Real Women Don't Wear Size 2 by Kelley St. John Read Free Book Online

around the entire shells of both ears, with silver elves suspended from the lowest circles. Funny, she’d never pictured elves in hell.
    Perky’s fluorescent green sweater, tighter than a swimsuit, appeared to have been slashed through the middle, exposing abs of a gymnast and a diamond belly ring. Low-rise black jeans completed the ensemble . . . since there were no shoes on her tiny feet—feet that were probably size six, from Clarise’s guess, and nowhere near her size nine skis. Several rings sparkled from Shannon’s toes, as did brilliant blue polish on each nail.
    She looked like a rainbow had thrown up all over her. Oddly enough, Clarise liked the look. She envied a person so willing to play with her appearance and have fun at the risk of criticism. While Clarise knew sophisticated fashion, this girl was fashionably exuberant, letting her carefree, funky spirit shine through in her choice of clothing.
    Clarise couldn’t help but wonder . . . why couldn’t she be more like that? Lifting her eyes to Shannon’s wide smile, outlined in dark plum, she decided this little pixie wasn’t so bad. Maybe she wasn’t the enemy after all. Maybe, just maybe, she could be Clarise’s ally for this venture.
    “I’m going on a trip,” Clarise informed.
    “Cool! Where to?” Shannon asked, steering Clarise to one side of the store, then flipping through a circular rack.
    “Tampa, for Gasparilla. It’s a festival where pirates take over the city. Have you heard of it?”
    “Quit it. Really? Sure, I’ve heard of it. It’s like Mardi Gras, but with big swords and huge boats. Oh wow, I so want to go to Tampa for Gasparilla. Are you taking your hubby? Boyfriend? Or are ya gonna find one there?” Her grin intensified.
    Clarise fought the urge to laugh out loud. Part of her wanted to confess her plan to bed her friend, maybe even convince him she was the love of his life in the process. Chances are she’d never see Shannon again, so what would it hurt? Yeah, right. As if Clarise would ever confess her secrets, particularly to a girl who’d probably have no trouble at all heading down to Gasparilla and grabbing her choice of hunky pirates. Nope, Clarise would keep that little tidbit to herself.
    “It’s a company trip. Corporate bonding, you know.”
    “Ooh, I’ve heard of those. What company?”
    Clarise swallowed. How much should she tell this girl, a stranger, about who she was? Then, as Shannon’s genuine interest shone through emerald eyes, Clarise couldn’t resist. She wouldn’t lie. “I run the Women’s Department at Eubanks Elegant Apparel, but I’m wanting a different kind of look than what our clothing conveys.” Was that a decent explanation? Would Pixie understand what she was after?
    “Eubanks! Wow, they’re really uptown!” She tilted her spiky head. “My mom shops there, and my older sister, but you were right to come here for what you need.”
    “What I need?” Clarise asked. She hadn’t provided any specifics.
    “You’re not looking to impress the guy with your business fashion, right? You’re looking to get him in bed,” Shannon said matter-of-factly, apparently unaware of the shock value in her remark.
    Clarise whipped her head around and quickly realized that—thankfully—no one was within earshot, then she swallowed and attempted to force some of the excess blood to leave her face. “Yeah, that’s what I’m looking for,” she said.
    “You go, girl,” Shannon said, nodding. “And with your awesome curves, you won’t have any trouble finding
exactly
what you’re looking for at the pirate festival.”
    Clarise couldn’t stop her smile. Shannon was quickly crossing over into the new-and-very-best-friend category.
    “Come on, I’ve got the perfect look for you,” Shannon said, excitement pulsing through every word. She grabbed Clarise’s hand and yanked her farther into the kaleidoscope store. An assorted collection of leather, beads and knotted string slid down