Weapons of Mass Seduction by Lori Bryant-Woolridge

Pia’s quick transformation.
    â€œAnd use this,” Pia suggested, handing Flo a small silver metallic clutch.
    Flo felt herself stand just a bit taller in her shoes. She had no idea that such a simple wardrobe adjustment could make her feel so young, and hip, even.
    â€œPia, will you take my picture?” Florence requested, handing her a digital camera. “I can’t wait to show Miriam when I get back home.”
    â€œAnd maybe Dan?” Pia teased.
    â€œMy turn,” Becca said, sliding in front of Pia once the photo session was over.
    â€œI think all you need is a little more makeup and these,” Pia said, bending down near the bed to pick up a bronze-colored pair of pointy-toed heels.
    â€œWhoa. These are high,” Becca commented, slipping into the shoes.
    â€œThey do take a little getting used to, but in my experience heels are a primo flirtation tool. They make your calves and legs look great and turn an ordinary walk into a major strut. You’d be surprised how many guys have shoe fetishes. Oh, and this would look great,” Pia decided, taking Flo’s discarded scarf and pushing it through Becca’s belt loops before standing her collar upright. Pia took another five minutes to touch up the girl’s makeup, defining and dramatizing her green eyes and full lips and pulling her ponytail up higher on her head, creating a sweet and sexy cascade of honey-colored ringlets.
    â€œDarlin’, you’re lookin’ like
Becca
now.”
    â€œPia, could I borrow those?” Becca asked, pointing to a pair of crystal chandelier earrings and the small handbag that matched the shoes.
    â€œSure.”
    Looking like a new fawn taking her first steps, Becca happily negotiated her high-heeled self over to the mirror and put the glitzy earrings in her ears. Immediately she felt sexier and more sophisticated. Gazing at herself with her new makeup and hair, she practiced her rendition of Paris Hilton’s head tilt and flirty smile, and suddenly Cedar Falls felt like a million miles away.
    â€œNow I need to get myself dressed,” Pia said, hurrying off to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later she emerged looking lovely but just as nervous as when she’d answered the door.
    â€œReady?” Becca asked, reaching for her borrowed bag.
    â€œGive me a minute. I want to change my skirt.”
    â€œWhy? You look great. I love that outfit,” Florence remarked, admiring Pia’s simple but sophisticated slim black skirt, cap-sleeved silk sweater, and a cascade of chunky jet black beads.
    â€œI feel overdressed. Maybe I should wear jeans,” Pia said, trawling through what was left hanging in her closet. “I think I sprayed on too much perfume. They’ll smell me a mile away.”
    â€œYou look amazin’ and you smell just fine. What’s really goin’ on, darlin’?” Flo asked as she snapped a picture.
    â€œYou wanted to see my insecurities. Well, here they are. The idea of going to a bar to flirt with a man makes me nauseous, even if it is just a class assignment. The fact is, I’m just no good at this anymore,” Pia finally revealed before plopping down on the bed. “I want to…to start dating more
fully
again, but lately my dates seem to be one disaster after another.”
    â€œDarlin’, we all have disaster stories. I think one of the reasons I got married so young was because I hated that whole datin’ scene.”
    â€œIt’s more than just that. I decided to become celibate five years ago. I’m happy I did. I learned a lot about myself, but now it’s as if a huge part of me is atrophied.”
    â€œWhoa. You don’t look like a woman who doesn’t have sex,” Becca remarked, her eyes and mouth both opened wide with astonishment.
    â€œYou know the old saying ‘Never judge a book…’” Pia said, not knowing how she could adequately explain her situation.
    She