She laughed. "Alas, I did not bring my suit. It never occurred to me that we'd be living in the lap of luxury for the weekend."

"It is quite a place, isn't it? I've been up here a few times before. Clark's client lets him use it almost anytime he wants."

He pointed to the steaming pool. "But back to the hot tub. No suit is no problem, fair lady. I believe the owner keeps several extras in the bathroom just off the kitchen."

Cynthia hesitated. "I'm sure the owner doesn't keep my size swimsuit on hand."

"Never know until you look. And if he doesn't, you still don't need one. You can wrap yourself in one of those oversized towels and I promise I'll be a good boy and not look when you get into the water." He crossed his heart with two fingers and held them up Boy Scout style.

"Are Clark and Gwen joining us?"

Dave grinned. "The two love birds have retired with a bottle of wine to the master bedroom."

"You're kidding?" Cynthia was genuinely surprised.

Dave shook his head and smiled.

"Well, it's about time," she said and turned back to star gazing. Although she was very happy for Gwen, Cynthia was sad for herself. She had grown fond of Clark, but she had fallen for his once arrogant brother. Now, there would be no excuse for the double dates.

Dave stood beside her at the deck railing, his face also turned up toward the stars. "I think everything will be fine now," he said, but Cynthia thought his voice sounded cheerless.

He turned toward her, his face animated. "Now, about that hot tub."

"I don't know," Cynthia said slowly while looking at the steaming water. She really did want to take a dip; and it wasn't like she was a prude about nudity. Normally, she was very comfortable about her body and certainly not ashamed of it. But now that she felt more than just friendship for Dave, she was becoming self-conscious. She forced herself to make a decision. "You're on, Mr. Baxter."

The owner of the manse did not stock Cynthia's size swimsuit, but she didn't mind. She undressed and wrapped her naked body in one of the huge towels she found in the cupboard. She grabbed another for Dave to use and stepped onto the deck.

Dave was already in the water and probably naked, too, since the clothes he was wearing just ten minutes earlier were scattered on the wood deck. She walked up to the side of the tub and made a gesture for him to turn his head. It was now or never, she thought.

Dave had never seen a large naked woman up close. Until now, he had never wanted to, but he wanted to see Cynthia. In the past weeks he had fallen in love with her mind, her sense of humor, her decency and maturity, and her bottomless blue eyes. Now he wanted to love her body as well, but was afraid his old prejudices were ingrained too deeply.

With his head turned, he heard the sound of the water parting as Cynthia entered the tub across from him and began to submerge. He felt the undulating swell of the liquid as her body displaced it and he wanted to grab her right then and there. But just as his brother hadn't wanted to scare off Gwen, Dave didn't want to scare off Cynthia. He had gotten off on the wrong foot with her, and now he would have to take it slowly and carefully.

"Okay," she said finally, "I'm in."

He turned around and looked at her face. She had the most radiant smile he had ever seen. Beside it, the stars paled. His eyes traveled down the curve of her neck where it joined her plump shoulder and across her front where the water lapped at the tops of her large round b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He looked up again at her face and saw that she was blushing. It wasn't the blush of a fresh maiden, but the blush of a knowing and experienced woman; a woman who was confident in herself and her appeal. He had never seen a blush like it before and he found it devastatingly desirable. His body responded but he held himself in check. Slow and careful, he reminded himself.

WITH HER DAUGHTER away with friends, Cynthia was looking forward to another quiet weekend, only this time it would be at home and not in Big Bear. Two peaceful weekends in a row, how lucky could she get? She had cleaned closets in the morning and gardened in the afternoon. She had just showered and wrapped herself in her favorite old bathrobe, and now was settling down with some hot soup and a good book. Tomorrow would be more of the same. Life was good, she told herself, but in reality she felt empty. Gwen and Clark were on solid ground in their relationship, which meant she would not be seeing Dave anymore. She had missed her chance with him, if she ever had a chance to begin with.

She sighed deeply and opened the new mystery novel she was dying to read. The doorbell rang just as she finished the first chapter. She looked out the peephole and asked who it was.

"It's Dave, Cynthia. Dave Baxter."

She pulled the collar of her robe up higher and opened the door. Dave was on her doorstep dressed in a suit and tie and freshly shaved. He looked downright yummy.

"What's up?" she asked, suddenly conscious of her wet hair and natty robe.

He stepped inside and looked her up and down. "You're not ready yet?"

"Ready for what? Did I miss something?"

"It's Sat.u.r.day night."

"Yes, so what?"

"We go out every Sat.u.r.day night?"

"Correction, counselor," Cynthia said closing the door and beckoning him to follow her into the living room, "we did go out every Sat.u.r.day night. But Gwen and Clark don't need us anymore. In fact, I believe they are up at the cabin again this weekend...alone."

Dave Baxter gently took hold of Cynthia shoulders and spun her around so that she faced him. He planted a firm kiss on her surprised lips.

"They may not need you anymore, Cynthia, but I do." He kissed her again, this time longer.

When he pulled back Cynthia's eyes were teary and her face wore the same mature blush it had in the hot tub. She reached up and stroked his face gently then softly kissed him back. Moving her hand to cup the back of his head, she drew him closer for a deeper kiss. This time the kiss seemed endless and their tongues were playful. Cynthia felt Dave's arms wrap around her. His hands cupped her big bottom through the robe and pulled her to him, body to body, as his mouth crushed her mouth. He moaned lightly.

When the kiss finally ended, Dave whispered in her ear, "Do you really own a gun?"

About the Author.

Sue Ann Jaffarian is the author of the award-winning Odelia Grey mystery series which features a plus-size paralegal as an amateur sleuth. In addition to being a novelist, Sue Ann is a legal a.s.sistant and a sought-after motivational and humorous speaker. She lives and loves in Los Angeles, California, where she is currently working on Remedial Murder, the third installment in the Odelia Grey mystery series, and G.o.d's Apology, a non-mystery novel. Love Bytes is her first romance fiction.

A CHANGE IN DIRECTION.

Nancy Trausch.

Dedication.

To my entire family. Thanks for the support and love you've given me throughout the years. And to my plus-sized sisters in the world. You go, girls.

"OUCH!"

Jade Reynolds jumped at the pain in her shin and dropped her book on the airport floor to ma.s.sage it away.

"Are you all right?"

Looking up, Jade smiled at the beautiful, young Asian woman who'd been sitting next to her for the last half hour in the small waiting area of the private airport hangar. "Yeah. I'll live. Thanks."

"I can't believe that guy smacked you with his briefcase like that and didn't even apologize." The woman settled back into her metal armchair, brought her long, jean-clad legs under her chin and hugged them. "Men can be really rude to women sometimes."

"I guess."

"I'm China Davis," the woman continued. "Third-year prep chef at the Grand Hotel, but hoping for a promotion this season. You can blame my first name on my father. He was determined that I never forget my heritage...like I could with this hair and these eyes. But the guys love the Lucy Liu look, so I guess I shouldn't whine too much."

Jade finished ma.s.saging the last of the pain from her shin and straightened up. As she did, she allowed herself a moment to envy her lithe neighbor who could move so easily between the arms of the narrow chair when she had been unsure as she sat down whether her ample hips would even fit. "Jade Reynolds. I'm going to help run The Curiosity Cove."

China laid her cheek on her knee. "Never heard of it. Is it new?"

"Sort of. My friend took over a trinket shop on Main Street and is adding a lot of unique and different items to the mix so it doesn't look like every other store on Mackinac island."

"Cool. Maybe if I ever get away from chopping mountains of vegetables, I'll check it out."

"Good." Jade smiled then picked up her book to continue reading and hopefully send a polite do-not-disturb vibe to her chatty neighbor.

"AREN'T YOU THE lucky one today," Captain Tom Lawson said as he watched the pa.s.sengers through the office window.

"How so?" Rick asked, also looking at the faces in the waiting room. Some he recognized from past years, some were new; like the full-figured, curvaceous woman with the light pink turtleneck sweater, blue jeans, and long dark blonde hair that fell softly around her face as she held a hardcover book on her lap.

"China."

Rick slowly turned away from the gla.s.s and walked over to the counter. "What about her?"

"She's on your flight. Didn't you read your pa.s.senger list?"

"I guess I missed that."

"Man." Tom ran his fingers through his short silver-gray hair. "How could you miss something as perfect as that? You've got to open your eyes, buddy. Life's pretty boring if you don't take the time to admire the beautiful women of the world."

"I admire them," Rick replied. "Just from afar."

Tom looked hard at his friend. "You need to get out there again, Rick. Check out the ladies. See if there's someone who fits into your life. I know Susan wouldn't want you to spend the next forty-some years of your life alone."

"Are you saying I should spend them with China Davis?"

"h.e.l.l, no. She's mine. We're a match made in Heaven. She's tall. I'm tall..."

Rick laughed as Toby walked into the office through the back door. "If that's your only requirement for a relationship, it's no wonder you're divorced."

"Afternoon, gentlemen." The old pilot and mechanic grinned at the two younger men as he wiped his hands on a dirty rag.

"Toby." Tom turned away from Rick. "How's my plane this fine afternoon?"

"All ready to go." Stuffing the grimy rag into the back pocket of his worn coveralls, Toby pulled his clipboard from under his arm and began to fill out his inspection papers. "Your cargo's loaded, the fuel tanks are full, and the nose is pointed in the right direction. The day is clear, and the winds are calm. You should have no trouble whatsoever flying over and back."

"Good. I could really use a nap."

Toby looked up from his board with an air of concern. "But you, Montgomery, you won't be napping on your late return flight. There's storms building in Wisconsin, and by the time they get over here, they're supposed to be severe."

"When are they going to hit?"

"The weather service says after midnight."

"Forget what I said about being lucky, Montgomery." Tom laughed.

Rick ignored Tom's remark and threw his arm across Toby's shoulders. "But what do those knees of yours tell you, old wise one?"

"That you need to get back here before midnight." Toby went back to his forms. "The ache is getting worse by the hour."

"Then I'll do my best."

"Good boy." The old man signed off on the papers with a flourish. "I haven't lost a pilot yet, and I don't plan to start now."

"IS HE GORGEOUS or what?" China sighed.

"Huh?" Jade looked up from her page and saw her neighbor staring at two good-looking men in bomber jackets and faded jeans walk out of the office. One was very tall, lean, and wore his silver-gray hair cut close to his head. The other was slightly shorter, solid, with a thick head of chestnut-colored hair cut away from his ears and just touching the back of his collar. They silently approached the small group of waiting pa.s.sengers with the comfortable ease of men used to being in charge.

Stopping in front of the attentive pa.s.sengers, the taller one scoped out Jade's stunning seatmate then called his friend's attention to her with a less than subtle nudge of his shoulder and a nod in her direction.

"Are you talking about him?" Jade asked in a whisper.

"h.e.l.l no," China replied as the taller of the two sent a brilliant smile her way. "Tom Lawson's a gray-haired gigolo."

Jade bit back a laugh as the pilot in question a.s.sumed a position of authority in front of the small crowd.

"Are we planning on leaving today?" The man who'd smacked Jade's shin with his briefcase grumbled from his chair at the front of the group. "I hate flying and want to get this over with. I was told the ferries would be running by now."

"They usually are," Tom answered. "But Mother Nature controls things around here, not us."

"Don't you have ships around here that can break through ice?"

"Not that it will do you any good in the next five minutes, sir." He then unrolled his papers and cleared his throat. "Good afternoon, fellow island workers. I'm Captain Tom Lawson, for those of you who don't know me. I'll be taking the majority of you over to the island today on my big plane. The other six will ride with Captain Rick Montgomery on his little puddle jumper."

Laughter rose from the room as he began reading off the pa.s.senger list.

"I really hope I don't get on Lawson's flight," China whispered and set her chin back on her knees.

Jade didn't care whose flight she was on, just so she got to Mackinac Island as soon as possible. After planning this new adventure for almost a year, she was ready to get started.

Bending down to slide her book into the front pocket of her backpack, she thought of what she'd left seven hours behind in her small hometown surrounded by Indiana corn fields: her ex-husband, or three-year detour in her life as she liked to call him; the bank teller job and its bland accompanying wardrobe; all the knickknacks and clutter that a woman of thirty-four would have collected in her life. And she realized the only thing she was going to miss, other than her sister Ruby and her family, was her prized '68 Mustang convertible. She was free and independent now and looking forward to this new chapter in her life.

She was going to work and live, fulltime, for six months or so, on Michigan's Mackinac Island - a small, magical place that was like a step back in time. No motorized vehicles were allowed, so people had to get around by walking, riding bikes or in horse-drawn carriages. Every year, thousands of tourists came to the island by plane or ferry, to wander the quiet streets and visit the quaint shops, restaurants, and historical sites. She used to dream about what it would be like to stay there for more than just a couple of hours at a time, and now that dream was coming true.

"Okay, folks," Tom said after he called the last name on the list and rolled his papers back into a tight tube. "You know which pilot to follow, so let's head out." He snapped out a mock salute at Jade's new acquaintance. "See ya later, China doll."

The recipient of the salute rolled her amber eyes and turned to Jade. "Thank goodness." She sighed, dropping her feet to the floor. "We're going with Rick."