Page 116 of Between Love & Ruin

He has the first few buttons of his shirt open, giving me a view of his delicious chest.

I can’t believe I get to be with him sometimes.

He is the literal personification of all my dreams.

“Don’t be,” he kisses my hand. “I will be with you. Plus all eyes will be on you. You look so beautiful in this dress.”

His eyes roam over me hungrily and I blush under his gaze.

The way he looks at me hasn’t changed. And I pray to the god that it never does.

The yellow dress he gave me has a slight slit on the thigh and an open back, and I do agree with him that I look really good in this.

I look out the window as the car finally pulls up to the venue.

And the second I step out, I am blinded by camera flashes. Oh God. There are so many people.

“Smile, baby,” Dominic whispers besides me.

“I am smiling.” I am not.

“You look terrified.”

“I am terrified.”

He laughs, his hand settling on my waist as we make our way down the carpet.

My book. My characters. My story. All of it has somehow made it onto a giant screen.

All because this man never stopped believing in me.

We stop in front of the wall for photographers, and Dominic turns me slightly towards him.

We pose for what feels like a hundred pictures. I smile until my cheeks hurt.

And then Dominic leans closer.

“Don’t hate me for this,” he whispers in my ear.

I turn towards him.

“What?”

“And don’t get mad.”

I narrow my eyes. “Dominic, what did you do?”

“Nothing.”

“That is not a reassuring answer.”

He gives me a teasing smile.

Then, before I can figure out what the hell is happening, he drops down onto one knee.

My mouth falls open, my heart falling out of my mouth. The entire crowd erupts, and the cameras start flashing even faster.

“Oh my God.”