Page 74 of Irresistibly Wild

Las Vegas, Nevada

If anyone stumbled upon this moment, they’d assume they were seconds away from witnessing one of the most elaborate proposals of all time.

I was standing at the center of the rink with Travis, his hands wrapped around my waist as the words, “I love you, Tatiana,” flashed on the Jumbotron above.

White and red rose petals surrounded us, and six-foot candles burned flames that melted pink wax onto the ice.

Travis slid his hand against my sides as he stared into my eyes. Then he got down on one knee.

He stared at me for several moments, my diamond ring twirling between his fingertips, but no words fell from his lips.

“Can you move your head a little to the right, Travis?” Mr. Ralph called out from the seats. “And like, no offense, Miss Brave, but could you look a little less constipated and a lot more in love?”

I smiled a bit wider.

“Now you just look happy about being constipated!” He snapped a few shots and made his way over to us. “You need to make me believe that this is the happiest day of your life, the day that the man you love is finally making a commitment.”

“I can’t really focus with the candle flames this close to my head,” I said. “I feel like they’re seconds away from burning off my hair.”

“Nonsense!” He pushed them closer. “This is romantic, and nothing says romance like towering candles and roses. Travis, it might help if you talked through the shoot to make her more comfortable.”

“I don’t think so.” He let go of my hands and stood to his feet. “I would never propose like this. It’s not me at all.”

“That’s okay. ‘Monogamy’ isn’t you either.” Mr. Ralph shrugged. “Get back into position.”

“My engagement, if it were real, would be one hundred percent private, Ralph.” He looked up as the screen transitioned to ‘Will You Marry Me?”

Suddenly, more rose petals fell from the ceiling and onto the ice.

“What’s your point, Travis?”

“That I wouldn’t make my fiancee share our private life with the media.”

“This is operationfakefiancée.” He crossed his arms. “Isn’t that what your paperwork says, or did you get a different version?”

“I just don’t see the need for these pictures,” Travis said. “I know my fans, and they won’t buy this. Sponsors will see right through it, too.”

“Oh! Me! Me! Me! I have something to add!” Madeline held up her hand like a schoolgirl.

No one acknowledged her presence, but then she started jumping up and down.

“Yes, Madeline?” Mr. Ralph gave in.

“I agree with Mr. Carter about this,” she said. “If all of a sudden, he starts willingly sharing his personal life, it’ll just invite unwanted speculation about something being wrong. The fun in being part of his haters is doing our own sleuthing.”

“Haters?” Travis narrowed his eyes at her.

“Your fans, too.” She smiled, and Ralph put away his camera.

“Fine,” he said. “We’ll knock this one off the list. In the meantime, let’s get some shots of Travis watching Miss Brave skate. He would dothat, correct?”

I shrugged and headed to the seats to pick up my bag. I slid out of my shoes and unlaced my skates while Travis and Ralph discussed other photo options.

“Holy shit, tell the crowd to be quiet!” Madeline screeched. “Mr. Stuart from Nike is calling me!”

There’s no one else in this arena.

“Hello, sir!” She leaned against one of the candles. “How are you?”

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