Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 87(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 58(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 87(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 58(@300wpm)
I’m staring at the phone I just slammed down, remembering the conversation I just had, and that’s when the tears start streaming down my face. I hate that tears are my go-to when I’m frustrated.
“February, what’s wrong?” I close my eyes in shame. I hate that he’s going to see me like this. My mascara is surely running down my face. When he puts his hand on my shoulder, my pussy clenches. What’s wrong with me? Now is not the time to be turned on.
Shit, this sucks, I think as I turn to look up at him. The look of concern on his face surprises me as we rarely discuss anything personal, but I know that I need to answer him. Is it crazy that all I want him to do is sweep me up into his arms and hold me? I bet he gives great hugs, among other things.
PROLOGUE
CONNALL AHEARN
I run out of my office when I hear the keeper of my heart screech. My first thought is that she is hurt, which I don't think I could handle. Seeing her in pain would be unbearable. Hell, as it is, she requested an extended leave starting next week, and I did not decline the request. But then that would make me an asshole since she never misses a day and has a ton of vacation time. I just want to know where she is going and with whom, but now is not the time to figure that out.
When I make it out of my office to her desk, I find her not injured but instead staring at her phone, with tear tracks down her face. This makes my heart ache, and then my hands turn to fists. Who the fuck made my February cry? “February, what’s wrong?” I touch her shoulder and try not to make this about me and the spark going through my arm when touching her for the first time. Her shoulders sag, and she looks so defeated.
“I just got into an argument with one of my mom’s.” I start for a second, the shock on my face obvious at the revelation that she has two moms, but I recover quickly. “I mean why can’t they see how important this is to me? I mean, I get it, but they should know by now no matter what I find I love them,” she babbles for a few minutes before I try to interject.
“It sounds like you need to talk. How about I take you to lunch and let you vent?” I see her contemplating this, but then she shakes her head.
“No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been having this conversation with her at work. It was unprofessional of me. You don’t have to worry.” She all but dismisses my suggestion and without thinking, I grip her elbow to prevent her from walking away.
“It's a done deal. Grab your purse,” I tell her with a little more force than I mean to. Her eyes widen at my demand before she nods and does as I have said. I don’t want to have to drive, so we walk down the street to this Italian place we always order from and sit. Once our orders have been taken, I turn to her and place my hand on hers. “Now talk to me.” She swallows, fighting a battle with herself about confiding in her boss and just having someone to talk to. I know the moment having a willing ear wins.
“As you heard I have two moms. Obviously I have always known there was dad out there somewhere. A little while ago I finally decided to go to the sperm bank and get his profile. I knew it wasn’t going to tell me his name but just having some information like his height, ethnicity and his goals was more than I could hope for. Until the nurse at the clinic told me he allotted twelve deposits that could be made and then his specimen should be destroyed. During that visit she asked me if I wanted to be included in this chat that could bring me in contact with any other children born from his sperm and that is how I found my older sister January.” I look at her and smirk.
“You are both named after a month. Is that a coincidence?” She shakes her head.
“No, that was one of his caveats, if you will. Of course he would be able to do nothing if they didn’t, but my mom felt it was the least she could do to honor the man who made her, and my mom Martha’s dream come true.”
“That makes sense.”
“Anyway, January went on a six-week-long journey following clues trying to find him. When she fell in love with a retired soldier who was helping her and now she is pregnant, so her search has stopped, and I offered to pick up where she left off.” That is when the lightbulb goes off.