I’m so giddy with excitement I’m worried I’ll pee my pants.
It’s not just the fact that I’m about to officially become a University of Florida alum. Or that my whole loving family is here for my graduation.
No. The main source of my glee is the man giving away the diplomas up on the stage.
The man who flew said family here on his private jet.
Lucius.
My real, official boyfriend who was asked by the university to perform this honor because he’s become a celebrity here in Gainesville due to—among other things—all the jobs the recently finished Novus Rome has created.
Ruefully, I glance down at my outfit—a shapeless black gown.
Not my best. Not when I much prefer wearing sundresses when I see him, with sandals that accentuate my feet—because I know the latter drive him mad.
Then again, maybe this outfit is fine. Maybe having my feet—and everything else—hidden is enticing. Maybe we could incorporate this gown into a bit of roleplay tonight? I could be a naughty Supreme Court justice. Or a—
“Juno Lazko.” The words boom ominously over the big speakers.
My mom elbows me in the ribs, in case I’ve grown deaf.
Jackknifing to my feet, I float to the stage on a cloud of endorphins and adrenaline.
The closer I get to Lucius, the more powerfully my heart flutters.
Our life is about to be different.
Easier.
Nicer.
He’s been extremely busy with the project of his dreams and I with my Botany program, and though we’ve always found time for each other, it’s always felt like we we’ve been stealing that time.
But not after today. Not with the job I have lined up at the Botanical Gardens and his—
“Hey, you,” Lucius says to me, covering the microphone. His metallic eyes reflect the bright Florida sun overhead. “Are you excited?”
I nod, beaming.
“Good.” He grabs my diploma and steps out from behind the podium, the way he did for the other students. But then he goes off script. Normally, he shakes the graduate’s hand at this point, but he doesn’t do that to me.
Instead, he drops to one knee—causing everyone gathered to gasp.
In the stunned silence that follows, Lucius pulls out a turquoise-colored box, then clasps my hand in his, looking up at me adoringly—something he has definitely not done with any of the other diploma recipients.
“What is happening?” I whisper down at him.
I mean, obviously I know. I’ve dreamed of something like this moment. After all, it’s been four years.
Still, here of all places? Now?
“Juno,” he says, and I’m not sure if it’s part of the plan or not, but he’s not covering the microphone anymore, so his words ring out across the whole field. “Ever since we got stuck on that elevator together, my life hasn’t been the same—and I couldn’t be happier.” He opens the box, revealing a diamond that reminds me of the one the old lady dropped into the ocean in Titanic. “You’ve been my muse,” he continues. “My friend. My everything.” He takes out the ring. “Ancient Romans believed that a vein leads directly from the left ring finger straight to the heart—and that belief is the origin of the tradition we’re currently participating in.”
Of course, leave it to Lucius to tie in Ancient Rome to this proposal.
“So, as I give you your degree, I ask you, Juno Lazko, will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”
I grin so hard my ears hurt. “If I say no, will I still graduate?”
He nods.
“In that case… yes. A thousand times, yes.”
As he slides the ring onto my finger and stands up to sweep me into his arms, the entire stadium erupts in cheers—and I realize the Ancient Romans may have been right.
My heart swells with all the blood pumping through the vein leading from my left ring finger. Or more likely, with Lucius’s love.
Thank you for participating in Juno and Lucius’s journey! If you’re eager for more Misha Bell, check out The Love Deal!
Looking for more laugh-out-loud romcoms? Meet the Chortsky siblings in Hard Stuff:
- Hard Code – A geeky workplace romance following quirky QA tester Fanny Pack and her mysterious Russian boss, Vlad Chortsky
- Hard Ware – The hilarious story of Bella Chortsky, a sex toy developer, and Dragomir Lamian, a potential investor in her next big business venture
- Hard Byte – A fake date romcom featuring Holly, a prime-number-obsessed Anglophile who makes a deal with Alex Chortsky (a.k.a. the Devil) to save her dream project
For more quirky, irresistibly sweet leading ladies like Juno, try our stories following the Hyman sisters:
- Royally Tricked – A raunchy royal romance featuring daredevil prince Tigger and Gia Hyman, a germaphobic, movie-obsessed magician
- Femme Fatale-ish – A spy romcom starring aspiring femme fatale Blue Hyman and a sexy (possible) Russian agent
- Of Octopuses and Men – An enemies-to-lovers romcom about Olive, an octopus-obsessed marine biologist, and her sizzling hot (and infuriating) new boss
- Sextuplet and the City – A laugh-out-loud fake marriage romance about a dessert-loving secret blogger who falls for a hot, Latvian ballet dancer in need of a green card
We love receiving feedback from our readers, and we are always interested to know what you’d like to see in books to come. Want your favorite side character to have their own book? Mention it in a review! We take all suggestions into consideration, and if you sign up for our newsletter at www.
Misha Bell is a collaboration between husband-and-wife writing team, Dima Zales and Anna Zaires. When they’re not making you bust a gut as Misha, Dima writes sci-fi and fantasy, and Anna writes dark and contemporary romance. Check out Wall Street Titan by Anna Zaires for more steamy billionaire hotness!
Turn the page to read previews from Of Octopuses and Men and Sextuplet and the City!