Heartbreaker

by Maddie Wade

  “I think I’m up for the challenge if you’re up to teaching me,” he says with a small smile on his face.

  I suppose he is someone that I can work with, someone I can teach the tricks of the trade to, and not a guy who thinks he is better than others. I make a snap decision and ignore my gut. “Tomorrow learning begins.” I smile, and take out the contract that explains everything to him, no sleeping with them, no telling family what he does, the list goes on, but Alex seems like the right guy to train.

  Chapter 12

  Ashley

  I look at my phone, it’s been awhile since he texted me back, so I send him a joke asking if he’s busy in the bathroom. I smile just thinking about how his face must look right now. I think the reason Jackson and I get along so well is because neither one of us are serious and we both like to play with each other. Actually, his fun side is a bit of a surprise to me, I thought he was really buttoned up and straight, but he isn’t that person at all.

  Last night was everything I wanted and more than I could have hoped it would be. You always worry that they will be shit in bed, but I can certainly tick that off my list. Good in bed—check.

  My phone beeps, putting the chocolate piping bag down I grab my phone.

  Jackson: LOL very funny, my hands were busy working… typing on my computer, but know this, you will make that up to me. I had a hard-on while interviewing prospective staff members, which is not fun.

  Ashley: Now that’s funny. More than happy to make it up to you;)

  “Look who has finally come back to us,” Taylor shouts through the open back door, nodding her head for me to follow her to the front of the shop. Putting my phone in my apron pocket, I follow.

  I look at the face of one of our customers that has been coming to the shop since it opened. “So, is our chocolate good enough for you again?” I ask with the biggest smile as I walk over to Ethan to give him a hug. “Where have you been?” He has not been in the shop in three weeks. “Taylor and I started to get worried we’d lost our favourite customer.” I walk back around the counter as another customer walks in.

  “Just been really busy with University, but I’m on top of it now so I’ll be here all the time again,” Ethan says leaning on the counter.

  “So what treat are you looking for?” I ask him, as Taylor assists the harried looking woman and her child.

  “Can I have something special, I have a date tonight,” he says looking away from me shyly. As soon as the other customer leaves the shop, Taylor starts.

  “Is she hot? Does she look like she will be good between the sheets? Do you need me to give you notes again?” Taylor asks him.

  The last time he had a girl he really liked he told us after the third date that he was going to make his move. Now, we have known Ethan for a year, he’s like a little brother to us, so we are always trying to help him.

  Then there is the Taylor style of help. There was a Friends episode where Chandler went to Monica and Rachel for advice, and they drew on a notepad then numbered the areas, well, Taylor thought it would be even better to give him a class. No she didn’t have sex with him. She told Ethan to come to the shop once it was closed and we would help him. At the time I had no idea what the hell she was planning, but one thing I have learnt from my best friend, it will always be a lesson to remember.

  So that night Ethan came to the shop, and Taylor brought a blow-up sex doll and her vibrators. I couldn’t stop laughing for about ten minutes, poor Ethan looked terrified and by the look on his face he was wondering where the fuck he had come.

  So that night Taylor showed him how to treat a woman in bed, where his hands should be, what he should be doing with them when he kissed her neck. It was a two-hour lesson, not going to lie, listening to Taylor talk turned me on in a way it really shouldn’t have. I still have the blow-up sex doll in my wardrobe in my bedroom.

  The next day Ethan came to the shop and thanked us because his night was amazing, so now he tells us about all his dates. That’s what big sisters are for right?

  “Trust me, I remember everything you two taught me, thanks. I met her in the library, I was studying late, and I started chatting to her and we hit it off.” Ethan tells us the story about how they just clicked and have been meeting at the library every night, but tonight he is taking her out.

  “You can’t go wrong with chocolate covered strawberries,” I tell him, opening a box up for him.

  I look up at the door as a delivery man with white lilies in his hand walks in. “I’m looking for Ashley.” He looks at me and Taylor.

  “That’s me,” I say. He hands me the flowers. I look for the card. Nothing. They must be off Jackson, smiling I take out my phone to send him a message.

  Ashley: Thank you so much for the flowers x

  He must have his phone on him as I get a message straight away.

  Jackson: I didn’t send you any flowers, I was going to buy some when I finished work.

  I show the message to Taylor and she looks at me in shock, it’s happening again. Putting my phone away I finish getting everything ready for Ethan, but my hands are shaking slightly.

  “Thanks, Ashley, I’ll be back. I’m not going to leave it as long next time.” He pays, gives us both a wink, and leaves.

  My phone vibrates again in my pocket.

  Jackson: Do I have competition?

  “You going to tell Jackson about this?” Taylor asks, as I type my message back to him.

  Ashley: LOL maybe ;) you have to bring your A game.

  “No. Jackson and I are so new, I don’t even know what it is yet,” I tell her looking over at the flowers, and my body shivers.

  I have no idea who this stalker of mine is, he had finally stopped after six months of sending me thins., I have never to my knowledge come face to face with this person, it was always flowers, chocolates, or other gifts. Nothing threatening or freaky so we ignored it, and it stopped, but now he, and I’m assuming it’s a he, is back. I wonder what his game is this time.

  Jackson: I think the nail marks in my shoulders are proof I brought my A game;)

  Ashley: Thinking a bit much of yourself, aren’t we?

  I look over at Taylor watching me. “Is lover boy missing you?” She smiles as she starts cleaning the display cabinets.

  “Looks that way.” I stick my tongue out at her. “I’m going to go make the hen party cake, all the chocolate is made I just need to decorate it now,” I tell her. She knows that my headspace has gone a little fuzzy with the flowers and baking or decorating a cake is normally my way to relax.

  “That’s a good idea, make a sexy cake,” Taylor shouts at me, taking my phone out of my apron, I smile at the message from Jackson.

  That’s because of you, beautiful.

  Putting the phone on the counter I start rolling out the icing, is it silly to think that there is something good happening with Jackson already? I mean we get along so well and I know we are good together.

  My phone beeps again, looking down it’s my tattoo artist. I messaged him this morning telling him I wanted another tattoo of some birds flying. I want them on the side of my neck starting at my shoulder or the back of my neck, I might ask Jackson if he likes the idea.

  *~*~*

  “It smells amazing in here.” I look up at Jackson walking over to me with some beautiful pink roses. “By the looks of it I’m going to have to go to the gym more to keep in shape,” he says, giving me a quick kiss on the mouth.

  “The flowers are beautiful.” I smile, washing my hands as they are covered in icing.

  “Well, they are for you.” He looks around. “Where are the ones you got this morning?” Jackson asks, as I take the flowers from him.

  I fill up a vase up with water. “They were for Taylor, Corey forgot to add a card,” I tell him. Putting the flowers he bought me on the counter, I walk back over the cake which I’ve just placed in a box.

  “So, what we been making?” Jackson asks walking up behind me. His hands wrap around my waist
, making me feel tiny and vulnerable but in a good way.

  Taking the top off the box so that he can see, he jumps back a little then looks at me in astonishment. “Really?” he asks, taking a closer look at it. “Is this my competition?” Jackson moves around to the front of where I’m standing and looks at me, and I can’t help but laugh at him.

  The cake I’ve made is for a hen party, and they were very detailed in what they wanted, a cake with a penis. So I made a cake with just the midsection of a man wearing boxers and his dick sticking out. Yes, I’ll admit I made it a little bigger than it needed to be, but come on, Jackson’s was the last one I saw so he was my inspiration. Not that I am going to tell him that though, his ego is healthy enough.

  “I know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one this big before, but it would be good to have one, wouldn’t it?” I say with a sigh and look at him with the straightest face I can.

  Jackson goes to say something but stops himself, then looks back at the cake.

  I grab a knife and point it to the middle of the dick on the cake. “This is about the biggest I’ve seen,” I say, and before I can say anything else to him, he speaks.

  “No way! I’m bigger than that, I know it, and I can prove it,” he says with a grin. I raise my eyebrow up at him. “Kiss me,” he demands huskily, and I feel my body respond.

  “I’m not kissing you,” I tell him, but my voice is a little shaky.

  “Kiss me, and I’ll be hard as a rock, and I’ll show you I’m bigger than that.” He points to the cake, he wants to prove a point, a point that he doesn’t need to prove.

  “You know I remember now where I saw one this big…”

  “Some hard-core, biker ex-boyfriend?” Jackson interrupts me, and I can’t help but smile.

  “First of all, I’ve never dated a biker, but there was this guy. He was good-looking, but there was only one problem… I thought he was gay, turns out he’s not.” I smile at Jackson, he walks towards me and I walk back, he doesn’t look too happy.

  “You know, that was mean,” he traps me between his arms as my back hits the counter, “and now I should be allowed to get something, like the tease you sent me this morning,” Jackson says bringing his lips closer to mine.

  “With Taylor just outside the door?” I ask him. “Just because I think you're big, doesn’t mean she will, which only means one thing,” I whisper and Jackson pulls away so I can tell him. “She will see, and her imagination will take her anywhere. Small, tiny, there is no way you can get an ‘Oh my God' with that, the list can go on, the teasing will never stop,” I say, making Jackson look over at the door.

  “The worst thing is I believe you. I do think she would do that to me,” Jackson says.

  “I’m walking in, your dick better be in your pants,” Taylor shouts as she walks into the back room.

  I can’t help but laugh at her. “Say it louder I don’t think the shop at the end of the road heard you,” I tell her.

  “I’m so happy that you’re not shagging, because if you were I would have been worried I didn’t hear her scream once.” Taylor looks over at Jackson, her eyes travel down his body and stop as his dick area, tilting her head to the side. “I wonder.” She looks at him giving him a wink. “The party is here to take the cake,” she tells me.

  “It’s all ready.” I point to the box, as Taylor walks out I look back over at Jackson. “You got plans for tonight?” I ask.

  “Mum wants us all over for dinner. What about you?” he asks, as I start cleaning the worktop.

  “Nothing, movie night it is,” I reply.

  I’m not in the mood to go out tonight, and sometimes a nice chilled evening with some wine is nice.

  “I have a work thing tomorrow, but if it’s not too late we could meet up.” Jackson touches his mouth to mine and what starts as a quick kiss turns into a hot kiss.

  I look at him. Are we boyfriend and girlfriend now? I don’t know if I should ask him or not.

  “Yeah, text me and I’ll let you know what I’m doing, what time you going to your mum’s?” I ask, wrapping my arms around his neck.

  “Going now, but I would much rather stay here and eat you for dinner,” he kisses my neck, “as you are very, very sweet,” he says bringing his lips back up to mine.

  “You start it, you have to finish it,” I tell him as his hands rub against my body.

  “Tinkerbell, there is nothing I would like to do more, but my mum will kill me if I’m late,” he says with a smile. I really like it when he calls me Tinkerbell, it’s so sweet.

  “Well I’ll let you go, text me tomorrow,” I lean closer to him for one more kiss.

  “Tomorrow? Tonight. I’ll text you.” I walk to the front of the shop with him. “Have your phone close. Bye, Taylor,” Jackson shouts as he leaves the shop.

  Chapter 13

  Jackson

  I love my family truly I do, but I would give anything not to be here right now, specifically I would give anything to be with Ashley. I try and engage with my family and eat the Midweek roast my mum insists on even in the middle of summer, but my mind keeps wandering.

  I shovel the last of the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding into my mouth and place my knife and fork down.

  Patting my full belly, I lean back and think of a reason to get out of here so that I can go home and text Ashley. I’m still in a state over that text she sent earlier, the little minx is going to kill me, unless Lindy doesn’t do it first. We had a disagreement over hiring Alex and she is currently not speaking to me.

  My phone dings and I go to reach for it. As my fingers touch it, I hear a throat clear. It’s my mother, I look up and see her raised eyebrow.

  “Are we forgetting the rules?” she asks, and I hear Jake snicker. I look over and he is laughing. I shoot him the middle finger and he laughs more when our mother yells.

  “Jackson James! I brought you up better than that.” Even now as a grown adult the sound of my full name said in that tone makes me contrite.

  I stand and cross to my mum, winding an arm around her, I drop a kiss on her cheek. “Sorry mum, I shouldn’t have. I was just waiting for a message.”

  She pats my hand and turns her head, a look of unbridled glee on her face. “Is it a girl? Have you met someone?” she asks, and I wonder how to answer. It is all so new and I know my mum is like a dog with a bone. She will have the church booked before I can finish her name.

  “Yeah, Mum, our Jacky here is dating that girl from the chocolate shop you like,” Jake pipes up. Fucker! He laughs as mum pushes her chair back and stands. I back away towards the door as my tiny unassuming mother gets that look in her eye. She has been on at me for years to settle down and the first whiff of a girl and she will be all over me.

  “Not that lovely little thing from Sweet Heaven?”

  “Yeah that’s her.” Jake laughs, and I glare at him, barely resisting the impulse to flip him off.

  “Oh, Jackson,” she says, and I start backing towards the door.

  “Mum, I have to go. I have a work thing I just remembered. Hey, Jake, did you tell mum about you getting a motorbike?” I say and as my mum and Sadie turn on him, I laugh and make my escape.

  Running to my car I jump in and head home, knowing that I will have a visit from my mother at the office sometime this week.

  Sitting at my desk the next morning, I scroll through my texts from last night. Tinkerbell has a cheeky sense of humour. I told her about my mother and she called me. All I could hear for about five minutes was her laughing her ass off.

  We spent the next two hours just chatting. I told her things that I haven’t told anyone. I even told her about my dick of a father and why she will never meet him.

  I scroll to the last text I had from her.

  Tinkerbell: I like that you will be the last thing I think of before I go to sleep;)

  Jackson: I don’t think I’m even going to stop when I close my eyes.

  Okay, so that last one was a bit cheese ball-ish of me, but the la
st two nights I have dreamt of my rainbow-haired girl.

  Just as I’m about to put the phone down it buzzes in my hand. I pick it up and read it.

  Jake: Hey Douche-canoe mum gave me shit for hours last night and Sadie made sleep on the couch!

  I burst out laughing, that’ll teach the fucker to mess with me. I text back while still trying to control my hilarity.

  Jackson: Hahaha serves you right dickwad!

  Jake: Payback is coming!!!!!

  I laugh harder and text back.

  Jackson: Bring it!

  I put the phone down on my desk as Lindy knocks and comes straight in. Alex is behind her, he smiles an affable smile and pushes his glasses straight.

  “Alex,” Lindy says and points at him then walks away muttering and slams the door. I would totally fire her ass if she wasn’t so old. Cantankerous old moo.

  “Excuse Lindy, she is half pit bull,” I say and motion for him to sit.

  We spend the next two hours going over the basics. Around twelve I look at my watch. I have a job booked in for one but won’t be taking him on this one. I need to know he is ready before he goes anywhere near the girls. I won’t have them hurt because of a bad decision I have made.

  I give Alex some homework to do and leave.

  *~*~*

  Walking into the local Costa Coffee shop, I see the girl straight away. I instantly know this one will be tough. Strangely it’s not the bitches I find hard but the nice, sweet girls who don’t deserve it. I walk up to her table where she is sitting shredding a napkin as she nurses her latte.

  She is a beautiful girl. I instantly know I won’t tell this girl the real reason her boyfriend is dumping her. He thinks she is unhealthy and doesn’t look after herself. The fact is, I have read her file and this girl is fitter than me, but she is curvy and not your standard size 12. Personally, I think her size 18 figure is beautiful.

  I refuse to undermine this girl’s confidence in her body. She looks up and it hits me again how many idiots there are in the world. Her smile alone is enough to knock any man off his feet.