Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
“I’m well aware, but props are necessary for any role I play.”
The door opened to allow them out of the car. Her heart sank. She knew she could face Stefano Ferraro again, and any of the other relatives that might be waiting to congratulate them, but there were cameras crowding around. Geno Ferraro’s engagement was big news. She wasn’t as certain how to play the part of his glamourous fiancée.
Geno shook his head, and the door was closed immediately. He leaned forward and knocked on the privacy window. At once it came down and their driver turned her head. “Alice, would you mind stepping out of the car and giving us complete privacy?”
“Of course, Mr. Ferraro.” Alice immediately vacated the vehicle, leaving them alone.
“The ring isn’t a prop to me, la mia danzatrice ombra.”
Now she was so nervous her mouth was dry, and her chest hurt. She wanted to disappear into the shadows and never emerge.
“Everyone’s waiting, Geno. We should do this another time.” Her voice was shaky, not at all like her usual confident self.
“Amaranthe. They can wait forever. We can turn around and go home if you prefer. This isn’t about them. It’s about us.”
There was that gentle voice again. This time he caught her chin and tilted her face up toward his. He waited until her eyes met his. The impact was both breathtaking and intense when he was wholly focused on her.
She swallowed the terror rising up to overwhelm her. She didn’t know how to do personal. “This is about baiting a trap for those who are killing shadow riders.”
The pad of his thumb swept over her lower lip, and he shook his head, still looking into her eyes. “This isn’t about that for me. This is about us. You and me. Our engagement. I meant my proposal. I want you to marry me. I want you, Amara. I think we’re good together. I believe we fit. I hope you want me just as much.”
She did want him. She just didn’t know what to do with him. She had nice clothes; she didn’t have his kind of nice clothes until he had bought them for her. She didn’t have his kind of jewelry until he had provided several pieces for her. She didn’t want to be in a relationship where she couldn’t be a full partner. What did she bring to the table for Geno?
She didn’t run in his circles. Yes, she danced in the ballet, but she moved around too much to ever play for a big company. She received amazing reviews, but was never going to have that career, not when she was a shadow rider first—and she meant what she told Geno: she would always be a shadow rider first.
She didn’t realize she was shaking her head until he framed her face with his large hands, stilling the movement.
“Baby, please just listen to me,” Geno continued. “Hear me out. I don’t want this just to be a role for you to play. I want you to feel comfortable as my fiancée. You were born to be with me. I was born to be your man. I’ve always known things. This is the strongest intuitive reaction I’ve ever had. Just tell me what you need to make you know it, too.”
Amaranthe had expected him to be far older. She’d thought Stefano would be older as well. Having to be responsible for the riders and the territories from such a young age had made them both seem older, but they weren’t. Physical age didn’t matter. Geno was an old soul. It was there in his eyes, and she felt it when he weighed his answers before he spoke. He didn’t think the way a young person would. He wasn’t selfish in his thinking.
“You didn’t ask me to marry you, Geno. Not really. I couldn’t tell if you really wanted to marry me for me or to ensure the shadow-riding line. Or just to play this role so we could catch these murderers.”
“It wasn’t to play a role, and if we never have children, Amara, I’ll be fine with that. I want you for yourself.”
He sounded truthful. His voice was quiet but determined. His gaze didn’t waver from hers. He could mesmerize her with those dark blue eyes.
“Do you want children?”
“With you?” He nodded. “I’m all about family. My brothers, my cousins. Mostly, now, I’m all about you. If you don’t want to meet with everyone here now, we’ll wait until you’re ready. Amaranthe, this is for us. Our beginning. It isn’t just a sham to catch murderers. We’ll do that as well, but our beginning doesn’t have to be that.”
It felt as if her heart somersaulted. She reached up to frame his jaw with her hand. Who knew a man as dangerous and lethal as Geno Ferraro could be so intuitive? So caring?