Bouquet Toss (32 page)

“Oh really?” Tanner raises an eyebrow, knowing I’m only teasing. “Well, I don’t know....I think my sons will want to follow me to U of M...”

“Sons, as in plural?” I ask, playfully acting as if I am horrified.

Tanner laughs, “Well, maybe we can have a girl or two as well.” He pulls me close, stroking my hair.

“So, are you planning for me to be barefoot and pregnant immediately or will I have a grace period?” I joke.

“We will be leaving for our honeymoon tomorrow.  Should we get right to work?” Tanner raises his eyebrows with a sexy grin.

“Or we could just practice,” I say, raising my eyebrow.

“Well, you know what they say about practicing...”

“What do they say, Mr. Finley?”

“It’s a hell of a lot of fun.” He twirls me around the dance floor as I throw my head back in laughter. Once again, my husband makes me laugh in a way no one else ever has.

“Will it always be this way?  Will you always make me laugh like this?”

Suddenly serious, Tanner gazes into my eyes.  “I don’t know, Daphne.  But, I do know that I will always be devoted to you.  I will always do everything in my power to make you happy, to make you look back on this day knowing that this was the best decision you ever made.  Because I know, deep within my soul, there is no one else for me.”

My eyes moisten as I gaze into my husband’s deep irises, knowing it has been a difficult road to get to this point, but a road worth traveling.  Through the heartache, the confusion, everything that I went through with Mayson and Cece, it somehow brought me here, to this moment with Tanner.  We are about to begin our lives together and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Tanner pulls me close, and peace envelops my soul.  Kim’s words echo through me,
“He is the one I see.”

Writing Bouquet Toss has been one of the greatest learning experiences of my life.  And thanks to so many people who have come into my life, it’s now in print and available online.  Sometimes I still can’t believe it.

Thank you to my friends and family who took the time to read while it was being written:  Beth, Calia, Maggi, Kim, Lisa, Jules, Julie, Sara Z., Fred, Colleen, Lex, Sarah, Kelly, the hubs, and my wonderful Mom, Deb.  You each helped to build my confidence and many gave great suggestions to help make the story better.

Sarah Hansen of “Okay Creations” made the beautiful book cover for Bouquet Toss.  It is elegant and timeless and I feel so lucky every time I look at it, that I was able to work with such a talent.  Thank you, Sarah, for all of the time and energy that you put into making the outside of my book so gorgeous.
You can find her at:

www.okaycreations.net

Colleen Hoover, you helped me to learn one of the greatest lessons in this entire experience…that I have to tell the story that makes me happy.  I will always be grateful to you for putting things in perspective for me and for teaching me to follow my gut.  You are an incredible role model.

Kim August, thank you so much for all of your wonderful ideas regarding the story and also for your unbridled enthusiasm for my ‘career’ as a writer, including planning a book release party for me in order to celebrate. You are an incredible cheerleader!  I will also never erase the voicemail you left me….it’s just too special.

Melissa Perea, wow….just wow.  You are an unbelievably talented beta reader, writer, and you can see the tiniest plot change making a huge difference.  Our brainstorming sessions were so much fun. After talking with you, I always felt ready to dive into the story and make it just a little bit better.  You inspire me.

Jennifer Hall, my editor, thank you for editing Bouquet Toss.  Your faith in me as well as your enthusiasm for the story were both so special!  Not to mention how truly gifted you are at editing---I see a bright and successful future for you in the world of books!

Kyla Linde, thank you so much for all of the wonderful advice about marketing a book, formatting it properly, etc.  And I cannot thank you enough for sharing Bouquet Toss with your many fans.

Janna Mashburn, you are such a gift, such a blessing in my life.  You encouraged me, cheered me on, fell in love with the characters and helped me to do right by them.  You, my sweet Book Twin, helped to create the story that is Bouquet Toss, and I will be forever grateful to you.  I will also always be thankful for those two broken Nooks…our kindles brought us together and it is because of our taste in reading that we now have decades of friendship to look forward to!!

Chris Brown, the love of my life (and the inspiration for Tanner). I am so lucky to have you in my corner.  Thank you for your flexibility and support, as well as your amazing proofreading skills and ideas. I love you so.

I had the idea for this book almost ten years ago.  I began writing, but then stopped…life got in the way, and I lost faith in myself.  And then, I read a book called “The Opportunist” by Tarryn Fisher and it changed me.   The passion I felt for the characters and the story was like nothing I had ever experienced.  Tarryn, I cannot thank you enough for renewing my love of reading and writing.  It is because of your unique gifts as an author that I was inspired to find the story I had abandoned years ago and do my best to make it something worth reading.  You also introduced me to an incredible online community of readers and writers. And it is because of you that I know many of the people who are mentioned above.  You have changed my life and I will forever be grateful for the impact you have had on me and my future as a writer. 
Thank you
.

Melissa Brown is a hopeless romantic living in the
Chicago
suburbs with her husband Chris and their two children.  Aside from writing, she enjoys reading and baking.  She also has a slight obsession with actor Henry Cavill.

Connect with Melissa Brown online:

Melissa’s Blog:

http://melissabrownauthor.blogspot.com/

Facebook page:  

https://www.facebook.com/MelissaBrownAuthor

Goodreads Author Profile:

http://www.goodreads.com/melissabrown

Twitter:

LissaLou77

Bouquet Toss:

Copyright © 201
2 
Melissa Brown

ISBN-13:
978-1479218684

All rights reserved.