Read Online Bella Summer Takes a Chance by Michele Gorman - Free Book Online Page B

my charms had begun to fade. Not to mention droop. There was definite drooping. Was that something I needed to worry about? In my twenties I went (briefly) to a gym where I was forced to discuss my flaws with a Lycra-bound woman posing as my personal trainer. ‘What are your problem areas ?’ She’d asked with the concern of one discussing a death in the family. Looking back, I’d have killed for the body I found such fault with. Wasn’t it always the way? We didn’t know what we had till after it was covered in orange peel. At the time I told her I wanted bigger boobs. She drew me close and imparted her version of the secrets of the Sphinx. Religiously I did those workouts, but there wasn’t a squeeze, stretch or lunge that could win the battle against the draw of gravity. That hadn’t bothered me with Mattias. He’d had the benefit of the early, perky days, and a certain amount of settling had to be expected over time. But even with one careful owner they weren’t exactly showroom quality any more. Thank God for the efforts of Rigby & Peller. If only they made foundationwear to support a woman’s confidence.
    ‘B., if you don’t stop pacing, I’m going to tie you down. Now what an interesting thought. What do you say, darling?’ Frederick was digging at his eyebrows with my good tweezers.
    ‘Fred, I told you to go to the brow bar like the other metrosexuals. A quick threading and you’ll be sorted.’
    ‘I’m not plucking , dear heart. What do you take me for? There’s just one very long hair that keeps getting in my eye.’
    If he said he had an errant brow hair, who was I to doubt him? The fact that he wielded those tweezers with well-practised accuracy wasn’t necessarily a damning indictment. ‘Just stop using my wax.’
    ‘I do not!’
    ‘You do. I found hairy strips in the bin the other day.’
    ‘Perhaps you should wax more often.’
    ‘Don’t be catty. How do I look?’ The contents of my closet were knee deep on my floor. I didn’t have the stomach for another wardrobe change. I settled on the first wrap dress I tried on at the beginning of the process.
    ‘Divine, I already told you. Stop worrying, he’ll love you. Just pull that down a bit.’
    I slapped his hand away. ‘Tsch. What are you doing tonight?’
    ‘I have an exciting date with a gorgeous woman. Stop making that face. It’s unattractive.’
    ‘Sorry. Who’s this mystery woman?’ I was willing to bet she had an Adam’s apple.
    ‘My colleague set us up. She’s a stunner. Perhaps we should work out a system in case we’re both lucky in love tonight. I have it! Whoever gets back first hangs a sock on the door.’
    ‘What are we, in The O.C. ?’
    ‘Have you got a better system?’ He asked, plucking hairs off his fingers. I vowed to buy new tweezers.
    ‘Yes. How about I don’t bring him back here?’
    ‘Planning to sleep away?’
    ‘Planning to sleep alone. It’s a first date.’
    ‘Darling, you’ve been out of the game too long. You did wax, right?’
    ‘Frederick! That’s none of your business. I don’t even know this guy. It’s hardly likely I’m going to sleep with him tonight.’ Of course I’d groomed.
    ‘It has been awhile, though, hasn’t it? Ouch. Come on, you can tell me.’ He gasped in shocked horror. ‘B., you have had sex since Mattias, right?’ My face answered him. ‘Angel cupcake, but there are things you need to know.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Techniques and such. Honestly, this shouldn’t be attempted without proper tutelage. You’re right, definitely don’t sleep with him tonight. You need guidance.’
    ‘Whatever. I’ve got to go.’ He suffered my school-marmish kiss on the forehead with minimal adolescent face-pulling. ‘Have fun with your date tonight. We’ll talk in the morning.’
    ‘Maybe you’ll meet her in the morning.’
    ‘Okay.’ I doubted that.
     
    The Tube to Islington offered precious little to distract me from the fact that Fred was right. It