by Ashley Jade
“My boss took them off with her teeth.” She winces. “Right before I ran out of the room because she wanted me to have sex with some old guy.”
Two things happen at that moment.
One—I have the sudden urge to find this boss of hers and toss her off the nearest bridge. No wonder she was walking around by herself.
And two—I grow a conscience. Based on what she just told me and given the dazed state she’s in; her boss is either an unprofessional sexual manipulator, or a conniving bitch who doesn’t give a shit about Kit—because Kit’s too drunk and high to stop anyone from taking advantage of her. Hell, depending on what else Kit might have been slipped, she may not even remember any of this tomorrow. There’s low and then there’s scum.
Promptly, I get off her and stand up, the clarity of the situation slamming into me.
“Will you be back tomorrow night?”
I have no clue what she’s talking about, and I don’t think she does either because she closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep. With a heavy sigh, I pull the comforter around her. Until something catches my attention, rendering me immobile.
Attached to the thin, silver necklace she’s wearing, nestled between those small, perky tits…
Is my lucky poker chip.
Just like that, I’m cracking, splintering right down the center like the ground during a magnitude eight earthquake.
“Be gone by sunrise, Bishop.”
With that, I make my way to the bathroom so I can take care of my hard-on, figure out how to get Campanelli a million dollars in the next twelve hours…and find a way to forget all about the girl sleeping in my bed.
I look down at the damp spot on my thigh and curse.
I need Kit Bishop gone and out of my life for good before she ruins everything.
For the second time.
To be continued…in June 2018.
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Help is only a phone call or an e-mail away.
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International Service Office
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T (626) 960-3500
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If you or anyone you know is a victim of sexual assault, again; I urge and I beg you to reach out.
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800-656-HOPE (4673)
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For rape & sexual assault victims call: 212-227-3000
or email : [email protected]
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Afterword
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Acknowledgments
Complicated Parts is the biggest gamble of my career…so far. People advised me not to write it. Told me it was career suicide. And I get it…because technically, it should be. Because this book is everything we’re told NOT to write in romance.
But Preston and Kit wouldn’t leave me alone. So, I wrote it.
Well, I wrote it after I already wrote the book four different times. I originally set out trying to write it to market. I tried to make it what everyone else was writing because I was so scared it wouldn’t sell.
And then I tossed 50k words in the trash. Twice.
Because it wasn’t Kit and Preston’s story.
The words finally stuck and stayed when I started writing what I was supposed to.
But none of that would have been possible without the support of some really awesome people.
There’s no way I can properly thank the people who stood by me through this enough for their support. A simple acknowledgment in a book doesn't do it justice, but I hope it matters all the same. I'm so incredibly humbled and grateful for each and every one of you. I hope like hell I'm not leaving anyone out...and if by some horrible chance I did...just know that I'm so sorry.
Before I begin, though—I must thank all the amazing bloggers and ARC readers. I’m so incredibly thankful for you.
And my awesome betas: Avery and Kristy. “Fuck all the ducks.”
Avery: To put it simply, this book wouldn’t be possible without you. You were there for me every single step of the way. From reading my word vomit in a FB message, to literally reading the same chapter one million times all because I made one tiny change and needed to know right then and there if it was good or not. I know it wasn't easy staying up until 3:00 am with me going over every single word with a fine-tooth comb.
Yet, you treated every paragraph, every single syllable like it was important. And that’s just when it came to this book. Personally, you help me keep my head above water. When my life is chaos and I don’t know which end is up or down. You point me in the right direction and help make it calmer. I can’t thank you enough.
Kristy: Thank you for pushing me and making me a better author. Some days were hard, but it was ALWAYS worth it. I know that just like a Momma cub—you pushed me because you cared and saw potential. You pushed me because you believed in both me and Preston and Kit’s story.
You pushed me…because you gave a shit. Even though you work your ass off, take care of your kids, and you’re up until all hours of the morning writing yourself—you still made time for me and this book mattered to you. I can’t thank you enough.
Beth: You're amazing and I'm so very thankful for you. You're so encouraging, supportive, and just an overall beautiful human being. I couldn't have done this without you. Thank you so much for being you. <3
Ellie: Thank you for taking a chance on me and letting me stalk you until you finally agreed to stick me in your editing schedule. Seriously. I know your schedule is beyond jam packed and adding an author you weren’t familiar with in your schedule was like me throwing a monkey wrench.
Yet, you never made me feel like I screwed anything up. And that goes for editing as well. You made what’s usually one of the most painful steps before publishing easy and calm. And you never once spoke down to me when you made a correction or suggestion…you spoke to me like a person. Thank you so much.
Vickie: My cliffhanger Queen. You know what you did. And I can’t thank you enough. Having you as a reader has been one of the very best things ever. There’s something to be said for when a long-time reader knows your work and your style so well…they can and will call you on your shit. I wanted to make CP a duet since I wrote the first word that stuck…but I was so scared people would never accept it. Thank you for telling me to pull my head out of my ass. I needed that. Preston and Kit needed that.
Lucy: I love you. You’re amazing and you make me feel like I’m someone super talented and important. Truth is—you’re the Queen, babe. And don’t ever let anyone tell you different. <3
Pennie: Not every author is blessed to have a guardian angel in the book world. Thank you so very much for being mine. You are such an incredibly valued soul to have by my side.
Preston’s Harem: You babes are my backbone. The wind beneath my wings. I can’t thank you enough for your unconditional support. But, I’ll try and thank you with some pretties instead. Or you know…by sending you inappropriate half-naked postmarks of Preston. :P You babes are the real fucking deal. Preston told me so himself. Thank you so much.
Street team: Sometimes it feels m
ore like my therapy group than a street team, but that’s what I love. We’re weirdos and we sit together on the grass and eat our lunch instead of mingling with the cool kids.
But you babes ARE the cool kids. You’re the coolest kids and I’m so lucky to have you.
Little Survivors: I know I’m not one of those authors who have their shit together. And I’m sorry for that. Thank you for accepting all my flaws and for accepting my human side. Thank you all for not being assholes. Thank you for being the best readers an author could ever ask for.
Thank you for being excited, laughing, telling jokes, being my cheerleaders, sharing your stories, supporting me, and being the salt of the earth people you are.
Thank you for giving me my safe bubble.
What I lack…you babes make up for in spades. You all are perfect. I’m so incredibly lucky.
Cassie: You were my very first 'fan'. Starting all the way back from the days of the 'Twisted Fate' series. I will never, ever forget that. Thank you so very much. You're my 'MVP' for life!!!
And last but not least…my favorite asshole. The person who makes my world go round’. My ‘Hammie’—My heart and soul. I couldn’t do this without you, baby. My love for you knows no bounds…because we’d find a way to demolish anything standing in our way. You’re my ‘alpha’, my strength, my weakness, but most importantly…my everything.
About the Author
Ashley Jade is an emerging author of action romance. This is Ashley’s seventeenth book.
She is a lover of contemporary romance, erotica, new adult, dark romance, oxford commas, the em dash, peanut butter on her cookies, coffee, and anything thought provoking...except for math. She's always read books growing up and after having a strange dream one night; she decided to just go for it and publish her first series. Little did she know— she would end up falling head over heels in love with writing.
If she's not paying off student loan debt, working, or writing a novel—you can usually find her listening to music, hanging out with her readers online, and pondering the meaning of life. Check out her amazon page and Facebook page for future novels. She recently became hip and joined Twitter, so you can find her there, too. She loves connecting with her readers—they make her world go round'.
~ Happy Reading ~
Also by Ashley Jade
Complicated Hearts Duet
Blame It on the Pain
Blame It on the Shame series- (Parts 1-3)
Older Books:
Twisted Fate series (Books 1-4)
The Best Deception
What Happens in the Dark (Books 1-3)