Trouble with a Twist: A Friends-to-Lovers Romantic Comedy (Top Shelf Romances Book 4) Read online

  Copyright © 2023 by Irene Bahrd

  All rights reserved.

  No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

  Cover by Irene Bahrd. Character art created by Boord Games, Inc.

  For all my neurospicy readers.

  And… for Lakshmi who has been simping over Jason since Mine with Extra Lime.

  Enjoy!

  Content Warnings

  By reading this book, you may experience the following side effects:

  May want to leave your significant other in search of your own Jason.

  May force your partner to wear gray sweatpants and lean against doorframes for the ultimate book boyfriend experience.

  May find yourself eating waffles and playing Taylor Swift on Sundays.

  May always choose "10"

  You’re welcome.

  All joking aside, this is a slow-to-medium burn, age gap, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy with on-page explicit content. It is intended for mature audiences.

  Additionally, there are scenes with:

  Handcuffs (FMC)

  Brief general discussions about BDSM and kink

  Orgasm control (FMC)

  Sextime in public

  Author Note: Your new bestie, Charlotte, is autistic and has ADHD. In this book, she has an on-page meltdown and a few instances where she dissociates. There is discussion of on and off-page sensory overload/experiences in a few chapters. Charlotte and Jason both go to therapy in this book (on-page), but please note, any advice provided by the fictional therapists is just that, fiction.

  If you or someone you know feels they can benefit from therapy, please research your options and/or speak to a medical professional. Though there were two sensitivity readers for this book, everyone's experience with ADHD and autism is different. Charlotte is fictional, but it was important to highlight both the beauty and some of the struggles that neurospicy people have in their day-to-day lives.

  Additionally, it was important to the sensitivity readers and author that Jason *not* treat Charlotte as an equal for the first part of the book. You’ll see scenes where he is borderline controlling. Don’t worry, he figures it out and makes big changes! Unfortunately, neurodivergent people and people with disabilities can experience this in their romantic and non-romantic relationships. The greatest way you can support neurodivergent people is to listen. The author, being neurospicy herself, wanted these voices to be heard.

  Representation matters!!!

  Charlotte's Playlist

  “Clumsy” — Fergie

  “Dandelions” — Ruth B.

  “Bejeweled” — Taylor Swift

  “Dark Horse” — Katy Perry [feat. Juicy J]

  “You Belong With Me” — Taylor Swift

  “Here With Me” — marshmello & CHVRCHES

  “Levitating” — Dua Lipa

  “Shake It Off” — Taylor Swift

  “Made You Look” — Meghan Trainor

  “Just A Girl” — No Doubt

  “All Of The Girls You Loved Before” — Taylor Swift

  “Paper Rings” — Taylor Swift

  Contents

  Charlotte

  1. Jason

  2. Charlotte

  3. Jason

  4. Jason

  5. Charlotte

  6. Jason

  7. Charlotte

  8. Jason

  9. Charlotte

  10. Jason

  11. Charlotte

  12. Jason

  13. Charlotte

  14. Jason

  15. Charlotte

  16. Jason

  17. Charlotte

  18. Jason

  19. Charlotte

  20. Jason

  21. Charlotte

  22. Jason

  23. Charlotte

  24. Jason

  25. Jason

  26. Charlotte

  27. Jason

  28. Jason

  29. Charlotte

  30. Charlotte

  31. Jason

  32. Charlotte

  33. Jason

  34. Charlotte

  35. Charlotte

  36. Jason

  37. Charlotte

  38. Robbie

  39. Jason

  40. Charlotte

  41. Jason

  Charlotte

  Acknowledgments

  About Irene

  Also By Irene Bahrd

  Charlotte

  Prologue

  “ Happy Birthday! ” The shouts could be heard from a mile away.

  Emma’s boyfriend, Dylan, has been planning her birthday for months and asked that I fly in for it. I love my step-sister, so obviously my answer was yes. We didn’t grow up together, but we’re great friends, and I’m so happy that she’s reconnected with Dylan after sixteen years. He invited all of her friends to come as a surprise for her birthday… and their engagement—she doesn’t know about the latter, yet.

  “You guys, what is this?” Emma exclaims as she heads over to greet all of us.

  Her ex-husband, Jason, and their son, Aiden, hug her first. “Hey Em. Dylan told me about this surprise he had for you. We wanted to be sure the boys were here for it. I know this is your first birthday since the divorce, but I hope you don’t mind my being here with them to celebrate with you,” Jason says kindly.

  “Of course not! Thank you. I don’t know what’s going on but I’m glad you’re here.” Emma has an unconventional friendship with her ex-husband. She told me they just didn’t work out and they were better off friends. They co-parent their three boys beautifully and I wish I saw more of this with divorced families.

  Aiden’s still clinging to Emma’s side. “Mommy, these pants are itchy.”

  She looks down, then around to everyone. A smile spreads across her lips as she finally realizes we’re all wearing matching white and black buffalo plaid pants.

  “Ok, everyone. Mimosas are ready!” Riley calls from the kitchen.

  Jason takes Aiden to get changed and all of the grown-ups head to the kitchen for drinks. The rest of the kids are in the living room playing, reading, and laughing.

  Emma startles me mid-sip. “Char! I don’t know what this is all about, but thank you for coming.”

  “I’m actually moving back!” I tell her. “Just need to find a place. Tyler said I could stay with him for a few days until I figure out something permanent. I just wanted to surprise you for your birthday.”

  I was offered a position moderating focus groups here in California. It was a no-brainer to accept it. My job in New York was fizzling out and I’m excited to live closer to family and my best friend, Eddie. Edmund lived in New York with me before he moved out here a couple years ago. To everyone else, he goes by Tyler, but he’ll always be Eddie to me.

  “You’re moving back? Are you serious?” She wraps me in a tight hug. “You know, Jason mentioned his noisy neighbor was moving, maybe it’s vacant?”

  “Oh my gosh, that would be amazing! Finding a place has been brutal. I’ll have to chat with him while I’m here.”

  “Thanks for coming.” Emma wraps me in another tight hug. She starts to say something else, but is interrupted by Aiden bringing over a small present.

  “Mommy, this one says it’s for my love—ew, bleh—from Dylan, can I open it?”

  Dylan doesn’t take it from him. Instead, he says, “If your mom is ok with it, you can unwrap it, but I need her to open it. It’s her birthday gift.”

  Aiden nods and rips the wrapping paper to shreds before handing what’s inside to Emma. It’s a small velvet box that screams jewelry.

  It’s finally happening!

  The room is quiet; we’ve all been waiting for this moment. Emma scans the room to find all eyes on her. When she turns back to Dylan, he’s no longer next to her, he’s on one knee.

  “E, before you open it, I want you to know that we can take as long as you need for us to figure it out. There is one thing that I have no doubt about though—I want to spend every day of the rest of my life with you. Nearly seventeen years ago, you were my first love, but you’re also my last. I’ve always been yours, beautiful. I can’t go another day without asking, will you spend the rest of your life as mine? Make me the luckiest man in the world and marry me.”

  Her hand moves to his cheek as she whispers, “Yes.” She kisses him and we all cheer and clap.

  Ethan calls from across the room. “Open it! I picked it out.”

  Melanie smacks him in the arm. “You did not!”

  A few minutes later, Lily and I are laughing in the kitchen at Ethan and how painfully obvious it is that he has a thing for Melanie when I spot Jason. I’m hoping Emma is right and there’s a vacancy in his building.

  I don’t know why I’m so nervous to approach him. Oh, right, I’m only 5’6” and this beast of a man is almost a whole foot taller than me at 6’5”. I’m not normally intimidated by tall men, but he also has a whole rugged mountain man thing going on that I normally find incredibly attractive. Why does he have to be my step-sister’s ex?

  “Hi, Jason,” I say, meeker than I would like.

  “Hey, sweetheart, how’ve you been?” He sips his beer. I don’t know why I never noticed before but he has
the most beautiful dark blue eyes.

  “Oh, I’m good. I’m actually moving back. Got a job in the city.”

  I’m horrible with reading people. He’s either upset or turned on—I’m going with upset because I shouldn’t indulge in the fantasy of an ex-baseball player who used to be married to Emma.

  “Anyway, Emma mentioned your next door neighbor is moving? I’m actually looking for a place.”

  He nearly chokes on his beer. “Oh, um, I don’t think you want to live there.”

  Frowning, I ask, “Why not? It’s a great location and I’d get to see more of my nephews with you living next door.”

  He mumbles something into the beer bottle.

  “Sorry, didn’t catch that.”

  “Nothing. I’ll help you find somewhere else to live.”

  “Let me see your phone,” I say with a forced smile. I’ve been masking all day and it’s starting to slip. Plastering on a smile and hiding how you’re feeling is exhausting for neurospicy folks, like myself. He hands it to me and I send myself a text before handing it back to him. “Now you have my number and I have yours.”

  “Great,” he says with a small smile, but it doesn’t feel sincere. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, though.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to be neighbors? I’m a lot of fun, you know.”

  He shakes his head. I swear I hear him say “or a whole lotta trouble” under his breath.

  Chapter one

  Jason

  Two Years Later

  “You are not driving up the mountain, sweetheart. There was a big storm last week and the roads aren’t safe. I’ll take you in my truck.” If anything happened to Charlotte, I’d never forgive myself.

  “Don’t be such a grump. It’ll be fine! I’ve driven up there a few times in worse conditions,” she insists.

  “Absolutely not. I’m driving. End of discussion.” My eyes narrow and she mirrors my expression. “That’s not going to work on me, babygirl. You can’t break me.”

  “Damn it!” Charlotte huffs with a roll of her eyes. “Ok, fine, you can drive me. Let me call up to the resort to make sure I can reserve the two bedroom cabin. It shouldn’t be an issue, they love me there. One sec, I’ll confirm it.”

  I shake my head. “I’m not staying with you. I’ll get my own.”

  “I’ll get two rooms, J.” She types on her phone for a minute while I grab a few mugs from her cabinets for coffee. She startles me when she hears back from the resort. “Fuck, sorry, they’re completely booked. They only have a one bedroom available, but there’s a pull out couch.” Char shows her phone to me.

  “I’ll take the couch. I don’t mind. I’m driving you whether you like it or not, I’ll sleep on the ground if I have to.” So long as it’s not in bed with her, it’ll be fine.

  “You’re not taking the couch, we can share a bed.” Oh, my sweet Charlotte, there is no way in hell I’m sharing a bed with you.

  Charlotte is fucking stunning with delicious curves. I love a girl with something to hang onto… Fuck. I need to stop thinking of her like that. I might be in love with her, so there is absolutely no way I can stay in the same bed with her. Char’s become one of my best friends, I don’t want to betray her trust by admitting my feelings for her. She’s a big flirt but I don’t put any stock in it, that’s just who she is as a person; she’s not interested in me. All it would take to lose having her in my life is her slinging her leg over me in the middle of the night, finding my morning wood… or worse, having one too many drinks and finally admitting that I have feelings for her.

  “Done! Reservation confirmed. If you won’t share a bed with me, I’ll take the couch. It’s the least I can do if you’re driving.” Charlotte never looks up from her phone. “Wait… Dylan has a cabin up there. Maybe I can stay there?”

  I place my hand over her phone screen to get her attention. “I’ll text him. I’ll stay there, you keep your cabin.”

  A few minutes later, the backup plan saved the day. Dylan’s friend, Matt, and his girlfriend were supposed to be there for the weekend, but they changed their plans and are headed to Montreal. Shit, that was a close one. “Well, babygirl, looks like no one needs to sleep on a couch. Dylan’s is available.”

  “I want Dylan’s cabin then! I’ll make you a deal, if I get the cabin, you get to pick the movie tonight.” She must have figured out by now that she has me wrapped around her finger.

  “You can pick the movie, too, sweetheart.” I tuck her hair behind her ear. Where most women’s breath would hitch at the subtle touch, Charlotte doesn’t flinch. She just smiles up at me.

  The drive up to the cabins is worse than I expected. The roads are slick and the traffic is fucking brutal. These past few years, I’ve gotten used to Charlotte’s topic jumping and storytelling. It helps pass the time while we're stuck behind a lumber truck that peaks my anxiety. Final Destination 2 did a number on me and I never recovered.

  We check in at the resort to grab keys for both cabins. The front desk attendant, Tamra, is typing away at the computer a little too long for my liking. Her brow furrows and I know something’s wrong.

  “I’m so sorry, Ms. Wentworth, it appears when you went to confirm your reservation, it was canceled.”

  “That’s not possible, I confirmed yesterday.” Charlotte checks her email on her phone. I peer over her shoulder and, sure enough, it’s a cancellation email. She mutters to herself, “How did this happen?”

  I wrap my arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. We have Dylan’s cabin and it has three or four bedrooms.”

  “I apologize for any mix up,” Tamra says as she pulls the keys. “Here are the keys for the Alexander's cabin and a voucher for our on-site restaurant.”

  “Oh, that’s not necessary. I probably selected the wrong button when I confirmed,” Charlotte says, defeated.

  “Ms. Wentworth, I insist. We hope you enjoy your stay with us this weekend. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask. Also, your meeting with our marketing manager is confirmed for 2pm in her office.” Tamra pulls out a map and circles the office for Charlotte. “Two lefts and a right from here.”

  Charlotte takes the map, voucher, and keys. “Thank you, Tamra. I’m sorry for the confusion. I’ll be back after lunch to meet with Kelly. Thank you so much for your help.”

  We walk away. Once out of earshot of Tamra, I stop Char, who still looks slightly heartbroken. “Hey, it’s ok. You’re going to have a great focus group later and look”—I pull out the voucher and wave it—“lunch is on me,” I joke. “Come on, no more moping, babygirl. It could’ve happened to anyone. Let's get something to eat and settle in at the cabin.”

  She nods and we head to the restaurant.

  “I got it! They are giving me the contract,” Charlotte squeals.

  “I knew you would.” I wrap her in a tight hug. “I’m so proud of you, you deserve it.” I pull back but she clings to me. “Hey, is everything ok?”

  She takes a deep breath. “Yeah. Holy crap, you smell good.” Her voice shakes ever so slightly. No one else would ever have noticed it… but I do.

  “Don’t change the subject, Char. What’s wrong?”

  “Sorry, just a little overwhelmed. It’s the biggest job I’ve ever landed.”

  I kiss the top of her head. She’s the one that always smells good, like coconut and vanilla. “You got this. They hired you because you’re the best.”

  Charlotte finally pulls back. “Thank you for coming up here.” Her infectious joy is back and I’m so glad things have turned around since this morning. She’s usually so full of life; it breaks my heart when she gets lost in her head.

  “What time is your group?”

  She glances at her watch. “I have one in an hour, so I need to get going. They added one more right after but I should be done around 7pm.”

  “I’ll come up to the main lodge when you’re done. We’ll go out on the town to celebrate,” I insist.

  “You’re on! I’ll see you later.” She grabs her bag and practically skips out.

  “These have to be the best tacos I’ve ever had!”