The Calendar Game (The Alpha Series Book 2)
Page 1
Contents
Title Page
COPYRIGHT
MAILING LIST
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
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
SO WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER WEDDING?
ALSO BY ANDIE M. LONG
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
THE CALENDAR GAME
Andie M. Long
COPYRIGHT
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Copyright (c) 2015 by Andrea Long
All rights reserved.
Cover photo from Adobe Stock. Cover design by Francessca Webster.
MAILING LIST
Receive The Alphabet Wedding and Quickies ebooks free on sign-up:
http://eepurl.com/-mm-9
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to Ruth Loizides.
Thank you Ruth for all the love and support you’ve given me;
from our days as Open Uni students, to the present day where you alpha read my books
and nag me for the next chapters.
I <3 you.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I may write the book but there’s so much more involved in getting it from draft to this published version.
After several edits it firstly goes to my sister Marie Mason for her feedback. On this occasion it also went to the lovely Terrie Arasin who checked out my American characters dialects. Feedback gained, it’s edited yet again before it goes to my actual editor, the magnificent Michelle Dunbar, who goes over it with a fine tooth comb. More edits, then proofreads and the interior is good to go.
But then it needs an exterior. For that I need my go-to girl, Annmarie Bradley, whose genius puts together my ideas into a cover.
So that’s the book done.
Now it’s helped on its way by all the readers, bloggers, and other authors who review it, share posts about it, read it and shout about it on Facebook, including my street team Andie’s Army and my lovely friends of the Indie Erogenous Zone.
I just have two words to say to you all. Actually I’m going to shout them.
Thank you!
Andie
March 2015.
INTRODUCTION
Dear Reader
This book is written as a standalone novel, but is a companion novel to The Alphabet Game. The main character Ronnie Huntington-Jones is the best friend of Stella Mulroney. If you've read The Alphabet Game you will know how bonkers Ronnie is and what happened to her. If not, here is a quick summary before you begin to read.
Ronnie Huntington-Jones was brought up by nannies and bottle fed on champers. After her behaviour became even more erratic than usual, she found herself in The Priory having rehab. While resident someone tried to kill her. Later that year she was kidnapped, but performed martial arts on the kidnapper and ended up winning a Pride of Britain Award.
She had a crush on Col, who works at the coffee shop attached to her apartment. She wouldn't date him at first because she didn't think he had enough money. At the end of The Alphabet Game she decided she preferred him to cash.
That's where I left Ronnie's story. She was loved up with Col. However readers asked for more and Ronnie... well Ronnie just never shuts up in my head, and declared her story unfinished so here you go. This book is different from The Alphabet Game which was an erotic suspense novel. This book is a romp. Both erotic and crazy. It really couldn't be anything else with Ronnie.
I'm a British author and this book has a LOT of British colloquialisms. Feel free to message me or my Facebook page if you need any explaining!
Happy reading and thanks for your support.
Andie
February 2015
CHAPTER 1
The end of 2013
The beginning of a game.
Christmas Day. Wednesday 25 December 2013.
I'm getting married. Okay, Col hasn't actually proposed yet, but oh my God. Oh my God, Oh my God.
I am so bloody excited. I ever so slightly happened upon-okay, I snooped-the blue box with white ribbon yesterday. You know the one, right? Tiffany's. Excuse me while I just let out a tiny squeal. He's going to propose. Obviously, I must look exquisite on this special day. I need to remember when I tell my proposal story that I looked absolutely fucking amazeballs. God, this is going to be the best Christmas ever.
I release the curling tong and let a long blonde ringlet drop against my shoulder. It's bouncing, just like I am. Come on Ronnie. Deep breaths. Look surprised. You can do it. Into the lounge you go.
I walk from the bedroom towards Col's lounge. He really needs a new place to live. The space behind the coffee shop is cramped and dark. It's perfectly located for work, but it's not adequate for the two of us. He's got the place looking festive-with a little bit of help from me, well, quite a lot of help actually.
There's a small Christmas tree in the corner, decorated with red and green baubles, tinsel and flashing red and green lights which make the room seem like a micro-nightclub. Maybe that could be the new night out? Micro nightclubs, serving micro-sized portions of food, like those I've seen on the television adverts. Micro-fusion; tiny fish and chips and tiny Yorkshire puddings with sausage. Wouldn't be the first micro-sausage I've eaten.
Usually Christmas is a bore. I don't get many presents these days. My best friend Stella informed me hers won’t be arriving until January. She says it’s deliberate, but I reckon she was so busy buying her daughter's first Christmas presents, I came as an afterthought. As for my folks, they just put more money in my bank account. Thanks to Col though, this will be a Christmas to remember.
I've dressed in a red satin chemise with a matching robe. The robe has a white trim and is totally ready for unwrapping; I'm Col's Christmas present.
Col takes my arm as I step through the doorway and steers me towards the sofa.
He runs his hand through his short dark hair. He looks pale. Right now he'd make a good Halloween ghoul. I watch him bite his lip. Oh my God, Oh my God. I'm so excited I have to sit on my hands. Gaah, no, I can’t do that or I'll get creases, or worse, my arm will go dead. I can just see that now. Col says the words Will you marry me and then after saying yes, I attempt to lift up my hand, but it's all floppy and hangs like a dead bird. I don't think so. I put my hands on my knees in what I hope looks a demure stance.
Col and I have been dating for almost fifteen months now. It's time. This is the longest relationship I've ever been in and I totally adore this man. I must, because he's poor and I'm still with him.
He lifts up my hand—his own is shaking—and places the blue box in the centre of my palm. 'Okay, open the box.'
'Oh honey. Oh my God.' My mouth feels dry and my lip catches on my teeth as I smile at him. I remove the ribbon carefully because I'll want to keep it. I will treasure it forever. Then I open the box.
Inside is a gold coffee bean pendant and cha
in.
I tuck a long strand of hair behind my ear and poke my tongue into my cheek. Then I sigh and raise an eyebrow at Col. 'Erm, honey,I don't understand…'
'It's a clue.'
I tilt my head to one side. 'About what? That you're going to make me a fucking coffee?'
'No.' He coughs and moves onto his knees.
Oh. This must be it. The necklace was just a starter. Keep calm and carry on Ronnie.
He grabs hold of my left hand.
'I've been waiting for this moment for a while,' he says. 'I know you've been ready for a long time, and I don't know why I've put it off for so long. Things have been great between us from the beginning. I'm so proud of how you committed to your gardening course.'
'Get on with it, Col.'
'Okay.' He draws a deep breath. 'I want you to know that we now have another coffee shop. Riverside is now a chain.'
I withdraw my hand like he's burned it. 'I don't understand. You're going to manage more than one? How is this my Christmas present?'
Col clears his throat and grabs my hand again.
'I'm a millionaire.'
I frown at him. 'Have you lost it, Col? Because you're worrying me now.'
He sits forward on his knees and looks me straight in the eyes. 'I'm a millionaire, Ronnie. I own the coffee shop.' He pauses. 'I also own the apartment block.'
'Are you shitting me? Did you win the lottery or something?'
'No, I'm self-made.'
I snigger. 'You're a self-made millionaire?'
'Yes.'
I purse my lips. 'I'm not sure what game you're playing here, but I'm not finding it funny.' I hand him back the pendant.
Col dangles the pendant in front of me. 'This pendant is to show you I want to share my empire and my life with you.'
I pull my knees up to my chest. Col's mouth drops open. It's then I remember I'm not wearing knickers.
I drop my legs back down. 'Don't even think about it. That was your present, but now it's my mouth you have hanging open rather than my legs. Why the fuck would you pretend to work in a coffee shop if you're loaded?'
'I like working in the coffee shop. It chills me out. Look,' he grabs me by the hand again. 'I want to show you the rest of your present.'
'If you're planning to take me to your Coffee shop, then don't bloody well bother.' I tighten my wrap as Col escorts me to the service lift.
Col inserts a key next to the button for the top floor. It lights up and we begin to ascend. The lift doors open and we step out into a corridor that looks like every other corridor in the apartment block. We walk a little way down and then Col stops, extracts another key from his pocket and opens a door.
The light hits my eyes as soon as I step inside, making me squint. Windows sweep the whole way around a vast lounge. Whoever the fuck lives here must have one hell of a botox bill. The room is the size of most peoples’ whole apartment. Col leads me around. What I discover is a four bedroomed,four bathroomed penthouse, complete with hot tub, sauna, and His and Hers offices. I have to shake my head as I'm sure I'm dreaming.
'This is your office. You can run your business from here.'
I turn to him, folding my arms across my chest. 'Okay, enough now, Colin. Who does this apartment really belong to? It’s all very amusing, but I've had enough now. It's Christmas and you're spoiling my day.'
He presses a key into my hand.
'This belongs to us. Come and look at the Master Bedroom.'
He opens the door and I walk in. My heels sink into a thick carpet. We walk to the left side of the room and he opens yet another door, revealing a closet the size of my own whole apartment.
'I should have been bloody sponsored to walk around this place,' I grumble, slipping off one of my Jimmy Choos.
'So what do you think?' says Col.
The shoe landing smack into his forehead should give him a clue.
I stand in Col's lounge while he fixes a plaster to his forehead. The heel of my shoe scored a bullseye; right in the centre.
'Can I explain without further violence?'
I don't know why he's grumpy. He's not the one being lied to. Or thinking he was getting engaged. I stand with my hands across my chest. 'I'm listening…'
'I didn't want you to want me for my money. I wanted you to get to know me. I planned to tell you before, but there never seemed a right time.
'Over a year… we’ve been together over a year. Do you know what that tells me?'
He sighs.'What?'
'Don't you sigh at me as if you're hard done by.'
'Well most women presented with a luxury apartment wouldn't be kicking off.'
'Most people would be able to trust the person telling them it's theirs. That it is actually theirs. That's the thing Col. You've lied to me for over a year. Over a year. I fell for you poor. It wouldn't have made the blindest bit of difference to me whether you had money or not because I fell in love with you.' I jab him in the chest with my finger.
'Ow.'
'How can I trust you? If you've kept something as huge as this a secret from me for over a year, how do I know you're not hiding something else? Ex-wives? Children?'
'Don't be so bloody stupid.'
'I'm not being bloody stupid. I'm not stupid. I've spent the last year getting rid of the title of thick, stupid, blonde bimbo, and you've made me feel like crap.' I can feel my eyes starting to well up.
He grabs my arms.
'Ronnie, I am so, so sorry. I love you. You aren't stupid. Please, think about the apartment. It's ours.’ He clears his throat. ‘Will you move in with me?'
'I can't.' Tears trail down my face. 'Right now, I don't even want to see you. In fact, I need some time alone.'
With that I go back to my own apartment to spend Christmas Day by myself. I change into my Reindeer onesie with only a microwave sweet and sour chicken dinner for company.
It's just after six pm and I've gone between crying my eyes out and periods of utter frustration and temper. Finally, my Skype connection starts ringing. I pull my reindeer hood up and walk towards the dining table where my laptop resides.
'Hello.'
'Merry Christmas, babe.' A gorgeous woman with a glossy brunette bob stares at me through the screen.
'You're the babe. Gabe's babe. Not me.'
'Okay, Col's Doll.'
I blow a breath out of my mouth like a horse snort.
'Erm. Have you had a good Christmas?' My best friend Stella is waving her hand all over the screen.
'Stel, are you having a fucking epileptic fit?'
'Ronnie, look at my goddamn hand.'
How did I miss it? The rock glints on the screen. She got one. I didn't. I love my friend, but right now she has everything and I can't help feeling jealous.
'Oh, my God.'
'Yep, Oh my God. We're getting married.' She jumps up and down on her knees.
I fix a smile on my face. 'Tell me all.'
She describes how Gabe hid the ring in one of their daughter's alphabet blocks.
'It's a good job Athena didn't eat it. That would have made for a shit proposal.'
'Trust you. Anyway where's Col so I can say hi? What did you get?'
'He's in his own apartment. He bought me a Tiffany coffee bean necklace which I thought was an engagement ring.'
'Oh.'
'And then he showed me—' I mime air quotes, '—our luxury penthouse apartment.'
'He told you? Wow, he must be getting serious.'
I sit up. 'Excuse me? What do you mean he told me?'
'Err, he did tell you? About him being a Fernsby? Owns the apartments.'
'How did you know?'
'He told me before we left.'
'So you knew as well? Am I the only idiot who didn't? Did no-one think I could actually love him, rich or poor?'
Stella starts to look uncomfortable, 'Well at the time—'
'At the time. What? Last year? Does no-one think rehab, someone attempting to kill me, and a kidnap attempt mi
ght have changed a girl a little?'
Stella bristles. 'No-one's discounting what happened to you. But you didn't go for Col for a long time because he was poor.'
'But I changed my mind.'
'He was unsure. It’s an insecurity on his part. Don't punish him for it.'
'If it had been a couple of months sure, but it's been over a year. I need time to think.'
'Well don't leave it too long. The guy is head over heels for you, that much should be obvious.'
I pull my hood back and ruffle my hair. 'Do you know what? I've not stood on my own two feet since all this crap happened and now I have my new career to think about. I need some time on my own. If Col's the one for me, like he says he is, then he'll understand.'
'Oh Ronnie. Don't overreact.'
'I'm not. It's all making sense to me now. Col is going to have to accept that I need to get to know him again—as a truth-telling individual that is. No moving in with him. I'm going to go right back to dating him as if for the first time. I shall concentrate on my career for a while and learn to stand on my own two feet. I don't want his money.'
'You're worrying me now Ronnie. I know what happens when you get these crazy ideas.'
I finger tap the dining table. 'Well you don't have to worry about me now, Stella. I love you, but you're in New York now and have your own little heap of trouble to deal with. Anyway, enough about me, I'm being selfish. When's the wedding? Tell me all.'
'We think next Christmas Eve. I really fancy a winter wedding. You're going to have to arrange to visit because I need you to plan with me. I hate organising things. That's always been your forte.'
'Well I'll try, but I'm going to be busy, being independent.'
'I'm sure I can persuade you.'
'Oh, how? Is dishy Christopher going to be around?'
'Hahahaha. He will, but no, I'll be keeping you two at opposite sides of the room.'