Love Surfaced

Текст добавлен: 10 октября 2016, 02:56

Текст книги "Love Surfaced"

Автор книги: Michelle Lynn

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Современные любовные романы

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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

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I close my eyes, building up the courage to be honest with him. “I can’t even cook you dinner.”

I wail, and he laughs.

I push him back and stand up. “I’m serious, Tan. I’m a disaster in anything house-related. Brad pokes fun at me all the time about if I’m pregnant and barefoot.”

Walking around the table, I blow out the candles and begin stacking the unused dishes.

“Brad’s an ass, and he should worry about his own life for once.”

When I go for the flowers, Tanner’s hand rests on my forearm. “Baby?” he asks.

I stop. “You go out and swim and work your endorsements, and I sit around here all day, living off of what you make. I feel like a kept woman.”

I slump down in a chair, and Tanner pulls his own chair over to position himself right in front of me.

“Oh, Piper. You sacrificed so much to join me here. You gave up your opportunity back home to teach. I promise you’ll find something out here soon. Just so you know, every day when I get in my car after practice, I’m thankful you’re here, waiting for me.” He takes my hands in his.

“But I’m like a leech stuck to your back, and one day, you’ll want to take a stick and fling me off.” My head falls again.

He shakes his head, a smile threatening to break at my drama. “Jeez, baby, you’ve really got a way with words.”

He laughs again.

“Relationships are give-and-take. This is only one chapter, and if we’re lucky, we’ll have a lot of years together.” He tips his head to see my face.

“It doesn’t change the fact, I can’t even make you dinner,” I admit again.

A small smile crosses his lips. “I couldn’t give a shit if you cooked me dinner, ironed my shirts, or whatever fifties housewives did. All I need is you. You keep me going, keep me swimming. You know, every day, on my last swim, my pace is faster than the others because I know I’m closer to coming home to you.” He tightens his grip on my hands.

“Are you sure you don’t mind that I’m not domesticated—at all?” I ask him.

“Nope. You know what I do mind though?” he asks.

I scrunch my eyebrows at him. “What?” I whisper.

“The fact that you go to the grocery store or to the mall, and nobody knows that your heart is taken,” he says.

My head inches back. He’s making no sense. “Do you think I would—”

“I think it’s time we fix that.” His hands leave mine, and he digs in his pocket before bending down on one knee.

“Tan,” I sigh, my hand running across my heart. It hurts from how much more it grows for this man in front of me.

“Piper Ashby, you’ve been my friend and my lover, and I dare you to be my wife.”

My body melts into the hard chair as he takes my hand, separating my fingers. I suck in a breath when he positions the round white metal on the tip of my finger. The tears build up again, and they slowly release from my eyelids.

My voice gets caught in my throat as I envision myself, all those years ago, writing Piper McCain in notebooks. Now, this boy is waiting patiently for my answer on bended knee.

Overwhelmed with happiness, I choke out, “I’ll take that dare.”

acknowledgments

THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT helped me bring Love Surfaced into your hands.

The first (yes, you have to share first place), my two nightly sprinting partners—K.L. Grayson and Mia Kayla. You both pushed me by cracking your whips, and never let me toss my manuscript in the trash. The hours of brainstorming and encouragement you both gave me while writing Piper and Tanner, will never be forgotten. There’s no way I can convey how fortunate I am for your friendship. You are my rocks in this crazy book world—plain and simple.

With tears already brimming, it’s now time to thank the people who sacrifice the most—my family. We haven’t had the best year, but I never would have gotten through it without you. I’d still be sitting on the couch with a blank screen if it wasn’t for your gentle pushing to keep moving forward. I know I don’t say it enough, but thank you for the hugs, couragement and love you’ve given me the past eight months.

Next are my editors, Perfectly Publishable and Unforeseen Editing.

Nicole Strauss, Perfectly Publishable, you have a way to draw out emotion from me and if it wasn’t for your digging, Piper and Tanner wouldn’t be the characters they are.

Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, I was thrilled to work with you and you exceed the reputation you have in this industry. If it wasn’t for your eagle eye and detailed perfection, no one would be able to make sense of my jumbled words.

To Alexis Durbin, Indie Girl Proofs, you might be hard to please (I mean that kindly), but your honesty is refreshing. You had a much deeper hand in Love Surfaced than only proofing and I appreciate you giving the extra attention.

Sommer Stein from Perfect Pear Creative Covers. I searched and searched for the perfect photo. Then you go above and beyond, and search too. You send me a photo you can’t get out of your head. We go for it and in a half hour, my eye-catching cover is finished and breathtakingly beautiful. You’re creativity amazes me with every cover you create. Muah.

To all my betas and there were a lot of you, but you each brought different advice that helped the story of Piper and Tanner evolve. Danielle Allen, Mia Kayla, Annie Trembley, Angie Straton, Melinda Bones, H. D’agostino, Melissa Rolka, Becky Martindell, Roxie Madar, Yamara Martinez, Kumiko Lee, and Amy Konczyk. Thank you for taking the time to read Love Surfaced in its roughest form.

There’s one last beta, but she’s not only a beta, she’s been my Personal Assistant for the last few months, Karrie Puskas. Thank you for your friendship, your hours of promotion, and doing everything you can to get my name out there. I cherish the friendship we’ve built these last months.

Heather Davenport, Book Plug Promotions, you my lady, surprise me with your organization and attention to detail with each event you plan for me. Thank you for never making me have to worry about anything because you are always one step ahead.

To all the blogs who have supported me, not only with Love Surfaced, but throughout the years. I appreciate you scheduling time to read and review Love Surfaced. Scheduling shares of the cover, teasers and excerpts. Without you, no one would find me.

Lastly, the readers. Without you I’d have no one to share my stories with. Thank you for trusting me by purchasing my book. I hope each time I do not disappoint you.

about the author

Michelle is an Amazon Best Selling Author. She moved around the Midwest most of her life, transferring from school to school before settling down in the outskirts of Chicago ten years ago, where she now resides with her husband and two kids. She developed a love of reading at a young age, which helped lay the foundation for her passion to write. With the encouragement of her family, she finally sat down and wrote one of the many stories that have been floating around in her head. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can be found playing with her kids, talking to her mom on the phone, or hanging out with her family and friends. But after chasing around twin preschoolers all day, she always cherishes her relaxation time after putting the kids to bed.

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