UGLY Read Online Free

barked, “Quit it. I don’t like invasion of my space.”
    “That’s because you haven’t let anyone near you for the past…how long?”
    She took a long drag of her cigarette, turning away to hide her shaking hand and said, “Can you just grab my laptop? I’ll go grab some clothes.”
    Hearing him shut down her laptop as she hurried toward her bedroom brought a sigh of relief. She stopped and glanced at herself in the mirror, pulling her face closer. The rash had been reduced to redness with flaking skin. The beginnings of her true looks peeked through the guarded expression staring back.
    Her wavy light brown hair looked healthier than it had since starting the medication. She hadn’t had a haircut in over three years. Raking eyes from her brow down her perfect nose, other than the redness spreading over it and onto her cheeks, she had to admit that her appearance wasn’t half bad. Remembering the girl from high school that the jocks fought over, she sneered at herself and turned to gather clothing.
    She didn’t see Rich hovering behind her door, watching as she viewed the person she’d become. He swiftly walked back down the hall, calling out his intentions of putting her things in the car. After hearing her positive response, he stepped outside her apartment and pulled his cell phone out to text his brother.
    Even though Ben had known from the minute he’d laid eyes on her that she could help his business, Rich was captivated by Candice. Driven to achieve, his brother sought out people like her once they settled into new towns. Nothing spoke of success like a walking billboard. Ben called and asked how things were going.
    “Great. Remember Candice? She’ll be staying with me for a bit. There’s an issue with her electricity.”
    At his brother’s response, he quickly assured, “Yeah, it worked out perfectly. How are things with Cassie?”
    When Candice walked out, he quickly said, “Okay thanks, bro. I’ve got to go. Talk to you soon.”
    At her inquiring look, he said, “My family runs the other deli’s we own.”
    “How many does your family own?”
    “This one makes five. My father wants eight of them.”
    Helping her put her belongings in his backseat, he offered a shy grin when an older woman stopped alongside them to say, “It’s nice to see you getting out more, Candice.” She thrust her hand out to Rich, “I’m Liz Buckman. How are you, Richard? I’m so glad we have Smooth Moves in town now.”
    Candice watched the woman’s gaze drag down Rich as if she’d love to show him a few smooth moves. Suddenly feeling territorial, Candice wondered how she knew him while blurting out, “I’ll be staying with him for a while.”
    Liz’s eyebrows flew up, “Really? Is he a long lost cousin or something?”
    Rich grinned but shook his head, “No kin. I’m a friend helping her out.”
    “I see.” Studying Candice with renewed zeal, Liz took in her hourglass figure, clearing skin, and mesmerizing eyes, “That juice must be exceptional. You’re looking much…healthier.”
    Candice glared at the woman’s curled lip, forcing an obligatory thank you out before swinging into the passenger seat. She and Liz had never gotten along. The woman was normally hostile.
    She’d seemed ecstatic every time Candice’s rash had broken out. Holding her catty attitude in check, she graciously accepted Rich’s offer to drop by the deli but shot a scathing look back at Candice before entering the building.
    When Rich settled into the driver’s seat, Candice groaned, “That woman’s such a royal bitch. Her sister and I had it out in our junior year.”
    As he pulled out of the lot, he asked, “How long ago was that?”
    At his tone, she frowned, “Seven years. I’m not dramatizing this. She knows I react to mosquito bites, Rich. What does she do? Leaves the front door of the building open so they’ll come inside. She hates me because…”
    “Candice…”
    At his admonishing tone, her eyes darted