Beauty in His Bed by L. K. Below Page A

she glanced around the store, Amy exclaimed, “It’s beautiful!” She meant it, too, even if her heart broke a little to see it. Mannequins posed in evocative positions as they displayed small, sheer, lacy concoctions. As she admired the lingerie, Amy tried to contain her sad smile. She both loved and hated stores like Sheer Passions. They contained the best and most beautiful, everything a woman could want to entice a man–but rarely did anything come in her size.
    Maybe it was best that this time around, she didn’t have a man to entice.
    Setting that thought aside, she turned to her friend. “You’ve done a great job here, Monique. The business is going well?”
    “More than well. I’ve got no competition in this little corner and the girls on either side only bring in more business for me.” As Monique reached the glossy marble countertop in the center of the store, she set down the suitcase and turned. “The only area I’m missing items in is that one over there.” She pointed to one corner of the store opposite the dressing rooms. “I just don’t get enough pieces to fit plus-size beauties like yourself.”
    Amy sighed. “That’s the way of the world, isn’t–” When she saw the glint in her friend’s brown eyes, she cut herself off. “Monique…”
    “Back when we were in college, all you wanted to do was make plus-sized lingerie.”
    “Well, I realized what a stupid dream that was,” Amy snapped back. “Now I’m a bank teller, and honestly, Monique, I couldn’t be happier.”
    “We have banks here in New Orleans.”
    Amy had always loved the way Monique pronounced the name of her home city as Nawlins . Seeing as the first time she’d said it, Amy hadn’t even been sure she’d come from the United States, it was a bit of a running joke between them. But today, she didn’t smile.
    Nevertheless, her friend continued, “I know at least a half dozen other stores who would love to show your talent.”
    “I live in New York.”
    “Why? It’s obvious you ain’t got any ties there, sugar.”
    “I do have ties there. I have friends and family.”
    Colleen has Dan now.
    And when she’d had Tim, she’d been ecstatic for her cousin. What was it about her boyfriend leaving her for another, thinner woman that made her so bitter? She wanted to be happy for her cousin. Finally, at twenty-six, Colleen had found a meaningful relationship.
    Lifting one thin black eyebrow, Monique said, “Is that why you’ve come crying on my shoulder instead of staying to cry on theirs? You could have a home here, Amy.”
    She didn’t want to talk about this. Sliding her eyes shut, Amy took a deep breath. “I’m only here until Wednesday,” she said calmly. Firmly.
    She shouldn’t have let Hannah talk her into coming in the first place. Coming had been cowardly. I don’t belong here. No matter what Monique said to the contrary. She had a life back in New York. Or she’d had one. With Tim.
    Stop it!
    Monique sighed. “Oh, all right, sugar. You won’t hear another word from me. But I want you to know that the offer still stands.”
    With a thin smile, Amy nodded.
    When she opened her eyes again, Monique tugged on her arm. “Come. I want you to meet the girls.”
    The slender woman pulled Amy with surprising strength out the door and into the balmy New Orleans air. Amy glimpsed a sign reading Madame Danielle’s Charms and Baubles before her friend dragged her inside.
    Unlike Monique’s store, this one was dimly lit and swathed in red velvet, casting a mysterious air over the place. The front sold candles, costume jewelry, and myriad other items. The back was separated by a black curtain. Manning the counter was a slim, ash-blond beauty. Her full red lips were in sharp contrast to her pale skin and light blue eyes, ringed with eyeliner. Grinning, she waved to Monique, the bracelets on her arm jingling.
    “Well, Monique! Who is this?”
    “This is my friend Amy. She’s visiting from New