sleeping. I want to be your all and I want you to be mine for the rest of my life. I want to continue to make music that requires the inspiration of you. I want me and Jordan to sing in his garage about the loves of our lives until our voices dry out. I want to teach the students of my music class the meaning behind music—where it all comes from. The heart.”
He lowers on one knee and my heart thuds as he reveals a soothing smile. His fingers wrap around my hand and I pull my free hand up, pressing it against my lips because I can’t believe this is happening. “It took me forever to come up with that speech,” he chuckles, his head lowering, “but I mean all of it. It’s you and me, Natalie, and it always will be. I love you more than words can explain so I’m asking you . . .” he pulls out a jewelry box from his pocket and holds it up in front of me, “. . . if you will make me the happiest man on this planet by becoming my wife?”
With that, he’s set the waterworks within me on full blast. I’m so blinded by tears that I feel foolish . . . but they’re tears of joy. Tears of something I’ve always dreamed of. “Yes, Nolan,” I whisper. He grins, sliding the ring onto my finger and then stands. I lace my arms around his neck and hug him as tightly as I can. I want the tears to stop but they won’t. I just want to smile—and I am. I’m smiling like I never have before.
Harper and Dawson appear out of nowhere and begin to clap and cheer us on. “Kiss, kiss, kiss!” they chant.
I giggle, pulling back a little to look at the goofy couple and then into Nolan’s eyes. “I love you, Nolan,” I murmur before kissing him gently. He cups my face, stroking the flesh behind my ears and along my jawline as he kisses me back.
He then breaks the kiss, staring into my eyes with a smile so sincere that it causes me to fall in love with him even more. “I love you, Mrs. Young. Forever and always.”
Acknowledgments
During this process I’ve learned many things but the main one is to cherish everyone that has come into my life and everyone that has made it great in this world of writing for me. Being an Indie author is far from easy—especially for someone my age. To know that I have a group of people who are rooting for me to never quit feels amazing and I never will because it’s my passion. It’s what keeps me breathing.
I have to thank God for providing me with this beautiful talent. Without him, I’d be nowhere.
The first friend I have to thank mostly is my Stina Bina of course. I love you girl. You have been here for me since day one and even though we haven’t met officially, it feels like we’re so close. I’ve never met anyone outside of family that has supported me the way you do. Being your friend is amazing and something I never want to lose a hold of.
Kimberly Schaaf! OH MY GOSH! You have been with me since Helena Zane. You’ve watched me grow and you’ve always seen the potential in me. You could have easily steered out of my direction and ignored me but you’ve stuck by my side since book one. I can’t thank you for your unconditional love. To know that makes me one happy woman and I will always cherish our friendship.
Thank you Stephanie White of Steph’s Cover Designs for your awesome cover skills! I’ve never met a woman so reasonable and sweet . . . even though I’m slightly picky. Thanks for putting up with my craziness!
I can’t forget my lovely author beauties: C.C. Brown, Amanda Heath, Michelle Valentine, Emily Snow, Charlene Martin, Jeannette Medina, Heidi Acosta, LP Dover, Chrissy Mobley, Nadege Richards, Tabatha Vargo . . . these are in no specific order at all. You ladies really crack me up. You’re talented. Supportive. Beautiful. Sweet… and all the above. I’m so glad I have you all to laugh with and talk about writing with. This crap aint easy to do alone!
To Ena Burnette of Swoon Worthy Books for your amazing-ness and helping me with the Hard to Hold On blog tour. I can’t thank you enough for your thoughtfulness and for being dedicated to it. You are a sweet, super awesome lady! Kendall McCubbin of Book Crazy, Leah B of Book Nerd 101, Kim Bias of Reviews by Tammy & Kim, Cassie Chavez of Sassy Cassie’s Reviews and Cassie’s Crafty Creations, Kristie Krainock Wittenberg of Three Chicks and Their Books, Mary Tatar of Mary’s Crazy Book Obsession, Sarah Camargo of S. Camargo’s Book Addiction, Kathy Womack of Romantic Reading Escapes Book Blog, the entire Young Adult and Teen Readers team, and many, many more, y’all have been amazing to me. Thank you so much for taking the time out to share my things and supporting me. I know you don’t have to, but when you do it really makes me smile. I don’t know where I’d be without you ladies. There are a ton more and I’m sorry if I didn’t mention you but know that I love you regardless!
I have to thank my family most of all. I love them to death and they’ll always be my motivation. My Juan Carlos for loving me for the person I am and providing me with the pretty steamy scenes (exception on the public sex) that were written into Hard to Resist and Hard to Hold On. Yeah, wouldn’t be able to write it without him, ladies.