Something Real

By Jessica Roe

Jemma Peeters knows exactly what she wants out of life, right down to the very last detail. She has it all planned out – the perfect career, the perfect husband, the perfect family. It's going to be. . .well, perfect. She knows how she wants things, and even how her perfect man will be.

Reid Padin is NOT it. He's dangerously sexy and annoyingly arrogant. He smokes too much, drinks too much and drives his stupid motorcycle way too fast. He curses like a sailor and goes through so many women he can't even remember their names. He's wrong for her in every way.

So why can't she stay away from him?

When Jemma accidentally stumbles into the tattoo shop where Reid works, an unlikely friendship is born. He'll give her freedom, he'll make her feel things she's never felt before, he'll show her that she's just as flawed as anyone else. Soon, lines are crossed, boundaries are obliterated and Jemma learns that a person's imperfections are kind of what makes them perfect.

He wants her, she wants him, and only her stubbornness will stand in their way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessica Roe
• Release date: Jun 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310516337

Jessica Roe

Jessica Roe is the author of The Guardians, the Fortunate and The Haven series/She's the mother of one sassy daughter, and two cats called Gus and Roman and fat rat named Dumbo. She's a lover of rainclouds, Gandalf and all things fantasy. Also chocolate. Always chocolate. When she's not writing, reading or gaming she works as a graphic designer.She loves to write, and especially enjoys creating a character and seeing where they take the story (because we all know authors aren't REALLY in charge).She likes strong, ready to fight, female characters who are just as capable at anything as the guys. She has a weird love for villains.Don't hesitate to get in contact - she loves to hear from her readers!Join her on:https://www.goodreads.com/JessicaARoehttps://twitter.com/JessicaARoehttps://www.facebook.com/jessicaAroeauthorhttp://jessicaroeblog.blogspot.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/jessicaroe1305/She'd love to hear from you!

Book preview

Something Real

Fortunate

Jessica Roe

SOMETHING REAL

Copyright © 2015 Jessica Roe

Cover Art by Jessica Roe

Smashwords Edition

ISBN:

All rights reserved.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Other titles by Jessica Roe

The Guardians

Undone

United

Fortunate

Because of Him

Falling For Him

Something True

Nothing Like Him

Haven

Heart of Fire

Soul of Darkness

This one is for everyone who ever believed I could. . .

And it's also for those who didn't.

Table of contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Epilogue

Chapter One

*

I NEVER EXPECTED New York City to be a sparkling fairy-tale land of glitz and glamour. I mean, I wanted it to be, but I'd watched enough episodes of How I Met Your Mother to know the place is kind of a grunge-fest. But they never prepare you for how big it's going to be. Like, super duper, duper big. Sure, I visited plenty of times growing up – it's not like I had a choice, tiny little Fortune isn't exactly fashion central – but living here is an entirely different story, an entirely different feeling. An entirely different world.

It was daunting at first, but now I'm in my second year of college I've had time to acclimatize and I'm totally city chic. The only problem is, NYC has so many amazing stores and I just get so distracted. . . Like, right now I'm innocently walking down a busy street, on my way to college and there are cute outfits in store windows everywhere. It's like they want me to be late to class. Clearly not my fault.

That's my logic and I'm sticking to it.

Talking of class. . .

I pull out my pink pocket watch and flip it open – I'm determined to make pocket watches a thing – to check the time. Oh boy, thirty minutes to get to class. If I hurry my cute little butt up I might just make it in-

Ooh! But check out those shoes. They'd go perfectly with my leather jacket – though I can already tell even without taking a closer look that they're going to be way out of my budget. Daddy has this new thing where he doesn't buy me everything I want, which totally sucks. He thinks it will be a learning experience for me to earn my own money, like Blair does. I pitched a fit at first, even though he was still paying our college and housing expenses, but I'd never had to earn my own spending money in all my life.

It turns out that I actually kind of like working in the bar with Blair, though I'd never admit that to him. He's so smug when he's right.

Distracted again. My bad.

Jemma!

I freeze as I recognize the annoyingly familiar voice of my very persistent ex boyfriend/stalker.

I met Adrian Slater at a party a few months ago. He was handsome and charming and rich. . .so rich. Heir to Slater Cosmetics, one of the biggest brand names in the country, rich. Billionaire rich. Obviously I couldn't say no when he asked me out, that would have just been rude.

He was my perfect guy. The kind of guy that fits in with my future plans.

Because I already have my future mapped out. Everyone thinks I'm all ditzy and dumb, but I know what I want.

First step – majoring in veterinary medicine. I'll work as a vet for a few years, gain some experience and one day open up my own surgery. Along the way I'll marry a super smart, super gorgeous guy, maybe a lawyer or a doctor or something equally as awesome. He'll have perfect manners and perfect style and our two children, a girl and a boy, will be just as cute and go getting as him. We'll have a big house in the suburbs, close by my parents but not too close, and we'll have two dogs and a cat, all of which we brought home from the rescue center and lovingly coaxed into our family.

Blair thinks I'm crazy. I think it's going to be perfect, and isn't that the whole point?

Adrian was everything I wanted on the surface. He was so handsome, so dreamy with his strictly coiffed blond hair, impeccable style and bright blue eyes.

So we went out on a few dates to some amazing restaurants, appeared at some fancy parties, schmoozed at some business lunches. I looked good on his arm, and he sure looked good on mine. But there was just one problem. . .he was so dull. Mind numbingly dull. To the point where I wanted to rip out my beautifully styled hair. I've always been so good at putting on a face, pretending to care what all the important people think, about what they say, their views, their voices, everything little thing. It's why I was so good at being popular back in high school. But the older I get, the harder it is to just pretend with people I don't click with. I think my bad-ass, blunt talking sister is wearing off on me.

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

When Blair first moved to Fortune to live with us, everyone worried about her being a bad influence. Turned out we were all wrong. She made us look at ourselves, really and truly look. And what I found was someone I wasn't sure I liked. I'm still working on it.

So I broke things off with boring Adrian, and it was then the guy decided to buy himself a personality. Only he chose wrong – unless you like borderline obsessive stalking. For weeks he's been calling, texting, showing up at my dorm room and at work, determined to get me back. I'm pretty sure it doesn't even have much to do with me as opposed to the fact that he isn't used to hearing the word no.

I tried to be nice at first, I really did. I told him it was all me, not him. That I was the problem. I even returned all the gifts he sent me, and boy was that hard. They were some good gifts. Expensive gifts. High school Jemma probably would have stayed with him for the gifts alone.

But after weeks of trying to be rational with him, I don't think I have it in me again. If I see him right now then I'm going to say something he seriously doesn't want to hear, and that will only lead to tragedy. Like being barred from Slater Cosmetics stores for life. No one should have to deal with that horror.

Hurrying as fast as I can in my sunset orange stilettos, I try desperately not to break an ankle as I scurry through the crowds.

Chancing a look behind me, whilst trying not to make it too obvious that I've seen him, I curse when I see that he's gaining on me. Damn him and his long, striding legs.

Realizing that I'm not about to outrun him, I stop and duck into the nearest doorway, not even bothering to check the sign. Immediately the smell of antiseptic overwhelms me and a faint buzzing sound fills my ears.

Comprehension dawns and I purse my lips. Of course I ended up in a tattoo shop. Because this day wasn't already lame enough.

I'm in a small room, rows and rows of tattoo designs lining the walls and a door on one side leading to the back where they must be doing the tattooing. A guy, gorgeous in a way I'd totally never go for, stares at me from behind a counter, his pierced eyebrow raised. Like me, he clearly knows I do not belong here.

Just as I'm about to rethink my genius plan, I spot Adrian outside the large front window, so I do the only logical thing and dart forward to duck down behind the counter.

What in the hell are you doing? the guy who works here asks with a deliciously husky voice. He stares down at me crouching by his legs in adorable confusion. Not angry, just. . .curiously amused.

Shush! I place a finger over my lips pointedly. I'm not here.

He watches me for a moment longer, like he can't decide whether to laugh or kick me out, then shrugs his wide shoulders. Okay.

I hear the bell above the door jingle as someone enters and the guy