Her Ex: The Braxton Brothers Series Read online

  Her Ex

  The Braxton Brothers Series

  Anne-Marie Meyer

  Copyright © 2019 by Anne-Marie Meyer

  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.

  To my family

  Contents

  Foreword

  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

  Epilogue

  Other Books by Anne-Marie Meyer

  About the Author

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  She's an IRS auditor desperate to prove herself.

  He's a cowboy trying to hold onto his ranch.

  Love was not on the agenda.

  Chapter One

  Jackson lifted the scotch to his lips and took a sip, hoping to calm the jumble of nerves that had cemented themselves in his stomach. He wasn’t normally a drinker, but this trip had him running to anything that would calm him down.

  He was going back to Honey Grove. Back to his hometown. Where Isabel Andrews was.

  Was he crazy?

  The plane dipped, causing his stomach to become airborne. He clutched the armrests of his seat as Brooklyn, the flight attendant, appeared from the tiny kitchen in the back.

  “Sorry, Mr. Braxton. Barry said there might be some turbulence.”

  Jackson shot her a smile as he tried to force down his anxiety.

  He was a successful businessman. He had accomplished everything that he’d left Honey Grove in search of. He was going back for his brother Jonathan’s wedding, and that was it. There was no need to feel so out of sorts about seeing Isabel.

  Besides, she’d moved on. She was engaged, and he was…well, he was happy.

  He worked on his smile a few more times, trying to figure out which one sent the right message. He was happy. He was happy. He was happy.

  His cheeks grew tired, so he dropped his lips to a frown, grabbed his glass of scotch, and took another sip. He set the glass down with a sigh. The alcohol was not making him feel better, and his mom, Sondra, would smell it on him if he consumed much more.

  That woman was a bloodhound about alcohol—and about potential marriage material for her children.

  “Are you finished?” Brooklyn asked as she appeared next to him. “Do you want me to get you another?”

  Jackson shook his head as he handed the glass back to her. “I’m okay. Thank you though.” Then he rubbed his temples as nausea hit him. Drinking on an empty stomach always made him feel sick. “Maybe some cookies? I need to eat.” In his haste to leave this morning, he’d forgotten breakfast.

  Brooklyn nodded. “Of course. I’ll get something whipped up for you.”

  Jackson shot her a smile, and she disappeared into the kitchen.

  Now alone, Jackson leaned his head back and took in a deep breath. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his breathing. He could do this. He could handle returning to Honey Grove.

  He could even handle seeing Isabel.

  The nausea hit him harder as her sandy blonde hair and wide smile filled his mind. It had been years since he’d seen her. Touched her. Kissed her.

  Why was her memory so vivid? It was like he could reach out and feel her next to him.

  Clearing his throat, he opened his eyes. This was getting him nowhere. He needed to focus on something else.

  He leaned over his chair and pulled out his laptop. Messages and email notifications chimed as he dove into work.

  He’d been doing that a lot lately. Focusing on work. When he lost himself in his responsibilities, he could make every gaping hole in his heart disappear. He scoffed. That was a lie even he wasn’t believing anymore.

  But, eventually, he lost himself so completely in answering emails and working on his big accounts that he didn’t notice Brooklyn standing next to him with a plate of filet mignon and mashed potatoes.

  “You’re a life saver,” he said as he adjusted his laptop so she could set the plate down next to him. His stomach growled.

  She laughed and handed him a set of utensils. Then she left him to eat in silence.

  One plate of food and an hour later, Barry announced over the intercom that they were making their final descent.

  Brooklyn came to collect his dishes, and Jackson returned his computer to his bag and sat back. It was amazing how the distraction of work and food helped clear his mind.

  Even though the thought of seeing Isabel still nipped at the back of his mind, he was more content. The reason why he left Honey Grove made its way back into his mind and helped ground him.

  Isabel wasn’t the one for him, and he wasn’t meant for her.

  Her dad had made that pretty clear the night Jackson had planned to ask her to marry him.

  Jackson Braxton was never going to be good enough for Mr. Andrews’ daughter. He hadn’t minced words about it. No, poor, rowdy, eighteen-year-old was going to drag Isabel down with him. Period.

  So Jackson disappeared to New York, licking his wounds. Determined to prove Dirk Andrews wrong.

  And now, with multiple zeros in his bank account, Jackson had become the man he’d wanted to be. He’d accomplished everything that Mr. Andrews had claimed he would never achieve. He’d negated every reason Mr. Andrews had given for Jackson to walk away from Isabel.

  So why was he so nervous about coming home? He had nothing to be embarrassed about.

  The plane lurched as the wheels touched down, throwing Jackson forward. He gripped the armrests and took a few deep breaths.

  He could do this. He was determined to do this.

  The plane taxied into the hangar, and a few minutes later, Jackson grabbed his suitcase and headed toward the exit. He smiled at Brooklyn, who blushed as he walked past.

  He felt her hand rest on his arm. “Hey,” she whispered, like she wasn’t sure about what she was doing.

  Jackson paused and glanced down at her. He quirked an eyebrow as he studied her deep brown eyes and fair, freckled skin. “Yeah?” he asked.

  She blinked a few times, and her blush deepened. “I live in Jordan. If you get bored and want to do something, call me.” She pressed a piece of paper into the palm of his hand.

  Jackson’s gaze flicked down and then back up to her. Was she hitting on him? The earnest look in her eyes made him smile.

  It wasn’t like this was a surprise to him, but it did feel a tad strange. Especially since he’d spent basically the whole trip obsessing about Isabel.

  But Brooklyn looked so earnest as she peered up at him that he didn’t want to disappoint her. So he leaned toward her and smiled. “Thanks for the offer,” he said as he slipped her number into his pocket.

  She giggled and nodded.

  “Enjoy the flight?” Barry boomed as he emerged from the cockpit. His gaze swept over Jackson and Brooklyn, his bushy eyebrows rising. “Am I interrupting?”

  Jackson shook his head as he turned toward the pilot. “Nope. The flight was
amazing.”

  Barry let out a laugh and slapped Jackson on the back. “Enjoy going home.”

  Great. Just when Jackson thought he had a handle on his feelings, Barry had to bring it up. “I will,” Jackson said under his breath.

  Once he was off the plane, he blew out his breath as his thoughts returned to Brooklyn and her number in his pocket. Sure, he really wasn’t in the right place, headspace-wise, to start a relationship, but she was cute. And maybe she was the kind of distraction he needed.

  Odds were good that being around his family was going to be overwhelming. Having an escape plan seemed wise.

  After walking through the hangar, he climbed into the car that had been waiting for him. He glanced down at his watch. Fifteen minutes until Jenna’s plane landed.

  He told the driver to head to the passenger pickup area and leaned back, resting his head on the seat behind him. He closed his eyes and forced his mind to clear.

  It wasn’t long before Jenna rapped on the window and then pulled the door open and climbed in. She smiled. “Jacky!” she exclaimed as she reached over and wrapped her arms around him.

  Jackson laughed as he hugged his sister. They’d been inseparable since they were kids. And if he were honest with himself, he missed her. A lot.

  “Jenna Pee Pants,” he said.

  She groaned as she pulled back. “Can we just let that name die?”

  Jackson shook his head as he handed the driver the address of their parents’ house in Honey Grove. “Yeah, I don’t think so. It’s just…so good.”

  Jenna reached out and punched his arm. Jackson feigned pain as he clutched his arm but then shot her a smile. “Nice try. Still the weakling, I see.”

  “Bite me.” Jenna tried to glare at him then busted up laughing. “Man, I missed you,” she said, her voice growing quiet.

  Jackson studied his sister. Her normally goofy disposition was gone. He could see stress lines etched into her skin. “Porter’s an idiot,” he said.

  Jenna closed her eyes and nodded. He could see that she was trying to be strong, but it was taking a lot of work.

  “Yeah, he is.” She took a few deep breaths, and then her familiar smile emerged as she opened her eyes. “But we aren’t going to talk about him ever again. Deal?” She reached into her purse and grabbed a bag of M&M’s. She tipped the opening toward him. Jackson nodded, and she poured a couple into his hand. “Let’s talk about Isabel and what you are going to do if you see her.”

  Jackson groaned. Leave it to his sister to want to be part of his business. “Jenna. No talking about Porter. No talking about Isabel.”

  Jenna raised her eyebrows and then let out a sigh. “Fine.” Her phone chimed as she shoved a few M&M’s into her mouth. She dug around in her purse and emerged triumphant with her phone in hand. After a few seconds, she glanced over at him. “You gotta take me to Layla’s shop. Apparently, I need to be fitted for my dress.”

  Jackson groaned. That sounded like the last thing he wanted to do. “I’ll let you take the car. Just drop me off at home first.”

  Jenna leaned in. “You really want to face Mom alone?”

  Jackson hesitated as thoughts of Sondra Braxton following after him, asking him when he was going to get married, floated through his mind. He turned and narrowed his eyes at Jenna. “Good point.” Then he let out his breath in a slow burst. “Just a few minutes, right? Then you’ll go home with me?”

  Jenna giggled as she downed a few more pieces of candy. She held up her hand like she was being sworn in at court. “I promise.”

  Jackson leaned forward and gave the driver the new address.

  Once Jackson settled back in his seat, Jenna started telling him about her apartment and how grateful she was to get out of Seattle She was ready to leave that city and all her memories of Porter in the dust. Jackson hadn’t always been protective of his little sister, but once she’d been old enough to date, those feelings wouldn’t leave him alone.

  She had rapidly gone from his annoying sister to his best friend.

  Fifteen minutes later, the car stopped in front of one of the long buildings in downtown Honey Grove. The corner shop sported the words Braxton Dresses. Jackson smiled as he shook his head.

  He was pretty sure his mom died when James and Layla had picked that name. It was one of her dreams, to see the Braxton name up in lights. Add in Jonathan’s status as an NFL player, and Mom was in heaven.

  “Holy wow,” Jenna said as she stared out the car window. “Mom must have freaked.”

  Jackson laughed. Sondra wasn’t a mysterious person—everyone in the family had her pegged. Jackson grabbed the door handle and stepped out. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

  Going to a dress fitting wasn’t the most exciting thing for him, but it beat sitting at home and being berated by his mom. And it definitely was a distraction from his thoughts.

  But, as he stepped out onto the sidewalk, he glanced around at the people walking by, and his stomach tightened. That was the curse of returning to the place where the girl you once loved still lived. He couldn’t help being on edge, wondering when he was going to see her next.

  Did she know he was coming home? Was she as nervous as he was?

  He was working his body into knots again, so Jackson forced his thoughts to calm as he made his way around to where Jenna was waiting for him.

  She took in a deep breath as she glanced over at him. “Ready?”

  Jackson nodded, and they walked side by side into the small shop. Lighthearted laughter carried from the back, perking up Jackson’s ears.

  He paused as the shop door shut behind him. He recognized that laugh. His heart twisted as Isabel appeared from the back room. She was walking in front of a very pregnant woman who Jackson could only assume was Layla.

  After a quick marriage a few months ago, she and James had moved to Honey Grove. James took over running the family business, Braxton Construction, and Layla opened a wedding shop. James hadn’t asked anyone to fly down for the wedding. He said all he cared about was marrying the woman of his dreams.

  That thought paused in Jackson’s mind as his gaze landed on Isabel. Everything about her was so familiar. The curvature of her features. The way her blonde hair danced around her shoulders. Her lips… Every memory of her came rushing back, slamming into his heart and taking his breath away.

  “Jackson,” she said as her gaze landed on his face. She looked as startled as he felt.

  “Isabel,” Jenna said, stepping forward and pulling Isabel into an awkward hug. She turned Isabel so she could raise her eyebrows at Jackson.

  He’d never been more grateful for his sister. He needed a minute to compose himself.

  “Jenna?” Isabel asked, surprised. “It’s good to see you.”

  Jenna pulled back. “You too. What are you doing here?”

  Jackson pushed his hands through his hair as he watched Isabel hold up a dress that was draped over her arm. “Picking up my dress.”

  Jenna let out a forced laugh. “That’s right. I heard you’re tying the knot.” Her gaze flicked back to Jackson and then returned to Isabel. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

  Jackson could see Isabel’s shoulders tighten. He wondered if it had to do with her fiancé or the fact that he was there, listening to their conversation.

  “Just an investor who moved into town. He’s…great.”

  Jackson’s ears perked. He knew Isabel. He knew her mannerisms. He could pick out the inflection in her voice. She was lying.

  “That’s great. When’s the day?”

  Isabel tipped her head to the side as if she were checking to see if Jackson was still listening. Jackson dropped his gaze to the floor. “Two Saturdays from now,” she replied.

  “Well, we’re just here for Jonathan’s wedding this weekend, and then we’re gone.” Jenna clapped her hands and turned to Layla. “I have a dress I’m supposed to be fitted for?”

  Layla was standing off to the side, watching the interaction. When Je
nna approached, Layla gave her a wide smile. “Of course.” They embraced. “It’s so good to finally meet you.”

  Jenna kept her arm around Layla’s shoulders as she nodded toward Jackson. “Come on, I need your help.”

  Grateful for the excuse, Jackson moved to follow his sister. Just as he passed by Isabel, her soft voice stopped him.

  “It’s good to see you again,” she said.

  Jackson fought the urge to turn and look at her. If he did, his heart would break more than it already was. But he couldn’t just ignore her. So, he nodded and said, “You too.” Then he headed after Layla and Jenna.

  He wasn’t sure what Isabel did after he left, but he did know one thing—he was right to be nervous about coming home.

  It was going to be a lot harder than he’d thought.

  Chapter Two

  Isabel hugged her dress to her chest as she pushed out of Layla’s shop. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, and she had never wanted to get out of a place so fast.

  Seeing Jackson like that was the last thing she’d needed. Especially when it already felt like her life was crumbling down around her.

  Desperate to get to her car before the tears started, Isabel quickened her pace. By the time she reached the driver’s door, a tear had escaped and rolled down her cheek.

  Her life was a mess.

  Pulling hard on the door handle, she slipped into the seat, dumped her dress next to her, and slammed the door closed. She sat there for a moment with both hands on the steering wheel as the hot, sticky car air settled in around her.

  Not wanting to be a crying and sweating mess, Isabel shoved her keys into the ignition. Her car sputtered a few times but didn’t turn over.