All Chapters of Jaded: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

KariKari gathered her things from her car, her camera bag strapped over her shoulder. She'd have to ask Martha about painting the walls, as it was just too clinical with all the white staring at her. She set her stuff on a small, round table that sat at the far corner of her office and walked to sit in her large leather chair. Not that she'd be in the building much, but when she was there it was nice to know that she'd have a great place to be - a place of her own. That was unheard of at the Herald. She was lucky to have a badge to get into the front door, much less a key.She picked up her phone and texted her friends, then her brother, Steve, and then her mother. Everyone would want to know if she'd gotten the job. She got a handful of texts right back congratulating her and giving her accolades. Steve told her to call later to get the scoop on Martha and the town in general. She couldn't help but chuckle. There wasn't anyone her boss didn't know and any amount of dirt on them he w

KariHe laughed at her question and she shook her head. "I'm the worst at this kind of stuff. I'm a photographer, not a reporter, but Martha needed me to fill in today."Jake extended his hand. "Give me the pad and I'll write a few more things for you to give to her. Let's not get you fired your first day."She stood up and handed him the pad, smirking like a teenage girl at his playfulness. He was gorgeous, dark spiked hair and tanned skin, with incredible dark brown eyes that seem to see right through her. She moved toward the far wall of the small office, her eyes moving across the various awards he'd won, pictures of him with various kids littering the walls. She reached up to touch a picture of him with a small boy in a wheelchair, the child holding up a blue ribbon."What's the story behind this one?" She looked over her shoulder as he stood, the large muscles of his arms flexing and grabbing her attention. He stopped just behind her, closer than she felt safe with, farther than

KariMarc shrugged. "Lisa is hot and she likes me. What else is there to tell?""Um, she's my best friend and if you hurt her I'm likely to stab you in your sleep and feed you to the large fish in that lake.""That's the ocean and those would be sharks."Kari laughed despite herself. She turned a little, resting her elbow on the railing and looking at her brother. "I'm serious. She means a lot to me and you guys getting close and then you leaving isn't going to be good for her already jacked up stance on men."He nodded. "I understand. I'll just take her to dinner and explain that I am interested too, but now isn't the time.""Really?" Kari asked, shock washing over her. "Wait... I don't want to be the reason you guys don't get together, but I don't want to be the one here left to pick up the pieces should things not work out.""I don't think this is as much about you as you're making it seem. She likes me and I like her. We're not kids, sis. We're adults and if things go farther with

KariSicily was in the kitchen when Kari woke up, her alarm not set to go off for another few hours. The night before had been short, and after a hot bath and a peanut butter sandwich, she'd dozed off on the couch watching Seinfeld reruns. Sometime during the night she'd made her way back to her room, but when or how she couldn't recall."You look nice." Sicily turned, her hands coated in flour. "Gray is your color.""Thanks." Kari smoothed down the gray cashmere sweater that laid perfect over her black slacks. She hated wearing heels and yet the outfit she'd chosen only looked good with those shoes. She slipped them off and padded across the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, a loud yawn leaving her lips."You passed out fast last night.""Yeah, I guess it was from getting a new job and meeting the man of my dreams - again." She laughed, fixed her coffee and sat down as Sicily turned around with a mixing bowl in her hands."About that... I somehow missed the update on Mr. Hot-stuff as I

JakeOf all the people in the world to expect to see at his favorite rental house, Kari Martin wasn't one of them. When she opened the door he almost stumbled backwards, her long hair pulled up in a girlish ponytail, her clothes relaxed and feet bare. He'd played it cool the entire time, his voice in his own head constantly reminding him of the danger, forever beating him up at the idea of trying again.He looked up at her, a little surprised by her question. Did she want to know about a missus because she was interested, or because she was concerned about how long she'd get to stay in the rental? The look on her pretty face said she was interested, but he had to shut it down. She was a heartbreaker, no doubt. Successful and creative, voluptuous and sexy, like a kitten.Trouble. “Oh,” was all she said to his comment about a wife. He concentrated on moving various pieces of the swing into piles, counting screws and trying not to look up at her. The pose she stood in accentuated the li