WE ARE ONE: Volume Two

by Jewel, Bella

  During my fifth month of pregnancy, I fulfilled one of my biggest dreams. We moved to Lilac Cove. We left New York behind us, and moved to the one place that made me feel alive, the only place I envisioned raising a family. Our house was near the beach, allowing views of the cove, and was the perfect place to spend the last few months of my pregnancy getting ready for this exact moment.

  “I don't know how I'm going to handle not having sex with you for six weeks. Seeing you being all cute with her isn't going to do my lady parts any favors.”

  Josh looked up with a smirk, and gently covered Aria's ears before he said, “I don't know how I'm going to stop myself from fucking you right now. Ashy, you were beyond incredible. I am in complete awe of you. Look at what you . . . we, created.”

  Josh climbed up onto the bed beside me. Then, with Aria lying on his chest, he took out his phone, and we took our first photos as a family together. An hour later, a soft knock on the closed door shunted me out of my happy place, and the nurse popped her head into the room.

  “We have a lot of visitors out here wanting to come meet her and give her cuddles.”

  “Send them in,” Josh replied with a smile, and gently placed Aria in my arms before standing from the bed.

  With a smile and quick nod, the nurse closed the door. Within seconds, it reopened, and Ky, Eden, Austin, Ben, and Josh’s parents stepped into the room. All eyes fell on the sleeping baby in my arms, and a loud sob from Eden filled the room. Austin, Ky, Ben, and Josh’s dad all stood with Josh, while Eden made the first move to the bed. Our eyes met, and the first tear rolled over my cheek as I witnessed my best friend fall in love with my daughter.

  “Would you like to hold her?” I whispered as emotion strangled my voice.

  She simply nodded, and her eyes welled up as I placed Aria in her arms. I looked around the room, and immediately my eyes trained onto Ky, who was looking at Eden adoringly while she held his niece.

  “I promise I will protect you from absolutely everything, baby girl. Your Aunt Eden will never let anything bad happen to you,” Eden whispered with a shaky voice.

  I looked at my best friend, and the pride and love I had for her was unexplainable. This girl had faced hell, yet she was the happiest person I’d ever met. Her promise to my daughter had so many meanings, and every one of them made me proud to call Eden my family.

  “She is absolutely stunning, Ash,” Eden said.

  Ky made a move to the bed, then stood behind Eden and looked down at Aria. “So damn proud of you, Ash,” he whispered in a voice echoing with emotion.

  “Aria will need a cousin to play with,” I said with a suggestive wiggle of my brow.

  “Believe me, we are working on it,” Ky replied firmly. “Hopefully sooner rather than later.

  * * *

  The beginnings of another beautiful sunset filled the bedroom, and I stretched as I woke refreshed and ready for another night with our little party animal. Aria was six months old, and had a newfound love for the night life, which meant that mommy and daddy had become well acquainted with late night infomercials and coffee.

  There was no sign of Josh or Aria in the silence of the bedroom. Josh had come home from work early and crawled into bed beside Aria and I, just as we were getting ready for our usual afternoon nap. As soon as Aria heard Josh’s voice, her sleepy eyes shot open and she held her arms out for her Daddy. The love those two had for each other was phenomenal.

  The past six months had been an incredible journey. Aria was becoming more beautiful by the day, and watching her learn and experience new things was amazing. It was an honor being her mom. Josh never ceased to amaze me. He was born to be a father, and his devotion to Aria was like nothing I had ever witnessed. He was absolutely wrapped around her tiny little finger and, wherever Aria was, Josh wouldn’t be too far away. Every morning he would get up and get her bottle ready, then bring her into bed with us so we could have family cuddles before he went to work. Seriously, it’s shocking I never died from swoon overload. During the day, he would regularly call to check in, and he wanted at least two photos of her a day sent to him. When he got home from work, she was in his arms, and they would more often than not fall asleep on the couch together.

  It had taken us six weeks before we even considered being away from her. Ky and Eden offered to watch her for three hours, after Josh decided to take me out for our six-week anniversary of being parents; in other words, the time we could finally have sex again.

  Now the sex. Holy fuck, Josh and I always had an amazing sex life, but now he was insatiable. Whenever we could, we would, and just about anywhere. The bathroom, the couch, the car, and the garage had all witnessed intense fucking over the past six months. The only place off-limits was Aria’s nursery. He couldn’t get enough of my new curves, and I couldn’t get enough of him. It was like my hormones were in overdrive, and every day I was either walking around in a haze brought on by being over fucked by Josh, or lack of sleep from Aria. It was the greatest haze I’d ever encountered.

  Life was amazing.

  After climbing out of bed, I walked through the house in search of my boyfriend and daughter. The low rumblings of Josh’s voice floated down the hall, coming from the direction of my office. I pushed opened the half-closed door, and smiled at the sight before me. Josh was sitting at my large oak desk with a wide-awake Aria on his lap. He was having a video chat with Savannah and her son, Max.

  “What’s happening here?” I asked softly, causing Josh to spin around and greet me with a million-dollar smile. I leaned down and kissed him, and was greeted by the cutest little smile from Aria, before I turned to the computer screen and waved at Savannah.

  “She is like sleeping beauty. She is so pretty. Can she come and play with me? I can show her my Thomas train, she can take Thomas home,” Max said in awe while his gaze didn’t budge from Aria. “I want to play with her.”

  “Baby, she doesn't live here,” Savannah said softly.

  Max’s little face scrunched into a scowl. “I'm not a baby. I'm a big boy.”

  “I bet he learned that from Tate. I’ve heard him declaring himself a big boy more times than I care to remember.” Josh snickered beside me.

  “Jealousy doesn’t become you, Josh,” Savannah shot.

  “I have absolutely nothing to be jealous of. Ask Ashy, I am a very big boy.”

  “Are we really talking about the size of C.O.C.K.S in front of the children?” I asked with a laugh.

  Savannah’s soft laughter filled the office, while Max’s eyes went back to Aria. Aria was completely oblivious, and was too concerned with a pencil that was on my desk.

  “Maxey, maybe you and your mommy and daddy can come visit one day. You'll have to bring Aria a girl train to play with. You can have a sleep over. Would you like that?”

  “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!” he squealed excitedly, and starting talking a million miles an hour to Savannah. His accent was adorable. He had a unique blend of American and Australian. He was going to have the girls falling at his feet if he still had it when he was older.

  “I'm going to set Maxey up with Aria when they are older,” Savannah said with a hoot, and the excitement was evident in her voice. “How adorable would that be?”

  “No fu . . . way. There is no way in hell a Connors kid is coming near my princess. I know who his parents are,” Josh said sternly.

  “And what is that supposed to mean?” Savannah shot in dismay.

  “Do you remember the stories of you and Tate that you’ve shared with me over the years? Both of your blood runs through his body. Jesus, your kid is going to be a lady killer by age ten.”

  “He doesn’t just offer to share his trains with anyone . . . especially Thomas. I think it’s love already,” she said.

  I chuckled beside Josh, who shot me a look that told me not to encourage her. Aria became unsettled on Josh’s lap, so he immediately stood from the chair and tucked her into his chest, then began rocking her softly
. Ovary explosion commenced.

  “And just so you know, when a man with the Connors name wants something, he gets it. Just like you Crawford boys. I’m signing off to do some wedding planning for Max and Aria. Ash, call me next week for a virtual play date for the young love birds.” Savannah smirked and, just as Josh was about to complain, she logged off.

  “I need to get that shotgun. She is barely six-months old, and look what is happening already. He might be four-years old, but I know that look. Christ,” Josh mumbled as we left the office and moved through the house. “Princess, you are being locked away till you are thirty-five now. Thirty is too young.”

  I burst out laughing, and he shot me a look. “This is not a laughing matter, Ashy.”

  We headed straight for the sliding glass door that led to the balcony, which provided us with perfect views of the cove. I couldn’t believe that this was my life. I had the man of my dreams, my precious daughter, and my dream house in my favorite place in the world. I swear I asked Josh to pinch me every second day so I could convince myself I wasn’t dreaming, but he’d just look at me and shake his head in amusement.

  “You’re the best dad,” I said, taking a seat next to him on our outdoor couch and curling into his body.

  “Why, because I’m going to lock up our daughter and ban her from dating? I’m not above banning the Connors’ clan from visiting.”

  “You are hilarious.” I chuckled and buried my face into his chest, then got lost in the scent of our daughter. She had snuggled so closely into him, and his hand was protectively resting on her back.

  “Protecting you and Aria is what I live for now. No one is getting to either of you without going through me first.”

  “Righto, Tarzan,” I said softly, while my heart kicked into overdrive at the love I had for this man. I don’t think he could ever truly comprehend what he meant to me. There wasn’t enough ways in the world to show or tell him how in love I was with him, but I’d spend every living day trying.

  “I don’t care what god damn trains he offers her. Thomas isn’t even the best train. Henry all the way,” he said with a smirk, and I fell into a fit of giggles.

  “Oh yeah, I am a huge fan of Henry.”

  As the sky turned into splashes of purple and orange and another day came to a close, I felt my body once again engulfed with the one thing I’d always craved: worth.

  Every day, I was writing a new chapter in the book of my life. The chapters were filled with the love of a man that made me feel like I was the closest thing to a goddess, a beautiful daughter who made my heart stammer with emotion when she gave me the tiniest of smiles, and a new belief that I was worth every amazing thing I had been given.

  My life, the reality I was living, was beyond any romance novel I had gotten lost in over the years. Josh Crawford was my real-life romance story. He was the fantasy of true love I’d always craved, and he was all mine. Mine.

  Tilting my head to look up at Josh, I found him with his eyes shut and a placid look sweeping across his face. In that moment, as peace caressed our home, I realized all of my dreams had come true.

  Josh was always my perfect cliffhanger, and now my perfect cliffhanger had given me the best happily-ever-after I could have imagined.

  Josh and Ashlyn, and now princess Aria.

  We were and forever would be, team Joslyn.

  Also by Rachel Brookes

  The Breathe Series (interconnected series)

  Just Breathe

  Breathless

  Breathe Again

  The Crawford Brothers (standalones)

  Be My December

  Be My Temptation

  Men of Monroe (standalones)

  All That I Am

  My Only Reason

  Check out Rachel Brookes on Amazon here.

  About the Author

  Rachel Brookes is from the east coast of Australia where beaches, kangaroos and surfers roam free. She spends her days writing stories that contain a dash of drama, a cup of romance, a spoonful of sexiness and delicious men to season. She is crazy for The Walking Dead, a fan of long island iced teas, a cupcake creator and a lover of book boyfriends. Rachel sometimes forgets to eat, sleep has become non-existent and more often than not she can’t remember the last time she cleaned her apartment, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. When she steps away from her laptop, you’ll find her reading, people watching, taking photos and planning her next big adventure.

  She is also obsessed with social media, so come say hi.

  F: www.facebook.com/AuthorRachelBrookes

  T: www.twitter.com/RachelBrookes_

  I: www.instagram.com/AuthorRachelBrookes

  Reader Group: http://bit.ly/TheBombshells

  Keep up to date with all things Rachel Brookes by signing up to her newsletter: http://bit.ly/RachelBrookesNewsletter

  PLIGHT

  KM Golland

  PLIGHT

  BY KM GOLLAND

  Copyright 2017

  Published by Golland Family Pty Ltd

  All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic format without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect is appreciated. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. Except the original material written by the author, all songs, song titles and lyrics contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders

  Dedication

  For those who fell in love with their best friend.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  Also available from K.M. Golland

  Prologue

  Twenty-two years ago I promised myself to a boy. We were eight years old. Neighbours. He gave me a Cheezel, pushed it onto my finger, and asked me to marry him.

  I ate the Cheezel.

  I also said, “Yes” but that we’d have to wait until I turned thirty. Back then, thirty was more like fifty, which was more like one hundred — I wasn’t planning on getting married when I was one hundred.

  Anyway, my thirtieth birthday was last week, and now that boy, that Cheezel bestowing boy, is calling in that promise.

  Seriously, Elliot Parker is insane if he thinks that a private Facebook message stipulating the binding law of an oral contractual agreement is going to seal our twenty-two-year bullshit deal. In.Sane.

  I wonder if he really does look like his profile picture though.

  Chapter One

  Private Message from Elliot Parker:

  Miss Danielle Cunningham

  RE: Contractual Obligation

  I am writing with respect to a binding contract made between you and I on 7 May 1995 behind the lemon tree at the premises of 23 Cassia Place, Coldstream, also known as your childhood home.

  It was on that date that you accepted my offer of marriage, which, according to your terms and conditions was to commence twenty-two years from said date.

  Under the Australian Competition and Consumer Law Act 2010, this offer, acceptance, and agreed upon terms constitutes a legally binding contract; therefore, I’d like to arrange a date and time to meet in person to discuss the details of our pending nuptials.
<
br />   Kind regards,

  Elliot Parker

  What. The. Actual. Fuck?

  That was the private message I’d received on Facebook two days ago from Elliot, aka ‘Lots’ (my nickname for him when we were kids) Parker. We hadn’t so much as spoken to each other in seventeen years when he moved house and we went our separate ways, so his message had come out of nowhere.

  NOWHERE.

  Anyway, this was my reply:

  Danielle:

  LOTS! Hi! LOL. Wow! I think your memory is exemplary. How are you? Long time no hear. What have you been up to all these years?

  As any normal person would, I’d taken his little legal spiel as a joke, because who wrote something like that in a Facebook message and expected anyone to think it was legit? Him, apparently.