Page 2 of Hot n Bothered

W hy am I even doing this? Isobelle asked herself for the hundredth time.

“You’re supposed to be in love.” Darren said. “This won’t convince the twins. You know they’ll go snooping.”

“You know I hate having pictures taken.” She glared at him. “Why would I suddenly become a selfie queen?”

“Because this is his phone. He lives off this thing, so of course he’d have it filled with lovey-dovey pictures.”

“He makes a bloody good living off that phone.” Ben shot at him. “And honestly? This is kinda awkward. I’m not about to snuggle your baby sister in front of you.”

“See? It won’t work.”

She chewed on her nail, she’d had to get changed five times already and been dragged all over to parks, museums and cafés to take ‘date pictures’. And she hated every second of it. Especially with Ben’s constant reminders that all he saw her as was Darren’s baby sister.

“Give it here.” Ben took his phone back. “Look I’ve got plenty of shots of Belle out with us. Won’t take much to create a folder.” His quick fingers danced over the screen.

“Wait… what? You’ve got pictures of me?” She asked. “Why?”

“Because I take pictures of when I’m enjoying myself with my friends.” He looked up at her frowning. “Why? Do you not think we’re friends?”

“Well, I… um… I guess I thought you all saw me as Darren’s sister that’s all.”

He rolled his eyes and showed a picture of her sat in the middle of Darren’s group of friends and they were all laughing. Thankfully she was mostly blocked by Katie so you couldn't see how bad she looked.

“No. Well, I mean, yes you are Darren’s sister. But you’re also our friend. When I think of our group, you’re there making us laugh.”

She could feel her face flush. She always felt as though she was intruding on them when Darren made her go out.

“The twins are not going to accept those pictures as proof of a relationship.” Darren said.

“No. But if you piss off and let me take Belle out on proper dates for the next few days, then I can get those pictures.”

“Do I get a choice?” She asked.

“No.” Darren shot at her. “You paying for all these dates?” He eyed Ben sternly.

“I thought this was a time of feminism?”

“It is, but this is my sister we’re talking about here. I need to make certain you’re going to be a gentleman.”

“Oh bloody Hell.” She groaned, covering her face. “You are not seriously discussing what your best friend is going to do with me as though I have no say in the matter.”

“I am, because you don’t. Now schtum, while the men talk.”

“How dare you talk to my girlfriend that way.” Ben said grinning. “I may have to challenge you to a duel.”

“Yep. That’s it. I’m out.” She stood, intending to walk away.

But Ben’s hands shot out, catching her waist and pulling her off balance. She tripped on her own feet and fell backwards. His strong arms wrapped around her, meaning she fell onto his lap leaning backwards. Only his hand between her shoulder blades stopped her falling.

“See, I told you it’s easy to fall for me.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, making her laugh.

“Let me up, I’ll crush you.”

“I’m stronger than I look.” His eyes took on a mischievous glint. “You know I just realised like this you’re completely at my mercy.”

“What do you mean? What are you doing? No! Ben stop!” She squealed as he leaned in, pressing his lips to her neck. Then blew a raspberry against it making her squirm.

She pushed against his shoulders, wriggling and laughing as he continued.

“Stop it! Ben I mean it!” She squealed.

He lifted his head and grinned down at her, then looked over. “You get that?”

“Perfect mate.” Darren replied from behind his phone.

“Let me up.” She muttered blushing deeply.

“Anything you want my darling.”

She grimaced. “Oh God no. Don’t call me that. Ever.”

“Why not? If we’re to be madly in love, shouldn’t we have pet names?” He helped her sit next to him again.

Darren pulled a face. “That’s not a pet name to us. That’s what mum says when she’s criticising.”

“Ok, so no darling. How about snugglekins?”

“Do I look like a snugglekins kind of woman?”

“Now he’d be a total snugglywugglywoowoo.” Darren said pointing to Ben and tossing his phone to him.

“Wow, thanks. And here I thought we were friends.” He shot him a look, then leaned close to Isobelle. “We’ll discuss pet names tonight over a nice romantic meal.” He said quietly.

“You really don’t have to do this. I’m sure they won’t even get your phone.”

“Twenty quid, within the first day T will suggest she take a picture of you two on his phone. A will be stood right behind her as well.”

Fuck. He was right, that’s something they’d totally do. In fact, they’d do more than just look through his pictures.

“Probably be best if they don’t get hold of your phone.” She said to Ben. “They’d send pictures to themselves at the same time.”

“You’re kidding.” Ben looked to Darren, who nodded.

“So, changed your mind?” She asked hopefully.

“No.” he said quickly. “Besides, this would be a great trial run for one of the apps I’ve been asked to review.”

“What app?”

“Here look.” He leaned against her, head down as his fingers flew over his screen. Swiping through apps so quickly she couldn’t follow.

She could feel her face warm as she remembered just how fast those fingers could move and the things they could do.

“Now try and do anything to my pictures.” He handed her his phone.

Urgh, of course he had it open on a horrible picture of her.

She hit delete but it asked for his fingerprint.

She swiped through some more, how many pictures were on here of her?

She tried sending them, even tried deleting the folder.

But all actions asked for his fingerprint.

Then her eyes lit upon a folder labelled Private.

“Oh now this needs to be looked at.” She said grinning at him. “No way T can resist anything labelled private.”

Ben grinned smugly when it wouldn't open, instead asked for a fingerprint.

“Aw man. I really want to go now, just to see their faces when they get locked out of snooping.” Darren complained.

“If you were going then I wouldn’t be needed.” Ben took his phone back.

Then he took her hand, interlocking their fingers.

“What’re you doing?”

“Your boyfriend is a hand holder. Get used to it.” He took several shots of their hands before letting go and using both of his on his phone.

Darren chuckled, shaking his head. “Why did I think you’d be a good boyfriend? You’re always on your phone, she’d be starved of attention.”

“I’m perfect because when I’m working, as I am now, Belle can be writing without feeling guilty.” He winked at her. “See, perfect boyfriend material.”

His phone buzzed drawing his attention back to it. He frowned as he typed. Seriously, how can anyone look so ridiculously adorable as they frown?

“I… er… I’ve got to take care of something.” He said finishing his coffee in one big gulp. Before pressing a wet kiss to her cheek. “I’ll pick you up at seven. No annoying brothers.”

“Ew. What did you do that for?” She wiped her cheek.

“Your boyfriend is a cheek kisser. Get used to it.” He called back as he walked away.

“Where are we going tonight?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Why was he shouting as he walked instead of stopping to talk normally? For someone who said he didn’t like being the centre of attention, he certainly didn’t act like it. Not that it mattered, he always got the attention in any room automatically. You can’t be that good looking and not.

“Oh and Belle?” He shouted as he opened the door so everyone in the café was staring at them. “Dress up, it’s a spoil you surprise.” Then left.

Isobelle hid her red face behind her hands as people awed as though they were a cute couple.

“I hate you.” She muttered.

“No you don’t.” Darren tugged on her shirt sleeve. “Come on this will be good for you.”

“But why him? Why not any of your other friends?”

“Because he’s my best friend. You’ve known him almost as long as I have and honestly I wouldn’t trust the others with you.”

She snorted at that. Yeah right, trust them with her ?

He was a brilliant brother, but he was also very much a brother.

She didn’t think he saw her as men did, which was obviously good.

But he only focused on her good points and missed the mess that was the whole of her.

Men did not, which was why she was twenty-eight with the sexual history of just two and technically a half.

One had been the worst mistake of her life and the other didn’t remember and saw her as a baby sister.

“What about someone more realistic?”

He snagged Ben’s unopened biscuit. “You are aware Ben is real aren’t you?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “I meant someone more realistically to find me attractive. You know the twins are going to be all over him. He’s not going to stand a chance.”

“Iz.” He sighed. “You are very attractive. You just can’t see it.”

“Ew. Incest much?”

“And that’s why Ben is perfect. T and A will be so pissed off by the fact that he’ll only ever see you. He’s agreed to do this because he cares for you and promised me he wouldn’t let them hurt you.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “Can you give me one good reason why this wouldn’t work?”

She chewed on her nail unable to tell him without destroying his friendship.