[ROMAN]

I hadn’t heard from Hannah since I had my. assistant contact the best businesses for flowers, cakes, and wedding invitations. It didn’t mean that she hadn’t got the information, but I was sure she would have a lot to say on the matter. I smiled at the thought of her choosing flowers and cake for our wedding.

I hadn’t lied to her when I told her that my mother would love her.

Not just for her beauty, but also for her tenacity and headstrong personality. Hannah might not be one hundred percent in on the marriage idea, but she was more than capable of holding her own in any situation.

This was evident by how she handled what her father had done to her.

Leaning back in my chair, I browsed the website for the ring maker that my assistant had given me. She would need an engagement ring and a wedding band. Once I chose the cut and color, I could expedite the engagement ring. I chose an emeraldcut diamond with a garnet set in platinum. I wanted something red to compliment her gorgeous red hair.

The wedding band was an elaborate eternity band with a double row of diamonds. I would have to ask Lauren about ring sizing since she and Hannah seemed pretty close in size.

I sent a picture of the rings to Lauren with the message: What do you think? And what size?

As I scrolled through the rings again to make sure I didn’t miss any details, my phone chimed that I had received a text message.

’Holy sh*t, Roman, she’ll love them!’ Lauren replied. She also sent me a suggested ring size. I called the ring company to hash out the details and to expedite the engagement ring.

When I hung up the phone, I was surprised to feel the excitement that coursed through my body. I smiled at the idea of getting down on one knee again, in earnest this time, and slipping the ring onto her finger. The next order of business was getting Hannah her clothes. I dialed Freddy’s number and he answered almost immediately.

"Yes?" Freddy answered the phone.

"It’s Roman," I said. "We didn’t get a chance to talk when you stopped by the other day, Freddy. You seemed angry."

"I’m not going to rehash that evening with you, Roman," Freddy said. "What do you need?"

"I need my fiance’s clothes sent to our house," I said. "As soon as possible. I’ll pay for anything if needed."

"I’ll get Edward on it," Freddy said. "Anything

else?"

I frowned. "Don’t you want to know how your sister is doing?"

"She seemed fine when I stopped by," Freddy said dismissively.

"Look, I’m too busy for small talk, Roman. I’ll send Edward to get her things. Anything else?" he asked me again.

The hurt that I felt on Hannah’s behalf, for having such a callous and uncaring brother like Freddy, made me angry.

"No," I said, and clicked the red end call button. I checked work messages, made phone calls, and went about my day at the office as usual.

Once my anger at Freddy wore off, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about Hannah planning our wedding.

Noon came and went with no contact from Hannah. The idea that she hadn’t called me or at least texted me had me a bit worried. I dialed Hannah’s number and she answered.

"I assume you’re calling about the wedding planning," Hannah said and I could hear the sarcasm in her voice.

I laughed. "Hello to you too, Hannah," I said. "I should have warned you," I admitted.

"We can get a wedding planner if you

want."

Hannah sighed. "I don’t know, Roman," she said.

"I’ve been wracking my brain all day to try and coordinate colors and invitations and cake styles."

"So you contacted everyone that called you about wedding details?" I asked her, realizing that I didn’t really think she would want to plan our wedding.

"Yes, I did," she said, "but I won’t say that I know what I’m doing. We can talk when you get home."

I smiled at her words. My fiance would be waiting to talk to me when I got home. "I like the way that sounds," I said to Hannah.

"They emailed me so many pictures and design ideas and notes, I don’t know how I’ll keep it all straight," she said. "I just need you to like everything as well."

"I will," I said. "If you like it then I’ll be happy."

The fact that she valued my opinion was a huge eye-opener. We were planning our wedding. It was happening. Hannah and I were going to be married.

I’m sure that’s what all grooms say to their future brides," Hannah said.

"They better if they want a happy wife," I said jokingly. "Before I forget, I had Freddy arrange for your things to be brought home at some point. I don’t know details, but let me know when everything arrives."

"Thank you, Roman," she said before ending the call. I closed my eyes at the sound of my name on her lips. I could imagine kissing her in my office, knocking everything off my desk like they do in the movies so that I could lift her onto my desk and make out with her.

My desk phone rang, and my assistant’s name flashed on the caller ID.

"Yes?" I answered.

"I just left the courthouse," she said, breathing heavily as if she were walking quickly.

"I’m emailing you the link to the online application for a marriage license, but you and your fiance are required to be here at the courthouse in person to complete the process."

"I can arrange that," I said. "Do we have an officiant to perform the ceremony?"

"Yes, the clerk gave me a list of names," she said. "I contacted a few of them and found someone who will be free this month to officiate."

"Excellent," I said. "My fiance and I have a lot of planning to do. Thank you for your diligence."

"It’s what you pay me for, sir," she said, and we ended the call.

A moment later I received an email with the subject ’Marriage License.’ I clicked the link and began filling in my basic information. When I moved to the section for the bride, I stopped short, because I didn’t know Hannah’s date of birth.

That one simple detail made me feel a bit embarrassed, but I sent Hannah a text explaining what answers I needed and why.

Hannah messaged back, answering each question without questioning me about

anything. She really wasn’t a conversational texter. I smiled at that, wondering what she was doing and hoping she wasn’t too stressed out about wedding details.

I really would be happy with whatever she chose, but like she said, we would talk when I got home.

Calls and emails began to pour in between me filling out the marriage license application and trying to balance work. I finally submitted the marriage license application and scheduled a date for Hannah and me to show up at the courthouse for the document that the officiant would need after the wedding ceremony.

This wedding was becoming very real to me.

During a break between calls, I stood at my office window and looked out over the bustling city. Hannah Macalester was going to be my wife very soon. She and I would be legally bound by marriage. Hannah Thaddeus had a nice ring to it, but I wasn’t sure if she would want to change her name. I hoped that I could talk her into it. Instead of feeling any remorse or regret, I was happy.

Something that started out as a misguided accident on my part and an atrocity on the part of her father was working out in my favor.

Hannah didn’t trusteasily, and I didn’t blame her. No matter how good my intentions were, we still didn’t know one another very well. I couldn’t imagine how she would have fared had I not bid for her, but she would not have given up no matter what her situation could have turned into.

I could tell from her personality, and we had only known one another for a couple of days.

I could see my penthouse apartment building a couple of blocks away from my office window, and I realized that Hannah would have a bit of alearning curve about her new life with me. I’d have to show her the properties and the businesses so that she would know what we owned. I didn’t want to keep anything away from her.

"Mr. and Mrs. Roman Thaddeus," I said aloud and the idea of being married made me smile. Maybe the guys were right that I needed to get married.

What if Hannah really was the right woman that I had been looking for? It was a f*cked up way of meeting, but who was I to question the ways of fate?