by J. Preston
I used to be terrified at the prospect of moving to new places, at having to start over. With Aiden, that fear is gone. He is my anchor, my constant, my everything. It doesn’t matter that straight after college we moved back to London. Aiden set up a charity practice where he helps those in need of legal services but without the means to pay for it. I’m so proud of him. It took a lot of convincing and shouting, but his dad finally came on board when Aiden signed the paperwork to be a silent partner in the Vaughn Industries conglomerate. I think his dad just really wanted it to stay in the family. I get that. The money doesn't hurt either. Apparently, being a silent partner brings with it some nice dividends, which means Aiden can truly focus on his passion for helping underprivileged kids.
I’m sure you’re wondering what has happened to little, old me. Straight after we moved to London, I snagged a job with Cancer Research UK. No, no… I haven’t found a cure yet, but I’m working on it. The best thing about my job is that I can continue my education while doing research and lab work, so basically a dream for a nerd like me!
“We really should be checking out,” Aiden groans from behind me. I dive onto the bed and bounce a couple of times, spread like an eagle.
“I’m gonna miss you, bed. You’ve given me some fantastic memories and nights full of blissful slumber.”
“Er-hmm,” Aiden harrumphs behind me. “I think you’ll find I was the one who gave you all the blissful memories.” He was, but the guy already has an enormous ego, so I try not to indulge it too often. I nuzzle the pillow and consider if stuffing it under my dress could fool anyone into thinking I’m pregnant. Probably not, as the staff here came to know us by name in the last two weeks. Imagine if, on the last day, I’d come out looking ready to pop. Nothing to see here, peeps, supernatural pregnancy here. You know, like Bella Swan. Duh, all I needed was two weeks. But honestly, both the pillows and the mattress were so comfy I’d happily stuff them in Sully to take them home. “C’mon, kitten, let’s get going. They’ll come and pick up our bags for us while we check out.” I huff and get off the bed. I’ll miss this, the sunshine, the holiday mode, the constant free drinks, all the food you can eat, the pool… “We’ll come back next year, if you want.” The wonderful mind reader takes my hand. I knew I loved him for a reason.
“I hope you enjoyed your honeymoon, Mr. And Mrs. Vaughn,” The lady in reception says as Aiden hands her his credit card. Oh, did I forget to mention this tidbit? YES! We totally got hitched! He liked it and he put a ring on it!
It was a small ceremony with just our families, and Carter, obviously. That boy would not miss a party if his life depended on it. But it was perfect. Aiden’s dad wasn’t too happy that he couldn’t throw a big wedding party to invite all his business contacts, but Aiden and I wanted it to be just us, so we promised him that once we get back from our honeymoon, he can host a business party to celebrate our nuptials. I don’t mind. In the end, I had my perfect wedding with all my important people, and my perfect Aiden.
Honestly, to this day I think he’ll turn around at any moment and ask himself ‘What am I doing with this crazy woman?’, but he hasn’t yet, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’ll take him at least 60 years to figure out he married a total nutcase. By that time, he’ll be too old to get rid of me. Oh, who am I kidding? He’ll probably be a GILF.
“It was amazing,” Aiden replies. “In fact, I think we’ll be coming back for our anniversary.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” She hands Aiden a bill to sign. “As requested, we contacted our supplier and the new mattress and bedding should be delivered to London in the next week.”
My jaw hits the floor. “You didn’t!” Aiden’s dimples flash my way, those damned dimples… “You little rascal.”
“What can I say? What my wife wants, my wife gets.” A hundred orgasms, stat. No. I’m joking. Seriously joking, I’d die after the tenth one. Nine is how many Aiden got out of me in one go. He’s a wizard, just like Harry Potter. But seriously, when that eighth one happened, I was ready to keel over and die, but the devil himself possesses Aiden each time we are in bed, and he makes it his personal goal to coax as many as he can. Every. Single. Time. I’m not complaining. I’m not! But when tears are streaming down my face, snot out of my nose, and my whole body is shaking…you gotta give a girl a small break, you know what I mean? Otherwise, I’ll end up in that book, ‘Unusual ways to die’. That’s a book that’ll take you down a dark, dark rabbit hole. I digress.
“I’m definitely keeping you.” I smile up at my hunky husband adoringly. “You, mister, are stuck with this.” I gesture up and down my body.
“Thank fuck for that,” he mutters as he takes my hand and guides me outside to the taxi. The driver jumps out and opens the car door for us. I’ll miss being a honeymooner, where everyone waits on you…
At the airport, we spend a short amount of time browsing for last minute gifts, then, before I know it, it’s time to board. I miss home. I miss Jake and Buke. Buke is the only one of Aiden’s dogs that’s still with us, and her and Jake are inseparable. Dad also lives in London with his girlfriend, Lisa, whom he apparently met the year I moved to Starwood. Talk about when the cat’s away…. But, of course, I’m happy for him. Lisa is wonderful and Dad finally put down roots in one place. As I settle into our comfy first class seats, wondering if ten in the morning is too early for champagne, Aiden squeezes my hand.
“You okay, love?” he asks with concern in his voice. Fuck. I always forget. I should really tattoo this on my hand for situations like that. ‘Aiden thinks you’re afraid of flying’. I take in a shaky breath, ready to start the performance of a lifetime, then I exhale. I mean, the dude married me. Divorces aren’t easy so, maybe it’s time to fess up?
“Aiden…” A corner of his mouth lifts up, and a small dimple makes an appearance. “There’s something you should know…” He raises his eyebrow. I take a deep breath and prepare for what surely will be the start of a divorce conversation. You lie to somebody for six years, shit is bound to come back and bite you in the ass. But maybe I’ll manage to convince him to forgive me before he signs on the dotted line?
“You’re not afraid of flying,” he says matter-of-factly. What the hell?
“You know?”
“I’ve known for a while. Since our first flight back from London, actually.” I hang my head. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“I dunno,” I mumble. “I was embarrassed at first, cause I was so into you, and then… It just became a thing. I’m sorry.”
“I forgive you,” he says, stroking my cheek. “In fact, I know just the way you can make it up to me.” He does? Naughty thoughts start swirling in my head. As much as he always says he doesn’t, he wants the membership card to the Mile High Club, I just know it!
“Oh, yeah?” I look up at him from beneath my lashes, with what I hope is a seductive way.
“Yeah,” he blushes. Aiden blushes! This must be some kinky stuff he is thinking of. “I was thinking…” He takes a deep breath, takes my hand and looks into my eyes. He seems terrified, but also kinda hopeful. “Now that we’re married… That maybe… You know, only if you think you’re ready,” he blurts out, and my heart begins to race as if it’s knowing where this is going, even if my head is still not quite there. “That maybe we could start trying.”
I draw a blank. “Start trying what?”
And, as Aiden squeezes my hand again, my brain catches up.
“For a family.” He smiles a small smile. My eyes well up and a tear escapes. “Oh, Jenny! It’s okay if you’re not ready. There’s no rush. I just thought I’d bring it up in case you are.”
“N-o,” I manage to say. Aiden’s face falls. “No. No. I mean, no. Shit, I’m not doing this right. Aiden,” I slip my hand from his and cup his face. “It’s everything I wanted. Yes, I want to start a family. Yes, I want to start it with you. God, I can’t think of anything else I want more right now!”
His crumpled face rearranges into
a bright smile. “Yes?”
“Yes.”
Acknowledgments
Gosh, these are so much pressure! Bear with me since I’m doing it for the first time! There are so many people I need to thank. If I forget to name anyone, I’m truly sorry but please know I still very much appreciate you! Thanks for being the reason this book exists!
My beta team: Kirty, Carissa, Marcie, Chelsea, Bri, Channin, Jessica, Kyra, AmyLynn, Ashley, Dakota, Sami, Elizabeth, Brooke and Jenny. Each and every one of you has been invaluable in making this book into what it is today. Thank you for believing in Jenny and Aide, for answering my random questions at various hours and for inspiring me. Now onto Carter’s story! Who’s with me?
Special thanks to Carissa, thank you for doing the graphics and helping me out in the midfield that is trying to get your book out there! You’re an absolute gem.
To all my author friends, you guys rock, especially my Motivational Arse Kicking Group. Your support and belief in me means the world to me. Love you all!
To my editor Addie. Thank you for putting up with me reformatting things half way through edits! Again sorry! I swear, I won’t do it again :D But most of all thank you for helping me, you’re never getting rid of me.
ARC team - thank you for giving me your notes and spotting last minute edits!
Thank you Rich, for being so patient and supportive each time I said I needed to write or edit. I love you to the moon and back, monkeypants.
And most importantly, thank YOU for picking up this book, and making my dream a reality. I hope you had a good laugh, maybe got a bit sad, but most of all enjoyed yourself while reading this book.
About the Author
.J. Preston writes fun and sexy romance books.
She lives with her husband, son and a dog (that doubles as a teddy bear) in the UK, where she wraps up in warm clothes and hang out under umbrellas, dreaming of warm destinations.
When she's not writing, she enjoys a glass of wine (or two) with a good book or a favourite Netflix show and coming up with terms like #SmutCom.
For What It’s Worth
Want more from the gang?
Continue on for an excerpt from For What It’s Worth, Book 2 in the False Start Series
Contents
Author’s Note
Prologue
1. Remember Me?
2. What Just Happened?
3. Punishable By Strangulation
4. She Who Can Tame The Jerk
5. Edward Cullen Is Our Immortal Friend
6. In Need Of Divine Intervention
7. I'm Sexy And I Know It
8. Wiggle, Wiggle
9. I Sleep Naked
10. Totally Innocent
11. Wittle Kissy-Wissy
12. Temporary Insanity
13. Plenty More Fish
14. Horrible Kisser
15. Two Birds One Stone
16. Lonely Immortal Schmuck
17. Grow A Pair Pendejo
18. Basically Straddling Aiden
19. I'm A Lover
20. A Big Can Of Whoopass
21. Wonders Of The World
22. Cop A Feel
23. Nothing But Trouble
24. Pretty Hung Up On Someone Else
25. I Trusted You
26. Mr Perfect
27. You
28. Well, The Dogs Like Her
29. J To The Double N
30. Mile High Club
31. Sweet Cheeks
32. Sociopath
33. Hey, Beautiful
34. So Fucking Much
35. See Her Again
36. One Voicemail
37. Beep
38. Family
39. The End
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
For What It’s Worth
For What It’s Worth Prologue
For What It’s Worth Prologue
Carter
Christmas Day - One Year Ago
Fucking Christmas spirit, my ass. Who’s to say Christmas is supposed to be the time of happiness and tinsel shit, anyway? Not this guy. How can you live through the happiest time of the year when your heart has been stomped on? How the fuck are you supposed to be smiling through presents, food, and family stuff when the person you’re in love with is all loved up…with someone else. Yup, I’m that sucker. The guy who falls for his best friend then watches her fall in love with another dude.
It didn’t happen instantly. Don’t get me wrong, Jenny—or, as I like to call her, grasshopper—is gorgeous and clever and out of this world funny, but I have my qualities too. And my qualities, well…they bring all the girls to the yard. And the yard ain’t discriminating. So it took me a while to get my head out of my ass and realize that the girl next door is worth fighting for. Needless to say, I was a little too late and grasshopper is currently loved up in London with my other best friend. Fucking cliche.
What can a guy do in a situation like this but get himself out of this world drunk? Nothing.
“One more shot!” Hayley shouts, pouring the whiskey into our shot glasses as Jingle Bells plays over the speakers.
It’s funny how small the world is. One minute, you think you’re drowning your sorrows all by yourself, the next a friend from college that’s three hundred and sixty miles away sits down next to you and demands you celebrate Christmas in style. Hayley, who is grasshopper’s best friend, is down in L.A. for a modelling gig, and a bunch of them decided to come out tonight. To the same bar I always go to when I visit home. When all I wanted to do was be alone and mope. Call it fate. Call it shit luck. Call it whatever, I’m done caring.
“To misery,” I raise my shot glass, liquid sloshing over the rim. Hayley narrows her eyes at me but lifts her glass to mine.
“To freedom,” Sydney, one of the girls with us, clinks her glass with mine, then, without thinking, downs the whiskey in one go. I follow suit, not wanting to be left behind. That will make it six shots? Maybe. Maybe eight. Hayley gets up to walk towards the bar. She’s steady on her feet, and you have to admire a chick that can hold her liquor. As she leans over the bar and starts chatting to one of the bartenders, I turn my head towards Sydney.
“Why freedom? Aren’t we all free? Isn’t that what America stands for? Land of freedom?” I ask, pouring another shot. She cocks her head and picks up her glass.
“I’m English. Why misery?” she deadpans, then downs her shot.
“English-shminglish, you’re in America, babe. Did you just get out of prison?”
“No, and you’re changing the subject.”
“Who cares, anyway. I’m miserable, and I’ll drink to that.” I lift my shot glass to my lips. Her gaze doesn’t waver, so I sigh and put the shot down. “I seem to be suffering from a serious disease called badassery.” She doesn’t bite, so I lift the shot again and throw it back. Slamming it down on the table, I smile. “I’m the jackass who’s in love with his best friend.”
“I take it it's not reciprocated?” She pours two more shots. Good girl.
“Would I be drinking myself into a stupor if it was?” I take a glass from her, and when our fingers touch an electric shock runs through me. My eyes meet her blue ones as, simultaneously, we drink the shot. I’m probably not going to remember much tomorrow, but I sure as hell hope I’ll remember her. She’s fucking beautiful. Like, should be on the covers of magazines type of beautiful. Who am I kidding? Given her employment, she probably is on the covers of all the magazines. Her hand brushes my leg, interrupting my thoughts.
“You know, the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.” She winks at me. I fucking knew it. God must have been giving out lottery tickets today, and yours truly’s hit the jackpot. I’ll be sure to say a couple of Hail Mary’s in thanks for this miracle.
“Oh yeah?” I reach for the bottle, but her hand gets there first, and as she lifts the whiskey to her lips, her gaze not living mine. My dick hardens at the anticipa
tion of what’s to come. I smile at her, then take the bottle out of her hands. She nods, and I take a long swig. “Want to go somewhere where they’re not trying to brainwash us with Jingle Bells’ subliminal message?” She nods again, so I stand up and reach for her hand. She takes it. As we weave out of the bar, I look over to Hayley to wave goodbye, but she’s busy kissing the bartender, so I don’t bother interrupting.
“I don’t do relationships,” I say once we’re in an Uber. I want to get this out of the way before we get any further.
“I didn’t ask for one. I just want to fuck.” The drivers’ mouth opens. Yes, dude, I’m the master of the universe. This hot as fuck woman wants to have sex with moi!
“Lovely,” I lean in and nuzzle her throat. She smells floral and fucking arousing. I lick at the spot on her neck, and she gasps.
“That, that there, now go lower,” she whispers. The whiskey starts hitting me, so I wrap my fingers around her short, sunshine color hair and pull it.
“Patience, Sunshine.” I nip at her earlobe as the Uber pulls up in front of her hotel.