Backroads
Page 27
I shrug, watching her get agitated when she finds more rocks and another box.
“Seriously. What is the point of this?” She flings the wrapping paper at me.
She still has two more to open before she actually gets to the real present. With each box, I watch her get angrier.
When she gets to the last box, she pulls out the smallest box, not even remotely excited anymore. And then she gasps. With shaky fingers, she removes the velvet box and whispers, “Chase?”
I take the box from her gently and get down on one knee. “Princess, I’ve wanted to ask you this question for a long time. I’ve loved you since you fell into my arms on the day we met. I want to continue building our life together, with our baby, with our family... all of it with you. Will you marry me?”
Tears run down her face as she nods. “Yes! Yes, I will marry you!”
I slide the ring on her finger and kiss her fiercely. “I love you.”
“I love you so much.” She breathes into our kiss, climbing down into my lap.
Her hands reaching between us to grip my shirt and pull the buttons apart. Her swollen belly growing our child makes me want her more each day. I slide her jacket off and pull her shirt up.
Her breasts have grown, and my mouth waters to get my lips on them. “Chase, I need you now,” she demands, attempting to rip the rest of my shirt off.
I chuckle into her mouth and help her. “I said now,” she pleads.
She’s been frantic lately, and it’s hard not to please her. I spend more time taking off the layers she has on. The whole time she squirms, begging me to hurry.
When I finally have her fully bare to me, she wastes no time pushing me back and climbing on top to take her pleasure from me. Fast and quick now. We have all night.
I’m going to be Holly Hunting. My insides scream, happiness threatening to bubble over. I can’t stop looking at my gorgeous ring.
I love this man fiercely.
Movement in my belly has me smiling. “Chase, the baby is moving.” I grab his hand so we can both feel the baby kicking.
“Are you sure you don’t want to find out the sex?” he asks for the hundredth time.
We’ve talked about it, but I want to wait and be surprised. Healthy is all I want. “I’m sure.”
“Name game?” he asks. We love to go back and forth, but every time we end with the same two names.
“Jacob if it’s a boy. Kelly if it’s a girl,” we say in unison.
The End
First I need to thank my readers. If you made it this far, that means you totally just read my first book.
It doesn’t feel real for me to be writing this section of the book. Like I never thought this would happen. Writing a book has been a dream of mine from high school. Now so many (undisclosed) years later it is finally becoming a reality.
Thank you so much for taking a chance on me as a new author and reading Chase and Holly’s story. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed writing them.
Alexis has a story...hers is coming next.
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Is anyone still reading this far into the book??
Oh my goodness the people to thank for this book coming about is a mile long.
I hope I don’t miss anyone, but if I do I’m sorry. It’s only because I’m shaking and maybe crying a little as I type this out.
My BFF Crystal: Thank you for always accepting my crazy-ass ways. Your never getting rid of me. Your positive attitude kept me pushing to finish this book.
While I was having mini freak out moments (ok some not so mini) you took my dramatics and threw them out the window. Always steering me in the right direction.
You were my first reader/beta and didn’t let our friendship keep you from circling things in red with comments of “gross” or “no, just no!”
My parents: The support you have given me during this adventure hasn’t gone unnoticed. Every time I wailed how no one would ever read something I wrote, you gave me the shove to keep going. And even though I cringe at the though of you two reading all my dirty words, I also laugh because you raised me to be who I am.
I love you guys to the moon and back!
To my Spoon: Tracey I really don’t know what I would do without you in my life. Everyday you remind me I can do this. You have walked beside me step by step through all the same crazy author journey. Writing your own story and going through all the same crazy things us first timers do. Thank you for holding my hand as I hit publish for the first time. You’re next.
Your friendship means the world to me! Love you Spoon!
Sandra: I’m not sure you knew what you were getting into when you took me on as a client. I never expected to form the friendship we have, but I couldn’t imagine this story would have turned out the way it did without your Jedi editing skills.
You cradled me from afar while I made changes, freaked out, and finally finished.
When I say you are one the the best cheerleaders out there it’s because everyday you keep me positive when I can’t seem to see anything more than the negative. I love our 2am chats and can’t wait for the next book.
Thank you! (Sorry I didn’t have you edit this part of the book I needed something to be a surprise...and you know have you mentally scold me again…)
Amy Queau: You took my ideas and made them come alive. Even if my first idea came out looking like a dark erotic romance. (It was really hot though!)
You helped me go back to the drawing board and unleashed a cover I absolutely love! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You shall forever be a graphic Goddess in my eyes.
Alessandra Torre: You poor thing. The questions I have slung at you randomly—and you haven’t even batted an eye. No matter the topic. Always answering with helpful suggestions and pointing me in the right direction. Thank you!
Amy Daws: Somehow—you let me invade your life. (not really but kind of) You will never know how much all our book talk has meant to me. Thank you for letting me come in like a wrecking ball with my crazy-self. Your advice has helped me get to this point. Thank you!
Whitney G. And Nicole London: Without your writing retreat I know I wouldn’t be writing an “acknowledgement” section at all.
Because of both of you, I hit publish. There will never be enough words to express how much you both mean to me. I can’t wait for the next Indie Tea Retreat!
Mr. And Mrs. Smith: You were my vision behind Holly and Chase. This book wouldn’t have been half as fun without you guys. You brought my characters to life in a whole different way. Bringing back my love of photography again after so many years.
Thank you for rolling with all my ideas. Till the next cover needs to be done. Love you guys!
Corinne Micheals: I’d like to think you know why...but in case you don’t—I’ll never forget how much you love my Ass (wine). Thank you!!
Shannon: You let me into your own author life with one crazy picture. I’m thankful we found each other. Sister wives for life!
Thank you to all my betas/early readers. Some of you read my story more than once and I will forever be thankful for you taking the time to do so. Betsy, Doni, Holly, Louann, Joe, Megan, Rhonda, Emily Jane, and Lauren.
And if you are still reading this, thank you again for reading my book!
Jane Ashley is from a small town in South Dakota. She spends her days dreaming up new characters and adventures for them to go on.
When she’s not writing she tends to stay busy being outside during the warm summer months. During winter she grumbles about the temperature and the snow counting down the days till she can get her kayak on a lake.
Publishing is a dream come true, and she can’t wait to share her next story with you.
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Jane Ashley Converse, Backroads