A Naughty New Year with Nina Croft

Growing up in the cold, wet, north of England, Nina Croft spent a lot of time dreaming of faraway sunnier places and ponies. When she discovered both, along with a whole load of other things, could be found between the covers of a book, her life changed forever.

Later, she headed south, picked up the perfect husband along the way, and together they volunteered to work in Africa. There they discovered a love of exotic places and a dislike of 9-5 work. Afterward they spent a number of years travelling (whenever possible) intermingled with working (whenever necessary.) Eventually they stumbled upon a remote area in the mountains of southern Spain and the small almond farm they now call home.

Nina spends her days reading, writing and riding her mare, Gencianna, under the blue Spanish skies—sunshine and ponies. She reckons this is proof that dreams really can come true if you want them enough.

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The Bad Girl and the Baby, is book 3 in my Cutting Loose series, which follows the stories of three women who met while in prison, became friends (against the odds) and vowed to help each other when they got out. None of them had love on the agenda, but they all found it in the end. Last year, they saw the New Year in from a prison cell—this year they plan for things to be so much better…

Bad Girls New Year

“I don’t think we’re going to make it.” Darcy whispered into the phone so as not to wake the babysitter—not to mention the baby. Angie was stretched out on the sofa, totally wiped out, with Lulu on her stomach—looking angelic in sleep—and a large dog tucked under each arm.

“You can’t not come,” Regan replied.

“Matt called. He’s got an emergency at work.”

Matt was a captain in the army and had a post with a fast response anti-terrorist unit. He worked from a desk—he’d given up field work when he’d asked Darcy to marry him—but all the same, an emergency at work was not a good thing. And her stomach twisted with nerves.

“Aw—I’m sorry, sweetie,” Regan said. “We’ll miss you. We’ve both got our bad girl outfits on. Summer’s is sensational. Wait a sec, she wants a word.”

“Darcy?” Summer’s voice came down the line. “Don’t worry. Matt will be fine.”

Summer was such a nice person…for a bad girl. “I know. Enjoy yourselves.”

“We will.”

She ended the call with a sense of melancholy. They’d planned tonight a year ago, while drinking tap water from plastic beakers in a locked prison cell. They’d decided back then that this year was going to champagne from crystal flutes at the Ritz, and nothing was going to stand in their way. But then they hadn’t expected to have three men to consider.

Everything was so different now. A year ago, they’d all still been inside, unsure what the future held for any of them, but determined to help each other make the best of life on the outside, and never go back to prison.  Now they were all free, and married, and happy.

They’d booked a private room at the Ritz. Regan and Nate, Summer and Nik, and Darcy and Matt.

Except it was gone eleven, and no sign of Matt.

Forty-five minutes later, she was still sitting in exactly the same place, her gaze fixed on Lulu—the catalyst that had changed her life totally and forever—and so cute…when she was asleep. She was wearing the judo outfit Darcy had given her at their first official meeting. It was way too small now. Lulu had just turned three and was growing fast.

A car pulled up outside, and she rose to her feet and peered out of the window, a smile spreading across her face as she watched the tall man get out of the driver’s seat and head toward the house. She tiptoed across the room, closing the door behind her.

Ten minutes to a brand new year. It was going to be the best ever.

The front door opened and there he was.

She sighed. He was still in uniform. Darcy had never considered she was the sort of woman to drool over soldiers, but Matt in uniform was a beautiful thing.

He’d come to an abrupt halt just inside the door, and was staring at her.

“Holy shit. You are…gorgeous.”

They’d decided on a bad girl theme for the party, which essentially meant Darcy didn’t have to dress up—she always looked pretty bad—she liked it that way. But tonight, she’d made an extra effort. A tiny black leather mini-skirt, fishnets, thigh-high boots, and a tank top that showed off the black and red tattoos running down her arm. She looked hot. Matt obviously agreed. He tossed his cap on the table and stepped toward her. She held her ground as he lowered his head and kissed her hard.

His hands slid down her back, cupped her ass, and he lifted her off her feet. Darcy wrapped her legs around his waist as he backed her up against the front door and kissed her some more. She wriggled; he was already hard against her, and tingles shot through her breasts, down through her belly, lower…

He raised his head. “I’m sorry you missed your party. You should have gone without me.”

“Never. And there’ll be other parties. Other years.”

“Lots of them.”

“What happened?”

“It was a hoax.”

“I’m glad.”

He kissed her again, and she melted into him, pressing herself against his hardness, feeling the build-up of pleasure. He squeezed her ass, and held her closer, rubbing her against him. So close. Best New Year ever.

The doorbell rang. Loud and just behind her. Matt went still.

A second later, barking came from the sitting room, then a shriek. Looked like Lulu and the dogs were awake. Chaos was resumed.

She felt Matt shaking against her and punched him on the shoulder. “Don’t laugh. I was about to come, right on the stroke of midnight.”

“Later.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead, then lowered her to the floor. “I’ll go quiet Lulu. I’m guessing that’s your friends at the door—go let them in.”

She smoothed down her skirt and opened the door.

Regan was in a scarlet mini-dress and matching stilettoes—she looked bad. Summer was in a skin-tight orange jump-suit with handcuffs printed all over it. She grinned as she caught Darcy’s gaze. “It’s prison chic,” she said.

Nik and Nate stood behind them, bottles of champagne dangling from their hands. They all trooped in, then halted, turned, and stared at her as one. She just managed not to squirm.

“You look like you’ve just been kissed,” Regan said.

“Did we interrupt something?” Nate asked.

“We thought you’d be alone,” Nik said.

“Well, not alone, alone. Obviously, Lulu would be here, but…” Summer gave a shrug. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

In the sitting room, Matt stood with Lulu in his arms, and a wave of warmth washed over her. She might not have known it, and she might have fought against it, but this was all she had ever wanted in one wonderful package. And her best friends as well.

Definitely the best New Year ever.

Regan handed glasses around, and Nate poured champagne.

Darcy raised her drink as the clock struck midnight. “Happy new Year.”

Captain Matt Peterson prides himself on being able to handle anything...until he winds up as the guardian of his baby niece, Lulu. Two years and six nannies later, his well-ordered existence is in chaos. Still, he’s all Lulu has. Except, well...there is an aunt...

Darcy Butler has spent the last three years in prison for beating up her abusive brother-in-law. Her only regret is that she didn’t hurt him worse and stop him from killing her sister in a drunken car crash six months later. But now, Darcy just wants to rebuild her life. Starting with finding her sister’s child.

But Matt doesn't want an ex-con with a record for violence anywhere near Lulu. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to keep away from Darcy, himself. Despite their differences, their chemistry is combustible...and the sex is incredible! Still, it can’t possibly last. Can it?

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