Claiming Valentine

He sees her heart, not her challenges—now he’ll do anything to prove they’re meant to be.

Link

I visit Valentine’s Kitchen every day, trying to work up the courage to ask Natasha Valentine on a date. Delicious as her bakery’s treats are, they don’t compare to her sweet curves, ebony hair, and deep-brown eyes. I’m hooked from the first day.

When our first date ends disastrously, I’m left wondering where I went wrong. Walking away from her isn’t an option because Tasha is unlike any woman I’ve ever known. I’m drawn to her in ways that go deeper than physical attraction.

Tasha thinks her Asperger’s is a problem to keep us apart. I see it as a gift, an opportunity to connect, communicate, and understand each other better than many couples have the chance to do. I’ll do whatever it takes to be the man she deserves, and earn my place at her side for the rest of our lives.

Author's Note:

Claiming Valentine features a main character with Asperger’s Syndrome. Asperger’s Syndrome is a form of Autism Spectrum Syndrome, a neurobiological disorder where people have difficulty relating to others socially. Their behavior and thinking patterns can be rigid and repetitive.

Raising awareness of autism is a cause close to my heart. Each person experiences autism differently, but it’s important to know that it’s not a “disease,” and it’s not something that needs to be “cured,” but rather needs to be understood and embraced.

Claiming Valentine is a work of fiction and aims to highlight some of the struggles faced by people on the spectrum through Tasha and Link’s love story.