From This Moment is finally here! I can’t wait for y’all to read more about Reaf and Tonya. They are the couple that started this series, and I absolutely love them.
Release Date: February 21, 2019
Cover Design: KP Design
Blurb: Weddings are supposed to be the best day of your life. Right?Tonya was ecstatic the day Reaf proposed to her. Ready to have her fairytale wedding and happily ever after. Until everything went wrong.Reaf still can’t believe she said yes. If only he could figure out how to stop her doubt from tainting their happily ever after. If only he could turn to someone who knows her as well as he does. Is her ex, Jake, the man with all the answers?Can they get over the hurdles set before them and begin a new adventure together?
Excerpt
I double check my pocket to ensure the ring is there before we walk off. Getting down on one knee without the ring would be pretty damn embarrassing. My hands are sweating again and I’m worried she’ll pick up on how nervous I am. Maybe she’ll just think it’s the heat, and not say anything.“Thank you for bringing us out here today.” She leans into me, pulling her hand from mine, and wrapping her arm around my waist.A part of me wants to pull away because it’s hot and I don’t want to get sweat all over her, but I quiet that thought. Instead, I pull her closer, reveling in the fact that she’s all mine. “Absolutely. Flowers aren’t really my thing, but I knew it would make you and our moms happy. Besides, we can get some adorable pictures of Layla with all the bright colors.”She smacks her forehead. “I didn’t even think of that. We’ve wasted all this time with the first half of the gardens.” Shaking her head she continues, “Now, I feel like we need to go back so we can get pictures.”“I’m sure there are plenty of flowers in the remaining gardens.” I chuckle. She gets so worked up about the tiniest things. It would annoy some people, but I think it’s adorable.“You’re right.” She gives me a quick side hug and we continue walking.“I wonder if there are any fish in that pond,” I muse. I’m trying to find a reason to get her over there. We need the perfect backdrop. Mom and Mrs. Burgess are slowly getting closer to where we’re standing. Layla pulling my mom’s hair. “Look, I think I saw something ripple the water.” I need her to not pay attention to our moms.As she leans over the brick wall, I use the distraction to dig the ring out of my pocket. I should have put it in a pouch or something. Small pieces of lint hang off it, and I do my best to pull them all out before she turns back around.“Reaf,” she says, still eyeing the pond. “I don’t see any-” Her words die on her lips when she notices I’m no longer standing beside her, but down on one knee.“Tonya.” Her name is stuck in my throat. Now is not the time to be nervous. Gah, I sound like a teenager who’s voice is still cracking. Clearing my throat, I hope there are no more mishaps. “I know we haven’t been together for very long, but what I do know is that I want you in my life every day for years to come. I want to wake up to your beautiful face every morning, and shower you with the love you deserve.”“What the hell are you doing, Reaf?” She whispers, frantically. Good, I’ve caught her off guard. She had no idea this was going to happen. Score one for all the people who kept it quiet.I shrug, and watch her nose scrunch up at the simple gesture. “Um, I’m trying to propose to you if you’ll let me finish.” She waves her hand, wanting me to continue. “Where was I? Oh yeah, I want to shower you with love. I want to be the person you lean on when you’re having a bad day, and the one who celebrates all the successes you have along the way. And, one day I’d love to have babies with you, and grow our family.” She snorts at that. “Will you marry me?”She doesn’t say anything. She stares at me, and then looks at our moms watching on the sidelines with their phones out. Shit. I’ve done the wrong thing. She’s not ready for this, and I screwed everything up. “I’m sorry, it’s too early to profess my undying love for you.” I begin tucking the ring back into my pocket.Tonya’s hand whips out grabbing mine before I can put it back, almost knocking the ring out of my hand. “Why are you putting it away? I never answered.”“Which is why I assumed the answer would be no.”“You know what happens when you assume, right?” She smirks. That’s a good thing…I think.“Yeah, yeah. It makes an ass out of you and me.” I grab her hand with my free one. “So, are you going to answer?” I hate the uncertainty in the question. But I fear rejection even more.She pulls the hand not entwined with mine back, and taps her chin. “I don’t know,” she answers. “Does this include you also cooking breakfast and pretty much most other meals? Because we both know I can’t even boil water without burning the pan.”“That’s because you forget about it.” A grin spreads across my face. She’s going to say yes, I just know it. “And, yes I’ll cook anytime you ask. Or, you know, order take out if I don’t feel like it.”“Then YES,” she shouts, throwing her arms around my neck, nearly knocking me over. She kisses my cheeks, chin, lips. Anywhere she can reach. Whispering in my ear, she says, “The promise of cooking won me over.” She pulls back and winks. “Now, can I see the ring?”I almost forgot about it. I grab her hand, and slowly slide the ring on her finger. Tears well up in my eyes and almost spill over. She’s just made me the happiest guy on the planet. Our moms are clapping and yelling their congratulations while people look at us curiously. When they see what’s happening, another roar of applause I heard. I lean Tonya back, and kiss her long and deep. They need to see just how in love with this woman I am.“I’m getting married,” Tonya yells into the hot summer air.