The grass had been marked with paint. White arrows stretched across the grass, pointing away from where she stood.
She blinked at Church. “What is this?”
He tipped his angular jaw toward the first arrow. “Follow it.”
She issued a huff of disbelief. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious.”
Weird didn’t begin to describe this anymore. But a lightness sparked in her chest as she stepped forward, following the first arrow. That turned into another, then another that curved gently across the clearing.
“I feel like Alice in Wonderland.”
He gave a light snort and watched her closely.
When she reached more arrows, she stopped. “What is this?” she called to him, half laughing.
She followed the arrows another few steps and then stopped.
“Oh.” She lifted a hand to her mouth, shaking her head at what she was staring at.
Painted onto the grass in front of her was a house—a simple stick structure like a child would draw, a rectangle with a triangle for a roof. Windows were depicted across the front, along with a door. There were also painted steps leading up to it.
“Church…” As she breathed out his name, her voice trembled.
She glanced around. “Is this what you had planned for all that ground paint?”
He stepped up beside her and clasped her hand, his big, warm one enveloping hers.
She drank in the lines he’d created. “I hope whoever owns this land isn’t going to be mad you painted on it.”
“I own it.”
Her head snapped around, and she fixed him in her gaze. “You—what?”
He stepped closer. “I bought it.”
Before she could process that revelation, the man dropped to one knee.
Everything inside her went still while the world outside her body sharpened to a million blades of grass lit up by the fading sun and the pounding of her own heartbeat in her ears.
He pulled out a small box, and her eyes widened. “I don’t do anything without a plan.”
A laugh broke out of her, tangled up with tears. “I know.” He was anything but reckless—especially when it came to her.
He popped open the box to reveal a glorious diamond ringed by smaller ones, each facet catching the rays of sunset. Their sunset.
“I plan to love you the rest of my days. I want a life with you, Zee.”
Her heart squeezed so hard it hurt, and she issued a soft cry.
He glanced over his shoulder at the painted house. “This place is ours. If you want it. If you’ll have me.”
She was shaking.
“Marry me, Zee.”
The tears spilled over. “Yes!” She said it again, stronger. “Yes!”
