Scarred Beauty
By: Sam CrescentBlinking back the tears she turned to him. “What do you think?”
He moved to her side, ran his fingers through her hair. “You do know men will see past your blonde hair and full figure to see the woman underneath.”
“All they have to do is get past the revulsion of the scars on my face.”
“The hair colour looks lovely, but it’s not yours. You’re only hiding. How long will this one last?” he asked.
“Until I grow bored.”
“Or until another man checks you out, sees your scars, and recoils, as you’ve said many times before.”
The first time a guy had checked her out, she’d been shopping for their groceries. Brad had pointed him out to her. Without thinking, Noelle turned round to see who’d been checking her out, only to see the guy change completely as he looked at her face. Since then she’d spent most of her time changing hair colour, which she miraculously did without the use of a mirror.
Brad owned the only available mirror, and Noelle hated staring at it.
“I’ve got a lunch date tomorrow. Are you going to be okay by yourself?” he asked.
Rolling her eyes, she nodded at her best friend. “I can look after myself. I did a great job before you came into my life.”
He kissed her on the head. “But I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you. You should call your family.”
“Why would I want to do that? I’m better off on my own.”
“You think you’re better on your own curled up in an apartment all day?”
“I get by. Besides, who is the date with?” she asked changing the subject.
“My brother. I’ve not seen him in years, and I contacted him and asked for a date to talk to him.”
She had heard him talk about his older half-brother. There was conflict between Brad’s mother and the older brother’s mom or something.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” He kissed her on the head and left her room. Noelle played with a curl of her ultra violet hair. The colour had been a radical change. She knew it was a mistake, but she wouldn’t change it. Unconsciously she began to finger the line of her scar. The car accident that had created the resulting damage was still a blur. Her father hated himself, and because she blamed him, too, Noelle stayed well away from home. She hadn’t visited once in the two years since she left.
Sighing, she lay across her bed, grabbed her book and began to read. Romances were her guilty pleasure. There was no book that she’d read where the main heroine didn’t get her man. Whether she might be on the fuller side or have something wrong with her, the men all fell in love, eventually.
She fell asleep during the early hours of the morning with her romance book clutched between her fingers.
Chapter Two
Isaac sat waiting in his favourite Italian restaurant for his half-brother to show. He sipped the strong blend of coffee they were famous for and perused the menu. Meeting his brother after so long apart would certainly provide some source of entertainment. None of the dishes appealed on the menu appealed to him. Frowning, he placed the menu down on the work top as he looked around at the people inside the small building.
He recognised few. The flirtatious gazes from women he was accustomed to. He couldn’t believe how much he’d changed in the last few years. So many women would welcome him into their bed, but none of them would see past his glamorous lifestyle.
The moment Bradley Welch walked through the door, Isaac recognised him immediately. He’d been the oldest son of the next generation of Welches. Twenty years separated them in age. Staring at the man coming towards him, Isaac felt great respect for him. The challenge of contacting an older brother must have required great courage, especially since Isaac had publicly disowned his father’s new family many years ago.
Bradley stood at the table.
“Are you going to sit, Bradley?” Isaac asked.
“My name is Brad, and I was making sure I’d be able to sit down.”
Isaac nodded his head and watched as the younger man sat down. Isaac signalled the waiter over to take their orders. When they’d ordered a light lunch the two men observed each other, neither speaking a word.
