Something Cheeky

Chapter 1

“My ex’s wedding is in three hours,” Zoe Tran’s customer cried out. “I need my assets to look so perky that he’ll get a boner

the moment he sees me. And jealous of my date.”

The Latina pulled her shoulders back to accentuate her ample breasts and full hips and wiggled her body sensually.

Zoe laughed in delight. Her quiet Saturday afternoon in Eden Center had finally become exciting. She thrived on helping customers

like this woman in her plus-size lingerie boutique.

“Welcome. I’m Zoe, the owner of Something Cheeky. Yes, I can definitely make your ex and your date rise to the occasion.”

Her customer giggled. “I like you already, Zoe. I’m Tiff.”

“Is that the dress?” Zoe pointed to the NPR tote bag in Tiff’s hand. A shimmery teal chiffon fabric peeked out of it.

“I need a strapless bra for it. Sorry it’s so crumpled.” She cringed in embarrassment as she handed it to Zoe.

“I’ve got a steamer in our workroom that performs miracles.” Zoe smiled reassuringly. “We’ll find the perfect bra for you

and this dress.”

Twenty minutes later, Tiff stepped out of the fitting room wearing her perfectly de-wrinkled dress and the correct size bra

under it.

“How do I look?” she said shyly as she stepped in front of the three-way mirror.

“Stunning!” Zoe exclaimed truthfully.

“I feel like a princess.” Tiff beamed and twirled, letting the chiffon skirt swoosh around her ankles.

Zoe put her hand on her hip and studied the woman’s reflection. Something wasn’t quite right with the dress’s fit.

“Wait here.” She ran to the counter and grabbed some pins and her scissors. “What if we take in the waist a little?”

Zoe demonstrated by pinching the fabric at her sides.

“Whoa.” The woman’s eyes grew wide.

“Now imagine this slide slit goes up mid-thigh instead of to the knee.” Zoe pulled up the skirt to illustrate.

“Hot damn, that’s sexy.” Tiff’s smile disappeared as she pressed her lips together in worry. “But we don’t have time for that.”

“Will you let me be your fairy godmother?” Zoe checked her phone. “It’ll take me thirty minutes—forty-five minutes tops—to

alter the dress for you.”

“I’ve always wanted a fairy godmother.” Tiff nodded vigorously and ran back to the fitting room to take off her dress so Zoe

could make the suggested changes.

Forty minutes later, Zoe handed her customer a garment bag with the newly altered dress. Tiff had decided to wear one of her

new bras right away. She gleefully flung the one she’d worn into the store into the trash.

That one small change in her undergarments buoyed her confidence. She stood straighter now that her chest was more supported.

There was even an extra spring in her step as they made their way to the front counter.

“You’re a bra whisperer,” Tiff declared as she paid for her purchases. “I’ve never worn a strapless that felt so comfortable.”

“It’s my calling.” Zoe grinned so widely that her cheeks hurt. “I hope you’ll leave us a review online and tell your friends

about Something Cheeky.”

“I’d give more than five stars if I could. This has been the best bra-shopping experience I’ve ever had.”

“You’re going to be fabulous at the wedding. I want to see pictures next time you come in here,” said Zoe as she wrapped up

Tiff’s other purchases.

“Is that a costume from Prestige Rep’s Lysistrata displayed in your window?” Tiff pointed to a sequined dress with a long marabou feather train.

“It’s my favorite from the production. We sewed some of the costumes for it.”

“That’s so cool! I went to a performance two weeks ago. Your costume designs were gorgeous.”

“Oh, I didn’t design them. My team and I constructed them based on the designer’s sketches.” Zoe handed Tiff a lilac bag with

her new bras inside. “You did purchase a couple of Zoe Tran original designs today.”

“Wait, you designed everything here?” The woman spun around as if seeing the store with fresh eyes.

“I love designing for plus-size folks like us.” Zoe’s chest puffed out proudly. She’d worked hard to launch and grow her boutique.

“I’m coming back and bringing friends so they can get Zoe originals.” Tiff blew her a kiss and breezed out the door with her

freshly steamed dress and a rack that was ready to knock people’s socks off.

Zoe’s entire body was buzzing. She danced around the empty store as she cleaned the fitting room and put away the items that

hadn’t worked for her customers. People like Tiff were the reason she’d become a lingerie designer. Fat women like them deserved

undergarments that made them feel sexy and supported.

She’d dedicated the past six years to doing that with her designs and Something Cheeky. Most women would be thrilled to have

achieved what she had at the age of twenty-seven. Yet today proved that she needed more to keep her fulfilled creatively.

Maybe it was time to dig out her sketches and launch the Vietnamese-inspired clothing line she’d only dreamed about. The idea scared her. Was DC ready for something like that? Even if it was, she’d have to invest a significant amount of time and money into a completely different line.

The idea terrified her. Something Cheeky was a well-oiled machine that she didn’t want to break. It was better to focus on

her already successful lingerie collections. The endorphin rush from helping Tiff faded.

Zoe shook her head to clear it of what should be only a fantasy. Thinking about what could’ve been if she hadn’t quit her

theater major was pointless. She knew exactly what would keep her spirits up.