Cupid Loves Curves (Curvy Collections #11)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

JESSICA

T ell me your secrets!”

I laugh as my best friend Ruby rushes through my front door and heads straight to the kitchen.

“And hello to you, too.” My laugh loud as I close the front door and push the door snake against the bottom before too much cold air gets in. It hasn’t been a snowy winter so far, but the wind has been something else. It makes me regret that my front door opens directly outside instead of having a protected hallway like where Ruby lives.

“I know, I know! I’m late. But,” Ruby’s voice is bright and playful as she rummages in my cupboard, “I brought cupcakes!”

She returns to the living room and we settle on the couch as the opening music starts for our favorite addiction. We know it’s ridiculous, but we love that reality TV show about wedding dresses. It’s become our Thursday night thing. We drool and obsess over the dresses, discussing which ones we’d love for ourselves and which we wouldn’t even try on. Of course, we’d both need serious boyfriends before we could even think about shopping for our own wedding dresses.

“Okay,” I say with a faux-serious voice. “I suppose I could forgive you if you have a red velvet cupcake in here…”

“Knew it!” Ruby hands me a plate with two cupcakes – one red velvet – and cuts her eyes to the television, where a woman scowls at a meringue dress fit for a princess. We both laugh because we’ve seen this bride go through twenty dresses already. It’ll take a miracle for her to find a dress she likes. “What’s new with you?”

“Well,” I tease, smiling at her as she looks at me. My eyes drop to my mail on the table and the envelope I’ve been scared to open.

“What’s that?” Ruby’s eyes follow mine. “Oooh, what’s with the fancy envelope? Are you invited to another wedding?”

I roll my eyes and laugh. “No. Not that.”

“Don’t be a tease!” She pouts. “Tell me what it is!”

“Okay, but you have to promise not to laugh,” I say, a hint of embarrassment in my voice. I don’t know whether I’ve done something smart or incredibly desperate. If I don’t put words to what I’ve done, maybe it won’t be real.

“Pinkie promise!” Ruby says, extending her pinkie toward me.

I loop my pinkie through hers and look her straight in the eye. “Now remember, you promised…”

“Babe. You know me. Have I ever shared one of your secrets?”

I raise an eyebrow at her but continue. “You know Mack and Aimee’s wedding is coming up, right?”

“Yes,” Ruby says.

“So here’s the deal. I need a date, and everything feels weird. Our friends are getting married, and I can’t even cross the two-month mark with a guy.” I glance at the TV and pick up the remote, pressing the pause button as the show comes back from a commercial break. I take a deep breath to steady my nerves. “So I did a thing. Have you heard about that matchmaking contest?”

Ruby perks up. “Oh, you mean the one where they give you a vacation if you don’t fall in love on the first date? I thought that was a scam…”

“It’s not. And it was free to apply.”

“You didn’t!”

“I most certainly did! I came to the realization that I’m lousy at choosing men, so it seemed like a fair idea to let someone else have a crack at it. If it doesn’t work, I’ll win twenty grand and a vacation for my trouble. Plus,” I sigh, “everyone’s getting married, and the highlight of my week is seeing you and watching…” I gesture toward the TV, which is paused on a woman holding up a wedding dress that looks like a lace sheath. It’s pretty, but with my curves, I’d look like a lace-wrapped sausage link.

Ruby laughs. “And that’s a problem why?”

I sigh again and smile. “I love you, Ruby. You know that. But I also want a husband and a family. I’ll have to get a cat if I keep striking out with men.”

“Hold on. Are you saying you’re going to become a crazy cat lady?” Ruby teases.

I toss a pillow at her. “If I can’t find a man who wants me for more than two months, I’m afraid the answer is yes.”

“I’m sure you’ll find someone, Jess. You’re an amazing catch – and you know it.”

I smile half-heartedly and twist my throw blanket in my fingers. “Thanks.”

“You know you are,” Ruby says, more seriously this time. “Don’t be hard on yourself. How are you supposed to know if someone is a match if you don’t take a chance? I still don’t understand why it didn’t work out with you and Luke. I’ve never seen you happier than you were with him.”

I sigh at the mention of Luke. He’s my brother’s best friend and the last man who truly broke my heart. It’s been two years and I’m not sure I’m over him yet. “Don’t remind me. I thought so, too. But he was going through something and never opened up to me. It was like he couldn’t trust me. We didn’t even hit the two-month mark.”

“Yeah, I remember,” Ruby pauses, then looks back at the fancy envelope. “If those are the deets for your mystery date, why haven’t you opened the envelope?” Ruby’s eyes light up.

I grin at her. “It’s,” I inhale deeply. “It seems like such a crazy thing to do. I mean, I’m kind of excited, but I’m also worried I’ll be matched with some guy who lives in his mom’s basement.”

Ruby laughs and nods. “Would a guy like that enter a matchmaking contest? And surely the company vets the people who apply. Come on,” she says, picking up the fancy envelope and passing it to me. “Open it. What if he’s a total dreamboat?”

There’s no hiding the flutter in my stomach at the thought of meeting someone new. “Either way, it’s out of my hands now. Lord knows I’m not doing too well picking them myself.”

“Jess, you’re an amazing woman,” Ruby insists, carefully peeling the wrapper off a cupcake.

“Thanks,” I sigh, but inside, doubt coils tight. I remember Luke—his intense dark eyes, how he made me feel like we had a future…and then the crushing heartbreak. I’ve tried to forget him, but he’s my brother’s best friend, and I can’t avoid seeing him occasionally.

“Hey,” she nudges me gently, her red curls bouncing as she leans in close enough for me to catch the scent of her floral perfume. “This could be the best thing that ever happened to you. Who knows? They might just find your perfect match.”

“Maybe,” I murmur, the word barely louder than a breath. My heart yearns for it to be true—to find someone who sees me, really sees me, and doesn’t turn away.

I take the stiff, cream-colored envelope with my name and address written in a fancy script on the front. It really does look like a wedding invitation. “Okay. Hold on,” I say, getting up to grab a knife from the kitchen to open the envelope.

“This is going to be so good!” Ruby says, rubbing her hands together.

“Here we go,” I say, pulling a piece of thick writing paper from the envelope.

Dearest Jessica,

I am thrilled to announce that you have been selected for our matchmaking event, and we have found a man we think is your perfect match. Remember, the agreement is that you go on a single date, and if you aren’t one hundred percent sure that the match we’ve selected for you is your perfect match, you will be awarded the cash prize and vacation of your choice.

There will be two parts to the date. For the first part of the date, you and your match will participate in a private cooking lesson at Ciao, Bella! on February 14 th . Prepare to work together to create a delicious meal you will both enjoy. Your match has the details for the second part of the date. Formal attire is not required. Wear clothing you are comfortable moving around in. We are confident we have found activities that match both of your interests and strengths. Be prepared to work together!

Instead of wishing you luck (which we don’t think you’ll need!), we wish you the first of many dates with the man we believe is a perfect match for you! We will contact you after your date so you can provide us with an update.

Warmest regards,

The Matchmaker

“Oh my God! Your date is on Valentine’s Day! No pressure, or anything!” Ruby laughs, taking the letter from me and re-reading it. “It sounds like a really cool date.”

I groan and don’t say anything for a moment. “Who in the world thought sending a curvy woman to a cooking class for a first date was a good idea? And on Valentine’s Day!”

Ruby looks at me for a long moment. “What was it you said about trusting someone else to help with your dating life? Obviously, they researched you and the guy so they could choose activities that matched both of you – and you love cooking.”

“Touché. I did have to fill out a pretty extensive questionnaire.” I take the card back from her and look at it again. “But…Valentine’s Day? That’s such a loaded night for a date – especially a first date!”

“This matchmaker sure is confident in her abilities,” Ruby says with a shrug. “You said you were ready to let someone else intervene…and boy is this woman setting you up for a date to remember.”

I grab another cupcake and try to process all my thoughts as we get back to watching our show, commenting on every dress and the bridezilla level of each woman. When will it be my turn to shop for a wedding dress?

After our show ends and Ruby leaves, I take our dishes to the kitchen, pouring a glass of water and leaning against the counter as I sip. My mind drifts to the string of failed relationships from the last few years. There was Jordan, who looked at his phone more than at me; Mark, whose idea of depth was comparing beer brands; and, of course, Luke, whose memory still aches like an old bruise.

“Ugh, not Luke,” I chastise myself, pushing away from the counter with more force than necessary. “This is about moving forward, not looking back.”

I tilt my head, finishing the water in one long gulp. I’ve wanted someone to share my life with for as long as I can remember—a man who loves my curves as much as I do and wants to face the world beside me.

“Maybe it will work this time,” I tell myself, placing my glass in the dishwasher. Trying the matchmaking service is a leap of faith, and what is the pursuit of love, if not the ultimate leap of faith?