Free UGLY by Betty McBride Page A

to transform anyone in the past is beyond me.”
    “Oh, please. I could get you plenty of girls if you’d just rid yourself of that stick lodged up your ass.”
    “I don’t want anyone else. I happen to care for Candice but you wouldn’t…”
    “Awww…are you in love?”
    Ben’s sarcasm was too much. Without thinking, Rich laid Ben flat outside the emergency room. Unused to fighting, Ben was hurried back inside to check for a broken nose and concussion. Rich wanted to rush back into the hospital and go to Candice but stopped himself. Despite her uncle’s heart problem, he was delighted over her admitting her feelings. He could only hope she would calm down.
    He sat in his car for the longest, watching to see if she would come back outside for a cigarette. While he was proud that she’d almost quit, he cursed his own hope that she would cave into her craving. Slipping into a doze, he jerked when his mother tapped on the window. Frowning, he rolled it down for her to say, “A doctor called and said you were in the ER.”
    “What? No. I hit Ben and they took him inside. He’s probably pulling some stunt with a nurse.”
    They quickly went inside but only his mother went back. Rich was still too angry with Ben to face him. Fidgeting over wanting to see Candice, he gave in and headed toward her uncle’s room. Since he wasn’t family, the doctor refused to let him go back. He lingered outside the ICU for so long that the doctor finally reappeared and said, “I’m only letting you go back because Mike saw you pacing and insisted that you were as good as family.”
    When he appeared, her uncle put a finger to his lips and pointed beside him. Candice was asleep with her head resting on the bed. Rich quietly pulled up a chair beside Uncle Mike and apologized for the drama. Shrugging, Mike told him, “She’s a spitfire when she’s mad but I happen to know she cares deeply for you.” When Rich’s gaze flew to her, Mike assured him, “She’s never been in a solid relationship and might seem hell-bent on not listening but Lupus really did a number on her.”
    Nodding, Rick admitted, “I’m in love with her but she won’t believe me. If you knew my twin better, you’d understand why I’m the quiet one. I don’t enter into relationships lightly. I’ve seen him avoid and screw too many up.”
    Smiling softly, Mike nodded, “I think I saw enough of your twin to understand.”
    Muttering an apology, Rich dragged a hand through his hair, “How do I get her to trust me? I mean, my family does target unhealthy people in order to sell a healthy lifestyle. She was caught in the middle. I never meant to lie or hurt her. I was entranced by her from the first.”
    Knowing he was rambling but unable to stop himself, he groaned, “I was always the face of the business while Ben handled the smooth-talking sales pitches. I hate his playboy persona. He slams everyone behind their backs while pretending to be me.” With a self-depreciating laugh, he frowned, “My idea of fun is sitting home on a weekend while he parties his ass off, pretending to be me.”
    Mike frowned and started to say something but Rich shook his head, “Now, women can’t tell us apart. It’s a mess.”
    At Mike’s confused look, Rich rolled his eyes, “When Ben would go out partying, they thought it was me since I was the face on the commercials. His photo wound up in the paper so often that my father made the best of the publicity, wanting me to become more public. I don’t like partying so Ben embraced it. Then we switched so I could get out of that scene since he was more comfortable in the limelight. Maybe I should just quit the family business altogether.”
    “Whoa…that is a mess.”
    Nodding, Rich shoved a hand in his hair but jerked his head up when Candice muttered, “ Someone could have explained all this to me long ago.”
    Wincing, Rich nodded, “Yeah, I know I should have but you were already so sensitive that I was afraid