“Together we’re unstoppable,” my wife repeats in a whisper, her fingers squeezing mine tight.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
If you’ve gotten to this point, you might be thinking to yourself, “Hmm, the premise of this story felt familiar, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.… I wonder if anyone specific inspired Erin to write this?” And you would be correct. So first, I want to shout out my lifelong adoration and love for Natalie Maines and The Chicks. If you don’t know Ms. Maines’s story, you should close this book and hit the internet to do some research and then download all of the band’s albums. Unfortunately, I can’t give everyone their happily ever afters, even if they really deserve it, but if I could, I’d like to think they would look a little like the one Lorelai and Huck got.
All right, so now for my thank-yous, and I’ve got a mighty list. First, my agent, Kate McKean, who I figure is about as fierce as Trina Hamilton, just with better hair. Thanks for always being in my corner, Boss. I couldn’t ask for anyone better. Also my editor, Vicki Lame, who has been my favorite partner in writing-crime since the very beginning through YA and now adult romance. This one was really for the both of us. As I said from the start, Lorelai’s story is exactly our shit. Vanessa Aguirre was the editorial assistant on this story, and thank goodness she was … everything runs real smooth with Vanessa around. I appreciate her so. The jacket and cover design came from the brilliant brain of Kerri Resnick, who barely batted an eye at my twelve emails of “Craig’s beard is really not there, but is more mossy, but also he can’t look nineteen but also skip the beard and just try the glasses” and “OH NO, Lorelai is celiac that bread will kill her!” The end result is a dream. Kerri is why.
Now my list （unfolds paper, leans into the mic, and speed-reads as the music plays her out）： publisher Anne Marie Tallberg, designer Michelle McMillian, managing editor Chrisinda Lynch, production editor Ginny Perrin, champion copy editor Nancy Inglis, production manager Jeremy Haiting, marketing geniuses Alexis Neuville and Brant Janeway, and, finally, the publicity team, which was the brilliant combo of Kelly South, Tracey Guest, and Mary Moates.
Early beta readers and dearest, talented friends Kelly Coon, Lillian Clark, and Laura Namey rock my world. Vegas misses us. My oldest besties who, in truth, claimed Craig Boseman as their collective book boyfriend in our group chat months before anyone else laid eyes on him: Cate Unruh, Megan Turton, Jessica Steenlage, and Angela Swope. Thank you for cheering me on, keeping me sane, and throwing the best book bash signing slash friends’ Thanksgiving a girl could ask for.
Thanks to Karen McManus and Kathleen Glasgow. Regular chats with you two keep me sane. I hope I do the same for you!
Brittany Bunzey, Mike Lasagna, and Addie Yoder, every book needs fairy godparents. Lorelai and I are so lucky to have you three.
To my relentlessly supportive mom, Deb; my fierce mother-in-law, Karen; my younger, smarter, wiser, more beautiful, more awesome sister, Cassie; and my Tom: Thank you for being just as excited for me after five books as you were with the first. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for all of you. Even if you don’t read the sexy scenes （Mom!）， I still write better knowing you all will be on the other end of the pages. To the rest of the Vrtis, Jenkins, and Hahn family, thank you for showing up over and over for my books. Special shout-out to my cousin Annie Werner and my great-aunt Charlotte Bobbitt, who make my day on a regular basis with their constant cheer and support. You may be far away, but I feel your love like warm long-distance hugs.
Finally, to my hot husband, Mike, and our two awesome kids. I don’t know how I managed to be the only one in our household who loves reading, but in this case it’s likely for the best. You three probably won’t ever read this book, but others who know you will. For that, I am both sorry and not sorry. Love you, Family.
To my readers, you’re the very best. A thousand erotic poems and song-sexts to every one of you! Catch you in Maren’s book next!