The Big, Not-So-Small, Curvy Girls Dating Agency (Plush Daisies: BBW Romance) Read online

  The Big, Not-So-Small, Curvy Girls Dating Agency

  Ava Catori

  Copyright 2013, Ava Catori

  **Previously titled: The Big, Not-So-Small, Curvy Girls, BBW Romance Dating Agency

  This story is a work of fiction.

  Find a full list of titles or join my mailing list at AvaCatori.com

  Contents

  The Big, Not-So-Small, Curvy Girls Dating Agency

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 1

  “Zaftig, what is that?” Becky crinkled her nose, “It sounds like some free floating made up word.”

  “You could always go with chubby, chunky, or plump,” Sam added.

  “Just not fat, okay, because that one makes me cringe!”

  “Ooh, ooh, I’ve got it, what about burly or the always flattering bovine!”

  There was no stopping it, the dam burst as the uncontrolled laughter started. As soon as it faded, it started all over again, and through tear stained eyes, Sam shrieked, “Bovine!”

  Becky gasped, “Stop, stop, my sides hurt! Can you imagine? Oh my god, oh my god, I can’t breathe.” Trying to catch her breath, she added, “If I go with bovine, I could use a cow for the logo. Bovine Beauties, it makes you want to rush right out and sign up for a date.”

  After the giggles died down, they tossed around more ideas. Becky was stuck on a business name. She had an idea of what she wanted, but still couldn’t put her finger on the right one that would represent her dating agency.

  Samantha poured herself another glass of Zinfandel. “Seriously, there’s got to be something better out there. I guess the most comfortable phrase for me is plus size, but when you start to say words like large or big I panic, sucking in my gut, you know?”

  Becky sighed. “Yeah, I guess plus isn’t totally insulting. What about lush? It has a nice essence to it.”

  “Plus, lush, I guess one of those might work.”

  “Plus, plush, lush, that’s it!” Becky’s eyes went wide, “I think that’s it, what about plush?”

  Samantha ran it over her tongue, “Plush,” and paused. “I kind of like it.” Smiling, she held her glass up to Becky in a toast, “I think we have a winner!”

  “Do you think it’ll work?”

  “Why not, it’s got a nice ring to it. What was the other part you were thinking of again?”

  “Daisies; is that too cheesy? Plush Daisies,” she hesitated, waiting for her friend’s judgment.

  “Eh, I’m a dog groomer, what do I know? But Plush Daisies sounds kind of cute,” Sam sat with the name, and then finally offered Becky a big thumb’s up. “I think that might be it!”

  “Oh please, you’re a genius with names, Ms. Scrub-a-Dub-Doggies. Yeah, I kind of like it, Plush Daisies. It’s a little different, it’s cute, and combines plus and lush, it sort of has a voluptuous feel to it. I think that’s it,” Becky said clapping her hands. “Finally, I feel like I’ve been struggling with the name forever.”

  One bottle of wine, two satisfied women, and Becky Holgate’s business plan was coming together. She knew it was a genius idea, but now she had to convince the bank. Without a loan, she’d be back to square one. Ready to get her business off the ground, this was the last piece of the puzzle. She’d finish the paperwork tomorrow, and finally apply for her business loan.

  **

  “What do you mean they turned you down? Holy shit, do they think fat women don’t need to date? I swear that’s discrimination, you should fight them,” Samantha shouted into her phone, disgusted that her best friend’s business was crumbling before it started.

  “Screw them, it’s a great idea. They just don’t think I have enough background experience, and well, I guess it doesn’t really matter now,” she lamented.

  “Becks, I think it’s a great idea. You should fund it another way. Hell, I’d invest in you if I had any actual money. I’ll be paying off this stupid mobile grooming van until I’m eighty.”

  “Thanks Sammy, but I’ll figure it out. I’m not ready to give up on Plush Daisies just yet. Maybe I can take out a personal loan or something, or start it out of my house.”

  “That’s the spirit, don’t give up on it, it’s genius. I’ve got to run; I need to fix up Franken-Fido. His owner tried to clip him herself, and let me tell you it isn’t pretty.”

  “Right, good luck with the pup. I’ll talk to you later.” Hanging up the phone, Becky frowned. She thought for sure the plan would be accepted, and now she’d have to figure it out on her own. The good news was she wouldn’t have a big fat loan to pay back, but the bad news was she had no idea how to pony up the cash to get started.

  Heading to the freezer, Becky looked at the Double-Double-Chocolate-Trouble pint of ice cream staring her down. Determined not to go there, she turned around and grabbed her jacket. Going out would distract her, and the last thing she needed right now was calories to drown her sorrow.

  She didn’t mean to come home with the little ball of fur, but when the tiny orange tabby tapped the glass at the pet store, looking right at her, she was hooked. She knew it was a mistake to ask to see the kitten. Sitting with the baby cat, it mewed the sweetest baby mew she’d ever heard, and in that instant she knew the kitten was coming home with her. It just seemed like the thing to do.

  “What do you think of Bella for a name, princess,” she said, using a voice that instinctively went up two octaves. The soft puffball looked up at Becky, her eyes sparkling with affection and love. This was a good idea, she needed this. A sweet, innocent kitten was just what the doctor ordered. It would be nice to have a cat to bond with.

  Chapter 2

  “Bad kitty!” Becky scolded, as the kitten terrorized a jacket hanging on the back of a kitchen chair. Bella clung to the material with sharp, hooked nails, and only let go when she saw Becky coming. “Get off of that!”

  She should have known better, that little demon of a cat ruined everything. Great, now she’d have a pull in the fabric, or precisely multiple pulls. Picking up her coat, Becky examined the damage and then put it in the closet, where it should have been in the first place.

  Grabbing the phone, she muttered, “Stupid ass cat is going to ruin all my clothes,” to her friend, before saying hello.

  “Bella’s so sweet,” Sam countered.

  “You mean the cat from hell? Sure, sweet if you don’t count the damage she’s done. It’s insane, or more accurately that cat is insane. She strategically pulled all the toilet paper off the roll yesterday and then proceeded to shred it into tiny pieces all over. Do you know how long that took to clean up? There were cottony shreds everywhere. How can one little, itty, bitty kitty do so much damage?”

  “Come on, she’s soft and snuggly at least half of the time.”

  “Half, I’ll give you that, but it’s the other half that’s driving me batty.”

  “She’s still a baby. When all she does is curl up in a ball and sleep all day, you’ll miss her fun innocence. So anyway, what are you doing tonight? I’ve got a bottle of wine with our names on it, and a great idea to pass y
our way.”

  “Fun innocence, yeah right, I’m aching for the days when she sleeps all day, and isn’t tearing my house apart,” she turned to the cat, “Yes, I’m talking about you. And yes, I’m free, what time?”

  “Say seven? I’ve got a poodle to clip, but then I’m free.”

  “Sounds good, I’ll see you then.” Becky hung up the phone, turning just in time to catch Bella lunging from the kitchen table to the counter.

  “Hey, get off of there,” she said chasing her down. Why couldn’t I pick the mellow cat?

  Heading back to her desk, Becky sorted through the handful of applications she’d received. This was going to take longer than she thought. She ran an ad in the local paper asking for plus size women to fill out a form she had online. She didn’t have an actual website yet, but found a free site that let her use temporary forms. After printing them out, she sat to read them. She wanted at least a pool of twenty to thirty women before she opened, but realized she might have to settle for ten. With a meager five applications, it felt fruitless. How could she offer a dating service without paying customers?

  That’s the part she was struggling with, how to get paying customers. She was going to offer her services free for the first three months, but if she didn’t have any success pairing people up, she’d never get new people to subscribe to her service. The idea was for a plus size dating agency. If you signed up, she’d match you up with potential dates for a yearly subscription fee. Women would pay to be listed in the database, and men would sort through them and find potential dates. Of course, she’d match people together as well. The idea of a self-service website would be her goal down the line, and to build a large database. For now though, she wanted to be involved and add a personal touch.

  When Samantha showed up, she came bearing gifts, wine for them and a catnip mouse for Bella. Settling on the love seat, Sam dove right in. “I sort of need a favor, Beck, but I have awesome news for you.”

  “Ooh, I want to hear the good news first.”

  “Okay, so I was doing a job today, a bath for a Jack Russell, Bean, he’s adorable. Anyway, I was doing a simple bath and nail clip when I meet this guy.” Sam mindlessly twirled a ringlet of hair in her finger and then let it collapse on her shoulder.

  “Nice, was he cute?”

  “Totally cute, but not what you’re thinking. He’s got a girlfriend. The thing is, I usually deal with her, but he was filling in today. Anyway, we start talking and it turns out he’s a photographer on the side, sort of like a hobby he’s turning into a business.”

  “And?”

  “And, he’d said that he’d be willing to trade services. I asked him if he’d do headshots for two free grooming services.”

  “What do you need headshots for?” Becky reached over and picked up the wine. Corks are overrated she thought as she twisted off the cap. She got up to grab two glasses from the kitchen cabinet.

  Sam’s voice rose, accounting for Becky’s proximity. “Not me silly, for you, so that you can look all professional when you advertise. It wouldn’t cost you a dime!”

  “You do that for me? What’s the catch?” Coming out with the wine glasses, Becky settled back into the sofa.

  “Well, remember that favor I mentioned earlier?” Her head shot to the direction of Bella, “Holy shit, look at crack kitty go,” she was interrupted watching the cat tear back and forth across the room with the speed of a thoroughbred. “She loves the toy!”

  “Great, now I’ll have an addicted kitty and have to take her to kitty rehab. Thank your Aunt Samantha, Bella. She’s the one responsible for your new drug habit.” She said flatly.

  “Okay, so back to the favor,” Sam started. “I’ve got some new competition. I was in the pet store the other day picking up some supplies, and I saw this fancy circular tacked to the board. I swear they just wanted to show off their Photoshop skills,” she sighed. “Anyway, I need you to go to the local stores and pull the flyers down. Just pretend like you’re interested in the service, and need the paper.”

  “You want me to sabotage their business?”

  Sam yawned, “Sabotage is such a harsh word, don’t you think? I just want you to pull down a few flyers. It’s for Pristine Pooches Mobile Grooming. You can do it this weekend, right?” She looked hopeful, tossing a pathetic expression Becky’s way.

  Becky rolled her eyes, “Fine, only because you’re my best friend, but when I’m thrown in jail you’ll be my first phone call, and so help me God you better show up.”

  “You’re the absolute best. Oh, let me grab the guy’s card,” Samantha said. Getting up, she dug through her purse, “Here it is, Reed Amwell.” Carrying the card back to Becky, she tossed it her way. “I told him your name, so he’ll recognize you when you call.”

  “Thanks,” she said, fingering the white business card. “For an artist, it’s a boring card.”

  Chapter 3

  When he answered the phone, Becky wasn’t expecting the photographer to sound so sexy. She could almost feel the dampness between her legs in response to his deep voice. Holy cow, he had one of those voices that vibrated low in his chest. She almost caught herself sighing audibly. Grateful to stifle the biological response, she forced herself to speak.

  “Hi, is this Reed?” She asked, reminding herself that Sam said he had a girlfriend. Not that he’d suddenly think she was the sexiest woman he’s ever heard, but hey, it could happen. She pictured him with just enough razor stubble to give her goose bumps, and a wickedly handsome grin.

  “Yes, and this is?”

  “Oh, right, Becky Holgate. You met my friend Samantha the other day, the Scrub-A-Dub-Doggie dog groomer. She gave me your card.”

  “Sure, right,” he said. “How can I help you out?”

  Just keep talking to me. “She mentioned you could do head shots for my business.”

  “Of course, I remember now. What are you looking for, something candid, black and white, inside, outside,” he rambled on tossing out idea after idea.

  “Umm, I don’t know. I never really gave it much thought. I was hoping you’d know what to do,” she admitted. Why hadn’t she given it more thought? Some business owner she was, not even thinking of simple little details like this.

  “Sure, that’s not a problem, well figure it out. Is there a better day of the week or time that works for you?”

  “Evenings and weekends would work the best, but if you can only work in the afternoon, I could take a few hours off from work.”

  “Evenings are fine, I have a studio set up in my home. We could do it here. If you want something more natural, we could do a Saturday at the park. What type of business is it?”

  Becky wasn’t sure why, but her voice was small. “A dating agency,” she finally said, feeling almost silly. Maybe it was that she hadn’t gotten off the ground yet, or she didn’t want to admit it was for curvier women, because he’d already start judging her based on her size. She hated how she always jumped there, expecting everyone to react differently to her once they learned she was bigger than what society deemed appropriate.

  “Okay great, then we should be able to work in the studio. Why don’t you come by one night this week, would Wednesday or Thursday work for you, say around seven?”

  “Thursday should work.”

  After wrapping up a few details, Reed gave her directions to his home.

  Hanging up her phone, Becky realized her cheeks hurt. She couldn’t stop smiling. He sounded really cute, not that it mattered. She wondered if he was as handsome as she pictured.

  Texting Sam, “Wow, Reed’s voice! Going over Thursday for pictures, want to come?”

  “Can’t, have Pilates class Thursday,” she wrote back. “Barely noticed his voice, will listen if I see him again.”

  “Hot, hot, hot,” Becky reaffirmed. “Thought you were spinning or doing some kick box thing?”

  “Moved on, didn’t like the instructor for spinning, and felt like a failure at kickboxing.”

  “I
need to move. I’m a slug.”

  “You are a slug.”

  “Hey!”

  “A cute slug,” she added to soften the blow.

  “Better.”

  Work moved slowly that week, and Becky was convinced if she didn’t get her business off the ground soon, she’d die of absolute boredom. The office she worked in was flat, bland, and beige with no sign of life, and her co-workers checked their sense of humor at the door. If it weren’t for her running dialog with Sammy via text, she’d have nothing to entertain her. At least it offered a regular paycheck.

  With Thursday sneaking up, Becky obsessed over what to wear for her photos. Did it really matter, they were only head shots. This was silly, it’s not like it would make a difference. As long as she had her signature red lipstick on, she’d feel put together. It’s like that little flash of red said she was alive, and somebody worth noticing. Not that anyone ever sat up and took notice these days.

  When your curves spill over, and not in all the right places, people generally stop paying attention. She hated feeling invisible. She felt vibrant and playful inside, yet once she tipped the scale beyond cute and dainty, Becky Holgate stopped existing to plenty of men.

  It’s not like she even wanted a relationship anymore. She was focused on becoming a successful business woman and growing her portfolio. Financial security was her goal at this point, and she didn’t need a man for that, or for anything else. She figured if she kept telling herself the lie, she’d eventually believe it.

  It’s just that all these gorgeous, vivacious, and voluptuous women were overlooked, so if she could find a way to pair them with people who would appreciate them, she’d be doing a great service. Plush Daisies was her chance to give back and create loving bonds. Okay, so maybe it would pad her income and help grow a business in the process too. Ever since she was a young girl, she pictured being her own boss. It would eventually happen, it was just going to take longer than she expected.

  Following the directions Reed gave her, Becky found the place easily enough. Thankfully she wasn’t too bad with directions, as long as they were clear. She’d splurge for a GPS one of these days, but growing up locally, she knew her way around to most of the places that she frequented. That was usually enough.