Page 11 of Plus Size Player

The young twentysomething man definitely knew the plan, as he gave me a sly look in the rearview mirror. “I’m under strict orders to not say anything and to enter the establishment through the back entrance.”

I gasped and then pouted. “So, you’re not going to tell me?”

He shook his head. “I cannot.”

I lowered my voice to a stage whisper. “Am I being abducted? Have I been taken?”

“No!” He glanced at Russ in the mirror. “Maybe you should tell her.”

Russ tried to hide his snickering behind his hand. “Naw, she’s good.”

“Good and missing,” I teased with a straight face. “The abduction started the moment I was supposed to eat at that Mediterranean spot but ended up at an abandoned warehouse. Wait until my dad hears the news that Russ and his accomplice”—I located the driver’s name on the front dashboard—“Matt snatched me in broad daylight.”

“What? No!” Matt yelped from the front seat. “Dude, tell your girl what’s going on!”

Russ burst out laughing. “No, it’s cool. It’s cool. She’ll find out soon enough.” He looked over at me. “And I wouldn’t call this broad daylight. It’s technically early evening.”

“Snatched me up in broad dusklight.”

“Dusklight isn’t even a thing.”

I pursed my lips. “Semantics. The sun is still out. It’s almost dusk. And I’ve been taken.” Turning my attention to the driver, I leaned forward. “Have you seen the movieTaken? That was inspired by my dad.”

“She’s playing with you, man.” Russ chuckled. “You’re giving her an audience so she’s going to keep going.”

I tried to stop myself from smiling but I couldn’t contain it. Russ’s laugh was infectious, the situation was hilarious, and I was impressed by how well he knew me and my humor.

Even though I wanted to crack up, I held it together.

“You want to take your chances believing this kidnapper with all the secrets, or me, a certified big deal with a dad who has a particular set of skills?” I questioned.

Snickering, Matt shook his head. “I mean… he’s the one paying for the ride, and I don’t think he wants to ruin the surprise.”

“This is not funny,” I grumbled, still grinning at the two amused men. I craned my neck to see if I could make out a sign or a marqueethat indicated where we were. “Let me pay attention so I can know what clues to give my father and the authorities. Where—?”

“This is for you,” Russ interrupted, pulling a bag from seemingly nowhere.

“You got me a gift for real?” My voice softened and my eyebrows flew up. “I thought you were bullshitting.” I took the bag from his hands and saw a shoebox inside. “Russ… is this why you asked me my shoe size a few weeks ago?”

“Open it.”

I pulled the box out of the bag and then flipped open the lid. “Oh, wow.”

I wasn’t a sneakerhead by any stretch of the imagination. But I loved fashion, and I loved anything that looked good on me. And the black-and-white abstract two-tone high-top sneakers that were in the box were hot.

“You like them?” he asked expectantly.

There was a hint of nervousness in his question that forced my eyes to his immediately.

“I love them,” I gushed, pulling one of them out to get a closer look. “These are so cool.” Leaning forward, I planted a swift kiss against his smiling mouth. “Thank you!”

He sat back in his seat, a self-satisfied grin on his face. “You’re welcome. You can dress them up or down. They even look good with what you have on.”

I put the shoe next to my thigh and nodded. “Yeah, it does,” I agreed. “Where did you get these? I’ve never seen them before.”

“I designed them.”

“What?” I gasped. “You did?”

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