Broken Girl: Neighpalm Industries Collective, #2

By Lexie Winston

Never in her life has Harlow felt as low as she does now. Even a beating from her mother was easier to take then the humiliation she just suffered at the hands of the Summer's siblings.
Unable to return home due to a promise made to her foster father, she has to stay on until her commitments have concluded. With her new friends Alex and Shane trying to convince her to stay and her grandparents and father of the same mind, Harlow's heart is torn in two.
But a mysterious phone call and a possible job opportunity may just swing the pendulum to one side.

 

Broken Girl is the second in a contemporary, enemies to lovers, reverse harem romance.
Please be aware this series is SLOW BURN. Sex does not happen until book three of the series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Neighpalm Publishing
• Release date: Oct 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9780648793342

Lexie Winston

Lexie Winston has been an astronaut, rock star, princess and time traveller. In her dreams. But none of the dreams have lived up to what becoming an author has been like. She gets to live in a world of pure imagination, and her heroines get to do the things she’s always wished she could. When not writing books, Lexie is a mother of two gorgeous teenagers and the wife to a patient and understanding man. They live in Western Australia and are lorded over by a black toy poodle.  She loves camping, reading and if her iPad was stolen, her world would explode. (It has the kindle ap on.) Follow Lexie on https://www.facebook.com/lexie.winston.925                                   https://instagram.com/lexiewinston77/

Book preview

Chapter One

Harlow

I’d had all of forty-eight hours to wallow in my shame and misery before Chuck called me to say the horses would be delivered the following day. I’d been lying on the couch at Shane and Alex’s place, stuffing my face with junk food and generally feeling sorry for myself, when the call came through.

Is everything okay, Harlow? You're sounding a little down. Chuck’s words were a kick in the ass, and my heartbeat sped up as I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. Has something happened?

If he hadn’t heard about the incident, I certainly didn’t want to be the one to tell him. He and Brad had been friends for years, and I didn’t want him thinking badly of him for something that was out of his control.

Yeah, I'm okay. Life out here is certainly different than being at home, but I’m really enjoying getting to know Brad. Nana and Poppy are awesome as usual.

And Brad's kids? he prompted, sounding more suspicious now. I guess he’d caught that I hadn't said anything about them. Chuck always did have a way of reading between my lines. I didn’t want to lie, but I didn't want him fighting my battles for me, and I knew if he or Melinda found out how bad it was, they would either be convincing me to come home or booking the next flight out, guns blazing.

Blowing out a deep breath, I answered, Look, it’s fine. I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I’ll be okay.

You don't sound so sure. His voice held a note of worry, and I bit my lip with guilt. On one hand, I wanted to tell him everything and beg to come home, but on the other hand, I refused to let them chase me away. Do I need to speak to Brad?

NO! I snapped before switching to pleading. "No, please don’t. It’s not his fault, and he did offer to step in, but if I can't hold my own against them, they'll never respect me."

Do you want me to have the horses moved? I can easily find somewhere else to board them until the director is ready for them.

NO! I snapped again, instantly regretting it as a wave of guilt flooded my body. Sorry, no. Really, it couldn't have come at a better time. I’m feeling incredibly homesick, and having them here is going to go a long way toward making me feel better.

Well, okay then. As long as you’re sure. I sent a surprise along as well, so I'm sure that will help. There was still a hint of worry, but it had softened. We chatted a little more about the training needs, and he assured me he’d sent my safety gear before we hung up.

A moment after I set down my phone, an arm around my shoulder had me startling. I’d forgotten Alex had been asleep on the other end of the couch. Shane had had to go to work, leaving the two of us to veg out for the day. It was a long ago scheduled shoot for Neighpalm Energy Drink, Kai's branch of the company, and though he had offered to cancel, I told him not to bother. Kai had been the least horrible out of all the siblings, and I still had hopes of possibly winning one or two of them over to the idea of me being a part of their lives, even if only in the friend capacity.

As for the others, Alex and I had spent the last two days plotting the revenge they definitely deserved. Fuck taking the high road. Mind you, my friends margarita and mojito may have had a lot to do with that. If I was being honest, Ben and Jerry may have also played a part or two in planning out nefarious deeds. That was, until we both passed out from too many drinks and copious amounts of junk food.

Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t ever have to go back to that place again. You don't owe any of them anything, Alex said gently, pulling me against his side where I rested my head on his shoulder with a sigh.

"No, I don’t want to, but I’m going to. I promised Chuck, and they’ve done so much for me. I don’t want to let him down," I told him.

Do you want me to come with you for support? I sat up and shook my head, my eyes wide. Just the offer had my skin prickling with emotional goosebumps. With Max so far away, it was nice to know that someone else had got my back. Max would always be my sister, but Alex filled a void I’d never known I had, like a platonic soulmate. Despite the experiences we shared together, it was always in the back of my mind that Max might only be friends with me because of proximity. That she wouldn’t have been had our parents not brought us together.

No, I need to do this on my own. I also need to go and talk to Dad, Nana, and Poppy. They've been blowing up my phone since it happened, and apart from sending a group message to tell them where I am, I haven't spoken to any of them. Again, the guilt swamps me, but I just wasn't ready to face anyone or even have a phone conversation. But I felt stronger after wallowing in my misery for a few days.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. Why not?

I didn't want to say anything I might regret. Once I got over the humiliation, all I felt was anger, and I didn't want to take it out on the wrong person, I explained to him, standing up. Looking around the living room, I realized we’d done quite a bit of damage during my pity party. Empty cups and take-out containers were everywhere. Empty chip packs, even what looked like bright orange cheeto dust, crushed into the carpet.

God, look at this place! I'm so sorry, I blurted out, but he waved his hand.

Please, it’s the last thing you need to worry about.

Completely ignoring him, I started to pick up containers, taking them over to the garbage can in the kitchen before going back for empty cups and glasses. I loaded the stack into the dishwasher, cringing at the smell of long-dried tequila. Definitely better when it’s fresh and covering up your feelings.

Fine. I’m going to let it go for now, but you’re right. You need to speak to the people who love you. They must be worried sick, even if they understand where you’re coming from.

Yeah, well, I’m not going to apologize for my anger. As much as they tried to fix things, that picture is out there now. Everyone knows the internet lives forever, not to mention the tabloids will print whatever they want regardless of Brad giving them the real story. No, that wasn't juicy enough for them, so they ignored it and went with the original speculation. All that crap is out there, and quite frankly, I could lose out on job offers because of it. I was practically shouting at him now, doing exactly what I had wanted to avoid in the first place.

Whoa, babe. He put his hands up and walked over, pulling me in close and holding my shaking, angry body tight. I know, I know, I wasn't attacking you. I just know how I’d feel if you disappeared and wouldn't speak to me.

My shaking slowly got under control, his reassurance helping, and he placed a kiss on my head before stepping away. Come on, let's finish cleaning up, and then you need to have a shower. We’re going to go out and get some food. Some fresh air will do you good. I’ll call Shane and tell him where to meet us.

And he was right. The fresh air and food did do me good, and I felt better when nobody gave me a second look. Maybe it wasn't as big a deal as I thought it was, and the people that mattered, like the zoos I’d applied to, hadn’t seen it.

The clattering of horse hooves as the truck pulls to a stop brings me back to the present. As the truck driver jumps out and greets the Summers’ stable manager, Josh, I thank fuck that no one else seems to be around at the moment. I’d expected to be bombarded by Dad and the grandparents the minute Alex dropped me off at the stables, but apart from Josh, the place is deserted.

The creaking of the hinges as the driver lowers the side door is loud as I focus on the job in front of me. Dust and the smell of horses and manure hit my nose, and the snorting of impatient horses is music to my ears. I’m already feeling a lightness, this sense that my world has tilted a tiny bit back onto its axis now that this little piece of home is so close to me.

I watch as the driver opens the first gate and leads Delilah down the ramp. He passes her off to Josh, the stable manager leading her out to one of the yards we’ve put aside for them. The pretty white mare snorts and prances, her ears pricked and nostrils flaring as she takes in all the new surroundings and the other horses in the nearby yards who have all put their heads up to check out the newcomers. Smiling for the first time in days, I turn back to the truck and walk up the ramp to take the next one off his hands. Hercules nickers when he sees me and stomps his feet, his excitement making me smile. I rub his silky nose and blow a breath into his nostrils in greeting. Hey, buddy.

He bumps his head against my chest as I attach the lead to his halter. Sliding back the latch, I open the sideways gate and walk the big bay warmblood down the ramp. He, too, has his ears pricked in interest and head high, but he calmly walks to join Delilah in the paddock. And that’s as long as the peace lasts. As soon as I let him go, the two of them rear and turn, racing off to the other end of the yard before skidding to a stop at the fence line. Both throw in a couple of happy bucks before racing back again.

Typical ‘I've been cooped up in a box for too long’ behavior. It’s a pain in the ass though, because now we have to get two more into the paddock while they're going crazy.

Shaking my head with a smile, I turn around to find Josh bringing out an ‘on his toes’ Zeus, who’s snorting and carrying on, but the experienced stable manager is able to get the warmblood into the paddock with the other two crazies without too much hassle. So that just leaves me with my favorite, and he doesn't disappoint. I can hear him whinnying his impatience as I climb the ramp one more time. The snorting and stamping telling me that Samson wants out, and he wants it now. The driver heads to get him, but I wave him back.

‘I’ll do it, I tell him, ignoring his relieved expression as I enter the truck. The minute our eyes meet, he stops his racket. He still snorts, but all of the stamping and head tossing ceases as he waits, body quivering for me to remove him from his cage.

Samson, being a stallion, will be in a different yard from the others. One that has electrified fences around him. He’s a good boy, but mares in season are his weakness, like all horny males. Sounds sort of familiar. My mind goes back to both Oliver and Jaxon and the interactions I had with both of them. Those stolen moments obviously meant more to me than them. Wish I was like those mares who couldn't care less who mounted her.

Moving quickly but calmly, I hook him on the lead line and open his gate, talking quietly to him the whole time. His ears twitch back and forth to the sound of my voice, and I bring him down the ramp and out into the open, watching him closely. The minute his hooves hit solid ground, he screams his annoyance, and up on his hind legs he goes. Stepping back to avoid his front hooves, I let the lead line slide through my hands so that I avoid rope burn while still having a hold of him.

Gasps from behind tell me I’m no longer alone, but I can't look, my focus on the black Friesian in front of me.

Get down here, you great lump, I call out, rolling my eyes at his theatrics. Had I known there were people present, I might have been a little more on the ball. This damn horse loves to perform for an audience. I give a couple of tugs on his lead, and he drops calmly to his hooves, letting me guide him in the direction of his special yard. The raging stallion from before is gone, a docile lamb now casually trotting next to me.

I get him into the yard and turn to face our audience as he calmly walks off to graze on the green grass. The other three have settled and are doing the same thing, giving me an opportunity to study who’s here, a moment that I’m not entirely sure I want. When I glance back at the stables, Dad and my grandparents are waiting for me. Nana has a look of worry on her face, mouth downturned just enough to be noticeable, but Dad and Poppy have proud smiles.

Before I can join them, the sound of hooves clattering down the ramp draws my attention back to the truck. Shit, did one of the other horses get loose? But when my eyes find the driver, he’s leading in each hand a sight that makes me burst into tears.

Jenny and Devil Spawn are both pulling him, hurrying to get to me. Sobbing, I take the leads from his hands and throw my arms around my donkey, but a nip to my ass has me quickly dropping down into a crouch to throw my arms around that mini too.

Mr. Boston said that they're to stay here with you until you’re ready to return home. He also said that you would be transporting the others to the movie set.

His words surprise me; he usually has a trucking company deliver them where they need to go, but I can’t say I mind the extra time with my babies. Oh, um, he didn't say anything about that to me.

Oh, that was me, Harlow, sorry. My dad approaches us quickly, an apologetic look on his face that I’m sure is about much more than surprise arrangements for the horses. I told Chuck we’d use our truck to take them to the set. It’s one of our movies anyway. He said you had your truck license, so it wouldn't be a problem.

Oh, no, that’s fine, I tell him, shaking off my surprise. The driver nods his head and closes up before leaving in a cloud of dust, not caring what happens next now that his job is over.

Who do we have here? My dad's voice is curious, and as I turn around, I see him reaching out to pat DS.

No! I shout, but DS seems to be on her best behavior because she not only allows Dad to pat her, she nuzzles her little head against him.

"That’s Devil Spawn, and trust me, she is not normally this friendly," I warn him as they continue to bond. He takes her line from me, and I let him lead her to the stables. Dad’s confidence assures me he can handle anything she throws at him, though it looks like that is going to be nothing today. Suck up.

Let’s see if we can find you an apple or a sugar cube, he coos to her, and she prances next to him in that way that only minis can. Fickle fucking creatures that they are.

Jenny nudges me with her head, and I grab one of her big ears, giving it a rub as Nana and Poppy approach me, cautious smiles on their faces.

Jenny’s looking really good, Hally, Poppy says as he gives her a pat. Nana runs her hand across her soft face as she studies me, her kind gaze feeling much heavier than it should.

How are you doing, sweetie? Her words are gentle, and the sympathy I see in her eyes is like a cold dash of water as all that has happened comes back to me. The horses had been a perfect distraction, but I guess I can’t avoid talking to them anymore.

Before I can say anything, Josh approaches us. Shall I take her? I can find somewhere for her to go.

Are you sure? I know you weren't expecting to end up with a donkey and a mini, I reply, worried about what he’ll say, but he just grins.

Actually, I did know about them. Mr. Boston asked Mr. Summers if it was alright that he sent them, and of course he said yes. It’s not like we don't have the room. How much trouble can a donkey and a mini be? With those naive words, my eyes widen just a tiny bit, and the better part of my nature pokes at me to correct his assumption.

Ah, the donkey not much, but the mini... you should watch her like a hawk. She's crafty and clever, and quite frankly, she has more escape tricks than Houdini, I warn him, but he just laughs, taking Jenny off my hands.

She trots off with him, and I’m left standing there awkwardly with Nana and Poppy. It’s awful. Never have I ever felt like this around these people, and I’m just not sure what to say. I feel like I’m a teenager again, forced to attend social outings with the Bostons where I know everyone is judging me behind the forced smiles and tight eyes. Not that they would judge me, just that same awkward feeling.

Nana puts her hand on my arm, and my eyes meet hers. Come inside. We’ll have a cup of tea and talk about this.

I look up at the house and shake my head. I’m sorry, Nana, but I really don't want to go in there at the moment.

Don’t worry. None of them are here, my dad growls from behind me, and I jump in surprise as he comes back from the stables minus a mini. Come on, we've got a lot to talk about, and I hope you give us a chance to make it up to you. His eyes practically beg me to listen, so I take a deep breath and nod my head. Knowing that none of the siblings are here makes a big difference. I’m not entirely happy to go inside, but I’m a lot more comfortable and don’t feel like starting an argument that will lead to hurting their feelings.

Dad and Poppy lead the way, and Nana tucks my arm under hers as the two of us walk a little slower behind them. Samson looked magnificent when he reared up like that, but weren't you scared? I appreciate the small talk to break the uncomfortable silence, and I squeeze her hand in thanks.

I can't deny my heart doesn't race every time a horse does that, but he was just showing off for you. He’s a ham, I explain, a fond smile growing. He’s actually my favorite. I've always wanted a Friesian. Maybe one day when I settle down I’ll look into getting myself one, but for now I’m happy being able to ride him on occasion.

We reach the back deck where there’s a brunch spread laid out on the table we ate at the night of the bet, and my heart skips a beat at the thought of Oliver. Out of all of them, I think his betrayal hurt the most. He was the one I’d spent the most time with, and I’d thought we were getting along. Shit, the way he had me up against the wall at his studio made me think we were more than getting along. For him to not at least warn me makes me so disappointed. The others, well, I guess I should have expected something like that, especially from Jacinta, but I thought both Oliver and Kai were warming up to me.

Come on, let's have some cakes and a coffee. Nana gives me a kiss on the cheek before sitting down, and I join her at the table with Poppy and Dad and wait for what’s going to be one of the more uncomfortable conversations of my life.

Chapter Two

Harlow

The silence is heavy as Nana pours coffee into mugs for us all, offering sugar and milk to me. Once we all have one sitting in front of us and she’s plied us with cake, Brad refuses to let the silence continue.

Harlow, I don't know how I can apologize for the other night. I’m at a loss right now because I never expected my supposedly adult children to be capable of such pettiness. I go to say something, barely getting my mouth open before he holds his hand up, stopping me. Please let me finish. I’m under no illusion that it was one of them who made that billboard happen, and I’ve seen to it that Jacinta has been put on a leave of absence because I know for sure that all final promotions get run by her. Whether it was her idea or she’d been put up to it by one of the others doesn't matter. She could have stopped it, and she didn’t.

My heart races at his words, unable to believe he did that. What are the chances she's going to be gunning for me even harder now? A lot higher than I’d like, that’s for damn sure.

Nana pats my hand in reassurance, likely seeing the panic in my eyes. Don't you worry about Jacinta. She's going to be too worried about keeping her company to mess with you anymore. Her words are cold, and frankly, scary. I don't doubt that Jacinta is in for a world of trouble; I know how ruthless this woman before me can be when she feels it’s warranted.

Poppy takes over, his voice less fiery than Nana’s. I know we have no right to ask this, and if you turn us down, none of us will hold it against you, but would you please find it in your heart to stay? Gah, the guilt just continues to pile on. On one hand, I believe my reaction is warranted, but on the other, I just want to give these wonderful people what they want.

We know that having the horses here is the only reason you’re still around, Brad says gently, and my eyes widen just a bit. Nana and Poppy have known me long enough to have a general idea for how I might deal with uncomfortable situations, but I’m surprised Brad already has me figured out.

I rang Alex when you wouldn’t talk to me, and he said to give you time, but to not be surprised if after they were gone, so were you. Don’t be mad at him, please. He was only looking out for you, Nana assures me, and I nod for them to continue, putting any reaction to Alex’s meddling on pause.

We’d like you to stay and get to know us, and I still want you to get to know the kids. My stomach rolls with Brad’s statement. Yeah, because that went so well last time.

I take a measured breath, hoping to at least start my answer with a calm tone. How can you ask that of me? You might not know the extent of the abuse I suffered at my mother's hands, but to ask me to continue to suffer abuse at the hands of your children is downright awful. Yeah, that zen didn’t last long. I’m angry now, not bothering to hide it, and he drops his eyes, looking ashamed.

What about this? Instead of having anything to do with my kids, I assign you someone else to show you all our businesses? There’s something desperate in his eyes, and while I understand Poppy asking me to stay for his, Nana, and Dad’s sakes, I really don’t understand this insistence for me to give the kids another chance or get involved in Neighpalm Industries.

It’s my turn to hold my hand up and stop him. "Why, Dad? Why is it so important to you that I learn about them? I don't want anything to do with them, and I definitely don't want your money or anything like that. I just wanted to get to know you."

His eyes fill with unshed tears, and he reaches over and grabs my hand, squeezing it tight.

Thank you for saying that. You don't know how much it means to me to hear you say that. But Neighpalm Industries is your legacy now, and you’re now going to be subject to scrutiny by the press and our competitors, he explains. I need you to be informed so that if you’re asked a question, you can respond accordingly. I don’t want the press to eat you alive, and there’s a good chance they will if you come across as ignorant. I’ve had decades to protect my other kids and grow them into knowing the businesses, but with you, I’ve missed out on so much time. I just want to keep you as safe as I can, and the spotlight is a dangerous place to be. I take a moment to consider his words, unfortunately finding them pretty reasonable, and when I look at Nana and Poppy, they’re nodding their heads in agreement.

Okay, I can see how that could be important, but are people really going to care about me? I ask, not able to believe that they will. Sure, I’ve stood out throughout my life; the foster kid of a family as rich as Max’s was always a topic of conversation no matter how many years had gone by. But in the midst of all this- modeling shoots, movies, energy drinks, and more- does little old me really cause such a splash?

"Honey, the other children get stalked on a regular basis by the media and groupies. I don’t mean to make any kind of excuse for my grandkids, but those experiences are part of the reason they're so damn prickly," Nana explains to me.

Prickly? Brad snorts, not in amusement. More like wrapped in razor wire. Like I said, I can’t apologize enough for my children's behavior.

Nor should you have to, Poppy bellows all of a sudden. Please don't hold this over Brad's head, he begs of me. "Those children are adults and as such made their own decisions. Just believe us when we say we don't support them, and if you don't wish to ever have anything to do with them again, we will not force it." His gaze moves to Dad and Nana like he’s giving them a warning not to push me.

His fierce frown has me believing every word he says, and I start to feel a little better about the situation. It seems to me that the Summers siblings have fucked up big time, but I have every doubt that they’re all of a sudden going to start being nice to me. They're spoiled enough to believe that the consequences for their actions won't have a huge impact on their lives, but I have a feeling they're in for a rude awakening.

Let’s just give me a few days to deal with the horses. They’ll rest today, and then I’ll work with them every day until they’re needed on set. As long as Maxine is finished with the movie she’s working on by then, she’ll take over with the horses. If not, I’ll have to stay and manage them for the director until either they finish with them or Maxine wraps up her job, I explain. They all nod in understanding, Dad and Nana taking the advice to go with my lead and not try to push me.

After that, I’ll see how I feel. Is that okay with you? There are still some things I haven't done here yet, so there's a good chance I'll stay for at least a little while after the horses are sent back. Shane and Alex are going to do some more sightseeing with me and take me down to SeaWorld in San Diego as well. I’m really interested in seeing how they’re trying to make things better for their killer whales. Even though they should be in much larger tanks or released back into the wild, at least they're no longer doing the daily shows with them, I ramble slightly, and even worse, I’m completely aware that I’m rambling. The word vomit is a nervous habit that I thought I’d broken years ago, but I guess stressful situations can bring it back.

They smile, and Brad lets out a sigh of relief. Thank you.

But I think I should stay with Alex and Shane, I tell them, forcing the words out before I lose the opportunity, and the smiles turn into frowns, so I quickly explain. "Although their behavior was atrocious, they're still