Rules Get Broken (42 page)

She slides into my arms and rests her cheek against my neck. Her body melts into mine, and I close my eyes.

God, she smells good.

First, I would like to thank longtime friends Mike and Monique Stief, who over dinner one night in Düsseldorf, Germany, led me to believe, first by their questions, then by their tears on hearing my answers, that maybe, just maybe, my story would be all I hoped.

Second, sincere thanks to first reader Mickey Clement, author of
The Irish Princess
and
Twelve Shades of Crimson
,
for her wonderfully encouraging comments after reading my story and for her valuable input on how to present my book to agents and publishers.

Third, I would like to thank our eldest daughter, Jennie, for her help in putting the finished manuscript into the format demanded by agents and publishers. I can type, but computer-savvy I am not. Thanks to Jennie, no one ever knew.

Fourth, I thank John Lewis, my publisher and president of Oakley Publishing, for seeing the beauty of my story and wanting to publish my book.

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank Nancy, my wife of twenty-six years. Nancy told me many times I had a way with words; then one night in Antigua she told me I should write a book. When I said I had nothing to write about, Nancy suggested I write about my life. When I said no one would want to read about a life as ordinary as mine, she suggested I write about Peg and us. Ever my most honest critic, Nancy said my first draft was terrible; then she proceeded to tell me what it needed. She pored over the next draft and the next and the next, each time pushing me to write better—even when I wanted to stop. Good enough was never good enough; she wanted my best. Without her encouragement, patience, faith in me and unconditional love for me,
Rules Get Broken
would never have been written. Thank you, Nan, for all that you did and all that you are.