The Groom Wanted Seconds: A Novella by Shirley Jump Page B

Marrying Barry was the right choice, she was sure of it Candace had never made a move in her life that she hadn't thoroughly researched, planned and analyzed.
    Well, except one. But that had been a long time ago. Ever since then, Candace had subscribed to the "more control is better" life mantra. That's why Barry was so perfect for her. They matched like plaid and stripes.
    On her marrying Barry list the pros had far outweighed any cons. Now if Murphy's Law would just see that too.
    Candace sighed. "Between the business and all those last-minute glitches, I haven't had time to find another dress."
    Rebecca looped her arm through Candace’s. "Tonight we're going dress shopping, and then well get good and drunk because tomorrow is Sunday, our day off, and we don't have a single delivery due on Monday."
    Of the three of them, Rebecca was the oldest by four months and thus had become the unofficial decision maker. She was also the thinnest and the only one who came equipped with both an iron will and a Blackwell-worthy fashion sense. And, as the sole married one, the wisest when it came to matters of weddings and bridal gowns.
    "Wow. An instant vacation." Maria grabbed a second cookie and finished it off in two bites. "I hope the bar is well stocked."
    Rebecca gave her a wry look. "You mean you hope the bartender is well built."
    "Yeah, that, too." Maria smiled. "But if he doesn't know how to make a killer margarita, what good are looks?"
     
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Excerpt from The Devil Served Desire
    Book 2 in the Sweet and Savory Novel series
    "This story is HOT, HOT, HOT…. I relate to this girl! It's a girl's dream come true, a hot man and hot food…. You won't be able to put this one down." – Drea (5 star, Amazon review)
     
     
    C HAPTER O NE
     
    Maria Pagliano was serious this time.
    No-holds-barred, no-prisoners-taken, no-cheese-allowed serious. She had eight weeks to do what she'd never been able to do before—lose twenty-five pounds.
    This time, she vowed, was going to be different. She wasn't going to cheat and fall victim to her own desires. But in order to stick to her plan, she needed a little help, which was why she had come here on a Tuesday night.
    To a meeting of the Chubby Chums support group.
    In the lime green basement of a tiny church in Boston's North End, a dozen or so people sat on folding chairs in a circle. Above them, a fluorescent light flickered and hummed like a pathetic disco ball. Maria crossed her legs, pantyhose swishing in the quiet, trying very hard not to think about the lone manicotti from Guido's Italian Cafe sitting in her apartment refrigerator.
    "Welcome, group!'' A woman in tight jeans who looked like she'd never been tempted by a bowl of raviolis in her life stepped into the room and opened her arms wide, in an all-encompassing group hug. "And how are my Chubby Chums tonight?"
    "We're peachy with light syrup!"
    Maria looked around at the group, all laughing at their practiced pun. Had she accidentally stumbled into the Lunatics with Heart Support Forum?
    The pixie leader's name badge said, Hello, my name is: Stephanie , with a smiley face and an exclamation point. Stephanie took a seat in one of the chairs, thrusting out her hands. The group copied her, becoming a human circle of joined palms. A portly guy—his tag declared his name was "Homer"—grabbed up Maria's left hand with a sweaty palm, giving her a smile that lacked a few teeth. "Jillie," a middle-aged sniffling woman, put down her stash of tissues to take Maria's right hand in a floppy fish grip.
    Then, as if on cue, the group dropped their heads to their chests and began to recite: "God grant me the serenity to accept my goal weight, the courage to resist anything with more than three hundred calories, and the wisdom to check the fat grams before I open my mouth and insert a fork."
    Goose bumps rose on Maria's arms. Bunch of lunatics.
    She should leave. But...
    Mary Louise Zipparetto had gone