Prologue
The day Prudence and James first met
Prudence Star sat with her course books on her lap. She read the words, but they refused to sink into her brain. After three hours of solid study she decided to give herself a break. Throwing the books onto her sister’s coffee table, she moved toward the kitchen. There were times she hated Veronica for all of her perfection.
You’re being petty, Prue.
She loved her sister dearly. However, there were times she wished her older sister wasn’t so perfect. How could she ever think of matching up to what her sister achieved? Veronica was beautiful, intelligent, and don’t forget, thin. Her parents never came out and said anything about Prudence’s weight, but it was always there when they went to dinners or social events as a family.
Her mother always warned of the carbs in pasta, potatoes, and pretty much everything she ate.
Stop being a bitch.
Grabbing the chocolate ice-cream, she picked the largest spoon that would fit into her mouth and started to eat. She stared out of the window overlooking the small garden. When summer hit she’d need to mow the lawn. Her sister was due home any minute, as she didn’t work late on a Wednesday.
Thinking of her sister, Prue heard the sound of the key in the lock. She moved from the kitchen. Prue wore a pair of pyjama bottoms and thin strap shirt. Her hair was bound atop her head. The brown curls annoyed her. She was thinking about getting the mousy colour dyed but hadn’t settled on a colour.
“That was such a good film. I can’t believe I didn’t want to watch it. Thank you for taking me,” Veronica said.
Had her sister suddenly started talking to herself? Moving to the hall way Prue stopped at the sound of his voice.
“My pleasure. I knew you’d like it the moment I heard what it was about.”
His words melted her insides. With the spoon in her mouth Prue struggled past the wave of unadulterated pleasure. No man or boy had ever left her feeling so aware of herself. There was moaning, and Veronica gasped, which broke through the cloud of arousal.
Prue rounded the corner to see the most handsome man she’d ever seen with his arms wrapped around her sister.
A whimper escaped her. Her heart felt shattered at the sight of the man holding her sister. Prue didn’t have a clue what to think at her unusual response to the man.
Veronica broke the kiss, turning to her. “Prudence!”
Eyes widening, Prue watched her sister tug the hunk of a man closer. She stared into his eyes wondering if she’d ever be able to forget him.
“Prudence, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, James,” Veronica said.
He stared at her smiling.
As she made to talk to him, she felt the spoon in her mouth. Cheeks flaming, she removed the spoon and then shook his head. “Hello,” she said.
Her mouth felt dry even though the ice-cream she had eaten made her mouth water.
“I didn’t know you had a sister,” James said.
“She likes to pretend she doesn’t.” Prue walked away, unable to cope with looking at a man she could never have.
What’s going on with you? You’ve never had a man, and now you’re jealous over a man you’ve never had?
Shit, Prue, get a grip.
She flopped on the sofa, grabbed her book, and continued to eat from the tub. Before her sister walked in she’d been tempted to put some in a bowl, but now she was eating the whole damn thing.
They walked through to where she sat minutes later. She sat in the sofa taking up all the space with her course books.
“James is going to stay a while. I’ll make dinner for us,” Veronica said.
“Knock yourself out.” She didn’t look up from her book. When her sister didn’t move, Prue kept the spoon in her mouth. “What?” she asked, around the spoon.
“You know Mom will be pissed. She’s really hoping you’ll stick to this diet.”
Prue would welcome the ground to open up underneath her.
Instead, her face flamed as Veronica took the ice-cream and spoon off her without another word. Prue wanted to storm out of the house. She couldn’t for two reasons. One, she wasn’t dressed to storm out, and two, that would only be the action of a baby.
As Veronica moved out of the room Prue watched as James caught the carton of ice-cream. “You said your sister was eighteen, didn’t you?” James asked.
Great, now they’re talking about me.
Floor, open up for me now.
Anytime would be welcome.
“Yes.”
“Then I think she should have the ice-cream if that’s what she wants.”
James took the spoon and carton then moved over to the sofa. He handed her back what Veronica had taken away. Her sister stormed off. With shaking fingers, Prue took the things off James.
“Thank you,” she said. “You didn’t have to do that for me.”
“Yes, I did. Why are you being rationed?” he asked.
Her eyes widened. “Look at me. My parents and sister hate the fact I’m fat.”
James frowned, and she was sure she heard him growl. “You’re not fat.”
Pleasure unlike anything she’d experienced bloomed inside her chest.
“You don’t think I’m fat?” she asked, looking up at him. She moved her books for him to sit next to her.
“You’ve got curves, Prudence. You’re not fat.”
He was the first person to say that to her. She fell deeply in love with him.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome.”
They sat together in silence. She spooned some ice-cream into her mouth. “What do you do, James?” she asked.
“I own a night club. Ravage, it’s called.”
Veronica worked at the club a couple of days a week.
Prue found herself staring at his hands. They were huge.
“What about you?”
“I’m a student. I’m studying business, and I have absolutely no knack for the subject.”
****
James sat next to Veronica’s sister. She was a cute little thing. Bigger than Veronica but he wouldn’t use the word fat to describe her. He stared at several of her course books before looking at her. She ate her ice-cream as she flicked through the pages of the book on her lap. There was no way she was reading the words.
Her hands shook as she scooped more ice-cream. He couldn’t believe Veronica’s actions when she took the carton away from her. Admittedly, he’d known Veronica a short time, but to embarrass her sister in the way that she did annoyed him. There nothing wrong with having a few curves on a woman.