by Brisa Starr
Flushed with excitement, I look at Ryker. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not messing around, Aspen. I am not losing you again. We’re all going to Las Vegas, right now, and you and I are getting married.”
“WHAT? Oh, my god! Are you serious?” My eyes go wide, and I look around at my family… and my soon-to-be family.
He looks at me, a bit of concern in his eyes, wondering if maybe he’s taken things too far. I throw my arms around him. “Yes! Let’s do it!”
Then, I whirl around and look at Mom. “But…”
She sees the questions on my face and says, “I’ve taken care of everything. We’re closing the restaurant for a couple of days. I had Jessica put a sign on the door, ‘Closed for Wedding,’ and she cleaned up. I also have a bag packed for you. We ran to your condo. Dagny is with a friend of mine who also has rabbits.” She winks and laughs, proud of herself for keeping this enormous secret. “When you thought Popster and I were going to The Rose to work today, we were all in on the plan.”
Wow, this is really happening.
“Let’s go make this official!” Ryker says.
We climb aboard the airplane, drinking champagne. As I sit down across from my mom, she reaches for my hand to inspect the giant rock on my finger. “Holy shit, Aspen,” she says and pretends to faint.
“I know. I wonder what it’ll be like to cook with this thing on my finger.” I laugh, though I really do wonder. I can imagine banging it on everything.
A few hours later, we land in Las Vegas, and a limo whisks us off to the MGM Grand. Ryker holds my hand the entire time, and he fills me in on how he planned everything. He tells me about his time in Kauai, and how I now have a house there, too. I laugh, nervous, as this all continues to sink in.
“So, you thought of everything?” I ask. “Like my wedding dress?”
“Everything,” he says.
We check into our penthouse suite, and it has enormous windows overlooking the strip, a separate bedroom, two baths, a bar, and a dining area. The furniture is black and white, with giant, sea green pillows and beautiful accents. It’s unbelievable. The place is the size of my condo.
I walk around the palatial suite, and I spy a dress rack. I count ten wedding dresses—all size six—including a variety of shoes on the floor underneath. I turn to him. “Wow, you did think of everything.”
“I picked out lingerie, too,” he smirks. “I wasn’t leaving anything to chance. All you have to do is try to keep your hands off me until tonight.”
He sets down our bags and says, “You have an appointment at the salon downstairs for massage, nails, hair and makeup, and anything else you want. Remember, anything and everything you want is yours. We’re very rich!” I laugh at that, and I wonder if it’ll ever sink in.
He adds, “Your mom and Nancy will meet you down there, while we boys go do a bit of gambling and swim at the pool.”
I walk around the room, marveling at it all. “I think I’m still in shock, Ryker,” I say and smile at him. “But happy,” I add.
“I know, babe.” He grabs me by the waist and pulls me to him for a deep kiss, which drives both our hearts to top speed.
We haven’t made love since before our breakup, and I’m desperate to have him inside me, to connect physically. “Ryker, please,” I pant. “Just a quickie. Right here on the couch,” I say, pointing. “I need you. We have time.”
“No way, Aspen. The next time I taste your pie, you’ll be my wife. I’ll see you at the altar at eight o’clock tonight.”
Damn, he’s hot. And romantic.
I’m the luckiest woman in the world.
“Fine,” I drone, but I smile.
He looks at his watch. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, you’ll have my head between your legs in just a few hours.” And with that, he kisses me. “I love you, and I’ll see you tonight, future wife.”
The End.
So what’s next?
I recommend His Secret if you like a dark and sexy hero in a billionaire romance that might just cause your Kindle to go up in flames!
Or…
I recommend Lockdown Love if you fancy a hot and steamy, opposites-attract romantic comedy that’ll keep you turning the pages!
Thank you so much for reading!
Acknowledgments
To my husband. I sound like a broken record, but this epic life we’re living makes me smile from the moment I wake up until I go to sleep. It’s total cake. Of course, I knew it would be when we first met on eHarmony all those years ago. :) Those delicious emails we sent back and forth before our first date… they still pop into my mind.
To my daughter, who is ten years old at the time of this writing. Your help with working out the tropes of my romance novels, while we swim in the pool during COVID-19 self-isolation, has been one of my fondest memories of living in lockdown in Arizona. You’re a star-bright delight. I adore you.
To my darling friend, JS. You’re an inspiration to mothers all over the world, and your support for me and my work makes my heart smile, deeply. I hope you know how much I treasure our connection, even when it’s only brief on WhatsApp. ;)
About the Author
In 2018, Brisa Starr sold everything to travel the world with her husband and daughter. She currently lives in a small, medieval hilltop town in Umbria, Italy. When she’s not writing, she’s scouting locations for future novels.
My romance novels: BrisaStarr.com
My blog: HappySexyMillionaire.me
