Free The Curve Ball by J. S. Scott

Copyright 2012 by J.S. Scott
     
     
     
    THE CURVE BALL (Big Girls And Bad Boys: A BBW Erotic Romance)
     
     
     
    Maggie Jones knew the moment she saw her best friend Lisa marching toward her pasty shop that Lisa was going to need a favor. They had known each other since grade school and she recognized Lisa's determined stride that left her bobbed auburn hair swaying, her eyes flashing with specific purpose. She was definitely on a mission.
     
    Maggie sighed as she resigned herself to spending another Friday evening doing Lisa a favor. It's not that she really minded. She didn't exactly have men beating down her door for a date and she would probably otherwise spend the evening in her apartment with the television and her two other friends--Ben and Jerry. Her other option was to experiment with new recipes--which was just as bad for her as Ben and Jerry. She had to sample every recipe to make sure they were good enough to sell in her shop.
     
    Lisa opened the door and Maggie flinched as it slammed behind her. She needed to get that fixed. The door opened too hard and closed with an equal amount of pressure. She should be used to it by now since it had been doing that since last week, but it still startled her every single time.
     
    "I need a favor, Mags. Please don't say no." No "hi" or "hello?" Straight to the point. Maggie knew that wasn't a good sign.
     
    "What is it?" Actually, Maggie was curious. Lisa look flustered.
     
    "Well...you know that the charity ball is tonight. I needed one more female." Lisa's tone was cajoling and pleading.
     
    Maggie rolled her eyes. "Oh...hell no, Lisa."
     
    Maggie refused to give in to this one. It was a mystery ball for singles where women and men were matched at random. If they had the same numbers, they were paired for dinner and the ball. There was no way Maggie was participating. Whatever man got her matching number would demand his money back.
     
    "Come on, Mags. It's not about the date, it's about raising money for kids. It's all for fun and the children, but any guy that gets your number would be lucky."
     
    Oh, Lord. Now Lisa was trying to butter her up. "Absolutely not, Lisa." Maggie tried to give Lisa her most adamant it's-not-happening look.
     
    "Please, Maggie. I already have your number. I put you in because I needed another female. I bought your ticket myself. Some guy is already holding the same number. You can't stand him up and leave him without a dinner companion." Lisa gave her a petulant look.
     
    Maggie was flabbergasted. "You know I never go to this ball. Why would you do that?"
     
    "I'm sorry, Mags. I was desperate. The numbers weren't even. I made a mistake and sold one too many male tickets. I was worried I would get in trouble." Lisa looked concerned and her reply was breathless. Her position with the charity organization was a paid one and her only source of income. She was the local director.
     
    Damn it! Lisa was putting her in a terrible situation. Could she really refuse? Maggie didn't want her to get in trouble for this...but she sure as hell didn't want to attend some singles ball either. "Can't you just take the number yourself." She squirmed, trying desperately to find a way out of this.
     
    "Not allowed." Lisa shrugged. "I'm working the event."
     
    "I don't have anything to wear." A lame excuse, but true. Maggie didn't own an appropriate dress for a fancy affair like this one.
     
    Lisa grinned and plopped a bag she had been carrying from the floor to the counter. Maggie hadn't noticed it. Her friend was a shopper and was usually carrying a bag or two whenever she was walking downtown. "Everything you need is there." Lisa waved at the big bag as she placed it on the counter. "Your invitation is on the top. It has your number on it."
     
    "I hate you, you know?" She growled at Lisa as she stashed the bag under the counter.
     
    Lisa flashed her a cocky grin. "I know. Just try to get over it by six o'clock tonight." More seriously she