Mr. Big Jerk: A Forbidden Second Chance Romance (Kinda Cocky Series Book 3) Read online

  Mr. Big Jerk

  A Forbidden Second Chance Romance

  J.P. Comeau

  Copyright © 2020 by J.P. Comeau

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Mr. Big Jerk is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and occurrences are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to a person, living or deceased, events, or locations is purely coincidental.

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  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

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  1

  Roxy

  The phone started ringing again, and I drew in a deep breath. I needed to calm my frustrated gut; otherwise, I’d end up popping off at a customer. Right then, with the deep shit I was already in with my boss, the last thing I needed was to blow this job.

  “SEAL Securities, how may I direct your call?”

  I listened to the gruff man rambling on the other end of the line, and I had no idea what the poor man was trying to say. That meant it was a call that needed to go straight to my boss’s office.

  “Of course, sir. I know exactly what you need. Let me get you transferred, and Mr. Hearthstone can deal with your issue directly, sir.”

  I pressed the button for my boss’s office and hung up the phone. Then, I drew in a deep breath. That stupid phone had been ringing off the damn hook since I walked in at a quarter to eight this morning. Not once had I found a chance to get through any of the things on my list for today. I leaned back in my chair, turned to my desktop computer, settled my fingers against the keys and finally logged on for the first time that day.

  It was nine-thirty in the morning.

  My phone started ringing again.

  “Good fucking--.”

  I plucked the phone from its receiver and stilled my anger.

  “SEAL Securities, how may I direct--.”

  “Stop sending calls directly to my office unless I have something on my schedule.”

  Clint’s voice made me sigh. “I couldn't understand him, and I figured it was either someone you were hiring or someone you had already hired.”

  “Don’t make me tell you again, Roxy. Unless it’s on my calendar that’s synced to your computer for that very reason, don’t send calls to my office.”

  “Well, what am I supposed to do if I can’t understand them?”

  “Try harder.”

  He hung up the phone on me, and I sighed. Yep. That was my lovely, wonderful boss: the crotchety older brother, Clint Hearthstone. I rolled my eyes as I started pecking away on the keyboard, cursing myself for not interacting with older technology up until that point in my life.

  Then again, my pecking skills were pretty quick.

  For that past year, I’d worked at Clint’s security company. After establishing it, his packages and offerings from Stonewater Realty’s clients had soared through the roof. For a while there, Clint was swamped with work. I used some of my handy tactics in order to help keep him organized and on task. That led to him offering me the first full-time position he had: as the official front desk secretary and the first face anyone saw when they walked in.

  And it had been a nightmare ever since.

  My cell phone started vibrating on my desk, and I almost ignored it. Almost anyway. When I saw that Kelly was calling, I immediately paused what I was doing to take the call. I barely got to talk to my sister anymore with that job. I mean, by the time I got home, got showered, ate, and settled in, it was damn near nine at night!

  “Hello, hello, hello, gorgeous!”

  Kelly gasped. “I’m so glad you got to pick up the phone. Are you on a break or something?”

  “Not particularly. But girl, Clint’s already mad at me today, so how much angrier can he get?”

  “He sounds like a horrible boss.”

  I shrugged. “Eh, he’s not that bad. A bit testy and high-strung, but not a dick or anything.”

  “Well, that’s good. Otherwise, I’d have Brenden give him a piece of his mind.”

  I grinned. “How are things with the new move, anyway?”

  “I’ve finally gotten settled into his place if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m asking. Now, you two are in the same room, right? None of this ‘flippy floppy’ nonsense with bedrooms now?”

  She giggled. “Nope. None of that nonsense anymore. And it feels great. You were right, Roxy. I just needed to take the plunge.”

  “I was what now?”

  “You were right.”

  “Say that one more time? I think the connection is breaking up.”

  Kelly giggled. “You. Were. Right. Happy?”

  I leaned back. “Oh, it feels good to be Queen.”

  She barked with laughter. “I don’t know why I was overthinking it. I guess I just want things to work out so badly with Brenden that I figured moving in after the wedding date was what we needed. Thank you for talking me into doing it before all that craziness.”

  “That’s what I’m here for. To talk you into doing things that are good for yourself.”

  “Yeah, I’ll put a pin in that and address it later.”

  I sighed. “My God, I’m so fucking bored at this job. I mean, all I do is smile, wave, take appointments, and listen to Clint become grumpier as the hours' tick by.”

  “You always complained about being bored at home, though.”

  “I know, I know! But, I figured Clint would be fun as a boss. You know, like he is when we all get together on the weekends. Here, he’s Mr. No Smiles.”

  I listened to my sister laugh at me, and I rolled my eyes.

  “I’m glad my pain is amusing to you,” I murmured.

  “Oh, come on, Roxy. Clint’s a nice guy.”

  “I know he’s a nice guy. He’s just a shitty boss.”

  “Hey, at least he’s a shitty, hot boss.”

  I nodded. “Yes, but he’s my boss, Kelly. I’m not even stupid enough to try and think about something like that, much less go through with it.”

  “Do my ears deceive me? Is the infamous man-handler Roxy Crown really throwing in the towel with someone like her boss?”

  I scoffed. “I’m hardly throwing in the towel. I just know when the war is worth it and when it isn’t. And this war certainly isn’t worth it.”

  “Does Dad know about your job yet?”

  I sighed. “I haven’t spoken with him since Fashion Week
last fall in New York City. You?”

  She paused. “You haven’t spoken to Dad in five months?”

  “Girl, we’ve talked. Don’t be weird. We just haven’t talked talked.”

  “So, he doesn’t know about the job yet.”

  “No.”

  “So, you think he’s going to get upset when you do talk.”

  I sighed. “After one of his daughter’s starts her own fashion line? I’m pretty sure he won’t be proud of the fact that his other daughter works as a receptionist.”

  “You know damn good and well, Dad would be elated at the fact that you’re working.”

  “Oh, yeah. Just like he’s thrilled that you have your name plastered all over billboards advertising your boots with your rich husband on your arm.”

  “Roxy, please.”

  I clicked my tongue. “I know, I know. I swear, I’m not envious. I’m just…”

  I didn’t know how to tell my sister that I felt small in her presence. Like we were kids again, with Mom always asking her to help put dinner together or Dad always asking her to come outside and kick a ball around. It had always been her over me when we were growing up. Always. And while that never bothered me because it gave me time to sneak around and do some wonderful things, I was at a point in my life where I wished I had worked harder to be the apple of my parent’s eye.

  “Roxy?”

  I cleared my throat. “Look, I have to get back to work. See you this weekend?”

  “You know I love you, right?”

  I nodded. “I know, Kelly. I love you, too.”

  “And so do Mom and Dad.”

  “I know that.”

  “So, talk to them. Tell them. Update them on your life.”

  “Gotta go. Lots to do!”

  Then, I hung up my cell phone and tossed it back in my purse.

  “You also shouldn't be talking on the--.”

  “Oh, my god!”

  I jumped up from my chair and shrieked as my hand fell against my heart. I spun around and saw Clint standing behind me, staring down at me from his perched peak. The man towered over me easily. And whenever he looked down his nose at me, I always wondered what he was thinking. What he was judging me on next.

  “No personal calls on company time,” he said.

  I drew in a sobering breath. “Yes. Of course. My apologies, Clint.”

  “Clint?”

  I shook my head. “Mr. Hearthstone.”

  He nodded. “Do you have those files for me?”

  “Files?”

  He blinked. “The files I needed you to pull from the back room. It was the first thing on your list?”

  The company phone started ringing again. “That thing has been ringing off the hook ever since I got in. I haven’t even had a chance to look at the list, much less do anything on it.”

  The phone kept ringing. “But, you’ve had time to take a personal call to speak with your sister?”

  I settled my hand on the phone. “Fifteen minutes, and I’ll go pull them. Okay?”

  His eyes fell to the phone. “You gonna answer that?”

  I resisted the urge to smack him. “SEAL Securities, how may I direct your call?”

  And when I couldn't understand the man, yet again, on the other end of the line? I held it out for Clint.

  “It’s for you. I’m going to go pull those folders.”

  I didn’t care if I pissed him off, and I didn’t care if he was upset with me. I had been swamped with work since I sat my ass in that chair, and I needed a break. I plucked the sticky-note list from the front of my computer and made my way into the back room, ready to pull these files my grumpy-ass boss needed.

  And it took me way longer than fifteen minutes to find everything.

  I carried them to the elevator and made my way up to the top floor. I mean, the building was only four stories high. But, still, his office was on the top floor, and I needed to get these folders onto his desk as quickly as I could. The elevator doors opened, and I rushed down the hallway, ignoring the navy-colored walls with the white trim and crown molding that I ended up convincing Clint to use in his remodeling efforts. There was still a lot missing, though, like pictures on the walls, or chairs for people to wait in, or a nice little side table with an array of exotic flowers protruding from the top. All of it clashed with his brown door, though.

  For the life of me, I couldn't convince him to switch it out for a nice white door. Maybe with a silver handle, to add another muted accent color into the mix.

  A nice silver would open up a plethora of--.

  “Are those my files?”

  Clint’s voice ripped me from my thoughts, and I found him standing in his doorway.

  “Uh, yes. All seven of them.”

  He palmed his hair. “There were supposed to be eight.”

  “The list only had seven names on it.”

  “The Calgary folder is one folder, not two.”

  I shook my head. “I checked and double-checked. All of these names only had one--.”

  He held his hand out. “That’s fine. Just give them to me. I’m behind an hour in my work because I needed these first thing this morning.”

  I walked over and dropped them into his arms.

  “I’m sorry for the delay. It's just been a--.”

  “You can leave early for the day as well.”

  I blinked. “What?”

  “You can leave early. It’s Friday, and you didn’t take an early day last week. Take it today.”

  “But, what about the rest of the list?”

  He held out his free hand. “I’ll take care of it. It’ll get done faster that way, anyway.”

  I wanted to throat punch him until he coughed up blood. I jammed my hand into my pocket to pull out the list and slapped it against his palm. But, once our hands connected, I felt a jolt of something rush up my arm. It stood the hairs on the nape of my neck on end and forced my eyes down Clint’s body.

  While the man was a resounding jerk-off as a boss, he sure as hell was hot.

  His arms, teeming with muscles. His shoulders, broad and strong. His suits, screaming for help as his muscles press against the seams, begging to be set free. His long legs made me shiver in my boots, and his piercing, stoic gaze made me wonder if I could ever make the man smile. I’d seen Clint smile once when he was incredibly drunk.

  And his smile softened his eyes.

  While also showcasing his chiseled jawline.

  “Is there anything else you need?” Clint asked.

  I blinked. “I should be asking you that question.”

  “I’m good, thanks. You enjoy the rest of your day.”

  I nodded mindlessly. “Yeah. You, too.”

  He walked back into his office and closed the door, leaving me standing in the carpeted hallway. Alone. I turned my back and started walking towards the elevator, but not before taking one more peek over my shoulder. Just to see if I could catch another glimpse of Clint in that suit.

  Come on, Roxy. You know he’s off-limits.

  I sighed as I made my way back downstairs. I gathered my things and set up my phone so that all calls forwarded straight to Clint. Maybe then, he’d get an idea of just how many phone calls I had taken today. Sometimes, I wasn’t sure he understood just how much he dropped on my shoulders daily. So, maybe a good extra-hard-working half day might show him just how much he relied on me.

  Maybe then, he wouldn't be such an ass.

  Walking into my apartment wasn’t an experience I enjoyed any longer, though. Especially with Kelly being gone. Don’t get me wrong. I was happy for my sister. I was happy that she and Brenden finally worked things out. I was happy to help with wedding planning and to be the eventual maid of honor on her big day. But, now that Kelly had moved out--again--I was forced to do things like water the plants and suck down my own awful cooking. Including leftovers.

  And the plants had long since died.

  “I might die if I keep eating this shit,” I murmured.

/>   I stared into the Tupperware container and grimaced at the sight of the food and sniffed it before recoiling. Then I walked it over to the sink. I washed it down the garbage disposal before flipping the switch, listening to the gurgling and the grinding as that damn thing sucked my disgusting cooking down the hole.

  Chips and ice cream, it is.

  After pulling my favorite snacks out, I reached for a bottle of green tea and flopped down onto the couch. I pulled out my phone and started mindlessly scrolling through Instagram while reaching for the remote. Then I turned on the television and started up Golden Girls right from where I left off last night. And as the television played in the background, I scrolled across pictures of Karina and Kelly.

  Who looked to be at a beach of some sort.

  “What the…?”

  I cast my food off to the side and clicked on the folder of pictures. There were plenty of pictures with Kelly and Brenden. Karina and Zane. Brenden and Zane. Kelly and Karina. There were dozens of pictures from a beach trip I had no idea about, and I felt my heart break just a smidge. My two best friends, out on a beach trip they hadn’t invited me to. That was becoming more and more commonplace over the past year, and I knew the reason why.

  Because they’re no longer single.

  I mean, who wants to hang out with the single girl who likes to drink and party when they’ve got someone to spend their time with already? Kelly and Karina don’t need drinks anymore. They’ve got their guys. They don’t need to go out to clubs anymore. They’ve got built-in hook-ups. They don’t need to hang around me anymore. They’ve got their men to entertain and, well, love them.

  “All I need is fifteen cats, and I’ll be set,” I whispered.

  I tossed my phone onto the couch and pulled a blanket over my lap. I jammed my hand into the chips and dug my spoon into my ice cream as I focused solely on the television. My life hadn’t gotten boring or less important. I was just in a different place than they were now. I was still having fun, and they were rotting away next to one man for the rest of their lives. I had the world at my feet, and they were fighting with their loved ones. I had my pick of men every weekend, and they were stuck with the same boring sex day in and day out.