Page 22 of Cupid Loves Curves

RUGGED MATCH

A BBW & MOUNTAIN MAN VALENTINE’S ROMANCE

CHAPTER 1

JESSICA

Tell me your secrets!”

I laugh as my best friend Ruby rushes through my front door and heads straight to the kitchen.

“And hello to you, too.” My laugh loud as I close the front door and push the door snake against the bottom before too much cold air gets in. It hasn’t been a snowy winter so far, but the wind has been something else. It makes me regret that my front door opens directly outside instead of having a protected hallway like where Ruby lives.

“I know, I know! I’m late. But,” Ruby’s voice is bright and playful as she rummages in my cupboard, “I brought cupcakes!”

She returns to the living room and we settle on the couch as the opening music starts for our favorite addiction. We know it’s ridiculous, but we love that reality TV show about wedding dresses. It’s become our Thursday night thing. We drool and obsess over the dresses, discussing which ones we’d love for ourselves and which we wouldn’t even try on. Of course, we’dboth need serious boyfriends before we could even think about shopping for our own wedding dresses.

“Okay,” I say with a faux-serious voice. “I suppose I could forgive you if you have a red velvet cupcake in here…”

“Knew it!” Ruby hands me a plate with two cupcakes – one red velvet – and cuts her eyes to the television, where a woman scowls at a meringue dress fit for a princess. We both laugh because we’ve seen this bride go through twenty dresses already. It’ll take a miracle for her to find a dress she likes. “What’s new with you?”

“Well,” I tease, smiling at her as she looks at me. My eyes drop to my mail on the table and the envelope I’ve been scared to open.

“What’s that?” Ruby’s eyes follow mine. “Oooh, what’s with the fancy envelope? Are you invited toanotherwedding?”

I roll my eyes and laugh. “No. Not that.”

“Don’t be a tease!” She pouts. “Tell me what it is!”

“Okay, but you have to promise not to laugh,” I say, a hint of embarrassment in my voice. I don’t know whether I’ve done something smart or incredibly desperate. If I don’t put words to what I’ve done, maybe it won’t be real.

“Pinkie promise!” Ruby says, extending her pinkie toward me.

I loop my pinkie through hers and look her straight in the eye. “Now remember, you promised…”

“Babe. You know me. Have I ever shared one of your secrets?”

I raise an eyebrow at her but continue. “You know Mack and Aimee’s wedding is coming up, right?”

“Yes,” Ruby says.

“So here’s the deal. I need a date, and everything feels weird. Our friends are getting married, and I can’t even cross the two-month mark with a guy.” I glance at the TV and pick up the remote, pressing the pause button as the show comes back from a commercial break. I take a deep breath to steady my nerves. “So I did a thing. Have you heard about that matchmaking contest?”

Ruby perks up. “Oh, you mean the one where they give you a vacation if you don’t fall in love on the first date? I thought that was a scam…”

“It’s not. And it was free to apply.”

“You didn’t!”

“I most certainly did! I came to the realization that I’m lousy at choosing men, so it seemed like a fair idea to let someone else have a crack at it. If it doesn’t work, I’ll win twenty grand and a vacation for my trouble. Plus,” I sigh, “everyone’s getting married, and the highlight of my week is seeing you and watching…” I gesture toward the TV, which is paused on a woman holding up a wedding dress that looks like a lace sheath. It’s pretty, but with my curves, I’d look like a lace-wrapped sausage link.

Ruby laughs. “And that’s a problem why?”

I sigh again and smile. “I love you, Ruby. You know that. But I also want a husband and a family. I’ll have to get a cat if I keep striking out with men.”

“Hold on. Are you saying you’re going to become a crazy cat lady?” Ruby teases.

I toss a pillow at her. “If I can’t find a man who wants me for more than two months, I’m afraid the answer is yes.”

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