Curves and All — Iris Deorre

Curves and All… A road that leads to many different places. Harley thought she could tough it out, fake it till she made it - Ambers words not hers. But unequipped with a heart of steel but with one of flesh it isn't as simple as that. Not when working for the sexiest man at The Forrest. There is no cure for a broken heart and no Tardis to take her back in time to when Sebastian didn't exist. Instead emotional Harley finds herself in a turmoil of events, unexpected events that force her to become the strong woman she needs to be. Events that bring out a different side to her.

‘I'm your friend not a judge, whatever you decide I will support you.' Amber reassures her best friend and it's with her support that Harley can face the woes of her life. The thing about their love is that it isn't that simple, it never was and it can only get a lot more complicated.

Excerpt

Harley brushed down the purple dress that hugged her gorgeous curves perfectly. A black jacket had been added to match the black belt that wrapped around her waist. She turned to the side and looked down the side of her body, her heart pounding at an incredibly fast rate. What was it Dorothy had said after they'd cleared everything up after the party? I know you think I don't know when something is troubling you but I do. Clearly something has upset you. Don't worry about me, I can handle it. Whatever it is honey you can overcome it.
Harley nodded satisfied, her mother was right, she could overcome it. This hadn't been the first time she'd had to deal with obstacles, she'd dealt with them almost her entire life.
Again she turned so that this time she was gazing right back at herself. The dress was snug, the dress that had been hanging in the closet for a very long time. A year to be exact. The dress had been bought on a whim, a dress she would wear one day when she had the confidence. It was Amber who had encouraged her to get it and Harley had to admit, she looked stunning in it. In her eyes she looked amazing but no matter what she told herself or what she saw, the voices in her head were hard to defeat.
‘It's alright wearing it where no one can see you, it's when you step out in it and everyone's staring at you,' she'd said to Amber still on the fence whether to buy it or not.
‘What's the point in that? Why buy a dress to hide it away! Who cares what anyone thinks, I'm not sure I came across a rule book that say's a certain person shouldn't wear a particular thing. And if there is, who made that person the judge?'
‘Yeah but I don't want to be the big girl everyone's sniggering about as I walk by'
‘Oh c'mon,' Amber had rolled her eyes like she did on many occasions. ‘This dress was made for the woman with the full figure. You know, the woman who has something to show off!'
Harley still wasn't convinced; she'd gazed at herself again and had to admit she looked good. Why was it so hard getting the dam voices out of her head!
‘If you don't buy it I will.' Amber threatened.
After a few moments of hesitation, Harley finally decided to purchase the dress. That had been the first and only step.
You can do this. Harley gave herself a mental pep talk. The black nylons further accentuated the look. Her mind drifted back to the conversation she'd had with Amber the night before. Harley had desperately needed to talk to her. Holding everything in at the party had been exhausting. It was her desire to share it with her mother but Harley was afraid Dorothy wouldn't understand.
‘I wish someone could find the cure to a broken heart,' Harley had said over the phone to Amber.
‘Oh honey I'm sure someone is working on it, in the mean time do what I do.'
‘What's that?'
‘Dress to kill. Walk into the office like you own the place and like nothing has affected you.'
‘Yeah I don't think so.' Harley thought about the morning Sebastian was on the steps. ‘That man has a power over me...'