Second Chance with Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 1

I am not a slut. I am smart, and I work my butt off to attract clients. But I do not attract clients with my butt … pun intended . I repeat the words until my breathing returns to normal and my urge to commit murder dissipates just a little bit. I growl and punch the air in frustration.

Why are there always vicious witches? Why are there bad guys in my fairytale? I sigh and pull down on the lever, flushing the toilet. Even though I hadn't used it, and I'd been sitting on the toilet seat cover for the last fifteen minutes, I flushed in case any nosy tattletale lurked nearby.

Never let them see you cry. As the words form in my head, the tears begin to gather like storm clouds.

I swallow a sniffle and cradle my head in my palms. Why is life so unfair?

Especially to people my size! How could I, Dora McLean of McLean Enterprises, with a PhD in marketing and communications, be cowering in the office bathroom because of the three witches?

I massage my forehead in anguish as another sigh escapes me.

Yes, Miss PhD holder is underpaid and trash- talked, yet I'm still working for this lousy company.

And before you get things mixed up, I don't work for the family business.

I wanted to strike out on my own, without family connections or name-dropping.

But I'm sinking, and I don't know how much longer I can tolerate being demeaned because of my body.

How could that oaf stand there and listen to them degrade me with their insinuations that I've been landing clients by sleeping with them?

The buffoon couldn't even defend me, and I know why.

I've rejected his sexual offers one time too many. Not like the one person I’ve had a crazy crush on for the longest time came to my defense either, back then.

I try to block out the painful memories, but they slip past my defenses easily.

It’s my sweet 16 birthday party. The lawn of my parent’s mansion sparkles with bright decorations and lights swung around in the evening breeze. Music blasts from speakers as my classmates mingle and dance. I'm stuck at the edge of the lawn, wishing someone would ask me to dance.

Earlier in the week, I’d run my mouth to my brother and his best friend, telling them I had a boyfriend who they would meet at the party.

But forty-five minutes later, my supposed boyfriend still hadn't made an appearance, until suddenly, he's at my side. No, not my imaginary boyfriend! Cole Prime. My biggest crush and my brother’s best friend.

“Guess the boyfriend is a no-show, huh?” He arches his brow and I shrug, too overcome by shyness to hold his gaze. His brown spiky hair and his cute face made me jittery with nerves. He chuckles and I feel the sound down to the tip of my kitten's heel.

“I told Dean he wouldn't be brave enough to show up!” His confidence turns my insides to mush. I discreetly wipe my damp hand on the skirt of my dress, hoping he won’t notice .

“And now, since none of your friends are courageous enough to ask… Dora, will you please dance with me?”

My heart flutters in my chest, and not for the first time that evening, but I am at a loss for words. My lips hang agape as I bob my head in a continuous nod. He chuckles.

“Careful now. We don't want your head to fall off before your first dance.” His grin warms my heart.

He cups my chin in reassurance before taking my hand and leading me to the dance floor.

The DJ notices our approach and deftly switches the song to a slow number.

My skirt swirls around my calf as we begin to dance.

Oh, how magical it was to be surrounded by twinkling lights and soft music, held in the arms of the one person I love.

I sigh wistfully as he twirls me around the dance floor, and I know all eyes are on us.

A shocked gasp spills from my lips as he lifts me off the ground, despite my chubby frame, and spins around once.

Was this how Cinderella felt while dancing with Prince Charming? No wonder she lost track of time.

The slow song ended, and applause erupted around us.

I curtsied shyly, my cheeks burning with a blush I was trying desperately to hide.

A part of me is sad our dance ended so quickly, because Cole would want to go back to his friends.

But when I look up, he’s still there, watching me with curious eyes.

“Tired already?”

A giggle escapes my lips as I shake my head.

A more upbeat song begins, and we resume dancing.

Excitement courses through me, and I laugh as we burst into some ridiculous moves.

Soon, I'm out of breath and parched. I tap Cole’s shoulder, and his dancing eyes land on me.

A ripple of excitement shoots through me.

“Gosh! I'm so thirsty, and my feet are killing me! New shoes,” I point at my new silver shoes, which were starting to burn my toes. The blisters would be worth it. Cole frowns in concern and stops dancing.

“Need some help?”

I shake my head. Warmed by his offer, I give him a sweet smile, “Nope! I’ll be right back. Keep dancing.”

He nods, and I hurry to the fruit punch stand to pour myself a few cold cups.

I wave at my parents sitting on the backyard porch swing before gulping the cold drink.

I close my eyes in bliss and slip off my shoes as the coolness spreads through my body.

A vicious voice and the frosty words that follow snap my eyes open.

“Little Dory is on heat, is she?”

I cringe and physically recoil from the two girls rounding on me. They were Dean’s friends from work, Beverly and Chelsea, and right now, they were looking at me like a thief caught red-handed. Chelsea's snotty giggle follows Beverly’s question.

I couldn't understand why they chose to launch an attack on me at my party, or what I had done wrong. I glanced around, hoping someone could see what was happening, but Chelsea quickly stepped in front of me, blocking me from escape.

“What a little slut you are, putting your paws all over Cole like a bitch in heat!” Chelsea hissed. A soft gasp left my lips. What was going on?

“We know your game, wittle Dory! You're so transparent,” Beverly rolled her eyes at me. I glanced at my body, wondering how she could see through me.

“Look here!” Beverly warned, wagging her finger and stepping closer so she was in my face. I shrunk back from her, only to be hindered by the fruit punch table. “Keep your slutty little hands to yourself! Cole digs women who know what to do in the sheets.”

“And that's us,” Chelsea nodded emphatically.

“Not little girls trying to put on big girls' panties,” Beverly concluded with pure scorn.

“So hands off! Aren't you too young to be playing the slut?”

Unable to bear their onslaught any longer, I shove Chelsea out of my way and make a beeline for my grandma's house three houses away.

My tears remain silent until I'm in Granny Mere’s backyard.

I slump onto the well-tended lawn as sobs wrack my body.

I don't hear the footsteps until a familiar hand pulls me into an embrace.

“Shhh… It's alright… I'm here… I've got you…” Cole’s whispers wash over me like a warm blanket.

I relax in his arms as he pulls me onto his lap, rubbing my back as I cry.

When the tears dry out, Cole tilts my chin up to look into my face.

The waning evening light makes it difficult to see the color of his eyes, but I know them by heart already – amber.

I sniffle as he gently scrubs my cheeks dry.

“You shouldn't be crying on your birthday, Dora McLean. Don't you know it's a crime for beautiful girls to cry on their birthday?”

I don't know if it's the softness of his voice or the teasing lilt to it, but a betraying tear slides down my cheek. Cole frowns, “What did they say? What happened?”

Now that my eyes have adjusted, I can see the anger hiding behind his eyes, but I'm not sporting a fight. I'm rather grateful he followed me and I'm in his arms. I shake my head and snuggle into his chest.

“It doesn't matter… You're here now. Thank you for coming after me.”

He releases a shuddering breath and, once again, cups my chin to look into my eyes. “Always…” His words are a whisper, and they brush against my lips as his head lowers. His amber eyes are pure golden depths as his lips close over mine. My senses explode from the feeling.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm still reeling from the sensation of Cole's kiss.

My crush kissed me. I giggle and rub my fingers over my lips.

He had to have feelings for me. You don't just kiss anyone!

I skip in glee, trying to contain my joy.

Cole had excused himself immediately after our kiss.

His parting words were a plea for me to return to the party soon.

Rather than go through the backyard, like I’d done earlier when I escaped, I used the front door, a decision I constantly regret.

There, in the shadowy corner of my parent's sitting room, was Cole in the arms of another woman.

I could make out their outline, and my heart shattered at my feet.

Their soft moans filled my ears as I halted at the door, unnoticed.

“Wait, what about that Dora girl?” The woman asks, breaking their kiss.

“Little Dora?” He barks with laughter. “Dora is definitely not my type. You, on the other hand, tick all the boxes.”

I force my thoughts to return to the present.

I didn't have time to wallow in self-pity.

Gone is the little Dora who ran away during any confrontation.

Now, these bitches will know who Dora McLean is!

I shove all thoughts of Cole back into the darkest corner of my mind and step out from the toilet stall.

I adjust my grey jacket in the mirror. All that teenage chubbiness had morphed into soft curves.

I wasn't slim, but I wasn't fat, either.

I was thick. I check my face for mascara smudge before dabbing on a little powder.

Taking one last look, and a deep breath, I exit the restroom, ready once more to defend my name.