"Get dressed and grab your bag while you’re at it. We'll leave for the lake from there."
She looks at me quizzically, probably wondering why we wouldn't just swing back by here. I'd bet money that she thinks the apartment is in Rosemore. Thankfully, I found a place perfectly positioned between school, both our jobs and her parents house. I want her to be close to home.
It takes no time at all for her to slip out of her shorts and shirt and to slip into jeans and a hoodie. Once clothes go a flying, I decide to make myself scarce. My will power can only go so far around her. Instead I go down to visit with her mom.
Fifteen minutes later we are in my truck, driving to the place we will soon call home. I cannot believe we are taking this step together.
Glancing over at her in the passenger seat, I flash her a smile, unable to hold back my own giddiness as she excitedly bounces up and down like a little kid waiting for Santa Claus. That's all it takes for her to slide across the seat and snuggle into my side. My hand falls to hers and I have no intentions of letting it go anytime soon.
Pulling into the private driveway, I kill the engine, open my door to step out and look over at her. Ok, maybe I lied about the apartment part but a duplex is somewhat of an apartment. Lucky for us, we only have listening ears to the left of us and our bedroom is clear on the right side of the house. Her eyes widen and she jumps up in her seat.
"Judd, oh my gosh!!! Can we afford this? Wait! We’re only 15 minutes from Moms house!" she yells excitedly.
She tears her hand from mine and slaps them both across her mouth, tears filling her eyes as she looks at me. Standing right outside the driver’s door, I lean against the seat and pull her closer.
"Twelve minutes from your moms house actually," I say proudly.
I timed it after I saw the for rent sign. I was pretty pleased when I found it; it was like it was destined. I never believed in that kind of stuff before Alyssa but now it seems like the universe is throwing fateful things at me by the handful, her being the most amazing of them all.
"… and yes we can afford it and still afford both of our tuitions," I finish telling her. "Let's go inside."
Gripping her by the waist, I help her out of the truck through the driver’s side then pull her hand into mine again. We stroll up the walkway with her making a spectacle of peeking inside the mailbox, looking in the window of the garage and giggling as she runs her foot across the landscaping timbers that line the front flower bed. I knew she would love this. I grab my own key and unlock the door, carefully swinging it open.
"Wait!" I point at her before she can step inside. She pauses her footing and eyes me. "I have to carry you across the threshold." I grin at her fully prepared to lift her into my arms.
She gives my arm a nudge and laughs. "That's your wedding night silly. But I'll settle for a piggy back ride." She laughs as she jumps onto my back.
I step through the doorway of our new apartment with her clung to me and turn in a circle so she can take it all in. Her hand leaves my shoulder and from the corner of my eyes I can now see that it is covering her mouth as she looks around.
"It's beautiful!"
I rush over to the breakfast bar and set her down. I have to look at her because yes it is wonderful but beautiful, no; she is beautiful.
I pull her hand away from her mouth and look into her eyes. "You’re beautiful, Alyssa. I love you."
Her eyes fill with tears as she grasps my face, pulling me closer. I think she's going to kiss me but instead, she just holds me close, pressing her forehead to mine. Her eyes are closed and tears rush down her face. If it wasn't for the unbelievably beautiful smile I would think she was sad. I stare at her with a bit of concern, wondering if I should say something, but then she finally opens her eyes. She pulls her forehead away but still keeps me close.
"I love you so much, Judd. I have to pinch myself every single day to make sure you’re real; that this is real. I can't believe that I found you. How did I find someone that is so amazing and that loves me so completely? Someone that has been there for me at every turn and that knows me better than I know myself most days."
I smile at her and feel an overwhelming surge through my heart that has my pulse racing. When my eyes glaze over, I know there will never be anything that will compare to the love I feel for her; a love that literally brings tears to my eyes. I wrap my hands behind her backside and slide her to the edge of the bar with her legs on both sides of my hips.
Once her body is flush against my own, I cover her lips with mine. I lick and taste her mouth with such tenderness and passion while running my hands back into her hair. Her hands glides around my neck and her breathing speeds up. I slowly lay her back on the bar and brace my knee into the barstool to step up with her. She breaks our kiss and giggles as soon as my body is pressed against hers, pushing back into the counter.
"Is there a bed in here yet?"
I shake my head with a trace of mischievousness in my smile. "No bed."
She gives me a quizzical look and looks back at the bar we are currently laying on as I quirk my brows.
She then looks around while I add, "no couch."
She looks back to me and raises her eyebrows, tapping her fingertips against the granite top. In one swift motion, she pulls me all the way against her body; we both laugh.
"The way I figure it, this is our house now so it's only fitting for us to break in each … and every room … properly." I wiggle my eyebrows up and down and add, "… starting with the kitchen."
And that is exactly what we do.
Releasing Spring 2016:
Breathe With Me
Book Three in The Breathe Series
Evan’s Story
First off, I have to give a huge thanks to everyone who has messaged me, supported me, posted reviews and purchased my first book, Take My Breath Away. Going into this, I mainly wanted to publish a book for myself because it was a long time dream of mine. To my surprise, over the past few months I have been flooded with people telling me how much they love my book, how it has touched their lives in some way and even how it has helped some cope with a tragedy of their own. I can truly say that I hold each and every email, Facebook post, text, private message and kind words that you all have said to me and locked them in my heart. Thank you so much.
Thank you to two exceptional supporters, my husband and Karrie Zschille who promote the heck out of me and help me more than I could ever imagine. You both go above and beyond and I don’t know how I would get through this journey without you two.
Thank you to my editor, Jeremy Thompson. Not only are you always spot on with your advice and suggestions for my books, but some days you double as my therapist. I’m so thankful to call you a friend!!!!!
Also thank you to Karen for the added help on editing. You’re awesome as always.
Thank you to a wonderful group of beta readers: Karrie Zschille, Tara Dameron, Ashley Shoen, Heather Cavanaugh, Lisa Icard, Cori Wray and Jaclyn Keller as well as Deanna Richardson, Laura Liley, Billy Wilson, Morgan Swinford, Billie Jo Sadler, Debbie Lands, Jesica Schultz, Laura Estes and Angela Patterson. I’d like to give a special shout out to Karrie and Lisa, whose in depth edits were invaluable to this book. It would have never reached the potential I had hoped for had it not been for you two.
Thank you to Daniela with DCP Designs who is fabulously talented beyond words, exhibits exceptional one-on-one communication with her clients and always manages to blow me away with her work.
Thank you to Julio and Mandy. You two definitely knocked another one out of the park with the stunning pictures and as always, you captured the exact emotion I was looking for to bring Judd and Alyssa to life for the cover.
Thank you to Kari with Cover to Cover Designs. The cover for book one was so beyond gorgeous that I feared we’d never come close to matching its beauty, but I was wrong. This cover is unbelievable and surpassed all my expectations and hopes.
Thank you to Stacey Blake with Champagne Format
s for matching the beauty of my story, cover and characters with an absolutely stunning interior. Your talent always impresses me and perfectly caps off the entire process leading up to publishing.
Last but not least, thank you to all the readers and fans of this series. You all make me want to keep writing and writing with no end. Also, I’d like to give a big shout out to all my fans in my childhood town of Jackson, Missouri and my now hometown of Chaffee, Missouri. You have amazed me with all the support and faith you have in me. I love you all, especially my “super fans” (you know who you are.)
Wendy Wilson is an independent author. As a little girl on through adulthood, she has dreamt of writing and is finally able to indulge in that dream with the release of her first books in The Breathe Series. She enjoys spending time with her family, hanging with her friends and reading. She also has a passion for running and has found it is the perfect time to create and think up more exciting plots and characters to add into her books. She currently lives in Chaffee, Missouri with her husband, two adorable sons and two cats.
Visit my website at:
www.wendylwilsonauthor.com and Facebook
Catch My Breath Page 53
