Heels and Heroes

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Heels and Heroes

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2013 by Tiffany Allee

ISBN: 978-1-61333-451-5

Cover art by Mina Carter

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

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Heels and Heroes

By

Tiffany Allee

~DEDICATION~

To my cousin, JonEll. For always believing in me and being there for me. And for inspiring me with your actions. You’ll always be a superhero to me.

Chapter One

Brenda clicked the pen against her desk, her eyes glued to the disciplinary action report on the screen. She’d dreaded this since she’d arrived at work, seven hours ago. Suspension would normally have been the first step with any disciplinary action, but she couldn’t suspend a pharmacy tech who reported to work drunk. That was dangerous, and she didn’t allow dangerous people to work in her pharmacy.

Terry’s here, Maria said, peeking into the office.

"Thanks, can you send him back?

He slunk into the office, the dark circles under his eyes made all the more apparent by his too-pale skin. You called? he asked, but his voice was hollow. He already knew the answer to his question.

She slipped behind him and shut the door. It wouldn’t surprise Maria or any of the pharmacy techs she was letting him go, but adding public humiliation to his day wasn’t something she could stomach. The office was small, so he waited to sit down until after she took her seat behind the desk.

We’re going to have to let you go, she said without preamble.

He cursed and stared at his hands, not meeting her eyes. Look, I know I had some troubles this weekend. Christine dumped me last week, and I just—

I’m sorry, Terry, she said firmly. But you came in here stinking of alcohol, when you bothered to come in at all.

He looked up, tears building in the corners of his eyes. I won’t lie to you. I screwed up. Royally. But it won’t happen again.

Brenda frowned. The man had messed up. But he was young, just old enough to buy the alcohol he’d used to drown his sorrows. And he loved his long-time girlfriend. Enough, apparently, to lose his job mourning the relationship.

I have to let you go, she said finally. I can’t risk you’ll come in here drunk after the next fight.

The haggard breath he took made her chest hurt, but she couldn’t give in, not on something this important. As tears started rolling down his face, she said, If you get into an alcohol program, prove to me you’re sticking with it, we’ll see how things are going in a few months. Maybe try again, under a probationary period until I’m comfortable.

Oh thank you, Brenda! he said, choking out the words between sobs.

I said maybe, and remember, this is going to require some serious work on your part.

He nodded and promised he’d check out what the hospital offered that very day.

Brenda waited for him to pull himself together before escorting him out. She returned to her office and rubbed her eyes. Had she made a mistake? Should she have given him that small way for him to redeem himself, or would it have been better to make it a clean break?

She sighed and turned back to her computer, but the sound of a message arriving on her phone stopped her. The chirp was distinctive, and specific to a very special kind of message. Hitting shutdown on the computer, she didn’t glance at the cell’s screen. Instead she called out to Maria, I have to leave early today, family emergency. Only an hour remained until six, when she was scheduled to leave anyway, but she still felt a twinge of guilt.

Is everything okay? Maria asked when Brenda emerged from the office.

It’s fine. My brother’s in town so just a little drama. The lie made her mouth dry and her stomach flip-flop, but she could hardly tell her the truth.

Maria’s posture relaxed and she nodded. Family drama, fun.

You have no idea.

***

Brenda tugged on the spandex in a vain attempt to get the fabric to cover just a bit more of her cleavage. Damn it, she’d definitely shrunk the undershirt. She knew it was tight as she raced out the door, but she hadn’t realized the severity of the shrinkage.

And why had she bothered to rush? Not like anyone would have missed her if she hadn’t shown. Suppressing a sigh she knew would prompt concern from her companion, Char, she glanced around the room, taking in the motley group.

Motley probably wouldn’t be the word most people would use to describe the gathering of superheroes. Granted, their disguises were all the more bright and noticeable with so many of them in one place—thirty or so, Brenda figured—but most still would have described the gathering with a much kinder word. Striking or spectacular, perhaps, especially when compared to the stark room they stood in. Gray carpet washed out by white walls. Folding chairs lined one side of the room, propped against the wall. Next to the other wall, a ten-foot by ten-foot section of the floor was elevated six inches higher than the rest of the space. The darker gray carpet that lined its surface kept it from being quite the tripping hazard it might have been otherwise. In the center of the dais a metal podium stood empty.

You okay? Char asked, not fooled by Brenda’s blank expression.

I’m fine. Just feeling a bit squished. I left my top in the dryer a little too long.

She grinned down at Brenda’s cleavage. Well, luckily, just the undershirt is spandex. Can you imagine if you were wearing Violet’s outfit?

Brenda snorted and glanced at the woman. She covered her body, wrist to knee, in purple spandex already stretched so tight it left not a single one of her curves or lumps a mystery. Black leather gloves and boots completed her outfit, along with a mask that hid her hair and half of her face. Brenda had never seen the older woman without her mask, but with the unmarred way the spandex sat against her scalp and neck she imagined Violet had short hair.

Even if she had been a teenager instead of the forty-something Brenda guessed she must be, that much spandex wouldn’t have been appealing. Thank goodness most heroes chose modern and attractive outfits. Of course there was a handful who, like Violet, stuck