Close to You (31 page)

He was on his knee, flicking open a black velvet box. Nestled in there was a sparkling, princess-cut diamond set on a platinum band.

Her pulse hammered in her ears. This was the worst thing in the world he could do. What was he thinking? Of all the places. Here. When he knew everything that had happened. The very same scenario where she had been humiliated and had her heart broken.

Allison. Remember, I take broken dreams and redeem them. I'm the One Who writes a story for you that is better than you could even ask or imagine.
The quiet words whispered through her soul and soothed away her fears.

Here. Was perfect.

“Are you sure?” The words whispered out.

His gaze captured hers. Steady and strong. “Never been more sure of anything in my whole life.”

“Okay.”

“Okay . . . ?”

He didn't know which question she was answering. “Yes, Jackson Gregory, I would like to marry you. Please.” His face lit up like Times Square on New Year's Eve as she held out her left hand.

Slowly, carefully, he slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. “How did you know?”

“Told you. Creator of the universe.” He whispered the words in her ear as she was swept into his arms and off her feet.

She was in the air. Arms around his neck.

He pulled back, tipped his forehead against hers. Just like the day they'd been lost in the bush. “Is it weird we're going to have our second kiss in front of like two hundred people?”

Allie looked over his shoulder at the class, who were now on their feet, cheering and whistling. “Do you want to wait?” She wanted to kiss him so badly she wouldn't have cared less if the university marching band wanted to stage a concert in the hall.

Her answer was found in a split-second throaty laugh before his lips claimed hers and gave her the kind of kiss that rivaled anything any fairy tale had ever woven.

Jackson pulled back, leaving her breathless. “You still prefer the Sam-and-Frodo kind of love?”

Allie shook her head, her ears hurting from the noise rolling across the room. But all she saw were the eyes of the man she would love for the rest of her life.

Acknowledgments

W
HEN
I
STARTED WRITING, IN
the beginning of 2006, it was as a young, single twenty-something who had big dreams of putting words on pages that might one day be good enough for other people to read. I dreamt about the day I would be sitting at my laptop, tapping out my own words of thanks. Admittedly, my vision was a lot more glamorous than the reality of sitting in old track pants, surrounded by piles of washing, after an extended sleep negotiation session with a three-year-old.

The idealistic young writer had a different name, a different hair color, a much bigger disposable income, exponentially fewer stretch marks, and a lot more sleep. But the thrill of writing these words is even greater than I imagined it would be. The task of putting on paper my gratitude to the very large tribe who made this dream a reality is even more daunting.

So, without further ado, my inadequate words of thanks to my people:

Jesus, because it's only thanks to Him that the crazy, ­impossible dream of this girl from New Zealand could ever come true.

My amazing husband, Josh. Surprise! Of course I was always going to dedicate this to you. Sorry (but really not sorry) for all the elaborate subterfuge to convince you I wasn't.

My sister, Melody, my first ever reader, #1 fan, and most brutal critic, who has been cheering me on since I wrote that first (truly awful) chapter.

The rest of my amazing family and family-in-love, for never suggesting that maybe it was time to quit trying and accept that the odds were never going to be in my favor. Especially to my parents—from you I know what it looks like to love God and live a life that takes the road less traveled.

My amazing Sister Chucks: Jaime Jo Wright, Laurie Tomlinson, Halee Matthews, Anne Love, and Sarah Varland, for talking me off more ledges than I can count, riding this crazy writing-life-wife-mom-friend roller coaster together, brainstorming over text when I'm totally lost in plot holes entirely of my own making, the 24/7 living over Facebook messenger, the emergency Double Stuf Oreo deliveries across the globe, enriching my life with your friendship, and making my stories so much better than I ever could on my own.

The dream team. My wonderful agent/fairy godfather, Chip MacGregor, for signing a girl who lived half a world away and having an unswerving belief this would happen. My amazing editor, Beth Adams, for loving Jackson and Allie's story as much as I do, your ability to see exactly what the story needed and stretching me to make it the best I could. I still can't believe I got to do my debut novel with you! The team at Howard Books: Katie Sandell, Ami McConnell, Bruce Gore, and everyone else who has embraced this story. I am beyond honored that I get to be on your team.

Kathleen Kerr, for the perfect encouragement at the time when the dream felt too hard and I was so close to giving it up and taking up something more achievable, like learning to play the piano with my toes. I will never be able to express what having you love my writing so much meant when I felt like this was never going to happen.

Charlene Patterson. Remember that day when you asked me, “Have you ever thought about writing a romance to do with
The
Lord of the Rings
?” I thought it was crazy and there was NO WAY I would be able to pull it off or that anyone would want to buy it. I've never been more glad to be proven wrong.

Ann-Maree Beard, Olivia Williams, Fee Conway, Anna Holmes, Nicky Parlane, Elizabeth Norman, Myra Russell, Ally Davey, Steph Mowat, Heidi Benson, Wendy Harper, and my amazing Mosaic Table 3 girls, for feeding my family and watching my little people when I was on deadline, for cheering this book on and telling me how much you already loved it even when you knew nothing about it, but most of all, for being incredible friends I am blessed to do life with every day.

To my two little hobbits, aka the Buddy and the Buzz. There is no book that could ever compete with the joy of being your mum.

Last, but definitely not least, to whoever you are, reading this. The world is full of incredible literary voices whose works deserve your time. Thank you for taking a chance on mine.

© Jenny Siaosi

Kara Isaac is an award-winning writer who lives in Wellington, New Zealand, where her career highlights include working in tourism as private secretary for the prime minister. She loves great books almost as much as she loves her husband and two Hobbit-sized children.

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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2016 by Kara Isaac

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First Howard Books trade paperback edition April 2016

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Isaac, Kara.

Close to You / Kara Isaac—First Howard Books trade paperback edition.

pages ; cm

1. New Zealand—Fiction. I. Title.

PR9639.4.I83C58 2016

823'.92—dc23

2015021092

ISBN 978-1-5011-1732-9

ISBN 978-1-5011-1733-6 (ebook)