That’s how long she’d been open. Zoey was ecstatic that business had been prosperous. The women in Cape Hallow loved the fact there was a shop dedicated to the more voluptuous gals. Growing up, a thicker girl led Zoey to start her own clothing line. Glancing around her shop, Zoey couldn’t help but smile. She was exactly where she wanted to be in life at her age.
Of course, her mother insisted she needed a love life, but Zoey was done trying to find love. The last man she’d dated wanted to change her – saying if she only worked out, she’d be a better woman. He turned out to be a control freak and suffocating, but not in a good way. Breaking it off had been hard because he wouldn’t take no for an answer. But after relentless arguments and threats to involve the police, he’d finally left her alone.
After that, she gave everything to her career rather than try to change for a man. She was happy with her curves. Zoey was tall for a woman, standing at five foot ten.
And skinny, she was not.
Nope, she had a curvaceous body that left little to a man’s imagination. Her clothes intentionally highlighted those aspects of curvy girls. Zoey had decided a long time ago to flaunt her stuff in fitting attire, rather than hide under baggy clothes. She figured if a man wanted a girl like her, he’d love her—curves and all. If not, oh well.
She definitely decided she didn’t need a man to be happy.
Glancing around the closed shop, Zoey grabbed the mail that had been piling up on her desk. It was time to sift through the bills and pay them. This was the not so fun part of the job. Thankfully, she made more than enough to pay them and take a salary for herself. Sifting through the envelopes, she found a peculiar one at the bottom. It was addressed to her, not the business. Tearing open the seal, she unfolded the paper. Sucking in a breath, she was stunned to read the note.
You have what I want. I’ll get what’s mine soon.
There was no signature to the note, and when she turned the envelope over, she realized there was no return address. Zoey decided this was just another hater and tossed the ridiculous letter in her drawer. It wasn’t the first time she’d gotten hate mail. Hell, since opening, Zoey had her share of pissed off Barbie dolls. She couldn’t understand why they hated her presence so much. There was plenty of business that catered to their body style. Her shop attracted curvy women like her—so listening to their stupid complaints and threats meant nothing.
Zoey wrapped up what she was doing and decided to go grab a late dinner. Everything was close by, so walking to Charlie’s Diner around the corner took her no time. Everyone, well, mostly everyone, treated her kindly. The diner’s owner, Charles, greeted her with his usual wave and smile. He was an older man that started the restaurant in his early twenties. Now, years later, it was the spot to get breakfast in Clinton. Zoey pulled out her phone and pulled up the latest romance. She often enjoyed reading while she ate alone.
“When are you going to make some friends, pretty lady?” Charles’s raspy voice drew her from her book.
“Charles,” she smiled up at the old man, “I don’t have time for friends. My business keeps me busy enough.”
“Pshhh,” he grunted, “Everyone needs friends, my lady. You’re no exception. What happened to all those girls you hung around in high school?”
“They grew up and moved away. I was the only one that stayed here—you know that.”
“And what about a man?”
“What about a man? You know I’m not what the men around here want.”
“What does that mean? Zoey—you’re gorgeous. Any man who doesn’t want a woman with curves is a fool.”
“Yeah—well, finding a man like that is about as possible as finding a unicorn in the woods.”
Charles let out a hardy laugh as the chime to the door interrupted their conversation. Charles turned to greet the newcomer. Over his shoulder, he said, “Well, back to work for me. Seriously, Zoey—you deserve some fun.”
Zoey couldn’t stop staring at the man, placing an order at the counter. He was tall, taller than her, anyway. And his arms were massive. She couldn’t really see the rest of his body beneath the clothes he wore, but the dark blue t-shirt hugged his back like it was made of silicone. She couldn’t stop staring… it was like her eyes were magnets, and he was made of metal. Charles cocked an eyebrow at her from behind the counter, making her blush. Rolling her eyes at him, she didn’t realize the stranger had turned around. She caught his gaze, feeling heat wrap around her body as she smiled at him. That’s when Zoey noticed the Cape Hallow fire department logo on his shirt. Holy hell, he was a fireman… a hot one at that.
Zoey looked back down at her phone, embarrassed to be caught staring at him. She didn’t want him to think she was some sort of creepy girl ogling him. Zoey didn’t glance up until she heard the chime of the door.
Charles winked at her. “He works over at station six on the squad truck. Nice fella.”
“And you’re telling me this? Why?”
“Woman, I saw the way you were looking at him. You couldn’t go wrong with a guy like that.”
“A guy that looks like that would definitely not look at a girl like me.”
“Zoey… you’ve got to stop putting yourself down. Not every idiot wants a girl that could blow away with the next big hurricane.”
“They don’t want a big girl like me, either. Been there, done that. Every guy I’ve dated wants to help me get healthy,” Zoey stood up, tossing a few bills on the table for a tip, “as if I’m unhealthy the way I am. See you later, Charles—tell the missus I said hello.” Zoey waved at Charles as she exited the diner, glad she lived close. The weather here was always warm, being a beach town, and close to the ocean. Even late in the year, the temperature stayed enjoyable. Tonight, was no different.
Zoey’s phone vibrated in her bag. Digging it out, she smiled, seeing her mother was calling her.
“Hi, mom.”
“Zoey. I wanted to see if you wanted to go to the street festival with me tomorrow. It starts at ten in the morning. I don’t want to go alone.”
“Of course, I’ll go with you. I want to check it out and see if I want to take part next year as a vendor.”
“Great!” Her mom squealed. “I’ll meet you at your place tomorrow morning around nine-thirty since it’s going to be down main street, anyway.”
“Ok. See you then, mom.”
Zoey tossed her phone back into her bag and fished out her keys. As she approached the front door to her shop, she was shocked to see the glass panel shattered. Someone had kicked out the intricate glass panel that ran down the center of the oak door.
“What the fuck?”
She dug her phone out again and turned on the flashlight. The bottom glass panel of the entrance was a crumpled mess on the interior floor. It looked like there was damage to the frame as well, making Zoey think it had been a break-in. Stepping away from the store, she dialed 911.
It didn’t take long for the cops to show up. After inspecting the premises, they determined it looked more like vandalism, as nothing had been taken from the inside. The officer was concerned with structural damage, so he requested the fire department to assess the building. They didn’t want to risk her safety.
Zoey sighed, knowing her peaceful night had been ruined. She sat on the curb, waiting for the fire department to show up. Zoey prayed they weren’t going to ruin her night more by telling her the building’s structural integrity had been compromised.