Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
I push Francesca back a step and drop down to one knee. Right there, champagne-soaked, heart pounding harder than it ever has in the driver’s seat.
Nash exclaims, “Holy shit.”
I glance at him, his jaw sagging as he steps backward, letting the metaphorical spotlight fall squarely on us. I can see confusion on the faces of the VIPs standing on stage with us, but I tune it all out.
Unzipping the top of my suit, I reach inside where I had stashed the ring. I bought it a couple months ago, trying to figure out the best time to do this. When Francesca crossed the waving checkered flag, I knew that time had come.
My eyes lift to hers and she’s staring at me with such shock, I wonder if she even comprehends what’s going on. Her hands come to her mouth, and she covers it briefly before dropping them again.
My voice shakes as I flip the box open, but I don’t care. “Marry me, Francesca. Make this forever. Win or lose, podium or last place—I don’t care as long as it’s with you.”
Her gasp cuts through the thunder. She stares, tears streaming, lips trembling—and then she nods so hard her cap almost dislodges. She pushes it back down and yells. “Yes! Yes, Ronan. Yes!”
I slide the ring onto her shaking hand, and she hauls me to my feet, arms wrapping tight around me. The entire track goes berserk. Fans stomping, flags whipping, a chant of her name rolling like thunder.
“I love you,” she says into my ear, over and over, like she can’t stop herself.
“I love you more,” I answer, kissing her until the champagne, the noise, the whole damn world dissolves into nothing but her.
All I feel is her heart hammering against mine.
Francesca Accardi. Champion. Survivor. The woman I’ll spend the rest of my life with. And one thing is perfectly clear… no amount of podium finishes has ever felt this good.