My Today

by HJ Bellus

  “Well, has she shit the meconium yet? And Tripp, you would be bored with normal.”

  “Shit. Shit. Shit,” came a tiny little voice, and we all turned to the see the toothy grin of Mac. His godmother just taught him his first word. He was so proud of himself. He started clapping, adding a little grunt and continued his little chant. Lacey slapped her hand over her mouth, and for once in her life, truly looked sympathetic. Between Lacey’s horror plastered on her face and the chanting baby, we all started laughing. The built-up stress was finally punctured and we all shared a PMP moment. Yes, Milly schooled me on PMP while calling me a biotch in the nursery.

  "Let me hold her, Milly," Cree said, and passed the over joyous Mac to his momma.

  Milly passed my daughter to my brother and all the loose links in my life finally connected, creating a full circle. Rose would always be loved for who she was, not who she wasn't. She may be surrounded by crazed, foul mouthed asswipes, but they would always love her unconditionally even when she screwed up.

  Cree handed Rose over to Lacey, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and softly whispered, "I love you, sis."

  My Rose was back where she belonged, with my wife. The pair sitting in front of me made my heart stop and world spin again in the same moment. Everything would be alright with the two of them in my life. I am not a fool. If I thought Lacey gave me a run for my money, I couldn’t even start to imagine what her daughter would do to me.

  “So, uh Milly, can I still do that ‘suck on the boob’ thing?” Lacey asked.

  For the love of God, will she ever use the right terminology? We chuckled at her question. Even though we were all laughing, Lacey was dead serious.

  "She's all yours momma," Cree told her.

  Milly climbed back into the bed and helped Lacey. By help, I mean pull her tit out. They eased little Rose up to her and tried to coax her to nurse.

  I realized that Cree was standing by my side, looking at my wife's tit and watching my girl try to suck it. This fatherhood stuff was already some crazy shit.

  Throughout my whole life, one person has always been constant, and that was Cree. Our summer adventures bonded us together forever. There was always an invisible bond that kept us bound together, and now we were cemented together by the crazy ass women in our lives. The last three days had been hell on all of us and I had no time to talk to Cree. The time had finally come.

  "I love you, brother," I said proudly because I finally fit into somebody’s family.

  "I've always loved you like a brother and always will," Cree replied without hesitation.

  "Like a brother because you are my brother," I mumbled.

  My wild haired woman flipped her crazy blonde hair up and said, "Brother?"

  I simply nodded my head at my foul mouthed Princess, and she replied with, “Holy Shit!”

  Little Mac didn’t miss a beat! “Shit. Shit. Shit”

  Our Gushy End

  Willow’s story will be the final installment in the My Way Series.

  “I’m not Milly. I’m not Lacey. I’m not a kid sister with worms in her hair. I’m Willow. This is my love story.”

  My Mistake

  Coming Early Spring 2014

  About the Author!

  I am an independent author, obviously! This adventure has been a dream come true. I'm all country...the kinda country where green grass grows and corn pops up in rows....love Miranda and her bad ass music. I live and love country life, and you will find those elements in my books. I’m just a simple country girl getting one story out of her head at a time. I love strong and brave female characters. I strive to be a courageous and independent woman in everyday life and want to portray those characters in my books. No victims here…only take charge ass-kickin’ kinda gals! I always fall hard for a trucker style hat...especially if it's Green & Yellow....I love me a good ol' farm boy!

  Follow my crazy ass on Facebook!

  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHjBellus

  Pinterest

  http://pinterest.com/hjbellus/

  Twitter

  https://twitter.com/HJBellus

  “Don’t you dare ever give up on your hopes and dreams…Be Brave and hold onto your courage now & forever.” –HJ Bellus

  Acknowledgements:

  To My BSHes (Book Slinging Hoochies):

  Each one of you has a special place in my heart. Thank you for everything you have done for me. You have pimped your ass for me, empowered me and have simply given me the courage to continue on. Your support means more to me than you'll ever know. One day we will all be sitting in a smoky bar with Swedish Fish in our bras and Laffy Taffy down our pants singing karoke and pelting each other with sprinkles to Girls Just Want to Have Fun. I love you Now & Forever for the rest of My Todays!!!

  My BSHes

  Tyeesha Webb

  Cassandra P Lewis Author

  Tiffany Clark

  Natalie Jones

  Abby Porter Cook

  Lisa Ravenscroft

  Kelly Steele-Ownby

  Bobbie Jo Kirby

  Kimberly Schoeller Kimball

  Jillian Stein

  HeaBook Shelfblogger

  Miranda Sue Johnson

  Amy Davis Pickett

  Bad and Dirty Books

  Brandi Oubre Money

  Shawn Verdin

  Vicky Langley Kimble

  Bethany Castaneda

  Brandilicious Lovesbooks

  Brunette BookBabe- Jodie Ellis

  Candyce Neil

  Carrie Stadtler

  Crystal N Maria

  Edee Marie Fallon

  Emily Minton

  Helena Book Obsession

  Jamie Orsargos

  Janessa Osborne

  Joanne Arcarese Schwehm

  Jodie Ward

  Jolinda L Bivens

  Kathy Coopmans

  Krystle Zion

  Michelle Cable

  Stacey Medak

  Tara Caputo

  Jennifer Cothran

  Playlist

  The music that makes up Lacey & Tripp

  Pieces by Gary Allen

  All Kind of Kinds by Miranda Lambert

  Raise Your Glass by P!NK

  F**kin’ Perfect by P!NK

  I Don’t Want to Be by Gavin DeGraw

  Walking On Broken Glass by Annie Lennox

  I Feel a Sin Comin’ On by Pistol Annies

  Hell On Heels by Pistol Annies

  Anywhere With You by Jake Owen

  Hey Pretty Girl by Kip Moore

  Pieces by Gary Allen

  Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper

  Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran

  Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice

  Hard to Love by Lee Brice

  Famous In a Small Town by Miranda Lambert

  Hot Mess by Uncle Kracker

  Get Low by Lil Jon

  Meet Cassandra P. Lewis

  Meet my favorite author friend. She is amazing!!!

  Cassandra P Lewis

  www.facebook.com/meetingmrwrite

  www.facebook.com/cplauthor

  Twitter - @CPLauthor

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meeting-Mr-Write-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00A6ROZT4/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Me-Mr-Write-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00BR8K9QE/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_Y7Z7

  Love is… By Cassandra P Lewis

  After years of kissing frogs, neither Rafael or Matthew are on the lookout for their prince but when their siblings cause their paths to cross, fate steps in...After all, everyone deserves a happy ever after!

  Excerpt from ‘Hooked’ a chapter in Love is…

  Matthew

  So, this is Rafael. Rosie did a good job painting the picture but she did not do him justice, he’s fucking face meltingly gorgeous.

  Despite the fact that they’re both beautiful, you’d never believe that Rosie and Rafe are siblings. She has piercing green eyes and flame red hair, and she’s tiny. Rafael is at least six foot two with silky black waves of
thick hair and the deepest chocolate eyes I’ve ever known. I don’t know how I’m keeping my cool.

  “Can I get you a drink?” Rafe asks with so much promise as he briefly licks his lower lip,

  “Yeah erm, Bacardi and Coke. Thanks.”

  I hand my empty glass over and watch as Rafe walks away, his slim fitting jeans perfectly displaying his delicious arse and narrow waist. The perfect base before his back is sculpted up and out towards his broad shoulders. He’s as close to perfect as I’ve ever seen in a man.

  As Rafe walks back toward me, I notice his face drop from the heart stopping smile into something closely resembling a snarl. I’m so distracted by the cut of his fitted waistcoat and shirt, and the way the sleeves are rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms, that I’m startled when my brother Michael talks from beside me.

  “Don’t Matthew! There’s enough gay in the family without you fucking my brother in law!”

  “Michael I’m not fucking anyone… not yet at least!” I smile as Michael becomes flustered with panic and Rafe joins us, handing me a drink.

  “Michael.” He says curtly

  “Rafael.” My brother responds, just as sharply before turning and walking toward Rosie.

  “Uh oh, I think he’s gone to tell Mummy that we’ve been bad boys!” I laugh as I take a sip and Rafe raises his eyebrows.

  “You two don’t get on?” He asks, sounding surprised.

  “Oh I can’t stand the little prick. And I’d say I wish he’d never met Rosie and ruined her life, but right now I’d say that getting engaged and throwing this party is the best thing he’s ever done!”

  Rafe and I talked for about an hour about his café and my business. We sat opposite each other in a quiet corner of the room laughing and edging closer to each other with each tension filled pause in conversation. The pauses weren’t due to lack of things to talk about. They came when he smiled that smile that caused my stomach to flip over, or when I noticed him staring as I licked my lips after he laughed and leant in close, grabbing at my thigh to steady himself.

  I can’t get my head around it. I’ve never felt so drawn to a man, so desperate to tear someone’s clothes off and worship their body with my own. More than that though, I feel a connection with Rafe that I never imagined possible. It’s easy with him. I’ve known him for three hours and I’m hooked.

  “Hi Matthew, I’m Pippa. Rosie says that you’re gay and I know that Rafe is immensely hot but just so you know…if there’s any small chance that you want to try the ladies, I’m your girl!”

  I’m pulled out of my Rafe daze as the tall brunette thrusts her hand toward me and winks on a grin. Rafe bursts out into laughter and Pippa, still holding my hand, kisses his cheek and then mine before dancing her way to the bar.

  “Erm…!”

  “Yeah, that’s Pip!”

  Rafe was pulled away to speak to some of his family soon after Pippa’s interruption and a couple of my cousins dragged me off to their table to discuss marathon training, but I couldn’t stop looking for him, at him.

  My eyes followed him. Making sure that I knew exactly where he was and drinking him in. My heartbeat raced each time I caught him looking at me, and the shy smile that he gave every time we made eye contact across the room stopped me dead.

  I’ve no idea how long it’s been since we were separated but it feels like hours. I’m dying to have him near again, I need to. I start to make my way over toward where Rafe is sitting talking to an elderly lady in a wheelchair and as if he senses me coming he looks straight at me, into me. My stomach leaps into my throat and I know…I’m in trouble!

  “This is ridiculous!” I say on a laugh as we meet each other half way.

  “I know. I’m supposed to be staying away from men…”

  “I don’t think I can stay away from you Rafe. That’s so stupid because I just met you but I think there’s a spark that we have to explore. I want to.”

  “I just…I don’t want to rush into something, but you’re right. I can’t walk away without knowing I’ll see you again.”

  “There’s no rush Rafael. Here,” I hand Rafe my phone after typing his name onto the screen, “it’s just waiting for your number. I’ll call you, and when you have some time we can grab a drink, no pressure. I’d just like to see you again.” Rafe smiles as he takes my phone and nods as he types in his number.

  The DJ calls for Rosie and Michael to take the floor for the last dance of the evening and people crowd around as Your Song by Ellie Goulding starts to play. Surrounded by family members, both mine and his, Rafe takes my hand in his and smiles before he turns to watch his sister and my brother enjoy their moment. The electricity between us is undeniable, I’m addicted.

  Rafe

  “Oh Rafe that’s so exciting. So when are you seeing him again?”

  Pip is staying at the flat with me tonight and she can’t help but grill me over late night, or early morning tea and toast. Considering that I couldn’t bear the thought of going to Rosie’s engagement party less than twenty four hours ago, it feels like actually going could be the best move that I’ve ever made.

  “I don’t know, but soon I hope. I just don’t want to rush it and I’m worried that if we’re alone together, I won’t be able to resist. He’s so sexy and he smells so…damn…good! Oi…you’re getting crumbs in the bed!”

  Pippa laughs as she tries to brush the toast crumbs out of her side of the bed onto the floor.

  “Oh it’s only crumbs! Anyway, what’s so wrong with not being able to resist. You’re two hot pieces who are intensely attracted to each other. I already know the sex is going to be mind blowing so just go for it!”

  I wish I could, but I need to resist, for a while at least. I don’t think for a second that Matthew is anything like any of my exes, but I need to be sure before I put my heart on the line. Who am I kidding? I want him too much already. Even without sex it’d kill me if he walked away.

  “Well we’ll see. There was a definite spark, like a lightning strike to be fair, but I don’t know. He might not even call! I might be cursed and just have to endure him dancing with his new gorgeous boyfriend at Rosie’s wedding!”

  I lay back and pull a pillow over my face. What is wrong with me? I’ve known the bloke a few hours and I’m already obsessed! Pippa laughs and pulls the pillow from my face. I’m trying to blindly fight her off when she holds up my illuminated phone for me to see.

  “He may not ever call Rafe, but I think he’s just text you!”

  I sit up and my heart is pounding, it’s probably just Rosie saying goodnight. I open the message.

  ‘I couldn’t wait any longer to get in touch! I hope you still want to see me again when you wake up tomorrow, I’ll call you to find out. Sleep well, M x’

  I am open mouthed, stunned! He wants me, really truly wants to see me again. I don’t know why I’m surprised, I knew there was something special between us but he actually text me, and he’s going to call.

  “Let me see then!” Pippa grabs my phone and leaps off the end of my bed, dancing around the room as she reads it aloud. “Wow, Rafe! He is keen…”

  She starts tapping away and I leap toward her as I realise that she’s replying. I grab my phone from her hand but she’s already clicked send.

  “I can’t wait. I can’t tell you how much I wish that I was the old version of me tonight, the one that would take a guy home within an hour of meeting him. My bed has never felt so empty! Rafe x’

  “PIP!”

  I am mortified and immediately start to type out another message.

  “I’m sorry, that was Pippa. She’s a nightmare!”

  I fear that I’ve blown it, well that Pippa has blown it for me, but my phone quickly beeps and vibrates in my hand.

  “That’s a shame…I was ready to call a taxi and ask for your address! I’ll call you tomorrow. Goodnight Rafe. M x’

  Pippa is smug as I try to keep the smile from my face. I text back simply ‘goodnight x’ before lying
down and attempting to sleep, I don’t know how I’m going to manage to shut off my brain but if I do, I know for certain who I’ll be dreaming about.

  For release dates, teasers and general gossip, like the author’s Facebook page here …

  www.facebook.com/cplauthor

  and don’t forget to add Love is… to your Goodreads TBR https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18668961-love-is

  Table of 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

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25