Somebody's Ex: The Jackson Brothers, Book 2

By Jasmine Haynes

The Jackson Brothers, a heart-wrenching family saga from NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jasmine Haynes

A family torn apart by tragedy...

Three years ago, Lou Jackson, the eldest son, died in a work accident. And nothing has been the same since for the Jackson family. They lost their heart and soul the day Lou died, even as matriarch Evelyn tries to keep them together. But things are changing and the family will either find their way back to each other. Or they’ll be torn asunder.

Randi Andersen has a thing for bad boys, tall, dark, sexy, and handsome. But bad boys invariably make for bad relationships. She’s tired of being somebody’s ex, ex-girlfriend, ex-lover, or ex-wife. Now, if she could just fall in love with a nice guy.

David Jackson has lived under the crushing weight of responsibility for holding his family together since his brother’s death three years ago. Randi is too sexy to resist, but the last thing he needs now is a relationship. Too much is at stake with his family falling apart.

Can they each forgive their own past mistakes in order to take the leap of faith that love demands?

“Somebody’s Ex” is a contemporary romance of approximately 32,000 words and contains super sexy material.

This story was previously published in 2006 in the anthology “Somebody’s Lover” by Jasmine Haynes.

Look for more in the Jackson Brothers saga with “Somebody’s Lover” and “Somebody’s Wife.”

The book contains the following bonus material:
Excerpts from “Somebody’s Wife,” “Dead to the Max,” and “Revenge.”

REVIEWS FOR JASMINE HAYNES NOVELS

“An erotic, emotional adventure of discovery you don’t want to miss.” Lora Leigh, New York Times bestselling author

“Super sexy...” Bella Andre, author of The Sullivans series

“Jasmine Haynes is one of the most talented writers of erotic romance...Ms. Haynes characters rock.” Love Romances and More

“Captures the love, lust and friendship in the Jackson family. As individual stories, they are wonderful but having them link and flow so seamlessly into the next makes for characters that the reader can really get to know and love.” Single Title Reviews

“This is a beautiful and poignant book about a very realistic tragedy and its effects on those closest to the victim.” Contemporary Romance Writers

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jasmine Haynes is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 35 classy, sensual romance tales. In 2013, she started a sexy new series for Berkley Heat, beginning with The Naughty Corner in Oct 2013 and Teach Me a Lesson in Apr 2014. Look for more in the sensual West Coast series; Book 5, Pleasing Mr. Sutton in 2014. She’s also the author of the award-winning Max Starr psychic mystery series. And don’t miss her writing as Jennifer Skully, KOD Daphne du Maurier award-winning author of contemporary romance, bringing you poignant tales peopled with hilarious characters that will make you laugh and make you cry. Look for Can’t Forget You, a new Cottonmouth adventure available now! Visit her website at www.jasminehaynes.com and her blog at www.jasminehaynes.blogspot.com

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jasmine Haynes
• Release date: Feb 6, 2013
• ISBN: 9781626030022

Jasmine Haynes

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jasmine Haynes loves giving readers sexy, classy stories about real issues like growing older, facing divorce, starting over. Her books have passion, heart, humor, and happy endings, even if they aren't always traditional. She also writes gritty, paranormal mysteries in the Max Starr series. As Jennifer Skully, she writes laugh-out-loud romantic comedies laced with a heavy dose of mystery. Look for Jennifer’s new series written with Bella Andre, starting with Breathless in Love, The Maverick Billionaires Book 1. Having penned stories since the moment she learned to write, Jasmine now lives in the Redwoods of Northern California with her husband and their adorable nuisance of a cat who totally runs the household. Join her newsletter for updates on contests, new releases, and freebies by going to jasminehaynes.com.

Book preview

Somebody’s Ex

The Jackson Brothers, Book 2

By Jasmine Haynes

Copyright 2013 Jasmine Haynes

Cover Design by Rae Monet Inc

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This is copyrighted material. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Author Note: this book contains explicit sexual material

Previously published in 2006 as part of the Somebody’s Lover anthology

Summary

A family torn apart by tragedy...

Three years ago, Lou Jackson, eldest son, died in a work accident. And nothing has been the same since for the Jacksons. They lost their heart and soul the day Lou died, even as matriarch Evelyn tries to keep them together. But things are changing and the family will either find their way back to each other. Or they’ll be torn asunder.

Randi Andersen has a thing for bad boys, tall, dark, sexy, and handsome. But bad boys invariably make for bad relationships. She’s tired of being somebody’s ex, ex-girlfriend, ex-lover, or ex-wife. Now, if she could just fall in love with a nice guy.

David Jackson has lived under the crushing weight of responsibility for holding his family together since his brother’s death three years ago. Randi is too sexy to resist, but the last thing he needs now is a relationship. Too much is at stake with his family falling apart.

Can they each forgive their own past mistakes in order to take the leap of faith that love demands?

Acknowledgements

To Jenn Mason, for saying just the right thing at just the right time. Thanks also to Rose Lerma, Christine Zika,and Lucienne Diver for their hard work.

Chapter One

You can’t just quit on me like this, David.

I’m not quitting, Dad. David Jackson sighed and leaned his chair on its two back legs. He’d known this wouldn’t be easy. I want to fix up the house, and Rich Morrissey is going to take me on so I can pick up some of the skills I’m lacking.

It was the God’s honest truth. He wanted to do some remodeling around the place he’d bought a couple of years ago. Though he was handy with his tools, he needed to learn precision, optimum materials use, and practical shortcuts. Working for Rich part-time would teach him the homebuilding trade.

But what about a replacement?

You can hire some green kid to help with loading and hauling. Which comprised a good portion of the work Jackson and Sons Arborists did. I’ll still do tree work when you need me. The family tree-trimming outfit could run without him a few days a week. Dad would still have Jace and Mitch.

But why?

It’s a good opportunity for me. Not to mention that he needed a little time off from the family.

I knew something was up when you didn’t make it to the last two barbecues.

The Sunday family barbecues were a tradition his mom hadn’t allowed to die when Lou did. David had needed time off from that, too.

Look, I know this whole thing with Taylor and Jace has gotten under your skin.

Taylor and Jace. His youngest brother and his eldest brother’s widow. Since the announcement six weeks ago, he’d been telling himself they hadn’t betrayed Lou. Taylor had a right to move on.

But marrying Jace? There was something wrong in that.

My decision has nothing to do with them. He’d struggled to keep his feelings to himself since that day at the hospital, but the effort was wearing on him.

David, I might be almost sixty years old, but I’m not stupid. I suspected you had a thing for Taylor, and I know it’s hard to watch her with Jace.

Balanced on two chair legs, David almost fell backward, shock hitting him first. Then he tamped down a burst of anger. That was the most telling symptom of his current malady, a temper too close to the surface. In the past, he’d been slow to anger, but recently, the slightest thing set him off. He dropped his chin and stared at his dad over the top of his sunglasses. You’ve gotta be kidding. Where did that come from?

I’ve got eyes. You’ve been twitchy around her for months.

He’d been twitchy because Lou’s death had ripped a hole the size of California in the family, tearing apart the very fabric by which they lived, and filling his big brother’s shoes had been a helluva lot harder than he’d thought.

But wanting Taylor for himself? Christ. Dad, I never had a thing for Taylor. The thought of being a second-hand dad to her boys petrified him.

He wanted out for a while. He’d worked for the family outfit since he was old enough to load the scrap left behind after a job. Over half his life. The last three years had been the worst, since Lou died and keeping the family together fell on his shoulders. On his watch, they’d damn near crumbled beneath the weight of Lou’s passing. He sucked at being the eldest.

His dad was still giving him the eye. David felt the need to repeat himself.

I’m happy for them. I don’t have any hidden passion for Taylor. And I’ve made my decision.

His dad’s lips flattened. I don’t know how I’m going to tell your mom. She’s going to be heartbroken.

He should have known Dad would play the guilt card. David took a deep breath, then let it out long and slow.

Mom’s going to be fine, and you know it.

Arthur Jackson sighed, and resignation eased the tense line of his jaw. She should hear it from you. She’ll want to be sure you’re happy with this move.

I planned on dropping by to tell her tomorrow.

And you’re coming to the barbecue on Sunday or she’ll think you’re mad at us all.

He was thirty-four years old yet his father still seemed to think he needed to be told how to handle a delicate situation. It wasn’t a dig, it was just his dad, but he’d never heard his father remind Lou about the basics.

David hadn’t handled the situation well on the day he found out about Taylor and Jace. In fact, he’d been way out of line. He’d apologized to both of them for the shitty things he said. But something changed that day, as irrevocably as life had changed the day Lou died.

He no longer felt a part of his family, and he’d step away until he could figure out why. He’d leave before he let loose with something even more damaging than what he had already said to his brother.

* * * * *

The engine chugged, stuttered, then died halfway up the hill. The truck, rolling back a short distance, barely made it to the side of the road, the two left tires still on the macadam.

Dammit. Damn it.

The gas gauge hadn’t worked for over a year. Randi Andersen measured her gas consumption in miles, but she’d forgotten to reset the trip the last time she’d filled up, then, dammit, she’d forgotten that she’d forgotten. Mick, her ex, was fond of saying she’d forget her head if it wasn’t screwed on.

This is not my day. First, Royal went ballistic in the middle of the night, barked her fool head off, and got herself sprayed by a skunk. Two baths and three quart cans of tomato juice later, the dog’s coat still emanated eau de skunk.

Then Randi had punched off the alarm without fully awakening and fallen back to sleep for another two hours.

She and Royal were supposed to be at the vet’s by eight-thirty for the dog’s yearly shots. Even running late, Randi would have made the time easily, except now she’d run out of gas.

Royal bumped her with a wet doggie nose as Randi beat her head on the steering wheel. The dog still stunk, a potpourri of wet fur, tomatoes, and semi-acrid skunk spray.

Looks like we’re going to have to hoof it. The country road was sparsely traveled, making the chance of vehicular rescue nil. Calling for help wasn’t an option. Her cell phone needed a new battery since the charge didn’t hold longer than a day. Yes, she’d forgotten to put it in the charger last night. Thank God she didn’t have to put her head in the charger nightly, although that might have done something about her chronic forgetfulness.

Randi snapped on the dog leash. Leaving Royal in the cab wasn’t a consideration. The heat of a summer day in Willoughby, California, even this early, would bake her brain. Two and a half miles to town would take less than an hour. Randi looked at her platform sandals, which were not made for hiking. Make that an hour and a half, unless she wanted to risk a sprained ankle.

She shoved at the door with both hands. It groaned but didn’t budge. The damn thing was getting harder to open every day. She threw her shoulder into it and practically fell out of the truck, the door flying wide. Saving herself by slamming her sandal on the concrete, she jerked her head up at the shriek of tires on the roadway just in time to see a three-quarter-ton pickup bearing down on her.

Amidst the sound of squealing tires, her life flashed before her eyes like the old cliché. The knee-holes in Mick’s jeans on their wedding day in that cheesy Nevada chapel. Her divorce papers with Mick’s illegible scrawl. Her mom’s fish balls sprinkled with curry powder. That day her pops stopped talking to her when she was thirteen, the day that lasted almost a year.

Her last thought before she died: I really am a loser.

Her body must have been flattened beyond pain because she didn’t feel a thing except warm sunshine heating the top of her head and the pungent aroma of burnt rubber in her nostrils.

Lady, are you insane opening your door like that?

No, I’m dead.

But wait, the angry drawl didn’t sound like the angel Gabriel. Or was it Peter who was supposed to meet you at the Pearly Gates? And hey, what about the tunnel of light?

Randi opened her eyes to an enormous truck bumper staring her in the face. Brilliant sunlight bouncing off the chrome blinded her. Her neck hurt from the awkward angle at which she held her head, looking back at that terrifyingly close grill. Her little truck was a mere ant compared to the monster pickup only a few inches from her rear bumper.

Hands on his hips,