This chapter is somewhat uncharacteristically Belle. But what can I say, PERFECT is boring, boring, boring. She needs some spice. Oh, and forgive me, but I have a tendency to introduce new characters to stir things up. My imagination can’t resist, so just bear with me. As always, keep an open mind. :D Thanks,

Carrie

(29) Sugar Daddy

That Saturday, Shawn drove Belle to Mimi’s apartment. Curious about Chloe and Mimi’s place, he followed Belle to the second floor. Belle made herself at home while Mimi gave him a quick tour. Once the girls engaged in gossip, he excused himself to use the restroom.

He wandered into Mimi and Chloe’s bathroom, relieved to finally take a piss. Inside, he found an assorted array of bras hung up on the shower rod and towel rings. All kinds of different colors, white, red, blue, green, and black. Chloe’s or Mimi’s? Shawn gave the cup size a further examination. Mimi’s, obviously- considering her healthy rack. Shawn lifted the toilet seat and unzipped his fly… doing his best to ignore the titillating black lace bra hovering next to his head. Once finished, he washed his hands. Shawn hesitated at the door before exiting. He turned around to admire the undeniably feminine view one last time.

He couldn’t resist. He crossed to the shower rod and plunged his face into the deep cavity of his favorite brassiere. “Oh yeah, come to daddy,” he whispered insanely. Did these things have any idea how lucky they were? To be so close, so snug with Mimi’s… Shawn dropped the fabric quickly. He took a deep breath and released slowly. The last thing he needed was to come out of the bathroom with a suspicious erection.

He found Mimi and Belle in the kitchen. For the life of him, he couldn’t help smiling.

Mimi looked up from behind the counter, “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing,” he lied before admitting shyly, “your…bras are hanging up in the bathroom.”

Shawn noticed the color draining from Belle’s face.

Mimi pulled her hair into a ponytail and shrugged, “Oh yeah, I forgot about those.”

“Mimi, why do you hang your bras up?”

“Because I wash and dry them by hand Shawn.”

“Why?” he asked still confused.

“ I don’t want them to get tore up in the washer and drier,” she explained calmly.

“Oh,” he said. He looked at Belle, “Do you… wash your bras by hand too?”

Belle rolled her eyes, “Sometimes, yes.”

Shawn leaned onto the counter, “If you ever need help washing your bras Mimi…and you too Belle.”

Mimi raised her eyebrow and stifled a giggle as she glanced at Belle, “Yeah?”

“I’m your man.”

Mimi smiled before sipping her drink before adding, “I think I can handle it on my own. But thanks anyway.”

“I don’t know Mimi, you have very big….”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“I thought so,” she retorted.

“So what’s up?” he asked, changing the subject.

“I’m going to have my car looked at, and then Belle’s going to go Christmas shopping with me before I got to work.”

“Is that my cue to leave?”

“You can come, but I think you’ll be bored.”

“Probably.”

Shawn leaned down to kiss Belle. “Have fun, but not too much fun. Don’t spend too much money- that is unless you’re buying me a present.”

Belle gave him a cordial hug and thanked him for dropping her off. “I’ll see you later this afternoon.”

*************

(On their way to the auto repair man)

“Paulie’s going to be there,” Mimi announced as she grinded gears while shifting..

Belle whipped her neck, “Paulie? You mean the cute guy we met at Tuscany? Very tall, very nice body, nice smile, sweet…”

Mimi smiled and looked over her shoulder to switch lanes, “That would be the one.”

Belle eyes darted wildly as she surveyed the traffic, “Shit Mimi, why did you wait to tell me that until now?”

Mimi laughed, “My God Belle, I didn’t think you’d care. It’s no big deal.”

Belle shrugged and flipped down the passenger mirror to check her reflection, “It’s not. I’m just saying it would have been nice to know.”

“Belle! I can’t believe you. I just found out before we left. Actually, Paulie answered the phone.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Belle wailed.

“You were in the bathroom!”

“Ugh.”

Belle reapplied a new coat of lip gloss as Mimi glared at her.

“What is UP with you girl?”

“My lips were dry,” Belle insisted.

“Like hell! You’re getting gorgeous for him.”

“Mimi, I’m just putting on lip gloss.”

Mimi scanned the white house described by Paulie over the phone and mumbled, “Yeah, and just in time.”

Belle and Mimi were halfway up the driveway when Paulie entered the open garage. He went straight to the fridge and grabbed a couple of beers before noticing the arrivals.

Mimi cleared her throat, “Hey Paulie.”

Paulie turned around, immediately catching Belle’s eye.

Belle blushed and looked at her feet.

Paulie smiled at Belle’s gesture and nodded to Mimi, “Oh hey, you’re here.”

“Don’t sound so enthused Paulie,” Mimi retorted.

Paulie twisted the cap off his beer, “Hey, I’m enthused. But don’t call me Paulie. I hate it. Call me Paul.”

“But that’s what Mr. V calls you.”

Paulie raised his eyebrow, “Mr. V is my boss. Mr. V can call me Kermit the Frog and I’d go with it.”

Belle let out a helpless giggle as Paulie swallowed his drink.

Mimi shook her head, bemused. “Ok Kermit, that’s nice. Is my mechanic here?”

Paulie swallowed, “Bobby’s inside.”

“Paulie, Bobby,” Mimi kidded. “Er is that Bob, er Robert?”

Paulie rolled his eyes and gestured an invitation inside the house, “Come on in.”

Belle smiled through the introductions. Bobby apologized for the mess in the kitchen, “My girlfriend and I are sorta in a fight, so nothing’s been picked up for awhile.”

“It’s all right,” Mimi and Belle chimed in unison.

Paulie offered the girls a drink. Mimi declined while Belle accepted a Coke.

Bobby grabbed his coat, “Let’s take a look at your car.”

Mimi glanced at Belle, wondering if she would stay with her, or inside with Paulie.

“You can come sit down if you want. We were just watching college football.” Paul offered.

Belle nodded, answering the obvious. Mimi grinned mischieviously- if she had the choice between the diagnostics of a near forty year old car, or a tall hunky teddy bear. She couldn’t blame her. “Have fun,” she mouthed to Belle.

Belle followed “Paul” into the living room. The first thing she noticed was a pool table, with a BUDWEISER light hanging over it. A small dining table cluttered with mail, beer bottles, and an empty pizza box.

Paul cleared a blanket and pillow from the sofa.

“Do you live here?” Belle asked.

Paul shook his head, “No way. You couldn’t pay me enough money to live with Bobby. He’s a pig. I got a place downtown. I just hang out with him sometimes when I’m not working.”

“Oh,” Belle sighed gratefully and took a seat on the couch.

Paul sat in the lazyboy across from her, turning volume down on the tv. “We don’t have to watch football. Is there something else you’d like to watch?”

Belle shrugged, not really caring. “It doesn’t matter to me.”

Paul flipped through the channels until he came across a Kevin Costner movie. He left it there and set down the remote. “I’m surprised to see you again. Mimi didn’t tell me you were coming.”

“It was kind of a last minute thing.”

“It’s still a nice surprise.”

Belle blushed, “Thanks. It’s nice to see you too.”

Paulie smiled and settled comfortably in the chair. He faked interest in the movie. Belle took the opportunity to size him up.

His body was a cross between a quarterback, a hockey player, and a fashion model. He had to be pushing at least 6’4. He had a strong jaw, and good lord, a dimple on his chin. His attire, although casual, was very flattering. She didn’t know what did him more justice, his jeans, or his shirt. Both had a strong defense in their favor. Belle forced herself to look away.

Shawn Douglas Brady. Shawn Douglas Brady. Shawn Douglas. Shawn. Shawn Douglas Brady.

“Have you seen this movie before?” he asked, breaking her out of her spell.

“Yes,” Belle answered quickly. “It has a sad ending. He dies trying to save people.”

Paul smiled, “Thanks. I’ve never seen it before.”

“I’m sorry,” she choked.

“I don’t mind,” he assured her.

“I didn’t mean to spoil it.”

“It’s all right Isabella.”

“You remembered my full name?” she asked, flattered.

“Of course I do,” he replied with a twinkle in his eyes.

Belle felt her heart quicken. “So,” she asked suddenly, “How long have you been working for Mr. Vaccarezza?”

“About a year,” he answered.

“Just a year?”

Paul nodded. “He’s been tight with my family for awhile, but I didn’t get to know him until after I got out.”

“Got out?” she asked, horrified. Please don’t say it was something God awful like jail or prison.

“I was in the Marines for four years,” he explained.

“The Marines,” Belle mumbled softly, breathing a sigh of relief.

“After the Marines, I went to New York and trained to become a professional body guard.”

“Wow,” she said, completely amazed.

“Did you guard anyone famous?”

“A few movie stars on occasion, nothing steady. Just for premieres and parties, stuff like that.”

“Like who?”

“Mariah Carey once. Umm David Letterman a couple times. Gwenyth Paltrow.”

“Oh my God, are you serious?”

“Sure. There’s others too, mostly rich people traveling to foreign countries.”

Belle was totally intrigued, “So why are you here now? In Salem of all places?”

“I got a call awhile ago from Mr. V. He made an offer. I wasn’t going to take it, cuz I had no desire to come to Illinois. Plus my family talked me into it, and the price was good, actually, it was real good. I couldn’t bring myself to refuse the offer.”

“So are you glad you took it?”

“Now I am,” he said seductively, holding his stare.

Belle blushed and felt her heart pound. “That’s interesting. And Bobby, he’s your, brother?” she guessed.

“My cousin. I talked him into moving here to keep me company.”

“Does he like it here?”

“He hates it.”

Belle frowned, “Oh, that’s too bad.”

“I can’t really blame him. I’m surprised he’s stayed this long. He’s probably going to go back to Jersey or move to Chicago.”

“New Jersey? Is that where you’re from?”

“Clifton.”

Belle looked around nervously. “That’s funny, you don’t even have an accent.”

Paul smiled, charmed by her observation, “Who says people from New Jersey have accents?”

Belle fidgeted with her shirt-sleeve, “I don’t know. There’s this girl on my cheerleading squad that moved from New Jersey. She has a really strong accent.”

“Normally we do. I sorta lost mine in the Corps. But it comes back every once in awhile.”

“Whew,” Belle sighed. “I think East Coast accents are cool,” she offered sincerely.

Their conversation was interrupted by Bobby and Mimi returning inside. Mimi found Belle, “He says I need a new fan belt. We’re going to the auto parts store. You want to stay or go?”

Paul stood up, “Actually, I’m not going to stay. I have to go shopping for a new suit.” He stared at Belle as he put on his coat.

Belle felt her heart sink slightly. She was just starting to enjoy talking to him, and he going to up and leave.

“You want to come with?” he asked, catching her completely off guard. “You seem like you’d have a strong sense of style.”

Belle glanced at Mimi, openly gaping. Belle’s eyes widened, signaling her friend’s lack of composure.

“I don’t know, I uh….Mimi and I had,” Belle fumbled awkwardly.

“It’s ok Belle, you can go. We can do that other thing another day,” she said through gritted teeth, hoping she’d take the hint.

A shopping trip with Paulie meant fresh, new, exciting gossip- not to mention the down low of his pocket book capacity. Belle would be a fool to resist!

Belle stared at Mimi, still confused about her guidance.

“Sure, I’ll go shopping,” she decided. “That is if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind,” he said.

Mimi’s eyes bulged in envy. She turned around to follow Bobby out the door, “You kids have fun,” she joked.

Belle followed Paul up the street until they came to a black sports car- a Corvette. Paul unlocked the security alarm and opened her door for her, “Ladies first.”

Belle sat in the bucket seat, feeling the first wave of a thrill. Her heart flipped when Paul peeled out of his parallel park and floored it down the street, showing off its’ performance.

*********************************

He took her to the finest department store in Salem. She helped pick out his suit- he gave her props for her taste, “Mr. V would definitely approve. Maybe he should hire you as a wardrobe consultant.”

Belle shrugged modestly from her seat and smiled, “It would be a fun job,” she admitted.

Paul nodded in the ladies wear direction. “You pick out something to try on.”

“Nah,” she answered.

“Go,” he insisted.

“All right,” she caved easily. “Nothing wrong with trying something on.”

Belle rummaged through the selection half-heartedly. Nothing seemed to catch her attention. Paul towered behind her suddenly. She gasped, “Oh shit, you scared me.”

“What about that one?” he said, pointing to a rack she had overlooked.

Belle wandered to the selection. Paulie took the dress he was eyeing off the rack and handed it to her.

“Try it on,” he said softly.

Belle stared at the dress. It was GORGEOUS- it was black, and it was Gucci, and sophisticated as hell.

Belle wandered into the empty dressing room and undressed. She pulled on the dress and zipped up the backside. She smoothed the fabric and admired her figure- it was definitely flattering, to say the least. It put her Homecoming dress to SHAME. She danced to the Mya song thumping overhead in the dressing room… “Sexy Single Sweet.”

She smiled, cheeks aching. Just when she thought she couldn’t smile any harder than she already was, she smiled even harder...

Isabella Black- Sexy Single Sweet.

She peeped the backside of her figure in the mirror.

And then she imagined herself….

In that Gucci dress with Paulie in his suit- flying down the freeway in his fast Corvette straight into the city lights of Chicago for a night of…whatever. Dinner, dancing, maybe. Equipped with diamond necklace, earings, and rings. The finest fragrance, hair slicked back elegantly…

Belle sighed and opened the room to the dressing room. She pranced out to the floor, indulging a sexy pout to an anxious Paulie, who sat in a chair awaiting her modeling. She gave him a few turns and flashed one well-sculpted cheerleader thigh through the slit of her dress, “What do you think?”

“I think you should definitely have it.”

“I couldn’t.”

“It’s yours.”

“Are you sure?”

“Belle, it’s yours, there’s no questioning.”

Belle turned around to return to the dressing room. She covered her smiling face on the way back. She admired the dress a few more minutes before removing it. She brought the dress to the check-out counter where Paulie stood waiting. “Thanks for getting this for me.”

“There’s nothing better than a pretty girl in a pretty dress.”

She nearly choked when the sales lady rung up the dress… $2695. She couldn’t even speak. She new it would cost a lot, but not that much. “Paulie, no way.”

“Shhh,” he said as he opened his wallet. He forked over $3500 cash. The sales lady thanked him and handed him his merchandise.

Belle waited until they were out of the store when scolding Paul. “That was way too much.”

“I don’t want to hear anymore about it.”

Belle paused uncomfortably. “That suit looks great on you.”

“Thanks.”

Afterwards, they went to a movie and strolled through Salem Place. Belle’s face fell when they neared Dot Com. “Oh my God, I totally forgot. What time is it?”

“It’s about twenty after five.”

“Oh my God! I have to go. I’m late.”

“Where you going?”

“Dot Com. I’m sorry Paulie, but I have to go.”

“It’s all right. I’ll see you around.”

Belle found Shawn at a both with Philip and Jan. They notice her giddiness right off the bat. “Why are you so lit up?”

“No reason.”

“Bullshit.” Shawn said, reading her mind.

“I was shopping.”

Shawn rolled his eyes, “Enough said.”

Jan nudged Belle when she noticed her still in a daze. Belle waited until the guys excused themselves to get drinks.

“Can I see what you got?” Jan asked curiously.

Belle allowed her to peek inside the bag.

Jan’s eyes bulged, “Belle! That dress is a Gucci. How in the hell? Did you steal it?”

“No I didn’t steal it! It was a gift.”

“From?”

“A friend.”

“Dang, who is this friend of yours? I wouldn’t mind a friend like that.”

“He’s very generous,” she said, partially slipping the identity.

“He?”

“Jan, don’t say anything, ok?”

“I won’t. But you got to tell me who he is.”

“He’s a guy that works for Mimi’s roommate’s dad.”

“How old is he?”

“I don’t know. Mid twenties maybe.”

“Is he loaded?”

“I don’t know! I guess so.”

“Did he pay cash or did he charge?”

“Cash.”

“Then he’s either loaded or a criminal.”

“Oh God.”

“Way to go Bell. Can I meet him?”

“No!”

“Why not?”

“Because Jan. It’s not like I know him, know him.”

“He just bought you a dress worth, what, a couple thousand dollars?”

“So.”

“Is he cute?”

“Jan!”

“Is he?”

“Uh…no, not really.” She couldn’t hide her smile.

“Belle Black, you devil you. He is cute isn’t he?”

“Shhh,” she said, signaling Phil and Shawn’s arrival.

Belle insisted the gang eat dinner at Chili’s so she can talk to Mimi.

After Mimi sat them, Belle drug Mimi into the bathroom.

Mimi checked the stalls and blocked the door, “How did your ‘shopping’ go?”

“He bought me a Gucci dress.”

“You are LYING.”

“No I’m not. Mimi, I HAVE to talk to you.”

“You know I want to hear it.”

“How about tonight?”

“I’m working.”

“So.”

“I can wait up for you.”

“Where?”

“Your place.”

“Your parents will let you spend the night?”

“Who cares. I’ll find a way.”

“I don’t get off until late. Besides, I don’t know if I’ll be in a good mood. Brett’s being a total ass tonight. He’s flirting with one of the new waitresses.”

“Screw Brett,” Belle pleaded.

“No kidding” Mimi mumbled defeatedly.

“So can I stay or not?”

Mimi shook her head, and reached into her pocket “Fine.” He unhooked her apartment key from the chain and handed it to Belle. “Just keep it quiet, our neighbors are noise freaks. I’ll be in before midnight.”

Belle jumped up and down, “I will, I will. Ok, I have to get back to the table. I’ll see you later tonight. Oh, and dump Brett. In my opinion, he’s a total jerk.”

Mimi stared at the swinging door, unable to reply to her best friend’s blunt advice….