Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)(119)

My sister insisted on us getting ready for the engagement party at Lorenzo’s house because she thought it would save us the trouble of having to drive over there. We’re the type to run late to everything, so I agree.

Lorenzo paid for a team of people to help us with hair and makeup, so Dahlia, Josefina, my mom, and I get the full work-up. Josefina suggested I use the same people for my wedding day, and I nod along, knowing full well it will be a while before that.

I’m trying to take our relationship slow, although it doesn’t help that to the public, we’re engaged.

Lorenzo on the other hand has fully embraced his status as a fiancé, even going so far as handpicking my engagement-party dress. It is perfect, with the baby-pink dress nearly looking white in certain angles.

There is a note attached to the tag, and I escape into the bathroom to read it.

I couldn’t picture you wearing anything but your favorite neutral.

There is no signature, but I could recognize Lorenzo’s fancy scrawl anywhere.

My sister pounds on the door to remind me of the time, and I force myself to put the note away and get dressed. The midi dress fits like the seamstress had my exact measurements in mind.

When I step out of the bathroom, three gasps fill the air.

“Que belleza,” my mom says at the same time as Josefina’s, “Mira ese vestido.”

My sister says nothing since her mouth is hanging wide open while she gawks at my new shoes—another hand-chosen gift from Lorenzo.

“How are you going to walk outside in those?” she asks.

“I’m sure that was Lorenzo’s intention.” He loves for me to cling to him almost as much as he likes carrying me when my heels start sinking into the ground.

My mom checks her phone and shrieks. “We’ve got to go!”

“Relax,” Dahlia says.

“The party is right outside,” I remind them.

All three of them look at each other like a perfectly-timed sitcom.

“What?” I ask.

“The party isn’t here,” Dahlia responds without saying anything else.

Everyone ignores my questions as we all climb into Dahlia’s sedan and head toward the south side of town. Dahlia pulls onto Lopez Lane, which is pretty empty.

“Where is everyone?” I ask.

“They’ll be here in an hour.”

I’m too shocked by the time change to ask any more questions, so I stay silent as my sister parks in front of our house.

“Wait here for Lorenzo,” Dahlia says before disappearing into the house with my mom and Josefina.

It takes a few minutes, but my fiancé walks through the side gate with a breathtaking smile on his face, wearing a form-fitting, navy-blue sports coat and light-colored pants that bring the outfit together.

He also happens to be wearing loafers that remind me of the pair I accidentally ruined.

“Please tell me those are new shoes,” I say after he kisses me.

He laughs. “That’s the first thing you have to say to me?”

“Do you want me to compliment your outfit instead?”

He checks me out again, as if one pass wasn’t enough to get the full experience. “I’d much rather focus on yours.”

I kiss him again. “Thank you for the dress.”

He gives me a spin, and I stumble thanks to my stilettos.

“Shall we?” He offers me his arm, and I lock elbows with his.

“What happened to having the party at your house?” I ask as he leads me through the gate.

“I had a different idea.”

“Honestly I was a bit hesitant about asking everyone to remove their shoes at the door, so I suppose this is better.”

He hits me with another smile that makes him look way younger. Less…bothered, even. “I’m going to ask you to close your eyes.”

“Um…”

“Trust me.”

Reluctantly, I shut my eyes and allow Lorenzo to lead me through the grass. The ground beneath my heels changes from grass to pebbles, and if it weren’t for his arm gripping mine, I’d trip.

“Almost there.”

The soft sound of water rushing makes my heart stutter. I haven’t visited the fountain since the last time Lorenzo was here, so I have no idea why he—

“You can open them now.”

I want to, but I’m scared of what I might see. Lorenzo doesn’t push me, so I wait for what feels like a whole minute before I open my eyes.

My father’s garden instantly brings me to tears. Gone are the dreary, half-dead hedges and long-abandoned flower beds, and in its place are flowers of all types. Healthy hedges surround us on all sides, and the old, weathered bench has been replaced with a new one. A white trellis hangs above, where healthy vines with tiny flowers are woven between the wood slates, providing some shade from the sun above.

Everything about the space is perfect, and it fills me with such immense joy to see my father’s garden thriving once more. It’s everything I could’ve dreamed of, and it reminds me so much of how it used to look back when my father took care of it.

Lorenzo shuffles us over to the bench with a golden plaque screwed to the seat. The metal is engraved with my dad’s favorite saying: Un Mu?oz nunca se rinde.

He wipes a water spot off the plaque. “Maybe one day, we can update the phrase.”