Vulnerable Pieces (Cape Isle, #4): A Cape Isle Novel Read online

  Vulnerable Pieces

  A Cape Isle Novel

  Allie Able

  Vulnerable Pieces

  Copyright © 2016 Allie Able.

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations em-bodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Formatting: Champagne Formats

  Cover Design: Perfect Pear Creative Covers

  Editing: Schmidt’s Author Services

  First Edition: October 2016

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  Jenna and Parker

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Epilogue

  Note from the Author

  Other Books

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Finding Home by Becca Taylor

  Dedication

  This one is dedicated to my Ying. This story would have never been written without your support and guidance. You helped me get through one of the hardest times of my life. I will never be able to repay you, but hopefully dedicating a book to you will help.

  “Being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure.”

  -Bob Marley

  Jenna and Parker

  Prologue

  Jenna

  I CLUTCH ONTO DAVID’S ARM and he shoots me a displeased look.

  “Sorry,” I whisper.

  He rolls his eyes before looking away and leading us deeper into the party.

  We only just got here and I already want to go home. My heels are too high and my dress is so damn heavy. I should be used to gatherings like this. I was raised around all of this glitz and glamour, but David’s parents take it to the extreme. While mine are wealthy, they are also genuinely nice people. They don’t throw their wealth in people’s faces. David’s parents don’t have that same problem. His dad is a Georgia state senator who is vying for a spot in the White House. Just what that man needs is more power.

  “Hi, Mom,” David’s deep voice brings me out of my inner musings.

  “Darling.” She leans forward and makes a big display of kissing his cheeks and it takes real effort to not roll my eyes.

  “Jenna, where are your parents?”

  Looking around the room, I shrug my shoulders. “I’m not sure, Mrs. Scott. They should be here any minute.”

  She blows out a frustrated breath and air kisses David’s cheeks again. “I’m going to mingle. Enjoy the party.”

  She breezes by me in a haze of expensive perfume. “Bye, Mrs. Scott,” I mumble under my breath.

  David looks down at me and chuckles. I feel something inside of me move and shift, giving me a false sense of hope that things will change. It’s been so long since he looked at me like that. We haven’t been happy in what feels like years, but the moment is over as quickly as it begins. He looks away and finds the bar area, before leading me in that direction.

  I let out a sigh and bite my tongue. I’ve mentioned his drinking enough to know that he won’t listen, and it will only make him angry.

  I listen as he orders himself a whiskey neat and me a white wine. It seems like tonight is going to be another long night.

  * * *

  I watch from a quiet corner of the room as David mingles with a few of his friends. We have been here for hours and I’m so done with this crap. He started getting loud and obnoxious about an hour ago and that told me he was already drunk. I am so damn tired of dealing with this, but what bothers me the most is that these people seem to think it is normal behavior. They just look the other way and it’s never mentioned again.

  I watch as another woman approaches him and he flashes her a smile. Those use to be my smiles, but now he hands them out freely to every woman but me. I have to wonder how many of these women he’s fucked. The nasty thought makes me take a large gulp of my wine. I caught David cheating on me once. I knew he was drunk when it happened and he begged for my forgiveness. I stupidly thought he would change, but now I know that’s never going to happen. He breaks my heart a little more every time I have to see him like this and I don’t think I can do it anymore.

  I make my way across the marble floors and to the group of people I use to call my friends. Somewhere along the way, they turned into spoiled, entitled rich kids and I can’t stand to be around them anymore.

  I look over that the blonde who’s currently fondling my boyfriend before looking up at his face.

  “David, I’m ready to go,” I whisper, trying not to draw attention from everyone around me.

  “Really? The party is just starting. Don’t be an uptight bitch, Jenna.”

  It takes everything in me to not roll my eyes. “David, I’m ready to go. I’m leaving with or without you.”

  He looks down at me and I see the anger on his face. Fuck him. I don’t care anymore. I just want to go home.

  “Fine.” He drinks the rest of his whiskey in one shot before slamming the empty glass down on the table. “Let’s fucking go then.”

  He grabs me roughly by my upper arm and drags me towards the door. I try my best to keep up with him so we don’t cause a scene, but his legs are much longer than mine and my heels are way too high.

  When we reach the valet line, the limo pulls up to the curb and David’s hand tightens around my arm.

  I try to pull away, but he just keeps tightening his grip. “God dammit, David, that hurts.”

  He looks over at me and his eyes narrow. “Get in the fucking car, Jenna,” he growls in a low voice.

  I look towards the limo to see that the driver is standing beside the door holding it open. I can’t even imagine the non-disclosure agreements these guys have to sign. I know this isn’t the first fight that has been witnessed between us, and I have to wonder what they see.

  I sigh and quit struggling as I let David pull me towards the car. Climbing inside, I scoot across the seat, getting as far away from him as possible.

  “Jesus Christ.” I rub my temples to ease the ache that is beginning to form from having to deal with his drunken display, again.

  “What in the fuck is wrong with you, Jenna? You are always such an uptight bitch.”

  “Then you should have stayed at the party with one of your other little whores,” I respond in anger.

  The slap comes before I even have a chance to get the last word out. I should have been expecting it, but I
wasn’t.

  “Shit,” I say as I cover my burning cheek with my hands.

  He grabs a fist full of my hair and tilts my face towards him. “Don’t fucking speak to me like that.”

  I just stare into his furious eyes. He wants me to agree, but I will never give him what he wants. I’m so sick of this shit. David is only mean when he drinks, but these days he’s always drinking. It’s been like this for almost two years. I keep asking myself why I stay with him, but I already know the answer to that. I love him and I remember the good days when we were happy. I just keep waiting for it all to go back to that.

  He lets my hair go and forcefully pushes my head to the side. “You’re fucking useless.”

  The rest of the drive home to our condo is quiet. I stare out of my window, lost in thought, and he does the same. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch his fist clench. I know this argument is far from done.

  We pull up to our building and we wait in silence as the driver comes around to open our doors. David gets out first and stands to the side as the driver helps me out. He gives me a sympathetic smile and I have to bite my tongue to keep from telling him to fuck off.

  Once we get inside our apartment, the yelling continues. David mixes himself another drink and I tell him he’s had enough. I try to leave and make my way towards the bedroom, but I guess David isn’t done. He tries to grabs at my arm to keep me in place, but it causes me to trip over my heels and instead of catching me, he lets me fall.

  My face slams against the coffee table on my way down and I scream out in pain.

  David comes to stand over me and I look up at him as I hold my cheek and begin to cry.

  “Don’t fucking look at me like that. You did that to yourself. You’re so fucking clumsy, Jenna. I’m fucking done with you. Done. Do you hear me? This is my Goddamned apartment, and I want your shit out by tomorrow afternoon.”

  Instead of helping me up, he walks away, stumbling a bit in his drunken state.

  He’s done? No, I’m done. I’m so fucking done with this shit. I climb to my feet and make my way towards the guest bedroom. There is no way in hell I’m sleeping anywhere near him tonight.

  I tend to my face, and I look at myself in the bathroom mirror for a long time, before finally walking into the bedroom and getting ready for bed.

  I’m done trying. I’m done hoping things will change. I’m sure he’ll wake up and regret what he said tonight or maybe not, but tonight is the last night I will ever stay in this house. I make a promise to myself right then and there that I will never be vulnerable to another man again. I’ll build my walls so high that no one will ever be able to get over them.

  Chapter One

  Jenna

  Two years Later

  PULLING MY HAIR UP INTO a bun, I quickly walk into my kitchen. I grab the cat food from the cabinet and mush the nasty smelling stuff into a bowl.

  “God, you’re lucky I love you.”

  I look over to where my beautiful Persian cat, Coconut, is staring at me. She gives me a bored look and swishes her tail. I roll my eyes and finish fixing her food, before running towards my front door.

  I’m running late this morning, and I hate being late for anything. I know I won’t get in trouble at the bakery, but I still don’t like it.

  The drive to work is quick, only a few minutes or so. In Cape Isle, all the shops are in the center of town. I’ve lived here for about a year and a half now and I love everything about it. My grandmother retired to here several years ago and when I left David, I knew this was where I wanted to be.

  Pulling up in front of the bakery, I park my car in the first available spot. Through the window, I can see Lexie already standing at the front.

  She sees me approaching and smiles as she lets me in. God, it’s good to see her smile again. There was a time not too long ago that I was seriously afraid she was lost. Her and her boyfriend, Zack, went through a really rough time and she was like a shadow of her old self.

  “Good morning,” she says as I walk through the door.

  “Morning,” I say with a quick wave as I practically run towards the kitchen.

  I push open the back doors and make my way to the office before joining Summer in the kitchen.

  “I’m so sorry I’m late,” I say, as I tie my ‘Sprinkles’ apron around my waist.

  She stops stirring the bowl of frosting and gives me a stern look. “Oh, calm down. You’re fine. We haven’t even opened yet.”

  “I can’t stand being late,” I mumble.

  She chuckles and shakes her head. “We have that in common.”

  I make a quick survey of the kitchen to see what Summer has already done and what is still left to do before we open.

  “Want me to work on the scones or cupcakes?”

  “Scones, please.”

  I nod my head in response and get to work.

  “Hey, we are throwing a dinner party at the house next week. Do you want to come?”

  Summer is always inviting me to their dinner parties and, while I appreciate it, I also don’t want to be the only one there alone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy with my single life and by no means do I want or need a man, I just don’t want to be the only single person in a group of couples. They are all ridiculously in love and to be honest, it’s kind of disgusting.

  Before I can respond, she pins me with a look. “It’s not just couples. Other people will be there too. I promise. Please, Jenna, just this once?”

  She’s giving me her sad eyes and I can’t stand it. I swear, I can never say no to her when she looks at me like that. I huff in aggravation but give in to her anyway. “Fine, when and what time?”

  “Yah! It’s next Friday, at my house, and you can come right after work if you want.”

  I give her a smile that comes out like a grimace and she laughs.

  “It’ll be fun. I promise.”

  I go back to my baking and shake my head. I’m not even sure what fun is anymore.

  * * *

  I get home a little later than normal and dump my purse by the front door. Coconut greets me in the living room by peeking one eye open and glaring at me from her perch on the back of the couch.

  “I should have gotten a dog,” I grumble to myself, as I walk towards my kitchen.

  I open my refrigerator to see left over Chinese food from last night. I grab the container and give it a sniff before deciding to risk my luck with food poisoning. It’s not that I don’t like to cook, but when it’s only me here, there really isn’t a need for that.

  As I’m waiting for my day old noodles to heat up, I look around my space and smile. My house is so tiny and I fucking love it. I grew up living in a lavish house. I did love my childhood home, but I never really felt like it was me. I like simple things and despite having a mansion of a house and more money than they can count, my parents always taught me to live within reason. Sure, there were lots of shopping trips and luxury vacations when I was growing up, but they taught me not to flaunt my money around and I love them even more for that.

  When David and I started dating, I quickly realized that not everyone was like my parents. His family had no problem flaunting their money and social status everywhere they went. David wasn’t originally like that, but as the years went on, he became an asshole. Since his dad is a State Senator, he thought that excused him from ever having to be responsible for his actions. After we moved in together, it only got worse. The fighting, the drinking, and eventually the hitting and cheating on me all became too much. I hated the person he’d turned into and I kind of hated myself for letting it go on for so long.

  The morning that I was finally going to leave him, my parents showed up at our condo. They took one look at my face and became enraged. I thought my dad was going to try to kill him. Luckily for David, I was able to calm them down. They helped me pack my bags and within an hour I was rushed into the waiting town car and taken back home. I don’t really know what happened, but I do know that my parents no longer sp
eak to David’s and I do know that David only tried to contact me once. Shortly after I left him, I enrolled in the Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie and Baking program. I’d always wanted to be a baker, but I never told my parents. I thought maybe that would disappoint them, but when they found out that’s really what I wanted to do, they were all for it.

  I didn’t want to chance running into David, so after I graduated school, I moved to Cape Isle to be closer to my grandmother. I was lucky enough to find the perfect job working for Summer. While I could have afforded to open my own bakery, that’s really not the direction I saw my life going at the time. I’m happy with my simple life.

  I hear Coconut meowing as she walks into the kitchen and hops up on the counter.

  “You know you aren’t suppose to be up there.”

  I walk over to the cabinet where I keep her food. Her meows get even louder as I open the can and mush it up.

  I reach my hand out to pet her head, but her paw swats at me before I have a chance.

  “Ungrateful, bitch,” I mumble, as I set her bowl on the floor.

  I grab my noodles out of the microwave and look around my quiet house. Yeah, I’m extremely happy coming home alone and eating day old noodles while talking to a cat that hates me. My life is fucking perfect.

  * * *

  A few days later, I’m filling the display case when I see him walking down the street. His suit is molded to his body and I have to wonder how he is wearing a jacket in this heat. This certainly isn’t the first time I’ve seen him. His law office is in the same downtown area where Sprinkles is located. He’s been in the shop before too, but I’ve never spoken to him. I don’t think he has actually ever seen me, which makes my ogling so much worse. I have no interest whatsoever getting involved with a man, but it doesn’t hurt to look from a distance. With his dark wavy hair, his scruffy beard and the confidence that oozes off of him, Parker Hamilton just does it for me.