Unbreak my heart, p.1
Unbreak My Heart, page 1
Jade Marshall
Unbreak my Heart
Love in White Bridge Book 1
Copyright © 2023 by Jade Marshall
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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Cover Artist - Simply Defined Art
Editor - Dallas Ann
First edition
Cover art by Simply Defined Art
Editing by Dallas Ann
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Contents
Unbreak my Heart
Content Warning
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the author
Unbreak my Heart
Love In White Bridge Book 1
By
Jade Marshall
(Previously Featured in Saved by the Everyday Hero - Limited Edition Anthology)
Content Warning
Authors Note:
Unbreak My Heart may contain triggers for some. As a reader, I find trigger warnings to be spoilers, but as an author, I understand that they are sometimes necessary. Although I am not going to list each one, there are many, please feel free to email me at author.jmarshall@gmail.com with your specific trigger(s) and I will let you know if that trigger is in this book.
Triggers include but are not limited to:
Mental Health Issues
Attempted Murder
Off Page Infidelity
For those of you who wish to go in blind, please remember that this is a work of fiction, and I DO NOT condone any of the situations or actions of the characters.
Thank you for reading
Jade Marshall
Dedication
For my mother
Thank you for the endless support and for always pushing me to chase my dreams, no matter how wild they sounded.
Chapter One
Returning Home
Colton
It has been five long years since I stepped foot in the town of White Bridge and things are just as I left them. Nothing much changes in a town this small. I am glad to be back, but I also wish I had stayed away. Driving through town to the firehouse, where I will serve my first day as fire chief, I take in all of my surroundings.
Memories flood my mind. From playing ball in high school to my senior prom. My first kiss under the bleachers and the day I asked Sasha to marry me at the waterfall. So many memories bombard me that I actually slow my truck to avoid causing an accident.
Most of the businesses I grew up with are still around. Dan’s Hardware is still on the corner of Main Street and Audrey’s Diner on the opposite corner is still painted that god-awful dirty turquoise color. There are a few new businesses though. A bookstore called Little Letters and Cake My Life. The latter seems to be a bakery and has a line waiting outside the door. I will have to stop in there at some point to find out what the fuss is about. I may or may not have a major sweet tooth.
I don’t have time for that now though. I need to make sure I am at the firehouse before any of the members on my shift, so I continue my drive. Three blocks further I pull into a parking spot and shut down my truck. Taking a deep breath, I grab my bag and get out. There is a pristine green lawn in front of the older red brick building that has been converted into a station house.
“Morning,” An older woman with graying hair and sharp blue eyes greets me as I enter. “How can I help you today?”
“I’m Colton Black —” I start but she cuts me off when she jumps up and comes around the counter.
“Oh,” she smiles broadly while clearly scoping me out. “We have been waiting for you. It’s about time we got some young blood back into this station. I’m Denise Ellis.”
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Oh my,” she fans her face. “Why don’t you go through to the meeting room.” She points at a closed glass door. “The rest of the team should be here shortly.”
Nodding I make my way toward the room she indicated but I don’t miss her muttered words as I walk away.
“If only I was thirty years younger.”
I chuckle to myself and shake my head. I’m going to have my hands full around here if anyone else is like her.
It’s another twenty minutes before my shift starts to wander into the meeting room. I wait patiently while each grabs a cup of coffee and a seat. One of the men nods at me indicating that everyone has arrived.
Rising, I stand behind the podium and face the people I am now in charge of. This is a big responsibility. If I slack or shirk my responsibilities, I could cost one or more of them their lives. I take my job seriously, even more now that I am back in my hometown.
“Morning everyone. I am Chief Colton Black,” I state. “We will get to know one another as we go, though most that grew up here probably know me or know of me. But the most important thing to know about me is that I will always have your back. Do your job and stick to the guidelines and we will get along just fine. Let’s get to work.”
* * *
Echo
As the last client leaves, I sigh loudly. I am tired beyond words and my feet ache like a bitch, but I can’t stop smiling. Cake My Life has only been open for two weeks but it is a roaring success. I love watching every face brighten with joy when they bite into any of my creations.
I love baking, I always have. From eclairs and croissants to full-on wedding cakes. You name it and I will bake it. Today has been extra busy with three custom cakes but no one will ever hear me complaining.
I look around at what I have created. The pastel pink walls with puffy white clouds that I painstakingly hand-painted. Three chrome top tables with chairs at the front and my gleaming display case and counter. It’s exactly what I have always envisioned.
Turning the sign on the door over, I officially close the shop for the day before heading to the back to clean up. I really need to consider hiring an assistant, but I hate not being one hundred percent in control of everything. I know it’s a bad habit and I need to learn to delegate but that’s just not the way I am.
When I am satisfied that everything is clean, I take off my apron and hang it on the hook behind the back door, grab my shopping list, and lock it up. I need to head to the grocery store to stock up on some items that have run out.
Outside the air is warm from the last rays of the summer sun. I love living in White Bridge. I love the sense of community and being able to greet almost anyone without them thinking I’m some weirdo. I grew up here and I honestly have no inclination to ever leave. My sister wanted out of here as fast as her slim legs could carry her and I never understood why. Who wouldn’t love to live and raise a family in a close-knit community?
Humming to myself I push my trolley down the perfectly stacked aisles, grabbing items not only for the bakery but for myself. My mind is full of all the things I still need to do this week, like the three-tier gender reveal cake that I need to finish before Saturday. I love doing them. No one knows the sex of the baby except for me and the doctor. It’s so much fun to plan something special for each couple.
With my mind going through all the options I have I don’t see the massive man in front of me until I ram him with my cart.
“Shit,” I curse before looking around to see who heard me but find us alone in the aisle. “I am so sorry —” I start to apologize.
“Echo?”
The man’s voice flows over me, coating me from the inside out. I would know that deep baritone anywhere. My gaze clashes with his as I try to form words, but my brain is fried. The man is gorgeous, no lie. Then again, he always has been.
He has dark hair that’s not too long with dark eyes that bore into your soul, stealing all my darkest, innermost hidden secrets. And he is fit with a capital ‘F’. As a fireman, he takes excellent care of his body, but I swear that he is bigger than he was the last time I saw him, five years ago.
“I don’t know if you remember me?” He looks a little sheepish.
“Really?” I laugh. “Of course, I remember my sisters’ ex-husband. I was just shocked to see you. I thought you had moved to San F
I’m rambling. I know it and he knows it. But it has always been this way. Colton makes me nervous and verbal diarrhea just spills out of me. I thought it would change when I was older or maybe even when he married my sister, Sasha. But it never did. Seems this crush is never going to fade away.
“Right.” His features harden, and he goes stoic.
“Shit. Sorry!” I slap my hand over my mouth, and he chuckles. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know.” Colton nods. “I think I forgot that everyone here would remember that. I also forgot that you can be brutally honest.”
“What are you doing back in town?” I try to change the subject and hopefully wipe the frown from his face.
His chest puffs out slightly with pride before he answers. “I’m the new Fire Chief.”
“Congratulations! That’s amazing. You always said that you wanted to be chief,” I hug him, but he goes rigid. “Sorry. Seems all I can do is put my foot in my mouth or make you uncomfortable.”
“I just wasn’t expecting…” he trails off.
“I know, right? I’m not supposed to be nice to you. I mean with Sasha being my sister and all. But you didn’t do anything wrong, even if she wants everyone to think that. And I’ve known you for years.” I’m rambling again.
Why won’t the earth just crack open and swallow me, for crying out loud?
He tilts his head to the side, studying me, like I’m some damn insect. “Thanks for that, Echo. It’s good to know not everyone thinks I’m the bad guy.”
“Well, it’s true.” I nod as if trying to reinforce my words. “Anyway, I will let you get on with your shopping. It was good seeing you.”
“You too,” Colton murmurs as I turn my cart around and haul ass as far away from him as I can before I do anything else to embarrass myself.
The damn man turns me inside out every, single, time. I feel like I am eighteen years old all over again.
Chapter Two
Not so little anymore
Colton
Running into Echo was a little weird, but I can easily remember why I was so fond of her when she was younger. The girl has no filter whatsoever and simply says whatever is on her mind. It’s refreshing, to say the least.
What I wasn’t expecting was to find a gorgeous woman in the place of the awkward young woman I remember. Echo has definitely grown into herself and if she wasn’t my ex-sister-in-law, I would have asked her out.
She is a curvy little thing with thick thighs and large breasts. Her skin is tan, and her hazel eyes are bright. Long dark hair with sun streaks flows down her back to the curve of her ass. Yeah, not a teenager anymore.
It was nice to talk with her for a bit though. Knowing that she doesn’t hold the utter destruction of my marriage to her sister against me is a relief. You can always count on Echo to mean what she says. She doesn’t have a single deceptive bone in her body. I hope I get to see her again, perhaps we can have dinner and be friends. I sure as shit need one.
My mind is filled with thoughts of Echo — I know they shouldn’t be, okay — as I grab the last of my groceries and wait in line at the checkout. I’m so lost in thought, it takes me a moment to realize someone is actually talking to me when they say my name.
“Colton?”
A hand on my elbow grabs my attention and I turn hoping it will be Echo once more. Wishful thinking. Instead, I am facing my ex-wife, Sasha, and my mood sours instantly.
“Sasha,” I nod before turning back around.
“Oh, don’t be like that,” she laughs and the sound grates on my nerves. “I haven’t seen you in years. Let’s catch up.”
I glare at her with disdain. “Nothing to catch up on.” My tone is clipped, and I know I am being rude, but this woman tore my heart out and stomped on it for everyone to see.
“Don’t be a prick, Colton,” she hisses, quickly looking around to see if anyone is watching our interaction.
She has always been all about public perception. I pause a moment to take her in. Perfect blonde hair cut to a straight bob, gaunt features, pale skin. She is wearing an all-white pants suit with a thin golden belt around her waist and not for the first time I wonder what happened to the girl I fell in love with. The one who wore cut-off jeans and cowboy boots on our first date.
It took me a while to figure out I wasn’t the reason our marriage failed. Besides the fact that she was sleeping with my best friend behind my back, the reason our marriage failed is that she changed, she wasn’t happy just being a small-town girl married to a small-town boy. She wanted more.
“I thought you moved to New York,” I say.
“Benjamin’s mother broke her hip. We are here helping out.” She says this like she deserves some kind of award, and I can’t help but snort.
“Good luck with that.”
The line moves forward, and I quickly unpack my cart, hoping to all that is holy that she will back off and leave me the fuck alone.
“We should get together. Catch up,” she smiles that fake smile she perfected in the last year of our dying marriage. “You, me, and Benny. Just like old times.”
I turn around and scowl at her. “Are you fucking insane? Do you really think I am going to have dinner with my ex-wife and the man she cheated on me with?” Sasha pales. “Grow the fuck up and leave me alone. I’ve been done with you for years, take the damn hint.”
She huffs and turns on her heel before stomping away. The pimply teenager ringing up my purchases holds out his fist toward me. “She’s a total bitch. Everyone knows it.”
With a smile, I childishly bump my fist against his before heading outside and loading my shopping into the bed of my blue Ford pickup truck. Thank God this day is over. Now all I want is a cold beer, a bloody steak, and some peace and quiet.
* * *
Echo
Three days after my run-in with Colton at the supermarket I find him standing in front of my counter as I round the corner from the back. My new assistant, Darla — yes, I gave in and hired someone — is flirting up a storm.
“Darla,” I call to grab her attention. “Please take this out to Paisley’s car. She’s waiting.”
I hand her the lavender-colored box filled with dark chocolate cupcakes and watch as she walks out.
“You work here?” Colton asks by way of greeting.
“It’s my bakery,” I say with a wide smile, pride infused in every word.
He makes a sound of approval in the back of his throat. “One of the guys brought in croissants yesterday and I thought I died and went to heaven.”
I blush at his praise. I’ve never been very good at taking a compliment but hearing he likes my sweets is the best compliment ever.
“Do you still have that sweet tooth?” I ask trying to act cool but probably failing miserably.
Colton nods while staring at some of the items I have on display and licking his lips. He could be here forever and still not be able to decide which one he wants.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back,” I say before slipping back into the kitchen.
I quickly pack him a box he can take with him, stuffing it with everything I know he will like. Salted caramel macarons, a death-by-chocolate cupcake, some giant chocolate chip cookies, and a slice of black cherry bourbon pie.
“Here you go,” I hand him the box. He stares at me in confusion. “You’ll never be able to just pick one, and we both know it. I just put together a couple of my favorites.”
“You didn’t have to—”
But I cut him off with my hand in the air. “I know that. I wanted to do it. I like when people enjoy what I have made, and I know you will enjoy these.”
“You’re the best,” Colton smiles before leaning over the counter and placing a kiss on my cheek.
“What the hell is going on here?”
My gaze drifts over Colton’s shoulder to collide with my sisters. I can see she is pissed off and things are about to escalate quickly. Luckily the lunch rush has passed, and the store is deserted except for the three of us and Darla in the back.
