My breath catches in my throat as I read the word across his left pec – right across his heart.
Nina.
It’s just like mine, but in black ink.
Now our baby will not only be remembered in my mind, but on both of our bodies too – the two bodies that created her life.
“It’s perfect,” I whisper.
He turns to look at it in the mirror. He runs his finger underneath the reddened patch of skin where his brand new tribute sits.
I watch his expression the entire time that it takes me to reach him.
He looks happy and sad at the same time.
It’s a feeling I know well.
I wrap my arms around him from behind and press the side of my face against his back.
“I love you,” I murmur.
He turns, and I let him go until he’s facing me before wrapping my arms around him again.
“One day, if we have more kids, their names will go right here with their sister’s.”
I nod but don’t say anything. The only thing I want more than for us to have another baby, is him.
I only just got him back and I know I need to enjoy this while it’s just the two of us.
We’re both young. We’ve got plenty of time for the rest of it.
I lean in and place a single kiss to his chest and our daughter’s name.
“I love you, princess,” he whispers.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Andy
Two months later
I swing the door open and toss my keys onto the table. “I might have done something stupid, princess,” I call out. “Something really fucking stupid.”
She appears in the doorway and I have to catch my breath. I’d never fucking admit that to anyone – not even her, but I do, every single night when I come home.
I’m so grateful to be here with her, getting a second chance I definitely don’t deserve and those feelings slam me hard in the chest each time she walks into a room.
“Hello to you too.” She smirks at me.
“No time for formalities, princess, this is important.”
“My day was good, thanks, how was yours?” she continues with her little game.
“Jesus Christ, stop fucking around will you?”
She doesn’t move an inch, just stands there looking at me with one of her brows arched – waiting for me to give into her ridiculous request, and like the sucker I am, I do exactly as she wants.
“Fine, god dammit, woman, how was your day?”
“Mmm… It was alright.” She shrugs. “Nothing special.”
“Seriously?” I demand. “All the theatrics for that?”
She bites back a laugh. “Tell me what stupid shit you’ve done this time,” she prompts.
“You might be pissed,” I warn.
“Did it get you arrested?”
I shake my head and smirk at her. “Not this time.”
“Then I’ll survive.”
“I went by our old place.”
Her eyes light up. “Oh yeah, how’s it look?”
“Good, princess, it looks like home.”
She looks at me with a gooey expression on her face, the same way she does when I say something she considers sweet.
“I bought it back,” I blurt out.
“You did what?”
“I made them an offer and they accepted.” I wince.
It really seemed like a good idea at the time – now, not so much.
Buying a house is really something you should ask your wife about first.
Her jaw drops. “You bought our old house?”
“Told you I did something stupid.” I shrug.
She’s quiet for a pause before a smile spreads across her face. “That was a risk move, Andy… but it’s not stupid, it’s perfect.”
“Yeah?” I ask hopefully.
“Mmm hmm.” She nods as she approaches me.
“Well thank fuck for that.” I run my hand through my hair in relief.
“Our house,” she breathes.
“They painted one of the rooms pink, princess, so we’re going to have to fucking take care of that shit, but it’s ours. It’s still our home.”
She slides her hands around my neck and laughs.
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“We were happy there, Dylan. That place is filled with us,” I reply as I wrap my arms around her body.
She nods her head in agreement. “I would have been happy with you anywhere, but thank you. This is the best of the stupid things you’ve done so far.”
“I’m learning.” I wink at her.
“Slowly,” she jokes.
“I learned how to wear shirts.”
She pouts. “I’m not sure that’s a good thing after all.”
“You’re right, princess, clothes are a bad idea.”
I reach down with both hands and take hold of the front of her dress.
It’s one that domes down the front and when I give it a tug, the whole thing pops open to me.
I look at her body like I’ve been starved of it.
“Andy,” she scolds me half-heartedly. “Jeff and Sarah are going to be here in half an hour.”
Her mouth might be saying no, but her eyes are saying hell fucking yes.
“We’ll be done in twenty.”
“You’re never done in twenty.” She laughs as I slide the dress off her shoulder and watch it fall to the floor.
She’s not wrong. I’m full of shit. I like to take my time with her these days – savour every second.
“They’ll be fine waiting for us,” I murmur as I kiss her neck.
“They’ll kill each other,” she argues as she tilts her head back to give me better access. “We’re lucky they even agreed to be in the same room.”
Her hands have found their way up my t-shirt now, her long nails scratching lightly at my skin.
“Then we’ll have dinner with the last one standing.” I chuckle.
I reach around and hoist her against me by her perfect ass.
She wraps her legs around my waist and grips onto my neck.
Her lips meet mine and she tugs my bottom lip into her mouth and sucks.
I groan.
“We can’t,” she insists as I head for the bedroom, her in my arms.
“You make a compelling argument, princess, but we already are.”
“You’re going to have to be quick, Drew.”
“Don’t rush me, woman.” I grin at her as I lay her down on the bed.
We both know I’ll leave our best friends – two people that hate each other more than anything, waiting for this.
Fuck, I’d keep the Queen waiting for this.
No one and nothing else matters as I strip the underwear off the woman I love.
The place could be burning around me, and I’d still be tugging the t-shirt I knew she’d learn to hate over my head and off.
There’s nothing light about her scratches now – those are going to leave a mark.
Every moan of my name only reminds me of how fucking lucky I am to be here.
I want it all with this woman.
I want to fill her up with love and life and babies.
I want a baby.
I want a family and I want it now.
That’s the only realisation I need.
“I’m not wearing one,” I announce as I pull my hand back from the box of condoms I’ve just reached for.
She looks at me with a puzzled expression, before a hopeful look crosses her face.
“You’re not?” she whispers.
“Nope,” I reply. “I’m not; fuck it, you with me, princess?”
She nods quickly, eagerly, like maybe this is something she’s wanted for a while now but has been too afraid to ask for.
“I’m gonna put a baby in your belly and then we’re gonna have our friends over for an awkward-as-fuck dinner, yeah?”
She giggles. “I’m not sure it works quite that fast.”
“Don’t insu
lt my sperm,” I growl as I push inside her.
Her laughter cuts off abruptly and is replaced with a long moan.
I’ve made love to this woman – because that’s what this is between us – hundreds of times in the past few months alone, but this time feels different.
We’re connected on another level now as I push deep inside her. This time is different.
We’ve moved on from our past, and this moment signifies us moving into a new future. Together.
EPILOGUE
Andy
“Excuse me, sir?”
I turn and see a middle-aged woman, followed by a guy clutching a huge camera, calling out to me from a few metres away.
“Me?” I question her in confusion.
I don’t get random women stopping me in the street – a few stares, much to Dylan’s distaste, but not being pulled out of a crowd like this.
She nods and speeds up her pace to catch up with us – the man hot on her heels like a shadow.
I look down at Dylan. “You know her, princess?”
“Nope.” She shrugs and snuggles a little closer into my side, one hand resting on her pregnant belly as she watches curiously.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt your afternoon,” the woman, who is in front of us now says as she looks me up and down. “And this is going to sound a little strange… But can I ask you what you do for a living?”
She’s right, it sounds really fucking strange.
I frown at her. “Uhh… I’m a mechanic.”
“And an ex-con,” Dylan mutters under her breath, a shit-eating grin on her face as she looks up at me innocently.
I nudge her gently in the ribs. “Shhh.”
“The bad-boy mechanic.” She smiles to herself. She turns to the guy and winks. “Perfect.”
“What’s that?” I question with a nervous chuckle.
“Never mind.” She shakes her head, her eyes bright and excited. “I’ve got a question for you…”
She looks at me expectantly, waiting for my name.
“Andy.”
“Andy,” she repeats with a smile. “How would you feel about being my Mr. January?”
MR. FEBRUARY
Mr. February – Calendar Boys Series, Book Two, will be releasing February 10th 2019.
Visit www.nicolegoodinauthor.com for the cover reveal and to read the first chapter
Amazon links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
THANK YOU!
Thank you for reading Mr. January, I hope you enjoyed it.
If you did enjoy it, please consider leaving a review; they give authors valuable feedback, help other readers find new books, and I’d really, really appreciate it!
If you are interested in getting sneak peeks into my work, freebies and giveaways, you can sign up for my newsletter HERE.
If you’re into Facebook, please join my reader group HERE.
Please remember:
This book has been written using UK English and may contain euphemisms and slang words that form part of the New Zealand spoken word.
Please remember that the words are not misspelled. They are slang terms and form part of everyday, New Zealand vernacular.
I.e: I’m from New Zealand and sometimes we say weird things down here… please try and be cool about it.
Thanks again!
OTHER TITLES
Love like Yours Series
Rushed – Book 1
Pierced – Book 2
Hunted – Book 3
Chased – Book 4
Rock Games Novels
Paper, Scissors, Rock: Vol. 1
Hide and Seek: Vol. 2
My Heart Duet
My Heart Needs
My Heart Wants
Calendar Boys Novels
Mr. January
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The song that inspired this book – Back To You – Selena Gomez. I heard this song and this whole story came to life.
As always I’d like to thank the people around me that support me, my ideas and the work that I do – you all have no idea how grateful I am for your support.
Thanks to the team at Spell Bound Editing, I appreciate your work so much.
To everybody who read this book, thank you, thank you, thank you, I can’t express how grateful I am that you take a chance and pick up a book with my name on it.
Thanks for reading and I hope that you continue on through the series to meet the other men!
PLAYLIST
Back To You – Selena Gomez
7 Things – Miley Cyrus
Want You Back – 5 Seconds of Summer
Wicked Game (Acoustic) – Stone Sour
All These Years – Camilla Cabello
Please Don’t Go – Joel Adams
Cologne – Selena Gomez
Love Lies – Khalid & Normani
Stay With Me – Sam Smith
How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
Breakeven – The Script
Red – Taylor Swift
21 – Mitch James
Please Stay – Francois Klark
Never Be the Same – Camilla Cabello
yes girl – Bea Miller
Love Story – Taylor Swift
Teenager in Love – Madison Beer
Summertime Of Our Lives – Cody Simpson
Genesis – Dua Lipa
Tell Me You Love Me – Demi Lovato
The Heart Wants What It Wants – Selena Gomez
Chainsaw – Nick Jonas
Consequences – Camilla Cabello
One Last Time – Ariana Grande
Fresh Eyes – Andy Grammer
Final Song – MO
Ocean – Martin Garrix & Khalid
On Your Side – The Veronicas
Wolves – Selena Gomez
Only Us – Drax Project
Chasing Fire – Lauv
You’re Still the One – The Maine
The One I Love – David Gray
In Case You Didn’t Know – Boyce Avenue
Unsteady – X Ambassadors
Born To Be Yours – Kygo & Imagine Dragons
Eastside – benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid
Girls Like You – Maroon 5 & Cardi B
Saving Time – Mitch James
To Love Somebody – Bee Gees
Enemies – Lauv
I Was Wrong – A R I Z O N A & Robin Schulz
First Time – Kygo & Ellie Goulding
Brave Enough – AR I Z O N A
Permanent – Kygo & JHart
Touching You Aagin – Hot Shade, Mike Perry & Jane XO
Little Do You Know – Campsite Dream
Can’t Help Myself – Mitch James
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
NICOLE S. GOODIN is a romance author and mother of two from Taranaki in the North Island of New Zealand.
In mid-2015, she started to write about a group of characters who wouldn’t get out of her head. Her first book, Rushed, was published in mid-2016.
Nicole enjoys long walks on the beach, pillow fights and braiding her friends’ hair. She dislikes clichés, talking about herself in the third person, and people who don’t understand her sense of humour.
Please feel free to contact her either via her website, email, Instagram, Twitter or on her Facebook page, she would love to hear your feedback. If you’re feeling really game, you can even sign up for her newsletter HERE.
UPCOMING TITLES
Calendar Boys Novels
Mr. February
Mr. March
Mr. April
Mr. May
Mr. June
Mr. July
Mr. August
Mr. September
Mr. October
Mr. November
Mr. December
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Nicole S. Goodin, Mr. January: A Second Chance Romance (Calendar Boys Book 1)