Read Big Girl Panties for Free Online Page B

crackpot weight-loss scheme, usually involving a pill, which she just had to share. “Yeah, I checked it out,” Holly said hesitantly.
    Tina expertly quoted the commercial. “ ‘For every two pounds you lose, it helps you with the third.’ ”
    â€œYeah,” Holly said slowly. “I read that on the box. You know what else it does? It makes your ass leak. I read that on the box, too.”
    â€œOh,” Tina said, giggling nervously. “It does?”
    â€œThey refer to it as ‘oily stools that could be hard to control,’ which, I have to admit, makes it sound more enchanting. They recommend you wear dark-colored clothes so no one will notice when it happens. They don’t really mention how to handle the smell.” Holly tried not to sound annoyed.
    â€œI didn’t know that,” Tina said, crestfallen. “That’s gross.”
    â€œGlad you see it my way,” Holly replied, colder than she intended.
    â€œI’m just trying to help,” Tina said defensively.
    Holly softened. “I know you are.”
    â€œI guess I need to remember what you always tell me. That if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” Tina said, lightening up as well.
    â€œHow could you know? You haven’t had to worry about weight a day in your life. It’s like me trying to give you advice on parenting.”
    â€œGood point. You know I love you and just want you to be happy again.”
    â€œI love you, too,” Holly told her, deliberately leaving out that she didn’t think she would know happiness if it came up and bit her. “But why don’t you let me worry about my weight?”
    â€œYou just need to take that first baby step,” Tina told her optimistically.
    â€œI just wrote a check to a personal trainer. I feel like I’m stepping off a cliff. That’s not big enough for you?”

Chapter Four
    L ogan wasn’t sure the woman who showed up was the same Holly Brennan he’d met on the plane. The Holly standing before him appeared youthful and much less stressed. She wore black sweatpants, an oversized pink T-shirt, and the latest in cross-trainers. Her dark red hair looked finally tamed, pulled neatly back in a ponytail. She even carried with her a two-liter bottle of water. While he never really thought she would bail out, he was secretly impressed to see that she’d come ready to get down to business.
    â€œHi, Holly.” He gave her a wave, walking over to her as she entered his studio. The khaki shorts exposing his defined calves and the yellow T-shirt that pulled across his expansive torso before tucking itself in at his trim waist were nothing short of jaw-dropping. “Nice to see you again. I just need to get a couple signatures from you. Standard contract waiver sorts of things. You ready to get to work?”
    â€œAs ready as I’ll ever be.” Holly smiled, taking the pen. She didn’t know whether to be scared to death or psyched as hell, but she had come this far, and now there was no turning back. That opportunity had come and gone in the fifteen minutes she spent loitering on the sidewalk. The client with the time slot before hers had drifted out the door, a monster of a man she was sure was a professional basketball player. He smiled knowingly and asked if she was lost. She shook her head and said, “No, thanks.”
    Holly had assumed Logan worked out of a gym, but once inside his studio she realized she’d completely miscalculated. This was exclusively his space, and she was going to receive his full attention. He really was a personal trainer, with an emphasis on “personal.” In the spacious room stood Logan, Holly, and every piece of exercise equipment known to the workout world. The place was orderly, pristine, and didn’t smell like a locker room. Happy pop music drummed in the background. Holly started leaning toward scared. There would be no one here to