Page 86 of Beautiful Mess

Thirty-Seven

Conway

“Ihave absolutely no idea where you’re taking me,” Grace muses as she looks out the tinted window of the town car we’re in, taking in the city as it passes by.

Huffing out a laugh, I say, “Yeah, that’s the whole point of a surprise, Grace.”

Turning her head, Grace rolls her eyes, lip twitching with the smile she’s trying to hide. “Can you just tell me?” she whines. “Please? We’re almost there, aren’t we? I think it’s been a secret long enough.” Reaching over, she pats the side of my arm, like she’s trying to be reassuring, but it only makes me chuckle. “It’s okay, you can tell me.”

Her inability to handle surprises is adorable. “I promise, it won’t kill you to wait.”

“It might,” she huffs, causing laughter to bubble up my throat. Her eyes narrow, feigning annoyance, as she brings the long-stem glass up to her lips, taking a sip of the chilled champagne that was waiting for us when the driver picked us up at the hotel.

Roughly five minutes later, a little before eleven in the morning, our driver pulls into the parking garage of a sleek, modern, high-rise building, following it upward until he eventually parks. Climbing out, he opens the door for us, letting Grace slide out, then me. I smile and nod to the man as he tells me he’ll be back in a few hours to pick us up.

Scanning the parking garage like it’ll offer some sort of answer, Grace folds her arms over her chest, brows pinched, as she directs her attention to me. “I amsoconfused.”

My shoulders shake with laughter as I press my hand to the small of her back and say, “Let’s go, you brat. Don’t wanna be late.”

After I check in with a member of the staff, we ride the elevator up to the ninety-sixth floor, where we’re greeted by another person who takes our coats and lets us into the penthouse. All white everything, with floor-to-ceiling windows showing off an impressive view of the Empire State Building and the rest of the city, this place is immaculate. Soft music plays from somewhere farther away, as we’re directed to sit in the living room area while we wait.

Grace’s eyes are wide as she takes everything in. “My gosh, it’s unreal in here, Conway.” There’s nobody around us, at least that I can see, but her voice is still nothing more than a whisper, albeit a loud one. “I’m almost afraid to sit down on the couch because I don’t want to accidentally ruin it.”

Everything in here that I’ve seen so far is in pristine condition. If I didn’t know that I paid an arm and a leg for this surprise, I would probably feel the same. “It’s fine.” I breathe out a laugh, reaching for her hand. “Sit down.”

A long moment later, Grace drops down beside me on the white leather couch, her curious gaze finding mine. “What are we doing here?” she asks, still whispering, the faintest of smiles tugging on her beautiful, full lips. It’s killing her to not know, which makes it all the more fun for me.

Pressing a kiss to her lips, I softly brush my finger over the tip of her nose. “I promise, you’ll find out very soon, baby girl.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a place this nice before. How much do you think their mortgage is?”

“More than anything I could afford,” I huff out. “That’s for damn sure.”

Swinging her head around, Grace scans the area again before turning back toward me. “God, imagine what the kitchen in a place like this looks like.” There’s awe in her voice that sends a rush of excitement through my veins, but I stay quiet. “Places like this always have the most beautiful kitchens. Imagine baking in one.” Her eyes widen and she groans. “There’s probably more countertop space than I would know what to do with. Top-of-the-line ovens. What a dream.”

My heart is racing, and it has been since the minute we woke up this morning, as nerves squeeze at my throat. Any minute now, they’re going to come get us, then Grace will finally figure out what I’ve planned for her. I know with every fiber of my being she’s going to ecstatic, so I’m not sure where the nerves are coming from. Sure enough, not even five minutes later, the same woman who brought us in here comes back to grab us.

Grace walks slightly ahead of me, looking back more than once in the short walk to where we’re being led, a bright smile on her face and curiosity gleaming in her eyes. Rounding the corner, the enormous and impressive space comes into view, as does the man standing behind the spacious, white marble countertop, greeting us with a smile. Grace stops in her tracks, inhaling a sharp breath, and for a moment, she’s frozen. Stomach in my throat, I can’t hide the smile on my face as I watch her process everything.

The woman excuses herself, leaving just the three of us in the massive kitchen as the man steps away from the counter and strolls over to where we’re standing. Grace is still frozen in place, and I’m not sure if she’s even breathing.

“Bonjour, madame.” Coming to a stop in front of Grace, he brushes a kiss to each one of her cheeks in the way French people do by way of greeting.Faire la bise, I believe is what it’s called. “I amLouis Auclair,and you must be Grace. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

A choked sound comes out of Grace, a mix between a giggle and a squeal, I think, as she brings her hands up to cup the side of her face. “Yes, I’m Grace,” she offers, and I don’t have to see her expression to know she’s smiling. “Wow, I can’t believe you’re standing in front of me right now. What… What are you doing here?”

“Well, this is my home, dear.” Humor dances in Louis’s gaze.

“Of course. I just…” She giggles nervously. Brushing the hair out of her face, Grace says, “This is just such a surprise. Meeting you and taking your class has been a dream of mine for so many years, and I wasn’t expecting thisat all.”

Louis chuckles, his gaze lifting to meet mine as he holds out his hand for me to shake. “Bonjour monsieur,it’s nice to put a face to the name, Conway.”

Grace whips her head around, gawking at me silently. Her cheeks are flushed, mouth agape. My chest squeezes as our eyes meet briefly before I look back at the man of the hour.

“It’s my pleasure,” I reply warmly with a smile. “Thank you for making this happen on such short notice.”

“As if I could resist such a persistent man,” Louis says, wagging his brow before looking over at Grace. “Your husband here would not take no for an answer. Only the best for you. You’re a lucky woman, my dear.”

My heart nearly beats out of my chest when Grace gives me a smile that feels just for me. Her eyes are wet, the lines around them crinkling, and even though she presses them together, I don’t miss the slight quiver to her lip as she turns away from me, giving her attention to Louis again.

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