by Megan Noelle
Corey had to remind me that squealing with joy at a maternity ward was probably going to make us the least liked parents around. Eventually I reigned in my excitement but it wasn’t nearly as easy it seemed to be. For the first time the possibility that things were going to be great were overwhelming.
With my daughter in one arm and the man of my dreams on another, I had finally found my home.
*~*~*~*~*
One Month Later
Corey
It was a crazy thought to think of how much could change in one month while at the same time, nothing really changed. Dani and I fell back into the madly, passionate, and unbelievably intense connection that rocked my entire core. Even after just having a baby she was by far the sexiest woman I had ever laid eyes on. From the curves of her body to the electrifying feel of her kiss to the way she could be the biggest goofball I had ever known. If you took the Dani I loved and added the title ‘mother of my child’ to it—I’m surprised I let her out of bed some days.
Even with a strict no sex rule for the first six-weeks after a baby was born. Dani was adamant that this was some sort of challenge for the two of us to grow in more ways than just physical. It hadn’t mattered that that was the way our relationship started, I never would have stayed around this long. Not to mention, I wouldn’t have fought for love since I hadn’t done it with a single woman before. I just wished we had reconciled one day before she went into labor so I had at least a day to feel her beneath me while I filled her—I needed to stop. These thoughts were going to be the death of me.
A soft light from the bedside table left a soft glow against her bare back while strands of blonde hair curled the length of her spine. My hand moved along her back, brushing the hair from the base of her neck where I placed a lingering kiss. I loved tasted the sweet taste of her against my lips. I rolled out of bed, pulled my gray sweatpants over bare ass and crossed the room toward the door. Before I could leave Dani rolled over and called out my name.
She asked with a yawn. “Where are you going baby?”
“Just to grab some water; do you want something when I come back?”
“No,” Dani said with a sigh before rolling over and going back to sleep.
I made my way down the hall but I couldn’t help but stop at the outside of McKinley’s room. I peeked the door open and snuck in, hoping not to wake her. As if I were trying to avoid stepping on a bomb; I made my way to edge of the crib but looking down at my little girl was breathtaking. She slept with her lips puckered out the same way Danielle did but there was always one arm behind her head which was undoubtedly from my side.
I couldn’t resist my princess a second longer. McKinley’s voice let out soft little squeaks as she readjusted herself, curling herself against my chest. Slowly my arms rocked her while my weight swayed from one foot to the other.
“You know, little Bean. When you were still living in your mama’s belly I talked to you every day before I had to stay away from you and your beautiful mother.” I stopped to press a kiss against her forehead.
“You just need to know baby girl, that I was fighting for you.”
Acknowledgments
Tracy McKay— I seriously don’t even know where to start! You put pressure on me, cracked the whip and made me lose sleep! But you know what—I love you so much for it! You have been an Angel in disguise to me. I’ll never be more thankful for having someone in my life than I am for you. There is nothing you haven’t seen me through. You’ve laughed with me (and at me), cried with me when the stress was too much and loved with me. You have supported every single thing I wanted and knew how to tell me ‘no’ if something didn’t work. I only hope I can support you in everything the way you do for me! You are my very best friend, and my adopted big sister and the reason this book is here. Thank you for absolutely everything that you do and everything that you are.
Cara Arthur— Sometimes I look back on how we became friends and it makes me giggle. If it wasn’t for you always posting pictures of hot men and me obsessively commenting—we would still be strangers. To this day I *thank* my obsessive tendencies because a life without Cara isn’t a life I want to live in!! You have been an amazing friend, supportive, dedicated and always encouraging me in so many ways! You are an amazing editor and I am so happy I could trust you with something so precious to me! I’m going to apologize though because now, my dear, you’re stuck with me! Get ready to read a whole lot of my books! Loveee you Darling!
Jase Dean— I have been trying to think of just the words to say to you to thank you for everything, but there just aren’t any. I’m going to try though! Since I first emailed you and expected to get a price for a stock image—you have blown my mind. You took everything to the next level and made this one of the very best things in my life. Your passion and drive is what sets you apart from others and your dedication to me and to this project is what made this so amazing. You have been a joy to work with and I can’t wait to have you on other covers of mine!! I truly will be sad to see this series end for many reasons; one of which is that I would no longer have covers for you to be on! You were my inspiration and muse for Corey but you are far more than that. Thank you for bringing Corey to life and thank you for going the extra step and taking a chance on me with your incredibly busy schedule.
Kari March— You, my Dear, are an artist! Your teasers are beautiful but the way you worked this cover … Unbelievable! You took a picture I thought couldn’t get better and put your magic into it and made a cover that I am SO PROUD to call my own!! I’m so damn happy you are a part of this and I can’t wait to put you to work for all my other books! Hehe! Not to mention a specific one in the near future ;) but honestly … Thank you for everything Kari, love you darling!!
Claudio Harris— You have an incredible eye for what you do and you were able to capture everything I had in my head. You are incredibly talented and I cannot wait to work with you again! Thank you for being a part of this journey!
Sarah Elizabeth—Thank you for going through this crazy journey with me!! You pulled through for me so incredibly much!! You are a goddamn Rock star, Sarah!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Jude Ouvrard— Thank you for just… everything! Being there as support when I needed a boost of confidence! Thank you for reading Fighting for You along the way and giving me the ‘thumbs up.’ I love our talks and I am so thankful to have you with me as I write and I am excited to help you too!
Julie Schneider— Oh Julie! You have been on this journey with me since Corey was just a scene in my head. I never imagined it would become the way it is now. But none of this would have come about if you didn’t give me that push and courage from day one to turn this into more! You have unfailing kindness and I hope we always remain friends! Love you my online Mama! Someday we will celebrate the birth and rise of Corey together in person!
Others Who Helped Along the Way—
Ryan Marks—Thank you for understanding the importance of my writing and supporting me with it every single day. And thank you for helping me with Peyton when I was lost in another world.Mama Bear—Thank you for being my mama and always being there for me!Lee Lardy—Thank you for keeping me grounding in the real world and still being by my side! Lauren Blakely—Thank you for the book cover advice and for helping me ogle some serious eye candy!Karen Muller—Thank you for your constant support!Sarah Elizabeth—Thank you for going through this crazy journey with me!!Shelli Machado Godinho—Thank you so much for sharing and promoting me every chance you had and for giving me the motivation to continue you!
**Special Mention**
Congratulations to the winner of “Name Baby Preston,” is …
Maria Wright Phelps for providing the first name, McKinley!
Lauren Savage-Hartman for providing the middle name, Grey!
Tracy McKay for providing Karly’s daughter’s name, Melody!
And aBIGshout out to all of my incredibleStreet Team for supporting to until the last minute! I love you guys!
/> Blogs that Helped Along the Way!
Books, Coffee & Wine, A Book Whore’s Obsession, Sharing A Bit of Romance, Bender Dreamer Girl, Reality Bites! Let’s Get Lost, Book Nerds Anonymous, Crazies R Us Book Blog, Book Reader Chronicles, Love N Books, Mommy’s a Book Whore, Mean Girls Luv Books, Books Babes and Cheap Cabernet, Scandalous Book Blog, My Fictional Boyfriend and Book Whore Page, Panty Dropping Book Blog, Rumpled Sheets Book Blog, Reviews by Tammy and Kim, Through the Eyes of a Book Goddess, Booky Ramblings, Island Lovelies Book Club, Hook Me Up Book Blog, Eskimo Princess Book Reviews, Bookworm Beauties, Life Becomes Me, The Whispering Pages Book Blog.
Table of Contents
Dedicated to…
Copyright © 2013 by Megan Noelle
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Acknowledgments