Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
I grabbed Lenora’s hand. “Hey, I want to talk to you about something.”
She took in my serious expression and frowned but followed me out back.
“I was talking to your mom about maybe getting a house out here,” I said. “It doesn’t have to be big like this. Just something we could run to when we want a break from the city.”
I stopped walking where I needed her to stand. Under the tea lights. Away enough from the door but close enough that they could take pictures. She gasped loudly, covering her mouth with both hands when I got down on one knee.
“Rocco.” My name was muffled behind her hands.
“I know I tell you every day, but I’m serious about never spending a moment without you. I’d give up everything for you if you asked me to.” I grabbed her left hand when she finally lowered it. “Will you marry me, Principessa?”
“Yes,” her response was shaky between tears. Her hand shook as I set the ring on her finger. When she looked at it, she gasped again. “Oh my God, Rocco.”
I rose to kiss her, and she leaped into my arms, locking her arms around my neck and legs around my waist. Everyone cheered from their spot by the back door. She laughed as our lips touched.
“I love you so much,” she said between kisses.
“I love you more.” I set her down slowly and grabbed her hand to kiss the back of it. “Let me show you your birthday present.”
“This isn’t it?” She asked loudly as I led her away. “This is the best present. . .”
She stopped talking when her horse neighed. She looked at me, then at the horse, and when her eyes landed on mine again, she burst into tears.
“You got her back,” she whispered.
“I told you I would.” I opened my arms to catch her as she threw herself at me. When she finished crying, she got to her feet. I wiped her tears and kissed the tip of her nose. “Anything for you, Principessa. Everything for you.”
“I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you,” she said, kissing me each time. When she stopped, she looked at her horse with so much love and longing that I wished I could kill her father twice.
“Go.” I slapped her ass. “She’s been waiting for you.”
She ran over there, half-crying, half-laughing.
“Aanya,” she said against the horse’s face. “I have so much to tell you.”
I took a deep breath and looked around: at her with her horse and our family, who were now back in the house. I thought about my life —the heartache and challenges I’d gone through before getting to this point — and smiled.