Skipping Stones Series (Emily and Unexpected)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Emily

Note to reader

Dedication

Playlist

Epigraph

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

Acknowledgments

Unexpected

Dedication

Epigraph

Playlist

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

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Sneak Peek of Nothing Ever Lasts

Ella’s Love Excerpt

Stalk Jasmine Lee

Emily

(Skipping Stones: Book 1)

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Copyright © 2015 by Jasmine Lee

authorjasminelee.weebly.com

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above copyright owner of this book.

Editor: Adrian J. Smith

Formatter: Champagne Book Design

Cover Designer: Sheri McGathy

Cover Model: Bri Jay, Eric Marshall and Erich Steele

Photographer: Tabitha Patterson

First Edition: June 2015

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

NOTE TO READER

Before you begin Emily, I want you to know that she was a very hard character to write. My beta readers and editor described her perfectly. ‘She’s total chaos!’ And she is, some of them liked her, some loved her and some disliked her. But they all agreed she’s total chaos. But in order for you to understand her and her decisions in Unexpected, I had to show you where she comes from and why she is the way she is. So, I wanted to let you know if that at the end of the book you have a high dislike for Emily, that’s it’s okay and that you aren’t the only one.

Jasmine Lee

What readers are saying:

Being torn between her past, present and future, Emily fights for her heart and sanity.—Beth

To my husband and my kids! Love them more then they’ll ever know.

But most importantly to every single woman who has had their ass handed to them but stood up anyway and wiped their hands clean of the mess and was stronger for it.

Also, to all the women I met and worked with at the Safe House. I may not talk or see any of you anymore but know y’all are always in my thoughts and prayers!

PLAYLIST

Skipping Stone—Alexz Johnson

Walking—Alexz Johnson

Thank You for Breaking My Heart—Alexz Johnson

That Pain—Alexz Johnson

Heart Turns Black—Alexz Johnson

Tears Of A Dragon—Alexz Johnson

Ruthless Love—Alexz Johnson

I’m Not The Only One—Sam Smith

Stay With Me—Sam Smith

Don’t Speak—No Doubt

If You Ever Come Back—The Script

Since U Been Gone—Kelly Clarkson

Always On My Mind—Willie Nelson

Landslide—Fleetwood Mac

The Tracks Of My Tears—Smokey Robinson

Disappear—Cary Brothers

Wasted Time—Eagles

Victim Of Love—Eagles

Free Like You Make Me—Cary Brothers

Addicted—Saving Abel

Take Your Time—Cary Brothers

Careless Whisper—Seether

Under The Bridge—Red Hot Chili Peppers

Tomorrow—Silverchair

Cumbersome—Seven Mary Three

Because Of You—Reba McIntire & Kelly Clarkson

Cologne—Alexz Johnson

She’s So High—Tal Bachman

Anytime—Brain McKnight

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou

I always thought we were happy, my husband and me. I smile now as I recall how we met nine years ago, when Conner Wallace swept me right off my feet. Though I will admit it wasn’t that hard to do in the end. I still remember the hot summer day we met at my dad’s shop. I was sixteen and he was nineteen we went out on our first date two months later and dated for three years before getting married. A year later I gave birth to our twin sons Cole and Lucas.

But now I’m not so sure. I call him, and he ignores my calls. And he never returns my calls. I’ve never thought of myself as a nagging wife or even a suspicious wife, but I feel something is wrong. Conner’s never given me reason to be, but for the last four months, its feels like I’m in this marriage alone. I feel more like a single mom to our two children.

He was always so involved with the kids before I never even noticed he had stopped touching me or even having sex with me. Now that I stand here and look around at what appears to be an empty shop with cars on lifts and in different states of being fixed, I realize it’s been nine months since my husband, and I have done anything other than a brief kiss goodbye every day and a brief hello kiss every night. He doesn’t hold my hand anymore or wrap his arms around me while I’m cooking. Nothing! When you’re busy raising twin five-year-old little boys, sex becomes the absolute last thing on your mind. I never really knew it or saw it until now, but when I stopped by Wallace’s Shop to surprise my husband of six years with lunch, I was only to be met with silence as I walk through the shop.

Emily?

I spin around and come face to face with Rob, who has lush onyx hair and deep chocolate eyes with cocoa color skin. He’s the head mechanic at the shop. He’s taller than me, by only a few inches, and he’s the sweetest man I know. He’s always willing to help anyone.

I offer him the brightest smile I can and say, Hey, Rob. I wanted to see if Conner was free for lunch.

He clears his throat as he looks around almost like he’s avoiding making eye contact with me, but I see the panic in his eyes, Um…yeah…well…Conner had to make a run. I’m not sure when he’ll be back, but I’ll let him know you stopped by.

I swallow hard. Correction Rob was the sweetest man I know, because he just lied straight to my face while staring into my eyes.

Oh…well…okay.

I start to walk past him toward the front of the shop when he stops me. He takes ahold of my wrist. I’m sorry, Emily, he pauses when I look up to him, and he lets out a noisy breath as he tilts his head down. I’ve talked to him, but…I’m sorry. If you need anything let me know, and I will help you no matter what.

Thank you, Rob.

He offers me a small smile, letting go of my wrist, and I turn and walk out of the shop. I don’t remember getting in my car, driving, and then picking up the boys. The next thing I know I’m sitting in my driveway and both boys are sleeping in their car seats.

The tears are running down my cheeks, but I leave them be. Taking a deep breath, I call Rob.

Hello, he answers.

He’s cheating, isn’t he?

Emily…don’t do this honey. He sounds so concerned, but I need to know.

Don’t lie to me, Rob. I deserve to know. I’m his wife, the mother of his children. I deserve to know, I say the last part as a sob escapes me.

Silence.

Just when I’m about to say something, Rob beats me to it.

I can’t say for sure if he is or isn’t.

I close my eyes as I place my left hand on my stomach, I feel something foul make its way up my throat, I swallow quickly when I realize its vomit. I need to leave, I need to…I don’t know.

Thank you, I whisper before I hang up the phone, cutting him off before he can say anything else. I lean forward, letting my forehead rest on my steering wheel as I cry silently so I don’t wake the boys. After what seems like hours, I pull myself together long enough to get out of the car, get the boys inside and start making dinner. As I’m cooking, I think about what I need to do. I don’t want to leave Conner. He’s the love of my life, but I also know I could never live with myself if I stayed with him if he is cheating.

Ding

I look over at my cellphone, and I stare at it. I know I should check it, but I don’t want to. I have the strangest feeling that it holds something that will break me completely. Taking a deep breath, I step toward it when I hear the front door open and close.

Daddy! both of the boys scream, and then I hear Conner’s chuckle.

I close my eyes, shaking my head. I turn back to dinner and place a fake smile on my face as Conner walks into the kitchen. He’s so handsome, standing at six foot six with dirty blond hair that’s shaggy, light blue eyes with a chiseled jaw, with a lean body and medium tan. He always wore faded blue jeans with holes in the knees with a long sleeve thermal shirt with a t-shirt over it. He says it’s to keep his arms protected from getting burned when working on engines.

Hey, babe, he says as he leans close and kisses my cheek. What are you cooking?

Pork chops, mashed potatoes, green beans, and biscuits. Sound good to you? I say as I look over to him.

Yeah, sounds fine. I’m going to get a shower, he says, the whole time he’s texting on his cell phone as he walks out of the kitchen.

I frown once he’s around the corner.

Ding!

In what feels like slow motion, I turn my head, so my cellphone is in my sight again. The screen is lit up, letting me know I have a new text message. Slowly I close the distance between me and the counter it’s sitting on. Once I reach it, I stretch my hand out, and that’s when I notice how badly my hand is shaking. Taking a deep breath, I try again and do the pattern to unlock my phone and see I have one new text message, and without giving it much thought, I open it.

Unknown: I had fun with your husband! ;)

Attached is a photo of Conner standing behind a blonde hair, blue-eyed, Barbie wanna be. His arms are wrapped around her waist as he kisses her shoulder, and she’s holding the camera and smiling.

I must stand there for a length of time staring at the picture because I jump when I hear Conner behind me.

Babe, you’re burning the food.

I lock my phone, turn around and give him my best smile. I got it. No worries.

He nods as he gets the boys, and they set the table as I fix everyone’s plates. I make sure to put lots of extra pepper on Conner’s food. Fucking bastard. When I get everyone’s drinks, I make sure to pour lots of salt into his already sweet tea. Fucker! Then I set everything down on the table as he gets the boys in their seats. As I sit down, I notice Conner take a bite of food, his eyes go wide, and he reaches for his sweet tea. I hide my smile as I take a drink of my own sweet tea. His face screws up like he sucked something sour as he swallows.

I ignore him as I take a bite of my own food, but I notice how he watches all of us as we drink and eat. After a few minutes, I watch as he takes another bite and spits it back out almost immediately and reaches for his sweet tea. As he takes another drink, I look him straight in the eyes and let him see I’m pissed and slowly raise my eyebrow at him, daring him to say something. Instead, he swallows and keeps his eyes locked on mine as he sits his cup down, but wisely he doesn’t say a word. The rest of dinner is finished in silence, although Conner didn’t finish his food.

I’m standing to clear the table when Lucas breaks the silence.

Daddy, you didn’t clean your plate, he says as he brings me his own plate.

It’s okay, sport. I wasn’t that hungry, Conner answers as he scraps his plate off into the trash.

That means you can’t have anything else to eat until the morning, Cole says as he finishes eating.

I look over and lock my eyes with Conner as he answers Cole. Its okay. I’ll eat a big breakfast.

Okay, both boys say.

Hey boys, why don’t y’all go get ready for your baths while I finish washing the dishes? I say as I start the water.

Yes, ma’am, they both answer as they start walking down the hallway toward their room.

Emi—

We’ll talk later, I say, interrupting him as I turn and give him my back.

I start scrubbing the pots and ignore him the best I can, and when I hear him let a breath of air out, I look over my shoulder and see him walking around the corner toward the boys’ bedroom. I face the sink and let out my own breath as a few tears escape and slide down my cheek.

After the boys are in bed and I’ve taken a shower, I’m sitting up in our bed, typing and doing up posts for my book blog I run. I started it a little over a year ago, and I enjoy it quite a bit; you’d be surprised how much of a stress reliever it is.

Why did you do that to my food? Conner asks.

I look up and see him standing in the doorway wearing only a pair of sleep pants showing off his well-defined body and his beautiful tattoos. He has both of the boys’ names and their birthdate on his ribs, and on his back is a cross with wings behind it with a sash going around it with our wedding date. He wanted to put our names, but I told him no because its bad luck to have your spouse’s name tattooed on you, so he settled for the date instead. I have the same tattoo on my back, only mines just the cross and wings.

Emily, are you going to answer me or not? he asks as he steps into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Are you cheating on me? I figure its better to put it out there and ask him.

No! he says without even hesitating.

I frown slightly; I figured he’d at least hesitate before answering. Don’t they always say liars hesitate before answering?

Why? Conner asks.

I look up and see he’s standing next to me. I open my mouth to talk but shut it quickly. What can I say? He leans down, taking ahold of my laptop closing it as he sets it aside. He turns back around to me, lifting the blankets he gets under them so he’s on his knees and hands, caging my body in. I swallow not understanding what’s going on or why I’d rather he not touch me at all. He leans down so that his nose is touching mine. He doesn’t say a word. Instead, he tilts his head slightly and very slowly closes the distance between our lips.

At first, I just lay there with my eyes open and stiff as a board as he presses his soft warm lips to mine. He pulls back just enough to let his tongue slip out and trace the seam of my lips.

Emily…please… he whispers so low I barely hear him.

I close my eyes trying to calm my nerves before opening my mouth for him, letting his tongue in. The kiss starts off slow only to turn passionate and rough. He slides his hands up my arms, taking ahold of both of my wrists and pulling them above my head as he pushes his knee between my legs. I moan as I feel his right hand put my wrists together in his left hand, letting his right slide down my body and jerking my shirt down below my breasts ripping it in the process.

I’ve missed these so fucking much, he says in a near growl as he places my left nipple in his mouth, sucking it hard before he bites, causing me to arch up into him as a gasp rips from my mouth.

Before I know what is happening, he has both of us completely naked, and he’s over me with his dick positioned at my entrance. He grabs my wrists, holding them above my head as he stares down at me, my eyes lock on his right before he slams into me hard, causing me to throw my head back as I moan loudly squeezing my eyes shut. I feel his mouth on my right nipple as he continues to thrust into me hard and fast. I know it won’t be long before I fall over the edge; it’s been months since I’ve had an orgasm.

Ahh… I moan as the tightening in my lower stomach intensifies. I arch, pushing my hips against him so he’ll go deeper, and my whole-body shudders and tightens as I come.

That’s it, babe…take it, take it all, Conner says.

I open my eyes and see him up on his knees with his hands on my waist, tilting my body so he can go deeper with each thrust as he glares at me. I swallow as I realize he’s pissed, beyond pissed, and he’s taking it out on my body. I don’t have long to think about it before my second orgasm hits me. As I’m coming back down, I hear him groan loudly as he pushes himself in as deep as he can go, grinding against me. He collapses next to me on his stomach breathing hard.

Fuck that was good, he says as he chuckles.

I keep my eyes on the ceiling as a silent tear escapes. I don’t say a word. How does one say something after that? He leans up on his elbow and moves so he’s closer to me, placing his left arm around my body.

Hey, what’s wrong? he asks.

Who’s Claire? I whisper.

What? What do you mean? he says, but I don’t miss the way his hand tightens into a fist on my hip or how his whole body stiffened. Well all of it except for one part in particular that is.

I slowly turn my eyes, so they’re locked on his. Who’s Claire?

He swallows as his eyes dart around frantically. I…I don’t know who you’re talking about.

My heart breaks as I realize he doesn’t even know he did it. I open my mouth to tell him only to have a sob escape instead.

Emily, you’re scaring me. I mean we had sex, some great sex at that and then…now, you’re crying. You’ve got—

You called out her name when you came… I whisper between sobs.

I watch as he shakes his head frantically in refusal as his eyes grow glossy. I…I—

You did, and now, I need a shower. With that, I push him off me as I climb out of bed and walk as quickly as possible to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I’m not even in here a minute before I hear him trying to get in.

Emily…please, babe…I didn’t…I’m so sorry, babe, please let me in so we can talk, he pleads from the other side, I turn around and twist the handle for the water before stepping under the spray. I can still hear him talking but I turn and step directly under the water so I can’t hear him at all.

I cry silent tears because I don’t want to make a lot of noise knowing he’s listening and more than likely done woke the boys up. As I let the whole situation sink in, I lean against the wall before I slide down and curl into myself as I sit on the floor. I let out all the hurt, betrayal, and lost love. Oh God, it hurts so fucking much. My heart feels as though its stopping. It hurts so much. I find it hard to breathe as I lay on my side in the shower, and when I hear the door break in, I don’t react I only curl more into myself as I realize I’ve lost the man I truly love to another woman.

Fuck, Emily, baby please, I hear Conner say as his voice breaks, and when his hands touch me, I lose it. I come up swinging, slapping and screaming for him not to touch me.

Don’t touch me, you asshole. You’re nothing but a cheater, a loser, I hate you…I HATE YOU! I scream as he wraps his arms around me, holding me to his chest. I drop my head, so it’s buried in my hands as he sits behind me with his chest to my back. His body shakes behind me, and I know it’s because he’s crying.

I hate you! I whisper.

I know, and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, he says as he sobs into my back.

No, he’s not sorry; he’s just sorry he screwed up and got caught. I’m leaving—

No, Emily, no don’t say that. I love you. I love you so much, he interrupts me.

I’m taking the boys, and I’m leaving. You can still see them, but we’re through. I stand up, and he surprises me by letting me go without a fight. I dry off, walk out to the bedroom, and get dressed. I yank the closet door open and start throwing things out of my way when I find what it is I’m looking for: two huge duffle bags. Grabbing them, I spin around and throw them on the bed and begin throwing in all my clothes and my laptop. I can still hear Conner in the bathroom and what sounds like him sobbing. I try my best to ignore him, and my own breaking heart as tears continue to fall down my face as I race around the bedroom grabbing my things.

Emily, please? We can work this out. I look up and see Conner standing in the doorway to the bathroom.

No, our marriage was over the moment you even considered fucking another woman who wasn’t me.

I…I didn’t fuck her. Yes, I kissed her, and yes, I took her out. But I didn’t fuck her. I swear, Emily, he says as he comes up behind me and grabs my waist.

I would love to believe him, but I can’t. I’m sorry, Conner, but even if you didn’t fuck her literally, you thought about it. I can’t deal with that. I’m sorry, but I can’t.

Emi—

No…I’m leaving, and I’m taking the boys, I say as I pull away from him and continue packing. I turn when I hear a sob come from behind me and find Conner on his knees with his head bowed and his hands fisted on his knees. When I walk past him to go start gathering the boys’ things, I say, You did this. Not me, Conner.

I know, and I’m so fucking sorry. You’ll never know how sorry I am, he says, looking up at me.

An hour later, I’m