presents.” Jill turns to address the rest of the room. “Are we all still good with Tess ducking out a little early?”
By way of answer, everyone else begins to clap and cheer.
Oh. My. Ambush.
They’reallin on this? Jill wraps the blindfold around my head and ties it in place. My heart starts pounding as she leads me to the doorway. Almost immediately I hear a truck pull up.
I recognize the sound of that truck.
I paid Frank to soup up an almost-new Ford F-150 as a surprise for Spencer’s birthday. It was the least I could do after he bought me a house. Don’t worry, though. Spencer’s still got his trusty gray sedan. He’s too practical to get rid of it. But every guy deserves a pickup. It’s jet-black like his hair. And almost as sexy.
But not quite.
Thanks to the blindfold, I can’t see the truck or Spencer, but I feel his hand envelop mine. A shiver runs up my spine.
This is it. He’s going to propose.
“I didn’t get a manicure,” I blurt out.
Spencer’s laughter is warm and bright. I just wish I could see his eyes. Or any part of him, really. “Nail polish won’t matter where we’re going,” he says, helping me into the truck.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Sorry.” He pats my shoulder. “You’re the one who requested a blindfold, remember?”
The passenger door shuts. It smells so good inside. Spice and leather. Spencer’s cologne. All my senses are heightened by the blindfold.
Good idea, Tess.
At first, while we’re driving, I try to keep track of the stops and turns. I wonder if he’ll take me to the ranch. That could be a meaningful spot for a proposal.
Eventually, I lose track of the directions, but we definitely take a highway. The hum of the engine matches the humming in my brain. This is something I’ve been hoping for since—well—probably the moment I fell on that snake. When Spencer lifted me into his arms, I knew in that moment he’d always take care of me. That I could slow down. Surrender.
The future can unfurl the way it’s meant to. He is meant for me. I’m meant for him.
We make a tight turn, and the truck starts to slow. Then we’re parking.
WE’RE PARKING!
“Give me one minute,” he says. “I’ve got to cue something up.”
I nod. What is he cuing up? My ears are throbbing, and my hands feel hot and sweaty. I wipe them on the skirt of my hot-pink maxi dress. I think I’ll always remember I got engaged in this outfit.
My new favorite.
“Okay,” he says. “Can everybody see?”
Huh. Who is everybody, and what are they looking at?
Three voices sayyesin a chorus. My sisters and my mom.
