PROLOGUE
TESSA
Iwasn’t a wine person and felt completely out of my depth as I stared up at the wall of unfamiliar bottles. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was facing the right direction since the store had the cheap bottles on one side and the pricier brands with dark labels embossed in gold and names I couldn’t pronounce on the other. My boyfriend wouldn’t consider fifty bucks expensive, but it was a lot to me.
If Gage were here, he would have known exactly which vineyard, year, and blend paired best with the salmon, couscous, and asparagus I had in my cart. Except that would spoil my surprise, so I needed to find a bottle that wouldn’t ruin the fancy dinner I had planned.
I bit my lip as I scanned the labels for one that looked impressive but didn’t cost more than twenty bucks. After putting in so much effort, I wanted this dinner to be perfect.
Not because Gage expected it. He always said he loved me exactly as I was, and that I didn’t need to change just because we were so different. Which only made me love him more.
A woman to my right let out a soft hum as she picked up a bottle with an elegant script across the label. She had perfectlystyled hair and makeup, was wearing a cashmere sweater, carried an expensive handbag, and had a giant wedding ring sparkling on her manicured hand. She looked as though she’d stepped from the pages of a magazine…or belonged on the arm of one of Gage’s fellow executives.
I wasn’t great with striking up a conversation, but this was too good an opportunity to pass up. So I took a deep breath before murmuring, “Sorry, do you mind if I ask for your opinion?”
She turned, her brows raised in polite curiosity. “Not at all.”
I pointed at the two bottles I was considering. “Which of these would you buy if you were cooking salmon for a guy who has great taste in wine?”
She inspected both bottles and shook her head. “Neither.”
“Really?” My brows drew together as I turned to check the labels again. “I thought chardonnay was a safe bet.”
“There’s an exception to that rule,” she explained, reaching up to gently tap one of the labels. “These are both heavily oaked and would overpower the fish's delicate flavors unless you’re cooking it in a cream sauce or with a ton of butter.”
“Unfortunately, no. My boyfriend is kind of a health nut, so I’m not using cream or butter tonight. I’m not even making dessert, and it’s my favorite part of every meal.” I gestured toward the shelf with a wince. “Is there something that won’t make it obvious I bought it at the grocery store?”
She flashed me an amused smile as she scanned the shelf. “Special celebration?”
“Nothing specific.” I shrugged. “My boyfriend has been working harder than ever, and I wanted to do something to acknowledge it, if that makes sense.”
She looked up, eyes softening. “It sounds very thoughtful to me. Your boyfriend is a lucky guy.”
“Thanks.”
“Get this one.” She handed me a bottle. “It’s dry, but it finishes beautifully. Strong, warm, a little surprising. Like a good man.”
I couldn’t stop my startled laugh from escaping. “I appreciate the help.”
“You’re welcome.”
I smiled and pulled out my phone to double-check that I hadn’t forgotten any ingredients. Once I knew I was good, I rolled my cart toward the checkout and sent a quick text to Gage.
Me
Let me know when you leave work so I can get dinner started. Love you!
Standing in line, I pulled up our thread again and saw that he’d read my message. Bubbles popped up to show that he was typing up a reply, but then they disappeared without anything coming through. I didn’t think much of it, since he usually didn’t text while in a meeting or on an important call.
Noticing the fancy chocolate bars that were one of the few treats Gage allowed himself every once in a while, since they were his favorite, I scooted around my cart to grab a couple from the end cap. As I dropped them into the cart, the woman in front of me gasped and gripped her friend’s arm. “Oh my gosh, he’s really engaged?”
“There goes any hope for regular women like us,” her friend muttered.
My lips curved into a smirk. I was as normal as you could get, but I still caught Gage’s attention. The Langfords were a big deal in our city, and he had dated models, actresses, and socialites before me.
The first woman sighed. “I wish I could say I’m surprised that he picked a woman like Vanessa Carrington to be his wife, but it makes sense. They’ll keep all that money within their families.”
Her friend nodded. “They might not even need a prenup since their fathers opened the business together. Talk about building a family dynasty.”
