Hot n Bothered, page 1
Copyright © 2025 by Leni Morgan
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 9798296122902
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S./UK copyright law. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems.
Artwork by Katherine Macdonald On Instagram & Threads: @authorkatherinemacdonald
Contents
. Chapter
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Chapter 18
19. Chapter 19
20. Chapter 20
21. Chapter 21
22. Chapter 22
23. Chapter 23
24. Chapter 24
25. Chapter 25
26. Chapter 26
27. Chapter 27
28. Chapter 28
29. Chapter 29
30. Chapter 30
31. Chapter 31
32. Chapter 32
33. Chapter 33
34. Chapter 34
35. Chapter 35
36. Chapter 36
37. Chapter 37
38. Chapter 38
39. Chapter 39
40. Chapter 40
41. Chapter 41
42. Chapter 42
43. Chapter 43
44. Chapter 44
45. Chapter 45
46. Chapter 46
47. Epilogue
48. About The Author
49. Acknowledgements
50. Also By The Author
For those who battle, we see your strength. Don't let anyone tell you you're weak.
And no – you don't need a magic "cure" to get the HEA you more than deserve.
Trigger Warnings:
Details of panic attacks, depression, emotional bullying and explicit sex. Remember your mental health is important.
Chapter 1
“I’m not going.” Isobelle said from under the duvet. “It’s as simple as that.”
Darren snorted as he unearthed her suitcase from under the mound of clothes at the bottom of her wardrobe. “Like mum is ever going to accept that. Do you want me to pack for you now? Save doing it last minute and forgetting half your stuff?”
“I will text her. In fact I’ll do it now.” She reached out feeling over her array of notepads and books trying to find her phone. “Fuck.” She muttered as she knocked it to the floor.
“And then what? Ignore your phone as it blows up?”
She lifted the corner of her duvet in time to see her brother snatch her phone up from the floor.
“I was planning on switching it off.” She admitted.
“And miss my calls? How dare you.”
“I’m not the one who is running out on our family holiday after convincing me to go. And leaving me all alone with those vultures. You promised me I wouldn’t have to go through this alone.”
She looked at him imploringly, the tears in her eyes weren’t faked. They were from the panic attack she was holding at bay.
Darren was the only member of her family that didn’t have a go at her. Even though he was five years older than her, it was like they were twins with how close they were. That’s why she had moved up to Sunderland to be nearer to him, rather than stay in Derby with the rest of her family. Her social group was essentially him and his group of friends and that was it.
She had only agreed to go on this family trip because he had promised that he would be there to act as a buffer between her and them. But now with less than a week to go he dropped the bombshell that he had to stay due to work needing him.
He looked at her and immediately understood the state she was in. He sat on the bed taking her hand tapping out the timings for her breathing with his thumb. As always, just that point of contact helped ground her and get control back.
“Actually I want to be there. Just to see their faces at the surprise I have for you, to help you through it.”
“Unless you can magic up a hunk who will only have eyes for me and not the twins. Oh and a multi-million pound book deal then it will literally be the worst three weeks of my life and you know how much I hate the misuse of literally.” She huffed glaring at him.
He shot her a grin. “Well I can do the first. It’s open.” He yelled, at the ring of her doorbell.
She punched his arm. “What the Hell Darren!” She snapped getting out of bed. “You don’t just invite people into my…” She stopped as he sauntered into her bedroom with that lopsided smile of his that made her toes curl.
“You tell her yet?” He asked Darren.
“Tell me what?” She rounded on her brother, her glare notched right up to ‘I will flay you alive’.
“Well when I told mum I wouldn’t make it I suggested you take your hot new boyfriend instead.” He was grinning far too smugly and ignoring her glare.
“Hot… new...? Are you out of your fucking mind? That will never work and you know it.”
“And why not? Give me one reason.”
“Firstly, I suck at lying, you know I do. Secondly, they are not going to believe I of all people found a boyfriend. Thirdly, three weeks of the twins trying to seduce my fake boyfriend and the rest of them questioning why he would want me and asking him if he’s sure, will be far worse than the usual shit I get from them.” She yelled at him.
And fourthly, no way could she do it with Ben Wallace, her brother’s best friend, of all people. Not just because he was 6’2” of muscular tattooed gorgeousness. Nor because he had a social media cooking show viewed and followed by millions. But mainly because she’d been head over heels, completely and utterly in love with him for the past six years.
Actually it was also equally to do with the fact that five months ago they had slept together during his birthday party and he didn’t remember. He hadn’t seemed that drunk when it happened, but when she found out the next day how much he’d had to drink she understood why he had been interested. He had no memory of it the next day and she was not about to remind him, especially since it was dubious consent on her part.
“I can do most of the lying Belle.” He said leaning against the doorframe watching her with those striking blue eyes of his. “You don’t need to lie about how we met, or what we’ve done together. And what the Hell do you mean they won’t believe it? I’ll have you know I’m a hot ticket. I’m prime boyfriend material. It would be easy to fall for me.”
“That’s not what I said. They especially won’t believe I bagged the Hot n Bothered guy.”
“And why not?”
She gestured to him. “Well look at you. And then look at me.” She pointed lamely at herself.
She wasn’t being self-depreciative just to get a compliment, she was in a word, a mess.
A figurative and literal mess.
At the moment her unwashed and unbrushed hair was pulled out of her face in a messy ponytail, hair stuck up all over. She had no makeup on, her cute glasses were covered in smudges and she had pen on her face from where she tapped it against her cheek as she thought, without realising she had it the wrong way round.
She was wearing a very old sweatshirt, faded and raggedy along the edges. It even had thumbholes in the cuffs it was that worn out. Her jeans were big and baggy and in desperate need of a wash. Not to mention she was fat. Literally the only member of their family who was fat, and of course it had to be her.
The whole Isobelle mess didn’t even stop at looks. No, she was also on medication for both depression and anxiety and was prone to panic attacks.
As well as that she wrote. A lot.
Her messed-up brain kept churning out ideas for stories that she wrote down in hundreds of notepads because that’s how she flowed best. Of course, her brain never waits for one story to be completed before coming up with a new one. So at anytime she would be working on at least twenty WIPs.
Darren had finally convinced her to send off a couple of actually completed works to agents. But she couldn’t see anything taking off for her as she wasn’t that good.
Now Ben? Ben was the embodiment of not a mess.
His thick black hair, that always looked perfectly messy, flopped over his forehead into his ice blue eyes. Coupled with his high cheekbones and perfect soft mouth he had women swooning all over the world, think Henry Cavill but better. His geeky t-shirt accentuated his muscles, and the fit of his jeans was almost scandalous in how good he looked in them.
He was an unbelievably brilliant cook. Could knock up some of the best tasting meals with just a few ingredients. He liked to sleep in too much, which was why he never wanted to become a professional chef. Instead, he’d decided to film himself cooking wearing an apron – wearing only an apron and post it online.
Talk about a recipe for success. He was officially an influencer, had celebrity followers and after one best-selling cookbook he was about to publish a second. Along with a Hot n Bothered apron and cookware range.
“You could easily bag me.” Ben said. “Come on let me do this for you.”
“Why? W
“Because I told him exactly how they are with you Iz, and I told him how worried I was about you going out there alone with them.” Darren said.
“So why can’t I do the original plan of cancelling and turning off my phone? It’s a good solid plan.”
Darren grimaced. “Because the tickets are non-refundable, and dad will demand you pay him in full. He already threatened me with it. Another reason why Ben is the perfect choice.”
“Fuck.” Isobelle muttered chewing on her nail. There was no way she could afford to pay for her ticket, especially now.
“Come on Belle, it’ll be fun.” Ben said. “We can chill by the pool, work on our tans, see some sights. I can get some new recipe ideas and you can fill more notepads. And better than that you can rub it in their faces that I’m your man.”
“It’s Ben, or I have to pay dad for both of us Iz.” Darren was grinning because he could see she was struggling to come up with a good enough reason to say no.
“Urgh! Fine. But when this goes tits up I get to say I told you so and I get to do the dance.”
Chapter 2
Why 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.”
