Free Honeybun Hottie (Plus Size Romance 5) by Lynn Cooper

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR HAD come to a close, and Blythe Dalton was more than ready for summer break.  She loved being a counselor at Langston High School located in the heart of Langston, South Carolina.  But she longed for those lazy, sweet days of vacation.  The luxury of reading past midnight then sleeping until noon.  Carefree hours of relaxing by the pool, watching movies or doing absolutely nothing at all.  Yep, her plans were made with a singular goal in mind—peace and quiet that could only come from being alone.  No screaming teenagers, no hectic schedules, and definitely no blind dates.  Just her, a stack of books, plenty of DVD’s and a large pitcher of margaritas.
    In the spirit of no time like the present , Blythe kicked back in her chaise lounge with a book in one hand and a honeybun in the other.  The first bite of the delectable pastry made her moan aloud.  When the sweet, sugary glaze coated her lips, it was a slice of heaven on earth.  The soft, cinnamon-laced dough tickled her tongue, melting in her mouth, bringing her taste buds pleasure of an orgasmic magnitude.  Lost in the rich textures and flavor of her favorite dessert, she barely heard her cell phone ring.
    Peeking at the caller ID, she couldn’t help but smile.  It was Shelly Matthews.  She and Blythe had been best friends since the third grade.  When they both landed jobs in the same school district, they were ecstatic.  Shelly was the art teacher at Langston Middle School.  It was only a quarter of a mile from the high school, so she and Blythe had lunch together every day. 
    Both of them were twenty-eight years old and single, but that didn’t stop Shelly from playing matchmaker.  She had made it her personal mission to find the perfect man for her best friend.  So far all of her efforts had been disastrous.  Blythe had been extremely patient and had even found Shelly’s modern-day rendition of The Dating Game to be amusing.  But now she was tired of playing and needed a break.  Knowing she was going to get one made her smile.  Shelly would be in Mississippi for a long-awaited family reunion, and Blythe was going to enjoy the solitude of a stress-free staycation—as in stay at home.
    The second she flipped her phone open, Shelly’s bubbly voice burst forth.  “Whatcha doing?”
    “Rocking my vacation like a boss.  You heard me.  I’m laid back in my lounger, reading, eating the freshest, gooiest honeybun ever! How’s the reunion going?”
    “Going, going, gone.  The Matthews are not a peaceful people.  My mom and her sisters decided now would be a great time to reignite a decade-old family feud.  The spark led to name-calling and hair-pulling.  After a good snoot full, my dad and his brothers ended the evening in fisticuffs.  So, long story short, I’m headed your way.”
    Blythe let her head fall forward in defeat.  It wasn’t that she didn’t want to spend time with her bestie.  It was more like she had already wrapped her head around being alone.  And quite frankly, the idea appealed to her even more than she had previously realized.
    “Sure.  What’s your estimated time of arrival, my lady? I’ve got an ice-cold pitcher of Margaritas in the fridge, and I can throw some burgers on the grill.”
    “Actually, I was hoping we could grab a bite on the road.  Pack your bags, girlie. You and I are headed to Lake Hartwell.”
    Blythe groaned, shaking her head into the phone.  “Wait a dib-dab minute.  I’m not going anywhere.  This is my staycation, and I am staying right here poolside.”
    She could hear Shelly huffing and puffing on the other end of the line.  Her friend wasn’t going to give up, but Blythe wasn’t going to give in either.
    “If it’s water you’re after, there’s plenty in the lake.  P-l-e-a-s-e don’t say no! Come with me, Bly.  I can’t spend two weeks at summer camp without you.”
    “I’m not just saying no, I’m saying