Mr. February Read Free

her boyfriend of several years. Jillian had been sure she loved him. And yet, during the months they’d lived together, he’d proposed three times. She’d always turned him down.
    Finally, fed up, Douglas had moved out. After Jillian had gotten over the pain of losing him, she’d realized she hadn’t really loved him, after all.
    Chelsea’s eyes lit up. “I’d give anything to see Georgia. Let me go with you, Jill.” She bit her lip and glanced at JR. “Unless you need help with Pooh’s bath?”
    “I can manage. Go ahead, Chels.”
    Knowing Shannon wouldn’t mind, Jillian smiled. “Of course, you can come. But we won’t be staying long. Shannon’s worn out, and I really need to get back to work. After I shower, change into dry clothes, and grab a bite to eat, we’ll leave.”
    After dinner tonight, she’d run a load of laundry and wash Rafe’s jacket. Sometime tomorrow, she would drop it off at the fire station.
    And that would be the end of that.
    *
    Shannon gestured Jillian and Chelsea into her bungalow with the same dark circles as before under her weary eyes.
    Jillian handed her friend the gossip magazine she’d brought. “That’s for you to read when you have time. And this is my brother’s girlfriend, Chelsea.”
    Shannon smiled. “I finally get to meet the future mother of Jillian’s niece or nephew. Congratulations.”
    “Thanks.” Grinning, Chelsea cupped her barely visible baby bump. “I’m due in September.”
    While the two women chatted about babies, Jillian excused herself to wash her hands in anticipation of holding Georgia.
    “I’m dying to see the baby,” Chelsea chirped as Jillian returned. “Where is she?”
    Intermittent infant noises punctuated the question, courtesy of the baby monitor on the coffee table.
    “Sleeping, but as you can hear, she’s just waking up.” Shannon gestured in the direction of the nursery. “Do you want to come with me while I get her up and change her?”
    “Yes, please,” Jillian and Chelsea replied at the same time.
    While Shannon deftly diapered the sweet little girl, Jillian marveled at her. “I swear, she’s grown in the last two weeks.”
    “Half an inch and a whole pound,” Shannon said proudly.
    Chelsea clasped her hands together. “She’s so tiny and so cute.”
    “Would you like to hold her?”
    “More than anything.”
    “Then wash your hands, and we’ll see you back in the living room. Here, Jillian, you carry her.”
    Dying for the honor and still madly in love with Georgia, Jillian carefully transported the precious bundle to the sofa. “Are you enjoying motherhood?” she asked.
    Shannon’s smile radiated joy. “I’m exhausted, but I’ve never loved anyone this much in my life. Except Asher. You should see him with her. He’s crazy about her.”
    “It seems like yesterday you two got married.”
    “It’s only been a year, but when it’s right, it’s right.”
    A wave of longing swept through Jillian, for a husband and baby of her own. With a tentative hand, she smoothed Georgia’s light-brown hair over her little round head. “Her hair is so soft,” she said in wonder. “Don’t keel over and die, but I’m admitting here and now that I’m ready to settle down and have a baby, too.”
    Shannon’s eyes widened. “You met someone.”
    Jillian thought briefly of Rafe, but he was all wrong for her. “Not yet, but I’m ready to start working on that.”
    “Working on what?” Chelsea asked as she entered the living room.
    Giving her head a subtle shake, Jillian warned her friend not to mention what she’d shared. But Shannon’s attention had fixed on lifting her child from Jillian’s arms, and she didn’t notice. “Jillian is ready to fall in love.”
    Chelsea wore a sly look. “I knew you were interested in Rafe.”
    “Rafe?” Shannon frowned.
    “The guy on the firefighter calendar—Mr. February,” Chelsea clarified.
    “You know him?” Shannon looked intrigued. “You never said a