Twyla Gardiner had to catch herself before she rolled her eyes. She'd heard the same phrases over and over since her divorce four months ago.

You need to get out more.

Don't sit at home by yourself. That isn't any fun.

I know the perfect man for you!

I have a cousin who's coming to visit.

You'll just love him!

And on and on and on.

Twyla stared out the window at the softly falling mist and tried to tune out her friend Sherry Trahan. She'd have better luck getting a suntan in December.

Picking up her fork, she calmly ate a bite of her crab salad while she waited for Sherry to stop for a breath so she could jump into the conversation.

"Look, Sher, I appreciate your caring about me, but I'm fine. I don't want another blind date."

"But he's perfect for you! He started working at George's office last week. He's about six-two with dark brown hair that brushes his collar, piercing green eyes, shoulders like a linebacker, flat tummy and great ass." Sherry fanned her face. "He is soooo gorgeous!"

Sherry said that about every single man in her husband's office. George worked at an insurance company that employed hundreds of people. The turnover rate must be high, for Sherry was always discovering new single men who would be "perfect" for Twyla.

At least he was tall. At five-ten, Twyla usually towered over men instead of looking directly into their eyes, especially when she wore high heels.

"What's the date today, Sherry?"

A confused look crossed Sherry's face and she hesitated before answering. "October 21st."

"Do you know when my divorce was final?"

"Sometime in June, I think."

"June 10th. That's four months, Sherry. Why would I want to get involved with a guy so soon after getting rid of the louse I married?"

"I'm not saying you have to get serious about him or marry him, just go out with him. He really is wonderful, Twyla. I know you'll like him if you'll give him a chance." Eyes wide and shining with excitement, Sherry reached across the table and clasped Twyla's wrist. "I know! I'll have both of you over for dinner. Quiet, calm, no pressure. If you don't feel any sparks, you don't have to see him again."

"Sher--"

"Saturday night. Seven o'clock. I'll send the kids to my mom's, or they can spend the night with friends."

Apparently satisfied that everything was settled, Sherry picked up her fork and dug into her salmon. Twyla could continue to argue, or she could gracefully give in and let Sherry once again introduce her to this wonderful man.

If this guy was so damn wonderful, he shouldn't be single.

Twyla speared a piece of cucumber in her salad. She knew Sherry was only trying to help. So had all her other friends when they'd introduced her to their friend/brother/cousin/coworker.

She wasn't in any hurry to become involved with another man. Sure, it would be nice to date someone who could carry on an intelligent conversation. It would be nice to sit together on her couch and eat popcorn while they watched a movie. It would be really nice to have sex again. She missed that closeness, that sweet slide of skin against skin.

It wouldn't be worth marrying an idiot just for sex. That's why vibrators were invented.

Vibrators couldn't hold her, stroke her skin, touch her hair. They couldn't wake her with a soft kiss, or cuddle her when she felt bad.

Sherry laid her fork over her empty plate. "The salmon was incredible. How was your salad?"

"Great." Or it had been until Sherry started talking about Mr. Wonderful. After that, the taste disappeared.

"Do you have time for some shopping or do you have to rush right back to work?"

Twyla should go back to work. She had a desk full of paperwork to wade through. She also had hours of personal leave due her and had worked a lot of overtime lately. Taking the afternoon off to shop sounded like an excellent idea. "My boss didn't have anything special on her calendar, but something may have come up after I left for lunch. I'll call her and see if she needs me."

"I want to check out the new lingerie store on 6th. George's sister Lydia told me about it. She said the selection is amazing."

Twyla's friends, Molly Ross and Marci Bayne, had told her about the lingerie store, but Twyla hadn't been there yet. Even though both gals had raved about the store, shopping for lingerie was a disappointing chore for Twyla. Her large breasts made finding pretty bras almost impossible. Even buying horribly expensive bras online didn't work, for they rarely fit her the way they should to be comfortable. She'd found one department store that carried bras in her size, yet they were plain and not the least bit sexy. Twyla would love to wear wisps of satin and lace like so many other women did.

Sherry picked up the ticket from the table. "I'll take care of the check while you call your boss."

* * * * *

Sherry pointed to a pale lavender bra and panties set in the store window. "Now that would definitely raise George's blood pressure." She looked at Twyla and grinned. "I just love raising his blood pressure."

A twinge of jealousy tightened Twyla's stomach. She wasn't ready to get involved with another man. That didn't mean she couldn't dream about meeting a guy as great as George. Sherry had lucked out when she'd found him. Kind, considerate, funny, good looking and Sherry said he was incredible in bed.

Twyla gazed at the rest of the window display. Every hue in the purple palette had to be here. Neither Marci nor Molly had said the store carried only purple lingerie. Since she wasn't a big fan of that color, she didn't see where anything in Lavender Lace would interest her. "Is everything in the store purple?"

Sherry laughed. "No, silly. Lydia said there's every color you can think of." She wrapped her fingers around Twyla's wrist. "Come on, let's check it out."

Twyla followed Sherry into the store. The first thing Twyla noticed was the comfortable seating area on her left. It contained a loveseat and three chairs...a perfect place for tired husbands or bored boyfriends to sit while their wives or girlfriends shopped. Small tables sat between each chair. So many times while shopping, Twyla would've paid someone twenty dollars for a place to sit.

Light and airy, the store was larger than it appeared from outside. The displays were set up by color. Sherry had been right. There was so much more than purple here. Twyla immediately gravitated toward the red display. She'd always loved to wear red panties. She had one red bra in her size that she couldn't bear to throw away, even though it should've gone into the trash months ago since the support was almost nonexistent.

"I see you found your favorite color," Sherry said, grinning.

Twyla shrugged. "I'm so easy."

"With your fair skin and black hair, you look gorgeous in red. I look blotchy. I think I'll check out that lavender set in the window."

"Okay."

Twyla picked up a sheer bra with lacy cups. It felt as light as air, and couldn't be more than a B cup. She sighed. Way too small for her.

"May I help you?"

Turning to her left, Twyla saw a lovely thirty-something blonde with striking blue eyes. Her aqua T-shirt and cream pants showed off her curvy body perfectly. A plain silver name tag above her left breast said Ashlyn. "I love this bra, but it isn't my size."

Ashlyn openly gazed at Twyla's breasts. "Thirty-eight G, right?"

Twyla's mouth dropped open. "How did you know?"

The blonde smiled. "It's my job to know. Don't worry if you don't find your size on display. This is only a small portion of what I have in stock." She picked up the bra and checked the tag. "I'm sure I have this in your size. I'll be right back."

Two more women walked into the store as Ashlyn headed for the back. She turned around long enough to say she'd be right with them before continuing to the back of the store.

If Ashlyn had this beautiful bra in her size, Twyla would be a very happy camper.

Sherry walked up to her, carrying several pieces of lingerie. "I'm going to try these on. Did you find something?"

"Maybe." She held up the red bra so Sherry could see it. "The clerk is checking to see if she has this in my size."

"Ooh, very nice! I know someone who would love to take that off you."

Twyla frowned. Sherry never missed an opportunity to play matchmaker. "He isn't going to see it, much less take it off."

"Now, Twyla, never say never. I promise you, you'll take one look at him and melt."

"I do not melt."

"You will," Sherry said, her voice smug.

She wandered off toward the dressing rooms before Twyla had a chance to make another comment. It was just as well that she couldn't pop off to her friend since Ashlyn headed her way, a smile on her face.

"Sorry it took me so long. I'm alone today and it's been crazy."

"No help?"

"One clerk, who's off today. I hope to hire more clerks soon." Ashlyn held out the red bra to Twyla. "Size thrity-eight G. I brought matching bikini panties in your size too. Or I have a thong to match the bra, if you'd rather have that."

A thong? With that little piece of fabric that would ride up her butt? "Uh, no. I don't wear thongs."

"You should try one. Men love them."

"I wear what I like, not to impress a guy."

"That's good. A woman should always do what's right for her. But sometimes, we should make our guys happy. Don't you agree?"

Twyla almost said, "I don't have a guy," but stopped herself. She didn't know this woman, yet she'd almost confided in her. That didn't make sense. Twyla made friends easily, but she didn't pour out her life story to a complete stranger.

"Just the bra and panties. I'm not brave enough to try the thong."

Ashlyn smiled. "No problem. Would you like to try these on now or would you prefer to look around more?"

She might as well keep shopping since Sherry would be in the dressing room for a while. "I'll look around."

"Fine. I'll put these in a dressing room and help my other customers."

Once Ashlyn left, Twyla slowly strolled through the store, her fingertips grazing the different items as she passed them. She often wore sexy nightgowns for she loved the way they felt against her skin. Maybe she should add one or two to her underwear purchase. She hadn't spoile herself in a long time.

She turned a corner, and gasped. Directly in front of her, a mannequin wore the sexiest black nightgown she'd ever seen. Tiny spaghetti straps held up the low-cut lace and satin confection. A slit ran up the left side, almost to the waist. Lace made up the bodice and sides of the gown. A swirl of satin covered the pubic area and ran across the front. A woman couldn't help but feel sexy when she wore it.

Twyla had to have it.

She waited until Ashlyn's other customers headed to the dressing rooms before she approached the owner. "The black nightgown on the mannequin. Do you have it in my size?"

"Of course. Would you like to try it on?"

"Yes, please."

Ashlyn smiled. "I'll get it for you."

She had taken two steps away when Twyla had a sudden thought. "Ashlyn?"

The owner turned back to face her. "Yes?"

"You have other sexy bras in my size?"

"Several."

"I want one of each in black and white. And the panties to match."

Ashlyn smiled again. "I'll be right back."

Twyla could hear her Visa groaning in her wallet. It had been a long time since she'd splurged on herself and decided she deserved it. She wanted the lingerie for her, not to impress a guy.

She thought about her upcoming "date" at Sherry's house with Mr. Wonderful. He would be the fifth man Sherry had introduced her to in the last two months. All of them had been perfect for her, according to her friend. Of the first four she'd dated, one never looked in her eyes, but stared at her breasts all evening. One had been so conceited, he'd talked the entire time about himself. One hadn't talked at all, leaving Twyla to come up with different topics to keep the conversation flowing. The last one decided since he'd bought her dinner, she owed him sex. It was the closest she'd ever come to punching a guy in the nose. Or kneeing him in the balls.

There might be some Prince Charmings left in the world, but she hadn't found any in Seattle.

Twyla wandered up to the counter to wait for Ashlyn. The owner appeared from the back with several pieces of lingerie in her hand.

"I have this bra in ice blue that will look gorgeous on you. It also comes in a deep forest green and cranberry."

Twyla fingered the wisp of silk and lace. "It doesn't look like it has any support."

"It does, I promise. See these panels on the sides? They pull your breasts in and push them up."

"My breasts are large enough without being pulled in and pushed up."

Ashlyn tilted her head. "You aren't ashamed of them, are you?"

"No, of course not."

"Then flaunt them. You have a lovely body. You should do everything you can to show it off."

Twyla's self-confidence had taken a nosedive when her husband walked out on her. He'd said it was her fault that he'd looked for other lovers since she was so cold in bed. She knew that wasn't true. She loved sex and had always responded to her ex-husband. He threw the blame for their failed marriage on her to justify his affairs. Still, she'd wondered if she could've done something different in the bedroom, something that would've kept Scott in her bed instead of visiting half the women in western Washington.

She continued to caress the silky bra. She bit her bottom lip as her Visa groaned louder.

What the hell. This is my special treat. I can make payments if I have to.

"You have panties to match the bras?"

"Of course."

"I'll try on all of them."

Twyla followed Ashlyn to the back of the store. The dressing room was large and softly lit, with a three-pane mirror in the corner. A woman couldn't ignore any of her body's flaws with all those images surrounding her.

Ashlyn added the new pieces of lingerie to the items already on the low shelf. She sorted them into two piles--one for bras and one for panties. Twyla noticed the nightgown hanging on a hook on the opposite wall.

Digging through the pile of panties, Ashlyn drew out a red thong. "I know you said you don't wear thongs, but try this one on. It matches the red bra perfectly. You will feel incredibly sexy and alluring wearing this lingerie beneath a clingy black dress."

A vision of Twyla's favorite dress popped into her head. A straight shift with cap sleeves and a low rounded neck, the silky material flowed over her curves to her knees. She always felt feminine in that dress, even if she happened to be taller than her date.

"Okay, I'll try it on."

"I'm going to see to my other customers. Let me know if you need anything else."

After Ashlyn left, Twyla removed all her clothes. She tried on the red bra first. It fit perfectly, pushing her breasts together to form a deep cleavage. She did a little shimmy and smiled when the bra didn't shift or dig into her skin. If all the bras fit as well and were as comfortable as this one, she would definitely be making payments on her Visa account for several months.

It would be worth it.

Twyla hesitated before picking up the red thong. She couldn't imagine wearing something like this would be comfortable, much less make her feel sexy. Taking a breath, she stepped into the thong and pulled it up her legs.

The tiny triangle covered her mound, the elastic band rode low on her hips. Twyla turned one way, then the other, examining her body in the mirror. Her buttocks were round and full and gravity hadn't affected them yet. The red band disappeared in the cleft, naturally drawing her gaze between her legs. She understood why a man would love to see a thong on a woman.

She felt sexy and alluring, and she liked the feeling.

"How are you doing?" Ashlyn asked through the louvered door.

"Great. In fact..." She turned again to look at the front of her body. "I think I'd like to try on some other thongs."

a