Hiding Behind Glasses

Chapter 1

A/N Hi this is my first ever book I hope you like it. I put it under the romance genre because there is romance but there is gonna be some action and humor and suspense as well so enjoy!! Please comment and vote if you like it!! The cover and title might change on you, until I find the perfect one sorry if it is confusing.

Chapter 1

Claire POV

"Wake up! Claire Winters, get your ass up!! Wake up! It's time to wake up!!!"
Reaching for my cell phone I silence the annoying personal alarm tone my sister Melanie made for me.

"Ugh, why can't I ever get a full 8 hours of sleep.  No, I have the honor of walking all the dogs that reside in our apartment building because no one is hiring a law school drop out."

Looking down at my phone I see that I am running late so I rush into the bathroom for a quick shower.

Living in an apartment in New York is the norm but finding a rent controlled apartment across the street from central park is like winning the lottery for most New Yorker's.

Sadly that's the only thing I don't have to worry about, at least for now.  I live with my mother and my two younger siblings, Michael and Melanie, fraternal twins who at fifteen seemed to have skipped those awkward teen years, lucky brats.

Our father Richard died 2 years ago from a heart attack.  It was rough for everyone, he was such a great man.  He was an ADA working to keep criminals off the street and behind bars. I was following in his footsteps wanting to be a lawyer but once he died I had to quit school and move back home to help my mother and siblings.  Not expecting to die there were no plans made for the future the insurance paid for a nice funeral and rent for a couple more years but college was not an option anymore and besides the money I couldn't leave my family when they needed me the most.  I would never admit it but I needed them too at the time, I was very close to my father and it was quite a shock when he died.

Coming out of the shower I look at my phone again.

"Damn and I thought I was going to be on time for once."

Rushing to get dressed, I throw on whatever is clean and comfortable then run out of the apartment.  I knock on the door next door my first dog of the day.  Spot, a funny name to call an all black lab if you ask me, but choosing to not ask the first time Betty told me the name, I feel like I missed my opportunity to ask and if I asked now it would be weird and awkward.

My next stop is across the hall at Mrs Murphy's house with her Pomeranian named Princess. Boy did that dog act like one but she was very loyal and I appreciate that in dogs.  Some men I know are bigger dogs then the ones I walk, like Mrs Murphy's grandson Lawrence, who I know just finished law school thanks to Mrs Murphy's many talks over tea which she insisted on having after every walk.

Lawrence wasn't a total dog per say just a big flirt with the Adonis good looks to back them up. Having lived in this building my whole life I've known Lawrence and Mrs Murphy's family for a while and Lawrence loves to flirt.

At first I thought I was in love when at 15 and Lawrence 17 he would visit his grandmother and flirt with me but then he would flirt with the college girls one floor down.  Of course I was heartbroken over it, until my dad sat me down and talked to me about love and meeting my mom for the first time.

He always claimed it was love at first sight, the way he would tell it you'd think it was. He made me realize that no I was not in love with Lawrence but at the time I just screamed that he didn't understand love and I wouldn't leave my room for a week and made my mom check the hallways to make sure Lawrence wasn't there or else I wouldn't even leave the apartment.

I can laugh about it now and remember it as a good memory of my dad telling me the story of meeting mom but 9 years ago I thought the world had ended just how I felt 2 years ago when my dad died but it took me a lot longer then a week to get over that heart break and sometimes I still feel the pain but I know I have to be strong for my mom and siblings that's why I need to find a real job but it's not so easy without having finished my law degree.

Picking up my fifth and last dog I walk outside to the crisp morning air and shiver a little since my hair still isn't dry from my shower.  Walking in the park I pull my beanie from my pocket and try to put it on when the dogs see a squirrel and take off.

I freeze for exactly two seconds before I start after them. I scream and whistle for them while I'm running hoping they don't get hurt, luckily four of them are not too far off barking at a tree that I can presume the infamous squirrel is up.

Picking up there leashes I see Princess is missing. But of course she is because running after a squirrel is too undignified for a dog like Princess.  It would be too convenient for me that all five dogs were found together. I just knew it was going to be one of those days where I wish I just stayed in bed.

Now with the other 4 dogs firmly in hand I drag them away from the tree and set off on my search praying that nothing has happened to her like being dog napped.

I spot her trotting along side a man running.  Princess of course had to pick the most drool worthy man I have ever had the fortune to lay eyes on to chase. With pitch black hair, a strong jaw and slightly tanned skin he could put Lawrence and his blond locks to shame.  Where Lawrence was pretty boy handsome this man just screamed masculinity and power with his muscular build and his strong pace while running.

I feel myself lick my lips but that's bad I tell myself. I need to focus on getting a real job and I have no time for a boyfriend especially one as good looking as that.

I'm no slouch when it comes to looks with my long blonde hair and people always saying how lucky I am to be pretty but I feel its more burdensome then helpful.  People just assume I am another dumb blond who got everything based off my looks rather than any real effort.  They don't know how I skipped a grade in high school or graduated first in my class to then get into Harvard law.  Since being home I haven't really paid attention to my looks.  I mean I left the apartment with no makeup, wet hair and in sweats not exactly in the running for Miss America.

Now I'm having a hard time catching up with them running so fast, Princess of course is ignoring my calls for her to sit, stay or heal. Damn bitch.