Worth More Than Money (Worth It 3)

“Yeah,” I said. “I think we should, too. Especially since I’m taking us to dinner.”

&n

bsp; “You really did plan this day out, didn’t you?” she asked. “Why?”

I decided not to answer the question, and instead helped her up off my body. We stepped out of the vat of crushed grapes before I led her to the house, knowing the two of us needed to get cleaned up for dinner. If she could hang on just a few more hours, she’d have her answer.

And shortly after that, I would have mine.

I made sure to divert her from the set-up crew that was there. Maria kept glaring at me as I passed by, but all I did was shrug. I knew there was a chance we’d have to come in and clean up, so I knew I had to finish cleaning up before she did. If Michelle breached the other side of the house, the surprise would be ruined. And I didn’t want that to happen.

So, I rushed upstairs, quickly took a shower, than ran down the stairs while hopping into my clothes.

“How much longer?” I asked, as I blew past Maria.

“At least two hours,” she said.

“Okay. I can do that. Thanks. Text me when it’s ready!”

Then I strode down the hallway just as Michelle was walking out of her room.

“Whoa!” she exclaimed. “What’s the rush?”

“Rush? What rush?” I asked.

“You’re sweating.”

“I took a hot shower.”

“You sound like you’ve been running.”

“I was excited to get back to you,” I said with a grin. “Ready for dinner?”

“Of course,” she said, as she took my arm.

I didn’t even offer it to her that time, and the fact that she had immediately gravitated towards my body gave me another sliver of hope.

Dinner was relaxed, but I was nervous for what came next. I tried to make decent conversation with Michelle, but my mind was focused on my phone in my pocket. Dinner seemed like a whirlwind and my anxiety grew. I wanted everything to be perfect so she had no reason to say no. I wanted everything to be picturesque so she knew just how much I cared about her. How much I adored her.

How much I loved her.

“Let me go to the bathroom, then we can head home. Today has been wonderful, but I’m really very tired, Gray.”

“Of course,” I said. “It’s just over there.”

“I’ll be right back,” Michelle said.

“And I’ll be right here.”

She got up and walked away and I sighed. What the hell was taking Maria so long? I couldn’t put this off any longer. Everything had to be set up, right?

I pulled out my phone and groaned when I didn’t see a text message, but just as I went to call Maria, her name lit up my phone.

“Finally,” I said, with a murmur.

I opened the text message and smiled when I saw that one little word.

Ready!