Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 113330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“Oh my God!” I blurt, as the cameras surrounding us squeeze in to capture the moment.
“Iris Eugenie Benedetto,” Roman says with tears in his eyes and a tremble in his deep voice. “You’re my lucky charm. My best friend. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, as my wife. Iris, will you marry me?”
I barely get out my shrieking yes, thanks to the sob involuntarily hurtling out of my throat. But thankfully, Roman understands me well enough. With a whoop, he slides the massive rock onto my finger, rises, and takes me into his arms, crushing my sobbing frame against his chest.
When I open my eyes, there’s a camera that’s squeezed in so shockingly close, I feel like I’m going to pass out from claustrophobia. “Roman,” I gasp out, clinging to his jersey for dear life. “Tell that guy to back up.”
I don’t need to ask him twice.
In a flash, Roman grabs that intrusive camera’s massive lens with both of his large hands and guides it back. But he doesn’t push the offending camera as far back as I’m expecting. Instead, once it’s out of my personal space, he thrusts his sweaty face into its lens and bellows, “Do you see that gorgeous woman—that perfect ten over there? She’s my fiancée now. My future wife. So, anyone who’s got anything negative to say about her better come say it directly to my face—or better yet, don’t say anything at all.”
Swoon.
His nostrils flaring, Roman holds up my ringed hand to the camera. “My future wife,” he repeats. When he lowers my hand, he kisses me again, this time so passionately, my body goes slack in his arms, like I’ve been electrocuted. Holy shit.
Surely, Roman’s proposal and that sexy little speech into the camera will spread like wildfire on the internet, far more so than my stupid runaway bride video that already feels like ancient history. At least, I genuinely hope that’s the case, because hot damn: Roman proposing to me and telling the world to shut the fuck up about his future wife is one viral video I’ll be absolutely thrilled to star in.
Chapter 40
Iris
A Year and a Few Months Later
After putting Maverick to bed, Roman slides onto the couch next to me, where I’m reviewing this month’s payroll for my new equine therapy center.
As he gets settled, I close my laptop and grin at him. “Did he fall asleep in the middle of his first book?” We have a running bet about how quickly Maverick will fall asleep—namely, whether he’ll make it through his first requested book or not. It’s an especially fun game on days like today, when Maverick played especially hard.
Roman flashes me an achingly handsome smile. “He passed out on page three. You win.” He motions to my closed laptop. “Finish up, if you need to.”
“I’m good. It’s not due till tomorrow.” I slide the laptop onto the coffee table and snuggle up to him. “How was the shoot today?”
“Fun, boring, long.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Lucrative.”
We both laugh. After back-to-back Super Bowl wins, money seems to grow on trees for Roman Maguire these days. Sponsorships, licensing deals, brand deals, investment opportunities. He’s got his pick of all of them—and they’re all worth millions on top of endless millions. Hence, the top-of-the-line equine therapy facility Roman was able to build for me without breaking a sweat.
With a kiss to my temple, Roman asks, “Did you have fun shopping for wedding dresses today?”
I can’t help smiling from ear to ear. “I sure did. I found the perfect dress—only the third one I tried on.”
“Congrats. I can’t wait to see it on my fiancée . . . and take it off my wife.”
Today’s shopping excursion was a dream come true.
Totally different than the one for my stupid wedding to stupid
Brandon. Of course, knowing my groom is Roman made all the difference. That’s the main thing. But it was also a pure joy to have Ava, Nicola, and Luca’s beloved, Chelsea, my honorary mother and two sisters, joining me for the festivities this time, along with my besties, Harper, Kaylee, and Tatiana. Plus, having an unlimited budget was awfully fun. Not gonna lie.
The main reason today felt so different and so much better than the first time, however, aside from Roman being my groom, is the way I felt. When picking out a dress last time, I now realize I selected a dress to please Brandon. Something conservative that didn’t show much skin. It was pretty, granted, but not what I truly wanted, in retrospect. Although, come to think of it, I never even stopped to wonder what I truly wanted, so I didn’t understand the difference.
This time, by contrast, I picked out a dress for myself. A modern gown with sleek, sultry lines that made me feel beautiful and sexy and like the best version of myself. Of course, I want Roman to think I’m gorgeous when he sees me in my wedding dress. But this time around, I know my future husband will think I’m beautiful and sexy, no matter what I’m wearing, as long as it’s me who’s wearing the dress.