Embracing Him

By C. Shell

*The second book in the Harlow Series. Books in this series must be read in order to understand the story line.

After uncovering Alex's big betrayal, Jessica has to deal with the realization that she has fallen in love with him despite her efforts not to. Sometimes the thing you try the hardest to ignore is the one thing you need the most. Throwing herself into her work, she does her best to move on with her life and put her feelings for the man who broke her heart on the back burner.

Alex Harlow has never met an obstacle he couldn’t overcome and that includes winning back the woman who challenges him at every turn. Using every tool at his disposal, he manipulates the playing field to keep Jessica close until he can earn back her trust.

Nothing is ever what is seems. When outside forces step-in, Alex and Jessica must not only fight for their lives, but for the happily-ever-after they both crave.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C. Shell
• Release date: Apr 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301922307

C. Shell

C. Shell lives in the hot state of Texas with her husband and three beautiful girls. Romance books are her obsession. One that includes a bad boy or an alpha male who knows what he wants is her own personal version of heaven. She finds the happy endings and endless possibilities of books alluring and addictive. When she is not thinking up her next kick-ass character, she is working in the community rescuing dogs.

Book preview

Embracing Him

by

C. Shell

Harlow Series Book 2

Embracing Hm

COPYRIGHT © 2017 by C. Shell

Smashwords Edition

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. IF you are reading this book and didn't purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the author and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance between persons living and dead, establishments, events, or location is entirely coincidental.

Author Acknowledgments

This series has been an interestng and fun journey full of ups and downs. I want to thank all my readers who have put their faith in my writing. I also want to thank my alwys-patient and awesome beta-readrs, who tell me the truth no matter how much it might hurt. This series was my first when I started writing and it will alwys hold a special place in my heart.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Author Acknowledgements

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Also By C. Shell

Chapter One

I’m going to tell you something, and I want you to understand that I say this with love.

Raising my head from the soft pillow, I push my wild mane of hair out of my face and stare up at Jane through puffy, cried-out eyes. I grimace seeing the concern and sadness shadowing her face. I did that. I’ve caused my best friend’s laugh lines to disappear, leaving only worried ones in their absence. My petulant wallowing in my self-pity has taken a drastic toll on Jane, and I hate myself for dragging her into my mess.

I’m not going to like what you have to say, am I?

Probably not, she answers with a sigh.

Moving bags of chips and cookies out of her way she stretches out beside me on the bed. She’s taking her time getting comfortable, which I take as a bad sign. I don’t expect this to be a quick pep talk. After wiggling under the covers and re-fluffing the pillows for the second time, she finally settles in.

Sweetie, you look like shit. I’ve seen hobos with less oil in their hair than you. It’s not healthy hiding away in your bed day after day, eating junk food, and watching old movies. It’s time to get off your ass, take a much-needed hot shower, change into something other than that damn shirt of his, and join the living again.

I wince at her choice of words. I don't have a clue what day it is or how long I’ve been holed up, surrounded by these same four walls. I’ve prayed over and over for all the hurt consuming me to evaporate, but my prayers have gone unanswered. After the first day of his relentless calls, texts, and emails, I turned off my phone and cut myself off from everyone except Jane and Jax. I had all our work calls forwarded to Jane’s phone while I’ve taken up permanent residence in my room, only leaving when my stomach demands substance or to take a shower.

As pathetic as it sounds, Jane isn’t exaggerating about me still wearing Alex’s shirt. His scent is a mere shadow of what it once was, but if I concentrate hard enough, I can still get a whiff of it now and then.

If this is what love leads to, then count me out. I hate who I’ve become.

Fighting back tears, I roll onto my back and slam my eyes closed in an attempt to keep them at bay. I count backward from ten while taking deep, even breaths. It is an old technique I learned back in high school to help calm my nerves. Whenever Mom would drink too much and go into one of her screaming fits, which happened more times than not, I would crawl into my closet, and practice the breathing technique until either I fell asleep, or she took off to God knows where and left me alone.

I slide my hand over Jane’s and give it a little squeeze. I’m sorry, I say, my voice sounding as ashamed as I feel. I’ve been a shitty friend and roommate. You deserve better.

Sweetie, you have nothing to apologize for. Once again, you got the short end of the stick in life. I don’t blame you for needing a break from everything, but it’s time to dust off your pants, get back up, and try again. I miss you, not to mention I’ve been up to my neck in cranky customers while you’ve been on a hiatus. I’m at my limit and can’t do it all by myself anymore. You scored big at that charity function. We raked in several substantial bookings from it. Her mouth curves into a big smile. It’s crazy. For the first time, we’ve got enough jobs to hold us over for the next four months.

Jane mentioning the charity event sends a new wave of sadness through me. Alex tore down my walls and burrowed his way into my heart. Like a fool, I gave into everything I promised to fight against, and in the end, he obliterated any hope I had that he would be different. I thought Travis was bad, but he’s an amateur compared to Alex. Alex Harlow, is a man who does nothing half-assed, including crushing someone's heart.

What day is it? My arms extend above my head, and I groan, stretching my body and feeling the tightness in my muscles. I’ve lost count. How long have I been wallowing in my own self-pity?

Today is Monday. You’ve been sulking in here for six days. Jax has been worried sick about you. I finally made him go home after he camped out on our couch for four days. Her nose wrinkles. Did you know that he snores? she asks, her lips quipped in amusement.

I can only nod as my throat constricts with emotion. I feel like such a tool for making them worry about me. His snoring is part of his charm, I counter. Jax means well, but he tends to be overdramatic at times.

She laughs. Yeah, well, in any case, I need you to get up and out of this room. Jax won’t cool his jets until you prove to him that you’re okay. You’ve worked too damn hard to put yourself through school and get where you are today, to let Alex bring you down. No man is worth that.

She’s right. No more feeling sorry for myself. It’s time to get out of this bed and put my life back together.

I love you coming in here to tell me how pathetic I've been. Standing, I yank Jane by the arm and pull her into a tight hug while blinking back another round of unshed tears. I’m amazed my body can still produce tears after all the crying I’ve done this past week. I’m going to grab a shower and get dressed. I point to the too-large shirt hanging off my body. In something clean, feminine, and most importantly, mine. Would you mind waiting a moment? I would like to ride into work with you?

Of course not! I’m ecstatic that you’re ready to come back. I will make you some coffee and wrap you up a pastry to go while you get dressed, she says over her shoulder already out the door and heading to the kitchen.

I swear if she hands me a donut, I will scream bloody murder.

Jumping in the shower, I make haste and wash my hair and body in record time. The amount of hair my body accumulated in a week is a scary sight. If you sent me running naked in the woods, I could be mistaken for Bigfoot or a hairy gorilla. Pulling a large terry cloth robe around myself, I glance at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes instinctively dart down to the top of my collar bone. Tilting my neck to the side my fingers rub circles around the spot where my hickey from Alex used to rest. His mark of ownership is absent from sight. If only my feelings for him could fade as easily.

Hearing a combination of voices floating from the living room, I quickly dress in black slacks and a dark purple long sleeve silk blouse. Squatting down, I search through my closet, opening box after box of shoes until I find my favorite pair of Manolo Blahnik black leather high heels. No matter how bad a day I have, a sexy pair of shoes always manages to put a smile on my face. Pulling my hair into a loose bun, I apply enough makeup to hide my pale complexion and the dark circles that have taken up residence under my tired eyes. With a fake smile plastered on my face and my head held high, I leave my bedroom with a determination to not only face the day but to make it my bitch.

Following the loud whispers, I find Jane and Jax perched at the breakfast bar with their heads bent together in what appears to be a deep, private discussion. The moment I come into view, their conversation comes to an abrupt halt. Their identical deer in the headlights look is comical. I love my best friends, but I hate being their topic of gossip.

Ignoring their obvious stares, I walk to where thseatedeating and scoot onto the barstool beside Jax. You two gossip worse than old ladies at a bingo hall, I say while grabbing an empty mug off the table and preparing myself a steamy cup of coffee.

Jax sets his Danish down on the table and gives me a little shake of his head. You look good, baby doll. I’ve missed you. He glances down at my shoes and lets out a low whistle. I smile despite my irritated mood. Your couch sucks, he says, his voice tinged with just the right amount of mirth. My back is all out of sorts now. It hurts to stand up straight. I’ll be sure to forward you my chiropractic bill. It’s the least you can do for putting me through days of worry and sleepless nights.

I slap a hand to my heart and act offended. Our antics draw a smile from Jane. The silly moment between us doesn’t last, but it’s nice all the same. I do my best to enjoy the blueberry scone, but their side glances and murmured words keep me on edge.

Please, stop watching me as if I may break at any moment. I’m not a fucking China doll. I can’t help that I’m still messed up over finding out that the shithead is married, but I’ll get over it. My gut tightens with memories of him, of Alex, and our brief, yet amazing time together. I swallow down the hurt and take a sip of my coffee. Things will get better. Eventually, they always do. Life goes on and all that jazz, right?

Jax cocks his head to the side as he studies me long and hard. After what feels like an eon, his facial features relax, and he gives me that signature lazy smile of his that makes all the ladies swoon. Sorry, baby doll. We don’t mean to study you like an experiment gone wrong. We’ll be good from now on. Leaning into my side, he lays a kiss on my cheek. Despite the heavy topic at hand, I settle back into my seat feeling content.

Stepping out the door, I shield my eyes from the glaring sun while letting the warmth from it roll over me. The gathering heat mixed with the slight chill still lingering in the air is a soothing balm on my frazzled nerves. Fall is making a fashionably late appearance causing the surrounding trees to rain down a kaleidoscope of leaves dipped in hues of reds, browns, and a mix of yellow and orange. It’s unusual in Texas to get more than a month of fall, so when the leaves start changing, you learn to welcome and enjoy it while it lasts.

As Jane speeds down the freeway, mindless of the speed limit and irate travelers she keeps cutting off, I build up the courage to turn my phone back on. Who knew pressing such a small button could be so terrifying? After a full five minutes of listening to repetitive beeps and dings, the screen portrays an obscene number of missed calls, texts, and voicemails I have acquired over my six days of solitude. I sort through them all by rote, taking note of the ones that appear work-related and deleting all that relate to Alex. He filled my voicemail to capacity within three hours after I fled his place. The man is completely insane.

Checking my screen further, I blink in surprise to find three missed calls from the elusive private number. Previously, I thought Travis was calling me privately, but it looks as if I had that all wrong. My mystery caller doesn’t seem inclined to give up trying to reach me anytime soon. I rub my eyes as a giant headache takes root. I know I should be concerned about this, hell, a week ago I was, but with everything else in my life turned upside down and inside out, mystery calls from a private caller are not reaching the top of my important things to deal with list.

It's surreal walking back into our office building. I’ve only been gone for a week, but it feels more like a month. Saying a quick hello to Clive, I follow Jane up the elevator and to our office ready as ever to begin the mundane task of returning calls and filing paperwork. Jane wasn’t exaggerating about the response from the Gala. It was a tremendous success in getting our name out there and meeting influential people in our industry. At least something good came out of my failed relationship with Alex.

Sifting through a pile of mail I come upon a letter that piques my interest. The abstract eagle logo on the envelope looks familiar, but I can't place where I’ve seen it before. Reading the contents, my brows pull together as a wave of irritation steals my senses.

Jane, did you forget to tell me something? I ask, waving the paper high in the air. The accusation in my tone is unmistakable. This letter here says that our building has been bought out and that we're under new ownership.

Entering my office, Jane drapes herself in one of the chairs in front of my desk. With her elbows on the table, she sets her chin in her hands and gives me an unapologetic sigh. I’m sorry It’s been so busy with you gone; it eclipsed my mind. I’ve already spoken to my parents and forwarded them a copy of the letter to go over. According to their lawyer, it’s a straightforward buy-out and shouldn’t affect us or the business in any way. Our contract is rock solid for the next year. If we don’t like the way things are going after that, we can always move.

There are a few times in life that Jane has surprised me, and this is one of them. I’m normally the one left with handling anything that pertains to important paperwork or money. Seeing as Jane not only took this buyout seriously but forwarded it on to her parents for approval is impressive.

I pushed my hair back and gave her a nod. Good call. Have you spoken to Clive about it? Maybe he has some inside knowledge about the new owners.

Nope, but that is a good idea. We can ask him on our way to lunch. Speaking of which, Her eyes light up as she leans back in her seat. I’m starving. Let’s go get some grub. She points to the mayhem spread out across my desk. These boring papers will still be waiting here for you when you get back.

Besides the pints of ice cream, I devoured daily, I haven't had much of an appetite since the breakup. With the way my clothes slid on this morning, I wouldn’t doubt that I’ve lost a few pounds. I would kill for some comfort food right about now. My stomach picks this moment to rumble its approval, earning me a laugh from Jane.

Food sounds good, I agree. I’m in the mood anything drenched in gravy, fried, or made from a cast-iron skillet. What about you?

That works for me. As long as I’m not forced to eat seafood, we’re all good, she says scrunching her nose up in distaste. You pick the place. Give me another ten minutes to finish my work then I’ll meet you by the elevator.

What are you working on?

"I’m finishing up a quote for a launch party they are having over at The Met Exhibit next month. You should work on this one. It’s