The big dance club curve.., p.1
The Big Dance: Club Curve Series, page 1
The Big Dance
C.H. James
Golden Storm Publishing
Contents
Copyright
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Blurb
1. PROLOGUE
2. CHAPTER ONE
3. CHAPTER TWO
4. CHAPTER THREE
5. CHAPTER FOUR
6. CHAPTER FIVE
7. CHAPTER SIX
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About the Author
The Big Dance – Club Curve Series
eBook - First Edition
Copyright © C. H. James 2023
All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons or events in purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only.
Cover designed by Golden Storm Publishing
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Blurb
Will one night on the dancefloor with her brother's best friend be the closest this plus-size girl will get to love?
After a nearly moment with her brother's best friend at a local nightclub, Jamie is sure this latest drunken rejection will be her last.
She escapes to her family cabin for the weekend, packing her lonely heart and a box of heart shaped chocolates all for herself.
When she gets there, she never expects the deep growl of her brother's best friend to greet her at the door. He's been given the cabin for the weekend, and he says he's not leaving.
He's annoying, ignorant and damn sexy. Slowly, he opens up and beneath the rough exterior is a man with a giant heart that proving impossible to resist.
He'll do anything for her, but can Jamie prove to her brother that his best friend is the one she's been saving herself for?
The Big Dance is a high-heat, short, steamy sports romance. Low drama and a HEA that will melt your heart – guaranteed.
Chapter 1
PROLOGUE
Damien
The pounding beats of the neon-lit nightclub surround me as I step on the sidewalk, bypassing the long line waiting to get inside. Club Curve is the place to be, even for superstar athletes like me. Late nights, dancing, drinking and seeking whatever it might be that your heart desires.
I smile up at the flickering sign above me, winking to the bouncer as he lowers the rope, allowing me VIP access to join up with the rest of the team inside.
As I step inside, the dimly lit interior of the club envelopes me in a thick, smoky haze. A mix of sweet perfumes and cigarettes fills my lungs, the bass thumping so hard now I'm inside.
I'm alive. Free.
Across the room I see the boys in our usual spot. Tonks is there. Lincoln, Jesse and Marsh, too. Every night at Club Curve is a celebration, but tonight, after a last-gasp win, sealing the final playoff place - tonight is going to be huge.
"About time!" A slap on my back has me spinning on the spot to meet the flushed cheeks of my best friend, Gareth. "Thought you'd chickened out again, bro."
I chuckle and step towards the bar, instantly grabbing the attention of the petite waitress behind the bar.
"Two beers," I order, propping an elbow on the glossy, sticky surface.
Gareth gives me a pointed look. "Beer? Come on man, playoffs! We fucking made it!"
"That's only half the job."
"Fuck man, you're never satisfied."
I tilt the cold bottle of beer against my lips, drawing back slowly as my eyes scan the room. Dancing bodies groove to the music, their limbs moving in rhythmic ways that I can only manage on the green pastures of a football field. Dancing isn't my forte, but then, just as that thought hits my mind, I see the one person I never expected here tonight.
"Shit man," I spit, clutching Gareth's shoulder. "Is that... Is that your sister?"
Sparks of desire course through my veins. Fuck. It's Jamie. I can feel my blood heating, rising the every tiny nerve that's suddenly on high alert. I've spent the past few years hiding my giant, inappropriate crush of my best friend's sister from him. But now, staring across the room, there she is. Swaying to the music, her body so damn curvy and plump as fuck. A tight red dress hugs her curves, leaving even less to my imagination. I gulp down another mouthful as Gareth leans against the bar beside me.
Fuck, I hope he can't see the bulge forming in my pants.
"Yeah," Gareth hums. "I didn't give her a choice tonight. She's spent so much time cooped up at home, I demanded she try and have some fun."
The song changes and Jamie seems to enjoy the more upbeat number. Jesus Christ. Her breasts are almost popping from the top of her dress as she bounces alongside another girl I recognize as Jesse's fiance.
Maybe it's my dirty mind wishing for my deepest secret crush to finally get my eyes on her body? To see those heavy tits in the flesh, the smoothness of her hips. Goddamn, what I wouldn't do to taste...
I shake my head.
No.
NO.
I clear my throat and down half the bottle of beer. I can't allow myself back down that road.
"I'm surprised you let her out, man," I comment to Gareth, who seems to have taken a liking to the waitress behind the bar. "You're always telling me if anyone touches her you'll skin them alive."
I'll never forget the day I heard Gareth say those words. Like a knife to my chest, I tell you.
"Ah, it's just normal for a big brother to be protective of his sister. No one will ever be good enough for her, but luckily for me..." Gareth spins around a pushes me off the bar. "I don't have to worry. She's not interested in guys."
We move towards the area where the team have taken up most of the dancefloor. My stomach rolls over itself the closer we get to Jamie, then somehow her stunning eyes flick my way.
Holy hell.
She's looking at me. Should I smile? No... don't be so fucking stupid. Be a man.
With a straight face and a racing heart, I tense up and bow my head to Jamie with a slight jerk of my head. Jerk being the main word here, because I feel like a goddamn idiot.
She smiles and waves. I swear I can see the entire universe in that smile. I feel like I'm about to pass out it's so damn beautiful. For a moment, I forget that Gareth is introducing me to some stick-thin girls who are flapping the lashes at us. I don't care about them. No. I'm completely lost in the gaze a few feet away from me, dancing beneath the disco lights.
I take a deep breath, and try to calm down.
A few more songs pass and my feet remain glued to the floor. Bodies bump into me, grooving a jiving to the music. Gareth has disappeared somewhere, and all I can think about is how nice it would be if I was back in my apartment, alone. Shit, anywhere alone, just so long as I could continue to watch Jamie's body twist and shake like it is.
"Are you just going to stand there all night?"
The voice of an angel catches my distant thoughts. I blink hard, suddenly realizing Jamie is standing right in front of me. She's danced across and that might explain the sudden scent of euphoria that's making my chest explode.
"I don't dance."
Jamie's hands reach down for mine. "I've seen you dance before, Damien."
"Oh really? When exactly?"
Jamie's face brightens with a smile that makes her cheeks dimple. "Gameday seven, against the Wildcats. You scored a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter."
My jaw locks. Solid.
How the hell does she remember that? No, better yet, why does she remember that?
"Mind you, I wouldn't call holding the ball in the air and twirling around underneath it dancing."
I swallow down hard. "Well there you go. I'm not a dancer."
Sweat beads down my back as I turn around. I scan the room, searching for my best friend, but Gareth has disappeared. I look back to Jamie and realize I'm still holding her hands.
Her palms are warm. Soft. So fucking soft.
Trailing up her curvy body, I try to let go. I need to let go, my best friend's voice in the back of my head is screaming that out at my loud and clear.
But Jamie doesn't release my grip.
Instead, she steps in closer. Her eyes are slightly glazed over, her cheeks flushed. She's had too much to drink, and something protective ignites inside of me, forcing my to curl an arm around her waist to stop anyone else taking advantage of the fact she's clearly had too much to drink.
"Come on, Damien..." Her arms loops around me, bringing our bodies dangerously close. "Your feet are stuck in the mud. Dance with me." Those eyes lift up to mine and dammit, I'll never be able to say no to this woman. "Pleeeeease."
She starts to move her hips to the beat of the music, and I can't help but follow her lead. My eyes are focused on her face, but only because I'm forcing them to lock in the deep, majestic space hidden behind them.
As we sway, a familiar longing returns. Hidden for too long, I can see that time away from my best friend's sister hasn't dulled the longing ache inside. I've always known Jamie was beautiful,
Time passes quickly, too quickly. My body loosens and I start to enjoy myself. Jamie twirls beneath my arm, our hands not once unhooking. The beat drives us forward, late into the night with broad smiles matched only for each other. My life feels complete, happy and suddenly all the stars have aligned.
A slow song soothes the energy of Club Curve and Jamie sinks back into my arms. Flashing a quick look up at me, without hesitation, she rests her head on my shoulder.
My hips sway. My hands find the spot right above the swell of her ass, holding her in a way I plan to do forever. I shouldn't think things like that, I'm fully aware of the threats my best friend has made about anyone who touches his sister.
But maybe I'm done giving a shit about that? The way I feel right now, maybe I could take a beating from Gareth? If that means I get this woman, this stunning, gorgeous, beautiful woman.
"Damien..." Jamie's voice is gentle, only just loud enough for me to hear over the music.
"Yeah?"
Her head lifts. When she looks up at me, her tongue swipes over her lips, tempting me forward.
"There's something you should probably know about me..."
I gulp. "Um, ok?"
Another swipe of her tongue. Is she thinking about kissing me? Her eyes dip to my lips, hovering for a moment before another layer of moisture slides across her own.
God, please. Please. Please make this happen.
Jamie's eyes lower and she starts to move in closer. My body tightens and tenses, preparing for the moment I never thought would come.
But as I angle my head, I’m suddenly jerked backwards by a hand cupping my shoulder. I'm forced back with a hard yank that makes my balance wobble.
"Come on, bro! We're getting out of here!"
Gareth curls a big arm around my neck, so tight I can barely draw breath, let alone look over my shoulder to the girl I was about to kiss.
My best friend leads the way out of Club Curve, smacking an open palm on not one, not two, but three girls asses, all of whom are wearing skimpy dresses that bare their barely-there G-strings as we pile into a taxi waiting outside.
"What a night, huh?" Gareth winks from the other side of the taxi.
I exhale loudly and stare out the window. As my mind drifts, I wonder, did Gareth see me about to kiss his sister? No one will ever be good enough for her. They were his words.
Maybe this is the warning I need to swear off my best friend's sister once and for all.
Chapter 2
CHAPTER ONE
Jamie
2 YEARS LATER
“Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me!”
My chubby fingers twist the knob on the stereo as I steer the vehicle around a sharp bend with one hand. Cheeks burning, I belt out the aggressive lyrics at the top of my voice, a passion for rap-metal that I never knew I had exploding in my throat.
Sure, Rage Against the Machine’s anthem probably wasn’t aimed at rebelling against Valentine’s Day. But for me, a lonely heart speeding towards the peace and quiet of yet another forlorn day of love, it’s speaking to me like never before.
Get away… they said.
Take a break… they said.
Easy for my brother and his friends to say. He’s got the world at his feet. Good looks. Charm. Money. Not a day has gone by in his perfect life that Gareth hasn’t had his own way. It comes with the territory of being the best footballer in a small town like Falls Creek.
Oh God. Do not think about footballers this week. DO NOT THINK ABOUT FOOTBALLERS.
I glance over my shoulder, wondering if I can see the tiny town in the endless terrain from my viewpoint. The mountain has spiralled higher and higher, the gravel road twisting and moving as I devoured the contents of a tray of love heart shaped chocolates as I drove.
The only good thing about the most romantic day of the year? Good fucking chocolate.
The distance between the tall pines grows smaller the further I drive. Dense forestry darkens the road and stretching shadows cool the air. My skin prickles and I remind myself the heat of a roaring fireplace isn’t too far away. The snow at the summit seemed so far off when I passed the Ranger’s Hut a few hours ago, but a few wrong turns later, when the final screams of the Rage Against the Machine song finally play out, I’m quickly shutting off Ed Sheeran and pulling into a driveway.
A smattering of soft white snow glistens at the edges and I hold in a smile.
“No thinking out loud this year, Eddie-boy,” I say, eyeballing the old gate to the right of the road.
My foot eases on the brake and the vehicle stops below a sign that’s swaying in the wind.
Klever’s Retreat
“This is it,” I sigh heavily. “It’s just me, my bottle of prosecco and the cracking warmth of the fire this Valentine’s.”
I hop out of my beat-up old Honda and shield my eyes from the angry wind that blasts across my body. I stumble to the gate and guide it open, the hinges squeaking loudly as I inhale my first long breath of fresh mountain air.
Our family cabin has been a happy place ever since I was a child. We spent the holidays here, my dad driving his old red tractor for hours just for the sake of it. He didn’t know how to operate it properly, so he just drove up and down the fields while Mom planted seeds in the vegetable garden. She is an accountant by day, so her food growing skills never took off.
Gareth and I would play in the endless paddocks, searching for wolves in the forest. We would run back to Mom and Dad, screaming as we pretended to find the scariest wolf we could imagine. We both learned a hard lesson when a bear actually appeared one day… Shit… We cried all the way back to our bunk beds at the back of the cabin and didn’t come out for the rest of the day.
Yeah, the Klever family knew how to have fun.
But this trip is an escape.
A lonely reminder that I’m a twenty-two year old who hasn’t ever had a serious relationship. Sure, I have a decent job at the hair salon in Falls Creek. I work hard and my small apartment is nice.
On the surface, I might look like I have my shit together.
But my thighs slap together when I walk between the stations of my clients. My belly is so podgy, a client once asked if I could stand behind her while her hair dyed so she could use my soft fat rolls as a pillow. My tits are so heavy they’re losing their shape faster than I can swipe right at any half-decent looking man I can find on those ridiculous dating apps.
Maybe I’ve stopped caring. I know the best foundation money can buy doesn’t hide the blotchy tone of my skin, so now, I don’t bother.
And don’t even get me started on my lack of action.
I might be a virgin, but a woman still has needs.
It’s an embarrassment. I live in the memory of that one night. The night I nearly got everything…
“Stop!”
I smack myself in the head and scrunch the memory away.
I don’t let myself think about that night a few years ago. The night where I almost got everything I wanted. It’s taken me so long to try and erase the memory of those lips, hovering so sweetly before mine, finally within reach.
Until Gareth ripped my life away from me.
That’s how it felt anyway. The worst part? Damien never came close to talking to me again. I’m still not sure I’m fully over it, and the scars run so deep I’ve hardly thought about dating since.
Even when one opportunity did finally present itself, the only guy willing to pop my cherry was too busy rubbing ‘himself’ on my feet to get anywhere near the action. I didn’t even get to touch it because I started laughing so hard. Not because it was funny or anything… No. Because his ‘thing’ was tickling me so much I ended up kicking him in the balls when I couldn’t contain the laughter anymore.
I never saw him again.
Cupid has continually misfired his arrows, and I see no reason this Valentine’s Day will be any different.
