“I swear to you that isn’t what happened. That weekend wasn’t about anything but you and me.” He walked over to her and grabbed her hand. Then, he put it over his heart. “You feel that? That’s how I feel every time I’m in a room with you.”
Tasha slowly pulled her hands back from his. “Even if that’s true, we’ve made so many mistakes. How can we go back? We can’t. Some things are just meant to be left alone.”
Tim felt as if she were slipping away from him. He had to do something, “Let’s just start over.”
“How? Even if I wanted to…it would be impossible. So much has happened.”
“Excuse me Ms., I couldn’t help but notice you have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. I’m Tim Horne.”
He reached his hand out to hers as if for a handshake. Tasha stared at it for a long time wondering if it could be that easy.
Tim held his breath hoping and waiting for her to take his hand.
She whispered, “Tim, this is silly.”
“Just humor me please.”
After an agonizing few moments of wondering if she would, she finally took his hand in hers. The all familiar zing went through her whole body just from his touch. “Tasha Stevens.”
“I was hoping you’d let me take you out on a date. Maybe dinner and a movie. Or, if you’d like to do something else, I’m willing to do whatever you’d like.”
Tasha tried to release his hand but he held on tight, “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t date married men.”
“Well, it’s a good thing then that…I’m divorced.”
Tasha quickly looked up into his eyes, “What?”
“I’m divorced. It’s taken these last months to get everything settled. I promised myself that when I came for you it would be in a way that was honorable.”
More tears. She hated herself for crying so easily when she thought of Sabrina or Tim. They started to fall uncontrollably.
“Baby please don’t cry.” Tim pulled her into his arms. “Tasha, I’ve missed you so much and I would do anything and everything for you. I just need to know that I’m not too late.”
“I hate this. I hate that I can’t stop loving you. Nothing I’ve tried has worked.”
“So, you still love me?”
“Yes.”
There was no point in him waiting. Tim stepped back from her before bending down on one knee. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny ring box.
Tasha’s eyes grew large with surprise. He couldn’t be doing what it looked like.
Tim opened the box to reveal a beautiful emerald cut yellow diamond. It had to be at least four to five carats.
“Tasha Stevens, I was going to wait until after we had our official first date. I wanted to court you properly but, six months has felt like forever. I can’t wait another minute. I love you with everything that I am. You’ve taught me what a pure love really is. You’ve changed my whole world and made me a better man. I want you to be by my side through all of my successes and failures. I want you to be the mother of my children, and I want you to be the woman I grow old with. If you’ll have me, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?”
When Tasha started her day, she never in a million years thought it would end with him flying from Chicago to Dallas, getting down on one knee and proposing.
In a whisper she answered, “Yes.” Then Tasha screamed at the top of her lungs, “Yes, I will marry you!”
Tim slipped the ring on her finger before standing up and crushing her to him in a love and passion-filled kiss. It was a while before they came up for air.
They were breathing heavy, “Tasha, we should leave. We should leave right now because being this close to you; I’m about two seconds away from ripping off all of your clothes.”
Tasha smiled sexily then turned around and closed the blinds. “How about I’ll help you take them off?”
After closing the blinds, Tim pulled Tasha into another embrace before looking seriously into her yes, “I love you and I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you.”
Epilogue
Maddy and DJ came running around the corner into the kitchen of their Palo Alto vacation home. Maddy’s eyes were sparkling, “Mommy can we go outside? Uncle Craig said he would take us out. Please please please?”
Craig came into the kitchen just as Maddy finished asking permission. “Hey, I was just going to ask you if I could take the kiddos out with me for a bit. I’m taking Craig Jr. and thought I’d bring them too. With all of the rain, they’ve been cooped up inside for the last couple of days.” He laughed “It’ll do us and them some good to get out and burn up some of that energy.”
“Do you think you can handle all of the kids? I mean Maddy’s five but DJ and Craig Junior are only two and one.”
“Yes! I’m a pretty good hands on dad you know. Just ask Karen.”
“Ask me what?” Karen walked into the kitchen too.
“It seems I’ve got to prove to my baby sister that I can handle all of the kids. You can go ahead and tell her right now what a fantastic father I am.”
Karen giggled and thought to herself that Jenny always seemed to know how to rattle Craig and he fell for it every time.
“Um…he’s…” Her voice trailed off.
Craig grabbed his wife by the waist and kissed her hard on the lips.
Breathlessly she responded, “He’s fantastic.”
Jenny rolled her eyes, “Alright already with all of that. Take them. Take them out and have a great time.”
Karen smiled, “I’ll go with them too just to make sure they don’t bury him in the sand.”
“How come nobody told us the party was in the kitchen.” Tim and Tasha walked into the kitchen hand in hand.
Craig spoke jokingly, “We tried but we can’t seem to get you both out of your room long enough to tell you.”
Everybody laughed because it was partially true.
“Well, I have to make sure my wife is getting her proper rest.”
Jenny spoke, “Rest…right. When I was five months pregnant that was right around the stage I couldn’t get enough of…..” Jenny looked down at the kids who were watching intently “rest. You’re absolutely right.”
Everybody laughed again. Karen chimed in “Me either. Craig and I rested a lot!”
Tasha was so embarrassed but she joined in on the laughter too.
Tim absently rubbed her stomach. He’d hoped this day would come. However, there were times he wasn’t so sure that it would but he was going to be a father with the woman he loved. And, finally, he’d be able to contribute to Jenny’s kids having more cousins to play with.
Maddy pulled Craig’s leg, “Uncle Craig let’s go.”
Craig, Karen, and the kids headed outside for some fun.
Jenny sat down at the kitchen table not knowing what to do with herself. A little bit of sadness crept into her eyes.
Tim noticed it immediately. So, did Tasha. He’d already explained to Tasha that he wanted to talk to Jenny alone to see how she was really handling the divorce. She thought it best to give them a minute.
“I left something upstairs. I’ll be right back.”
Once Tasha had gone, Tim sat down at the table with Jenny.
“How are you doing? I mean really?”
Jenny exhaled, “I’m taking it one day at a time. But, everyday I’m getting stronger. Daniel definitely doesn’t try to make things any easier though.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I’ll take care of that.”
“No. Don’t. He’s still the father of my children. You know after all he’s put me through I still hate to see him struggling. You know he’d blown through his inheritance and was never really able to hold onto a job. So, it’s a big adjustment for him.”
“Good. I don’t care if he’s homeless on the street and you shouldn’t either.”
“Hmm…well Maddy and DJ adore him. I’m not to the po
int yet that I don’t care and not sure I ever really will be. But, I’m moving on. I don’t deserve what he dished out. I’ve been talking to a therapist trying to figure out why I allowed him to treat me like shit. But, if I ever see that slut-bucket Sabrina in the streets, I can’t be responsible for my actions.”
“I’m just glad we’re divorced. She ended up taking the two million dollar settlement. What she didn’t know was I would have paid ten times that much to protect Tasha. Anyway, have you found any answers?”
She shrugged “Not yet. The only thing I can think of is Daniel tapped into something I was missing. Something I need. But, I promise you, before I enter into my next relationship, I’ll figure it out. I don’t ever want to go through what I went through with him again.”
Tim reached out and held her hand “We won’t let you. You and the kids mean too much to us for that.”
“Thank you for always being here for me and Craig and for always supporting us. Mostly, thank you for making sure I wasn’t the only woman on these family vacations anymore. Tasha is good for you. I can see the love in her eyes. Take care of each other. I love you.”
He kissed his baby sister on the cheek, “I will and I love you too.
*****
Tasha decided to come back upstairs to rest for a bit while Jenny and Tim talked. A smile crept upon her face because lately with Tim, all she did was eat, sleep, and make love. But, she’d never been happier.
She received a ping on her cell phone. Someone sent her a text message. After grabbing her phone she read the message.
I know your birthday is tomorrow but I just wanted to make sure I said happy birthday. And, congratulations on the baby.
Sabrina
It was the first communication she’d had with Sabrina in almost two years. Even with everything they’d gone through…it warmed her heart to hear from her.
Tim came upstairs into the bedroom.
“That’s a pretty big smile on your face Mrs. Horne.”
“It’s not nearly big enough to express how happy I am Mr. Horne.”
Tim pulled her into a loving embrace and kissed her breathless. They spent the remainder of the afternoon… resting.
Other Books by LaShawn Vasser
If you enjoyed the The Stranger Next To Me, please take a moment to leave a review with Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you made your purchase.
Also, visit my website at https://lashawn-vasser.squarespace.com for more updates and information regarding new releases. You can like me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lashawn.vasser, tweet me at @MsLaShawnVasser, tsu me at https://www.tsu.co/LaShawnVasser. Thank you again for your purchase.
Out of Nowhere (Book 1)
He is the CEO of CkR International, Inc., a billion dollar company. She is a struggling single mother working for his company in customer service. What happens during a chance meeting in his company’s elevator will change their lives forever. Take the journey with Vicky and Jason as they fall in love. Will they overcome past hurts, society’s demands, and family expectations?
New Beginnings (Book 2)
Just when billionaire Jason Kincaid Rutherford was on the cusp of living happily ever after with the only woman who's ever lit a fire within him, tragedy strikes. Will it leave her so broken that her heart doesn't have room for him? Not if Jason can help it. Continue on with the journey of Jason and Vicky as they face their biggest challenge yet.
LOVE, LIFE, and VOWS (Book 3)
Jason and Vicky have fought hard for their relationship. They've overcome differences in culture, race, and social status. They've withstood an almost unimaginable tragedy and come out on the other side stronger than ever. Or, so they thought.
Follow along as Jason and Vicky's love is pushed to the breaking point after life takes a devastating turn. Will they ever find their happily ever after?
Pieces of Me
Davis Chatham is a ruthless billionaire who spends every waking moment building Chatham Industries. That is until he meets and marries the woman of his dreams, Anne Mathews. However, his workaholic lifestyle destroys their marriage. After trying and failing to win her back Davis was left divorced, broken and bitter. Nothing he tried could soothe his restless soul until he met Nicole DonLeavy on that fateful night of the plane crash. Get to know Davis Chatham and Nicole DonLeavy as they struggle to survive on an island paradise and follow what unfolds when Anne comes back into his life after their rescue. Is it possible to be in love with two women? And, faced with a choice which one will he choose? This is not your typical love story.
MEGA-AX1 The Inferno
As far as the world knew Jessica (Jessie) Ramsey is the CEO of Ramses, a billion dollar Networking and Security Management Firm. In reality, she is COMMAND the leader of MEGA-AX1, a covert Black-Ops organization. There never seemed to be a shortage of crises that required the attention of MEGA-AX1 and Jessie preferred it that way. Since an unspeakable tragedy, she was more interested in saving the world than her personal life. That was until she met Hollywood superstar actor, Brian Wright. He was rich, talented, sexy, and not the least bit interested in anything more than a friendship.
The next crisis: an inferno that threatened way more than the world as we know it. It also threatened to consume Jessie’s heart leaving ashes in its wake.
In book one of MEGA-AX1 the Inferno take the journey with Jessie and her team, as they navigate through dangerous missions - some to save the world and others to save their souls.
Other Authors to Consider
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