The situation is dire.
Demole is besieged.
Myra is missing.
And Lillyn has to cross a battlefield to save the day.
An easy task for a hero.
But Lillyn is a trader, isn't she?

I found my arm moving under its own steam, and it slipped around his waist to return the hug.

“I am so glad. She looks happy, my friend”

“Caroline, I think she is. She was very unhealthy in the hospital, very sick. The surgeon… I nearly had no daughter, so now I must treasure her, treasure each day. Now, I think, with the cold weather here, she should choose a hat, one with many colours. Please, while I see to my girl”

His arm had stayed over my shoulders, and as he pulled away, his other hand squeezed my own as it sat on his waist, and then he pulled away and started the serious business of hat selection. Priorities, indeed. Once we had sorted her headwear, I led them back to the bus station, pointing out the railway station across the road for their future trips to London.

The girls were cooing over me when I went back to work, particularly over my tan, or rather the remnants of pink skin where my nose had peeled.

“How far down does the tan go, Caroline?”

“As far as my swimming cossie”

“Ooh! No topless beach, then?”

Reluctant Diva 20
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 20 – Coming of age

A high-flying divorce lawyer is brought to his knees by a Casino owner and is contracted to become a Vegas Showgirl...

Pablo stared at me for a few seconds, before looking into the main body of the hotel, then turned back to me.

“You cannot do this”

“I can, and I have already paid the man at the desk, and it was less than I would have paid your friend with the taxi. The car taxi, not the twat with the horse”

“Twat?”

He was clearly puzzled, and I found my cheeks burning.

“A rude word in English”

I was late for breakfast, so missed my friends. A quick inquiry at reception and they sent an e-mail to the address Yves had given me; I wondered if it was purely external links, outside Cuba, that were unreliable. Never mind; when I returned from my day face-down in the sea, I had a reply, and an appointment the next morning, which gave me the excuse I needed for an early night, just as Nicole was sorting her footwear out. By early night, I mean some more beer in the other venue, where a soprano of rather more than decent quality was working her way through some opera standards.

Reluctant Diva 18
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 18 – Unveiled

During the short drive to church, Julie and his mother chatted about which stores they should visit later at the mall. Julie was angling to get herself some new shoes. Jamie ran his hands over his midsection. The control top certainly squeezed his tummy, but in a good way. The longer he wore hose with tummy control, the more he liked the feeling. It was like experiencing a gentle but constant hug. He decided he would ask his mother for some more control top pantyhose.

Barely gone and already back.
Lillyn has some unfinished business at Maynard Mansion.
A heist that dwarfs any raid done before.

Reluctant Diva 15
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 15 – A learning experience
It was around noon the following day when Mrs Bell drove me back home. The events of the previous evening were already hazy in my recollection.
“See you again, honey!” My hostess smiled, as I made to open the car door. “And soon, I hope!” she whispered conspiratorially, winking and placing her hand on my thigh. Her action triggered thoughts of the previous evening, giving rise to deep blushes and an immediate tingle down there.

Reluctant Diva 13
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 13 – The little details
One evening later that spring Mom returned from work in a strange mood. She was clearly preoccupied by something but as usual was being mysterious about it. I reckoned that this was one of her methods of keeping control of my life. After supper however, all was revealed.