Heartbreak Warfare Read online

  Heartbreak Warfare

  Copyright © 2014 K.B. Webb

  Cover Design ©, Arijana Karčić Cover It! Designs

  Executive Editor, Linda Wilson

  Interior Design by Angela McLaurin, Fictional Formats

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

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  epilogue

  acknowledgements

  “Damn it Jazzy, are you even listening to me?” My brother Jason slams his hands on my kitchen counter causing my head to pop up from the position it’s been sitting in, staring at my intertwined fingers thinking about what I did last night and how it was so worth the bitching I am receiving right now.

  “Yes Jason, I’m listening to you. You are telling me all about how much of a disappointment I am and what not. I get it, I fail at life and I’m a whore.” I wave my hand in his direction and bend my head slightly, “continue.”

  He closes his eyes, clenches his fists, and takes in an audible breath. Well, looks like I’ve hit a nerve.

  My brother isn’t all bad and I know it, but at moments like this, when he is condemning me for having sex with a deliciously sexy man and calling me an embarrassment to our family name, I really can’t fucking stand him.

  Mmmm, last night. Like I said, it was so totally worth the tounge lashing I am currently receiving.

  Ryan Davis. Sex on legs, covered in tattoos, and a dick that can do the kind of party tricks that cause women to burst blood vessels from screaming his name so loud. Yes, he was so totally worth this. Now, I just have to figure out how to make my one night stand turn into a multi night stand.

  Ryan wasn’t just delicious and blessed with the kind of hot body and throbbing member romance novels were written about, he was also my new neighbor. Awkward for some, but to me it just seemed like easy access to the best sex of my life. What was awkward though was my brother finding us together this morning and informing me Ryan was the new trainer he hired for the gym we owned. Even more awkward was when Jason informed Ryan that he could never give me life altering orgasms again thanks to our companies ‘no fucking the employees’ policy. Damn company.

  “Jasmine,” I pull myself from my day dream and stare at Jason. Despite the serious expression on his face, he really is beautiful. His skin is the same caramel color as mine, but his eyes are brown, like our fathers, whereas mine are green, like our mothers. His teeth are perfectly straight and his smile is contagious. He always has an air of importance surrounding him. The perfectly tailored suits he wears only add to his appeal. Every straight woman and gay man who encounters Jason is affected by him.

  “Jasmine, please listen to me, I’m just trying to look out for you.” He rocks back on his heels and I know what part of the speech we have come to. The part where he brings up our dead parents and how at my age, 22, he was running a multimillion dollar company and raising a shit headed little 13 year old girl.

  “Do you know what I was doing at your age?” Like fucking clock work, I swear.

  “Why yes Jason, I do. You had taken on custody of your 13 year old sister because your parents had died and you thought it was best that your little sister, who you would do anything for, deserved to stay in the home she had lived in all her life instead of being shipped off to California to live with her grandparents. Right?”

  I sound ungrateful, I know I do, but I’m not. Not at all. Jason has been my rock since our world was ripped apart when I was 13 and he was 21. Our parents died and instead of packing my shit and putting me on plane to live with our dad’s parents in California, he became my legal guardian. He did give up a lot for me, and no matter what he chooses to believe, I have always appreciated everything he has done for me. What I don’t appreciate though is him using his love for me as a weapon to make me feel like shit every time I do something that isn’t a part of the perfect plan he has set up for my life.

  I hear him going on and on about how I need to be responsible and quit acting like some pissed off toddler all the time.

  “When I was your age, I didn’t have time to fuck guys whose last names I didn’t even know. No, I was taking care of you and making sure I ran our company properly so you would have something to do with your life.”

  I scoff at him and raise my eyebrows. “Um, excuse me big brother, but if I remember correctly I saw more than one male model in our kitchen making protein smoothies in their Calvin Klein’s. I get you had your shit together more than I do, but don’t act like you’re the patron saint of celibacy because that’s just straight up bull shit.”

  He’s caught off guard and I sit a little straighter realizing for a moment I have the upper hand. “Let me finish your speech for you, ok?” He crosses him arms over his chest and gives me a look that could kill. “You’re going to talk about how much I’m wasting my potential and how disappointed mom and dad would be in me if they were here now. You’re going to say that if I don’t start taking my self seriously no one else will. I get it Jason. You know everything. I’m an ungrateful little shit who does things that you would have never thought of doing and am single handedly ruining our family name.”

  “You’re such a fucking smart ass Jazzy.”

  “Why yes I am. Now, let me clear some shit up for you so that you can get back to whatever the hell it is you need to do today and I can get drunk and play on Pinterest.” His nostrils flair and he starts to speak but I cut him off.

  “I’m only twenty two years old Jason. This is the time in my life I’m supposed to have fun, and that’s what I’m doing. But, you seem to forget the other things I do too. Like getting a full ride scholarship to LSU and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a 4.0. Yea, you forget that part. You forget that while you like to tell people I don’t work and that I’m just a silent partner with the company, I’m the one that came up with our most popular marketing plans. Me Jason, I did that. Not you. Not the team of hot shot know it all dip shits who run Slade Industries Board of Directors, me. You forget that I am in the middle of planning your wedding to Todd and doing a fabulous job I might add.” I see him soften a little at the mention of his fiancé, and my future brother in law, Todd. “You just tend to focus on the things that you don’t approve of. Jason, I love you, but I’m going to keep drinking wine and doing shitty craft projects while watching reruns of One Tree Hill. I’m going to keep going out and making good use of all the overpriced dance classes you paid for. I’m going to keep making out with cute guys, and yes, on occasion, I am going to have sloppy drunk sex with said guys. Using a condom of course. This is who I am Jason. I’m not a whore. I’m not an embarrassment. I’m a twenty two year old who somewhat has her shit together, but still has fun. I’m not a kid anymore.”

  He sighs and grabs my hand pulling me into my living room and placing me in front of the last family picture that was taken before my parents died. We were all in our pool, me sitting on top of Jason’s shoulders and my mom sitting on top of my dad’s. Each of us wore the kind of smile that you knew came from laughing so hard it hurt. That was one of the best days of my life, and one of the last ones that we spent together as a family of four.

  “Jazzy, I just want you to make them proud.” Jason wraps his arms around my shoulders and places his head on top of mine. I hate when he uses the dead parent card. />
  I turn around to face him and take a step away, putting some space between us. “Jason, I know you mean well, I do, but I think I am making them proud. Maybe not in the ways you think I should be, but I am. You have to quit acting like I’m not capable of growing up. Just because I don’t live like a hermit and work eighty hours a week does not make me irresponsible, and you know it.”

  He smiles and pulls me in for a hug. “When did you get so smart Jazzy?” I smile against his chest. “I’ve been this smart. You were just too busy treating me like a thirteen year old to notice.”

  We laugh and talk for a few more minutes before he states he has to leave to meet with our banker about a potential investment opportunity for Slade Industries. He swears he will call me later and fill me in on the details, but I know he won’t. He makes business decisions and I just sign where I’m told. Jason knows more about business than I do and I know he would never steer us in the wrong direction so I have never had a problem with him taking the lead on things.

  He pauses at my door before he steps out, “Jazzy, I meant what I said this morning. You can’t sleep with Ryan Davis again.”

  “I know Jason. It’s against company policy. I’m his boss so he could sue us, or take secret naked pictures and sell them, or our sex could be so hot that we burn through the ozone layer. You’re trying to protect me and the environment. Got it.”

  “You realize no man is ever going to want to marry a woman that is so brash, don’t you?”

  I smile and blow him a kiss with my middle finger. Fucker. He is such a fucker.

  He shuts the door behind him and I drop onto my couch. I know he’s right. I can’t sleep with Ryan again, but sweet lord I want to. He’s not just insanely sexy and a phenomenal lay, but he’s funny. I laughed while we were having sex last night and for the first time ever it wasn’t because of dick size! Speaking of dick size, Ryan measures handsomely in that department. We also talked for hours between intense hot sex sequences. When I was with Ryan, I felt like I was with someone who gets me. He never raised an eyebrow when I cussed or made inappropriate comments about Harry Potter. Sue me, I have a thing for scars and robes. I would let HP work some magic in my pants any day!

  My phone starts to ring and when I hear Secret Lovers coming from my kitchen I know its Dani calling.

  “Did you lose the key to the fuzzy handcuffs again?” Dani laughs in response. Dani Hartley is my best friend. Like for real, soul sister kind of shit. She’s a red headed fire cracker who is almost as bat shit crazy as I am, and I love her.

  “Shut up Jasmine! That was one time and I eventually found it.”

  “Yes, after you remembered that you put it in your bra so you wouldn’t lose it. Dip shit.”

  “Ok, I didn’t call you so you could bring up my failed sexual experiences. What did Jason say after y’all left?”

  I grab a class from the cabinet above my sink and a bottle of wine from the rack and place them both on the counter.

  “Oh, ya know, the usual. I’m an embarrassment. I need to grow up. Yada yada.”

  “I’m sorry honey. Did y’all at least squash it before he left?”

  “Yea we did. I told him I wasn’t an embarrassment, just twenty two and reminded him of all the great things I do. I think it helped some. I guess we’ll find out.”

  “I hope so. You know he means well, his delivery is just shitty.”

  “Yea I know. So, any word for Ryan?”

  “Yep, he called me right after you and Jason left,” Lucas, Dani’s boyfriend answers. Lucas Wade can be a little fucker, but he loves my best friend and makes her happy and he lets me get drunk and crash at his house on a regular basis, so I deal with him.

  “Sorry!” Dani answers. “I’m cooking so I put you on speaker phone.”

  “Wait, you’re cooking. As in Dani Gail Hartley is in the kitchen right now making food that she expects people to eat?”

  “Shut it. I can cook! Can’t I baby?” She directs her last comment towards Lucas. He answers her sweetly, “of course you can baby.” I may not be able to see them, but I know he is kissing her on the head right now with his arm wrapped around her waist. I also know that he is thinking of the great lasagna debacle a few weeks ago when Dani almost burned their whole house down. Note to self, don’t accidently leave an oven mitt under a pan of lasagna when you place it in the oven. Shit will get real!

  “Anyway love birds, what did Ryan say?”

  “Well,” Lucas answers, “he apologized for this morning and for not asking your last name, which, if he would have done, would have avoided the whole debacle that unfolded in my kitchen.” While having your brother tell you that you can no longer see the man whose picture is next to the definition of life altering orgasms is bad enough, what made it even worse was the fact that Jason found Ryan and me together in Lucas and Dani’s house. Last night we had an unpacking party, which briefly translates to Dani and me getting shitty drunk and Ryan and Lucas arranging furniture and moving heavy stuff. I knew who Ryan Davis was, but he apparently did not know that I was Jasmine Slade. As in co-owner of Slade Industries and Slade Fitness, Jasmine Slade, and since he was the new head trainer for Slade Fitness, our bumping uglies was a big no no.

  “Oh bite me Lucas. You asked Dani out before she even knew what your first name was. It wasn’t like he was some stranger I pulled off the street. He’s one of your friends.”

  “That is correct Abu.”

  “Damn it Lucas! Quit it with that nickname. It’s not funny.” A few months ago Lucas had started calling me Abu, after the monkey from Aladdin. Ya know, the movie with Princess Jasmine. He thinks he’s so damn clever sometimes.

  “You know it’s funny. But, anyway. Yes, Ryan is one of my friends so that is why you need to walk your skinny ass to his apartment and apologize to him for the way Jason acted this morning. I don’t want him to feel awkward about being here because he might run into you. He also really needs this job Jasmine, so don’t fuck it up for him.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “You know exactly what it means. Go over and apologize, be nice, be friendly, but do not fuck him. Seriously. Keep your lady parts in your pants.”

  “Dani, tell your shit head boyfriend to quit referring to my lady parts. It’s highly inappropriate.”

  I hear them both laughing before Dani finally picks up the phone and takes me off speaker. “You know he means well Jasmine, even if it is weird hearing him refer to your lady parts. Seriously though, just go over and make nice with Ryan. Between both of you being our friends and him working at Slade Fitness, y’all will be seeing a lot of each other and you don’t want to get awkward.”

  “Ugh. Ok! This is going to be super fucking embarrassing for me, but I love you so whatever, I’ll deal.” I eye the bottle of wine I have sitting on my counter, “hey friends drink wine together right?”

  “Do you not listen to anything I say?!” Dani’s voice raises a few octaves and I can’t help but laugh.

  “I said be friendly Jasmine. Not show up with wine and try to get him shit faced so he will sleep with you again.”

  “But Dani, it was the best sex of my life!”

  “I know. I heard you say that at least 10 times last night.”

  Neither of us can hold back the laughs that escape our mouths. “Oh you owe me hooker. Do you know how many times I had to hear you scream Lucas’ name when you lived next door. I mean come on, I walked in on him feasting from your lady parts on the fucking couch!”

  “Whatever. Best sex or not Jasmine, do not take wine over there. I repeat, Do. Not. Take. Wine.”

  “You’re such a buzz kill, but fine, no wine. I’ll go apologize right now and call you later and let you know how it goes.”

  “Sounds good. Keep it in your pants and be nice.”

  “Don’t burn the house down iron chef!”

  Before she can yell at me, I hang up the phone.

  I do what Dani told me and put my wine glass back in the cabinet an
d the wine back on the rack. A stop at the fridge and a once over in the mirror and I’m ready to go.

  I walk out of my apartment and shut my door behind me before walking down the hall to Ryan’s door. His apartment he lived in used to be Dani’s. She and I met and because best friends because we were neighbors. Once she and Lucas decided to move in together, she chose to rent out her apartment instead of sell it. And, luck should have it that Ryan was looking for a place to live, so he moved in.

  I knock on the door and stare down at me feet waiting for him to answer. I’m ready for whatever he says to me, including if he tells me to fuck off. However, what I’m not ready for is the sight of shirtless Ryan drenched in sweat wearing just running shorts. Oh my ovaries!

  He eyes me suspiciously until I hold up the six pack of beer I have in my hand. Hey, Dani just said no wine, she said nothing about beer!

  “Want to get drunk and let me apologize for my brother being a tool bag?”

  He laughs once and shakes his head at me before stepping back from the door so I can step inside.

  “You know you’re trouble Jasmine Slade?” His deep voice booms throughout his apartment and sends shivers down my spine and directly to my core.

  “That may be true Ryan Davis, but we both know I am so worth it.” I end my statement with a wink and see his jaw drop right before I turn my back to him to continue walking into his apartment

  Just because I can’t fuck him, doesn’t mean I can’t still have some fun with him. Last time I checked, there was no company policy against flirting heavily and imaging Ryan’s face between my legs when I use my vibrator later. I should probably check when I get home though. Knowing my brother he probably put some clause in there just for times like this. Article 69: Jasmine Slade is not allowed to overly flirt or fantasize about employees while using her vibrator. Well it probably wouldn’t be worded like that, but you get my drift.

  “So, my brother is kind of a dick. No, more like he’s a major dick and I am so so sorry about this morning. I don’t want things to be awkward between us at work or when we hang out with Dani and Lucas.” I place the beer in the fridge and turn around to face him. “You got any chips or something? I am starving.” When the word starving leaves my mouth my eyes immediately drop from Ryan’s eyes to his crotch.