Cover Reveal:

This Is Living

by

Melody Dawn

Dec 17^th

The first time Jayson Reece saw Chloe Schaeffer, he knew she would be his forever. He promised her then that he would show her how to live rather than just letting life pass her by. Now, 9 years later, they’ve had the storybook romance, a picture perfect wedding, and two twin boys to complete the family they always wanted.

But something is missing…

With two rambunctious boys, Chloe decides to be a stay-at-home mom until the boys are old enough to go to school. So, with her dreams of being a social worker put on hold, she throws everything she has into being the perfect mother and wife.

Jayson has a very demanding career as an Emergency Room physician. He tries to balance out his workload and that of being a family man, but lately his job has come first. Is he beginning to lose focus on the things that are most important to him?

Will Chloe’s drive for perfection and the challenges of Jayson’s career drive them apart? Or will they realize that love creates the perfection she desires and the balance he needs to keep his family together?

There’s only one thing left to do. Jayson needs to renew his promise to Chloe and she needs to trust Jayson to get them back to where they belong.

A place where living and loving is required…those only wanting to exist need not apply.

Chloe

Walking up to the nurse’s station, I see Tanya, one of the nurses that has been in the ER as long as Jayson has been here for his residency. We have gotten to know each other and she loves my babies. And they love her too. Braxton sees her first and takes off running while screaming her name. I chase after him, but damn, he is getting faster each day…they both are. He reaches the desk before I do, but it’s ok because she has already come out from behind it and grabs him up.

“Hey B-man, what’s up? Give Aunt Tanya a hug and give me some dirt on your daddy so I can blackmail him next time he’s mean to me.”

I don’t think he knows what dirt or blackmail means, but he shakes his head yes and laughs anyway. By this time, Brendon has reached her also and she is hugging him to her although he remains on the ground. Not missing a beat she grins at Brendon with her next words.

“There is my second little man. How are you, sweet cheeks?”

Like clockwork, Brendon gives her a pointed look and says, “I was born first, Aunt Tanya, I’m #1.”

She laughs while I shake my head because I have definitely heard this refrain before and from another set of twins: their dad and their uncle. Thank god, he isn’t saying he’s sexy or has got all the goods. I’m waiting for that day to happen. Please god let it be when he’s at least a teenager. Somehow I know it won’t be because Jayson and Connor still don’t have a filter even after having kids. They try to be stealthy about it, but they don’t get it that kids hear everything.

With all the commotion going on, I happen to notice another nurse behind the counter, one that I’m not familiar with. She is watching me like I’m going to whip out a weapon or something…I’m not sure. Something about her makes me wary of the way she is watching us.

I focus on her nametag and it says Melissa. Mentally, I roll my eyes in disgust because it is very close to another name from the distant past that I don’t want to remember at all. She hasn’t taken her eyes off of the scene in front of her and it looks like she is annoyed. The more she stares, the more I become upset. What the hell is this witch’s problem?

Tanya notices that my attention is elsewhere and looks to see what has me preoccupied. When she sees who I’m staring at, she grimaces in disgust. What is that about? Melissa’s stare makes me feel exposed so I grab Brendon up and tell Tanya that I’m looking for Jayson. I see the new nurse jerk her head up again when I say Jayson’s name. What happens next floors me.

“Why are you looking for Dr. Reece? Is there something I can help you with?”

I blink rapidly and feel my breathing increase. Tanya notices my reaction and jumps to the rescue.

“Melissa, this is Jayson’s wife, Chloe, and his sons. Of course, if you can’t see who these two belong to, then your powers of observation are way off and you don’t belong in the ER where those skills are necessary for patients to be treated successfully.”

Ha ha, go Tanya! Melissa, who I’ve started calling the fucking bitch nurse in my mind sniffs and rolls her eyes. “Whatever…I was just trying to be helpful.” As she walks away, my temper gets the best of me and I mutter quietly, “fucking bitch.”

Tanya smothers a laugh because evidently I didn’t do it quietly enough. Braxton’s eyes get big and he tells me, “Mama, you hab to put money in the jar.” Oops. I thought I said it where they couldn’t hear. Now, I will never hear the end of it.

Unfortunately my boys are well acquainted with swearing and yes, we do have a swear jar. Since their dad, their uncle, and their cousin, Brayden, can’t clean up their mouths, I figured out a way to make some money which I can use to get my mani/pedis, waxes, and my hair done. Not that Jayson would deny me these things; I just enjoy holding it over their heads how much money I make off of them because these guys swear…a lot.

I grin to myself when I think of my money making enterprise. It’s all good…sometimes I think they swear more just so I will make a big deal and fuss about it. I keep telling Jayson he is going to regret it when one of their teachers calls us about the boys using bad language. God, I guess soon my boys will be putting money in the swear jar!

As for me, I am usually more reserved than this and wait to have my swearing fits behind a locked bathroom door where the boys can’t hear me. Crap; I know they are going to tell their dad. How can I get out of this? I reach into my mom’s arsenal and pull out bribery…shut up, you would do it too.

“Mama didn’t mean it; I shouldn’t have said that. Let’s not tell anyone, ok. How about I take y’all to get ice cream when we leave here?”

Jesus, am I really bargaining with two toddlers? Yes, I am because I need my record to stay intact. Or I will never hear the end of it. I see Tanya’s mouth twitching and give her an elbow to the ribs. She just rolls her eyes and whispers, “You know they are going to tell.”

They probably are, but more important things are going on. Right now, I am focusing on the beautiful man in scrubs headed my way. He hasn’t seen me yet but I know when he does, his panty-melting smile is going to spread across his face.

He looks up at that moment and sees me and the boys and guess what, I’m right…there is the smile. I smile back instantly and the boys soon see who has my attention. They take off running screaming “Daddy” and I know he knows they are there because even when they slam into him, he keeps smiling at me.

“Wow, I think I’m going to get pregnant just looking at you two.”

To Live Again

(The Living Series Book 1)

Chloe has the perfect life or so everyone thinks.

She tried to leave her past behind, but it follows her like a dark shadow. Drowning in guilt, she's dying to live, but sees no way out. So she tries to fool herself and everyone else into believing she is fine.

But Jayson sees through the act that Chloe puts up for everyone else and he's going to do everything in his power to help her to live again.

Can Chloe let go, or will that night forever ruin her future?

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Melody Dawn is a contemporary romance author residing in the southern part of the US. She started reading romance novels when she was a teenager and became addicted to Happily Ever After’s. She got her own HEA when she met her soulmate 20 years ago and they have been together ever since. They have two furbabies who think they are Kings of the Castle and require a ton of attention. When she is not reading or writing, she loves to refurbish old furniture into new pieces, scrapbook, and most of all spend time with her main guy.