The Wrong Perfect Match (Fullilove in the House Book 1) Read online

  The Wrong Perfect Match

  Fullilove in the House #1

  Sidney Bristol

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  Inked Press

  The Wrong Perfect Match

  Fullilove in the House #1

  Jayden Fullilove knows what he wants in life: a wife, the white picket fence, and kids. It's everything he's never had and won't if he can't convince a meddling woman to get out of his business. The barrier between him and love is one Amazonian woman with horrible fashion sense and the most contagious laugh he's ever heard. Instead of wining and dining the woman he set his sights on, he's sanding and painting with another. What's worse, he's enjoying it.

  One glance and Brandi Cooke knows she needs to get rid of tall, dark, and stressed-out. The man believes he is in love with Brandi's roommate, yet doesn't know the first thing about her. All Brandi has to do is get rid of him. But the easy job turns out to be oh so very hard the more time she spends with Jayden. She was supposed to get rid of him, not fall into bed with him.

  Every day brings Brandi's walls down a little more. Jayden is determined to prove to her that they can be a perfect match. But history has a way of repeating itself, and an unexpected wrench in the works might just bring this house crumbling down.

  www.SidneyBristol.com

  Table of Contents

  Day 1: Sunday

  Day 2: Monday

  Day 3: Tuesday

  Day 4: Wednesday

  Day 5: Thursday

  Day 6: Friday

  Day 7: Saturday

  Day 8: Sunday

  Day 11: Wednesday

  Day 13: Saturday

  Day 14: Sunday

  Day 15: Monday

  Day 16: Tuesday

  Day 17: Wednesday

  Day 21: Sunday

  Day 27: Saturday

  Day 53: Epilogue

  Day 1: Sunday

  Jayden Fullilove was going to kill his brother.

  He grit his teeth.

  No, not kill.

  That was going too far.

  There were many Fullilove family rules, and killing his adoptive brother was most definitely not allowed. Jayden would have to exact his revenge another way.

  What was an appropriate way to get back at his brother for making him skip out on a date with the woman who might just be The One?

  A shiver went down Jayden’s spine.

  Everything had been perfect.

  The food.

  The wine.

  The conversation.

  Her.

  And then his younger brother had to go off and screw up again.

  Jayden bit his cheek. Every now and then he regretted pulling strings and getting Maddox the job at the bank where Jayden was the Accounts Manager. For the most part, Maddox did his job well enough. But when he screwed up, boy, did he take the cake. And of course everyone always looked at Jayden when that happened.

  It wasn’t a situation Jayden enjoyed. He preferred to be private about his personal life. But Maddox had been so depressed and Jayden had watched his brother try over and over again only to fail. He hadn’t been able to sit back and let it happen. That wasn’t in his nature.

  So he’d gotten Maddox the job.

  That first day was quite a shock for his employees when Maddox showed up and they didn’t match. At a glance it was obvious there was no blood connection between them, but that was how it was with most of the Fullilove boys. Maddox had dusky brown skin courtesy of his Hispanic mother. Jayden, on the other hand, would always get the question, what are you?

  The simplest answer was, Black.

  The more comprehensive answer was a guessing game. Jayden and his twin, Asher, didn’t agree. They had different theories based on things they recalled from their first few years with their biological mother before she’d exited their lives. Her choice.

  Jayden had long since let go of his youthful hurt. He understood her decisions and would always appreciate the way she’d sat them down and been honest with them. As an adult, he was grateful his mother had realized her limitations and let them go. That had left the door open for Jayden and Asher to be adopted into a large, heterogeneous family. Which included Maddox.

  Frustrating Maddox.

  He might screw up, but he owned every mistake. He was also the first to volunteer to pick up the slack or show up. Maddox wasn’t blind to his limitations, which made it that much harder to be angry with him. At some point, Maddox was going to go too far and Jayden wouldn’t be able to save him.

  Last week Maddox had made three mistakes on a new loan application. Not big things, but if another associate hadn’t caught the mistakes and called Jayden up with the emergency. While he’d been on a date. And not just any date.

  In all fairness, the correct thing to do had been to call Jayden to fix the issue. The timing couldn’t have been worse, though.

  Which was why he had a vase stuffed with two dozen roses strapped into the passenger seat.

  Jayden was going to deliver the apology to beat all apologies and then proceed to sweep the woman of his dreams off her feet. He’d thought it would take longer to find a sweet, attentive woman that fit his ideal future, but after a few short weeks using an on-line dating service—there she was.

  The woman who fit his vision.

  He could see it coming together.

  They would be perfect.

  He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, anxious to be there already.

  No, the apology wasn’t necessary. She’d said she understood when he had to leave and again when he’d texted. But this woman was special. She was quite possibly his perfect match. It was something he’d felt in his bones when he shook her hand after she’d gotten out of the taxi at the restaurant.

  They would tell stories about today to their future children.

  Jayden resisted the urge to push the car faster, but only barely.

  The way his luck was going, he’d get pulled over if he did that.

  Not today.

  He had a woman to win over.

  Ten minutes later he pulled onto the street lined by neat brick duplexes.

  His hands grew damp.

  So she hadn’t exactly told him where she lived. He’d poked around on social media and saw a picture she’d posted the day she moved into her current residence. The street sign and house number had been visible, so really it hadn’t been that difficult to figure out where she lived.

  If they didn’t have such an obvious connection he’d be worried about coming across as too forward or even creepy by showing up out of the blue. He just knew she’d be thrilled to see him.

  Jayden eased his car to the curb and killed the engine one house down.

  Trees lined the lane. There weren’t many vehicles. The lawns were well kept. It was a little too cookie cutter for him, but it was close to the kind of neighborhood he’d pictured himself settling down in.

  Who knew? In a few months, he just might be calling this place home, too.

  He freed the flowers from the passenger seat, all while reciting his apology speech to himself.

  Jayden turned toward the house and the rest of the world faded away.

  He was taking a step forward into the future he wanted for himself. A future completely opposite of how he’d begun his life. He wanted to get married, have children who would know their parents. Along the way, he’d work his way up to being bank manager. Provide a stable life for himself and his family. It wasn’t an exciting or even remarkable dream, but it was everything he’d never had until the Fulliloves adopted him.

  And it all started now.

/>   He just knew it.

  Before he was truly ready, he was there. On her doorstep. One knock away.

  Jayden blew out a breath, then shifted the flowers from hand to hand as he dried his palms.

  Nothing could go wrong.

  It was time.

  He reached out and pressed the doorbell.

  The chime sounded in the house with a melodic quality.

  Doorbells were so nice and polite. A pleasant way of saying, hello. Very different from the ham handed knocking people had to do at the Fullilove house. You had to pound on the door there just to be heard over the noise. Jayden had never known what to expect from the way everyone had to pound on it.

  He frowned.

  Where was she?

  Maybe she hadn’t heard the door?

  He pressed the doorbell a second time for good measure.

  Shit.

  What if she’d gone out? To the store?

  He’d briefly asked what her weekend plans were before he’d been called away. She hadn’t mentioned anything.

  So where was she?

  He rocked back on his heels and peered at the front windows. The shades were down and he couldn’t see a hint of the interior.

  Was it really possible she wasn’t there?

  Desperate, Jayden freed his right hand and knocked.

  “Nicole? It’s Jayden,” he called out.

  He was not prepared to deliver his apology speech to a door.

  It was time for a different approach.

  He’d wanted to surprise her at the door, but he could be flexible.

  Jayden pulled out his phone and pressed his thumb to the screen.

  The front door swung open.

  He jerked back, startled by the sudden movement.

  A woman who was most certainly not Nicole stood on the other side of the threshold. Where Nicole was petite with blonde hair, this woman was an Amazon, complete with the jaunty ponytail of long, dark hair that swung behind her like a pendulum ticking down to his death.

  Dear God, what was she wearing? Were those neon pink spandex leggings? With shorts? And did she have a poncho on?

  “Who are you?” the Amazon demanded.

  “Is this where Nicole lives?” Jayden asked.

  He’d checked and double checked the picture.

  This was where Nicole had said she’d moved.

  Did he have it all wrong? Had something happened?

  “You don’t get to knock on my door and get me up off the sofa to answer a question with a question.” The Amazon crossed her arms over her chest and fixed him with an expectant look.

  Roommate.

  Nicole hadn’t mentioned having one, but then again he’d assumed that like him she’d live alone.

  “Sorry.” Jayden offered her his best smile, the one that his clients all seemed to respond well to. “You’re right. Hi, I’m Jayden. I was hoping Nicole was around.”

  One of the Amazon’s brows arched high above the other. It was quite impressive. “Jayden? The Jayden?”

  She knew who he was.

  Nicole had talked about him.

  A surge of excitement went through him.

  This was perfect. She’d been talking and thinking about him.

  He couldn’t keep his smile from spreading. “Yes, I suppose I am that Jayden.”

  The Amazon’s arms shot down to her sides, hands clenched into fists. “You have some fucking nerve showing up here.”

  “Uh, excuse me? Who are you? Where is Nicole?”

  Had this woman broken into Nicole’s home? Or did Nicole care for her as some sort of guardian? Was this woman sick?

  There was always the chance this Amazon could simply be Nicole’s roommate, and yet it was hard to see someone so sweet sharing space with this person.

  “Who am I?” she parroted back at him. She placed a hand on her chest and opened her eyes wide. “I’m the best friend who left a movie halfway through because her roommate called her crying about an awful date. I’m the roommate who has been tip-toeing around because of the mess you created, you selfish asshole.”

  “Wait. What?” Jayden gaped at her, his brain trying to rectify what she was saying with his own memories.

  The Amazon woman waved her hands around wildly as she spoke. “What kind of man goes on a date, spends the short time he’s there on his phone, then leaves without any explanation?”

  He took a step back to keep from getting hit by a flailing hand. “There’s been some confusion...”

  She shook her head, eyes blazing. “Oh, no, I don’t think so. And what’s this? Flowers? You thought you could just show up here and it would all be fine if you brought roses?”

  Jayden peered past her into the house. It didn’t look like the home he’d pictured. The furniture was mismatched, though well cared for. Most of the pieces he saw could be called shabby chic or upcycled, if he had to guess. Not a poor design aesthetic. He’d gone with coordinating furniture from a big box chain store for his place. His first, real, adult home.

  The Amazon planted her hand on the doorframe and leaned into his line of sight. “She isn’t here.”

  The furniture was probably the Amazon’s. Someone who paired neon pink leggings with anything would also be the hodgepodge furniture type.

  “Where is she?” If he could just talk to Nicole, he could straighten this out. He just knew it.

  “Like I’m going to tell you.” The Amazon took a step toward him onto the stoop.

  Jayden backed up.

  “You have some nerve. Some real fucking nerve,” she said, low and dangerous like.

  He stared into her flashing hazel eyes and gulped.

  She was serious.

  He’d screwed up.

  How? When? Why hadn’t Nicole said anything?

  It was time to change tactics. He’d come here thinking it was a wrinkle, an unfortunate series of events that led to a less than perfect first date. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought it was something to cry over.

  Nicole was sensitive. That was new information. Properly armed, he could be attentive to her needs.

  “I came here to apologize to Nicole,” he said, keeping his tone even. “I don’t want to hurt her.”

  “Well, you did.”

  Jayden clenched his jaw. Could he get more than one thought out before she cut him off? This was frustrating. And exactly why he didn’t want a partner like this woman. Standing on the front stoop yelling was no way to solve things.

  He needed to take control of the situation and stop reacting to this woman’s yelling.

  That decided, he pocketed his phone then held his hand out toward the Amazon woman.

  “Nicole’s roommate, hi. I’m Jayden.”

  Once more her brow arched. She didn’t take his hand, choosing instead to cross her arms over her chest.

  “Brandi,” she said.

  Jayden nodded his head once. “Brandi, I wish we’d met under better circumstances.”

  Both brows rose now, and she kept looking at him with that smoldering expression he couldn’t read.

  Why did she suddenly remind him of his Mother? His adoptive father liked to describe Mom as a spicy Latina. It took a woman with an iron will to corral all the boys who’d called the Fullilove house home. And in this moment, looking at him the way she was, Brandi had everything in common with Mom.

  When Jayden and Nicole patched things up, Brandi could never be allowed to join them for family events. He had the sick feeling that if Mom and her got together, there’d be a lot of trouble for everyone else.

  Good thing he had no intention of fostering a relationship with a woman like Brandi. He just needed on her good side so he could find out where Nicole was.

  “You are so damn clueless,” Brandi said. Growled was more like it.

  She turned, glanced over his shoulder, and her eyes narrowed.

  What now?

  “Are you leaving or staying?” she got out in a low, dangerous tone.

  Jayden would rea
lly prefer to leave, but he couldn’t. Not until Brandi told him where Nicole was.

  “I’d like to better understand the situation and how to remedy it,” he said.

  Brandi rolled her eyes and whirled. Her pony tail slapped his hand. “Come in. And don’t get any funny ideas. I kick box for fun.”

  Why did that not surprise him?

  IT WASN’T FAIR.

  Why were the hot ones always assholes?

  Brandi Cooke shut the front door with a little too much force.

  She turned and glared at the wide shoulders of the man who’d invaded her glorious weekend of watching whatever she wanted to.

  He was the reason she had this freedom, truth be told. If she could swap this weekend for any other for the sake of Nicole’s happiness, Brandi would do it in a heartbeat.

  Nicole had been so excited for the date. It had been a long time since she was excited about anything. And a first for boys. Nicole never had the chance to get out and date as a teen. Then they’d been too focused on school. Brandi knew Nicole liked men, but she never did more than drinks or a lunch date before running away scared. Which was why Brandi had been so excited that her friend was making progress on her goals. Getting out there and dating was something Nicole had talked about doing for ages. Brandi, on the other hand, was still too bruised from her last relationship to try.

  And then enter one Jayden Full-of-himself, or whatever his last name was.

  God, but he was good looking. A little bit like a stone polished too much. He was too perfect.

  He set the flowers down on the side table next to the sofa. For some reason, he seemed bigger without the bouquet in his arms.

  Nicole had shown Brandi a rather bland picture of her date. It had made Brandi think of employee headshots. To say it had lacked personality was an understatement.

  Still, he was good looking in person. And that was damn annoying.

  If she had to guess, he was right around six feet. Maybe a little over. It was hard to gauge how much height those dress shoes added. Still, he was tall enough she could look him straight in the eyes, and that was saying something. His dark hair was cut short with precise lines and an artistic fade. He had one of those dark complexions, tanned with an olive undertone, that glowed in sunlight.