Read on for an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Shoulder Season. It is 1981, and Sherri Taylor has arrived at the Playboy Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. She’s been crying because she’s just lost her mother, and she’s not sure she wants to work there. She encounters Bunny Tina, who helps her prepare for her interview with the Bunny Mother.

“What’s your name, hon?”

“Sherri,” she said. She looked up and noticed the sunken indoor pool behind a glass wall, right there in the middle of the resort. Little bistro tables surrounded it, and there was a bar in the distance with a wall glittering with bottles of liquor under the lights. The air smelled faintly of chlorine.

“We just lost a Sherri.”

“She died?”

“No, silly, she quit! But that means that when you get the job, you’ll be able to keep your own name—you’ll be the only Bunny Sherri for miles around.”

“I’m not going to get this job.”

“Don’t say that! Come on now.”

“Are you really Tina?”

“No, my real name is Mary, but forget I ever told you that. Here I’m Bunny Tina. We say ‘Bunny’ in front of our names the way you say ‘Doctor,’ even with each other. Did you know that Sonny and Cher bought Hugh Hefner’s jet? And when they did, they had a party out there on the landing strip.” Tina pointed beyond the big floor-to-ceiling windows. “Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons played. Just for us Bunnies! There’s always something fun here—well, in the summer at least. Back home everyone just watches the corn grow.” They entered the bathroom, and Tina handed Sherri a towel. “Start washing up. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

Sherri did as she was told, grateful for Bunny Tina’s calming chatter, her kindness. She soaped off her makeup. The mascara, like ink from a busted pen, swirled down the drain. She ran the water until it was cold and pressed it on her eyes with the hand towel to get rid of the puffiness.

Bunny Tina returned with a purple Chivas Regal bag made of soft velvet. She pulled out foundation, fake eyelashes, lipstick, and blush. “I can do this in record time. Trust me, I’ve had lots of practice.”

“But those are your eyelashes.”

“My drawer is crawling with these little caterpillars! I’ve got plenty to spare, and you’re going to need to learn how to do this.”

She stepped closer to Sherri and told her to look up. Bunny Tina smelled good, like cotton candy. It was hard not to stare at her ample breasts sitting on the shelf of her uniform, so Sherri fixed her gaze on the black bow tie at the base of her neck instead.

“You have to be pretty to be a Bunny, and you are, but there’s more to it. The Bunny Mother wants each of us to have our own look. You’ve got that, did you know? A look. Real distinct. Plus, you seem sweet, and Gloria wants girls who are wholesome. She wants happy girls, friendly girls. So when you interview, trust me, smile until your mouth breaks. No drama, no tears. Here, let me put some blush on those cheeks.” She bit her lip as she dabbed puffs of pink with a giant makeup brush and lined Sherri’s lips before filling them in and asking Sherri to blot them on a paper towel. “I’m so jealous of your heart-shaped mouth.”

“I have a heart-shaped mouth?”

“Sure you do. And a heart-shaped face, with your wide cheekbones and cute pointy chin. That’s part of your look, see? What do you think?”

Tina placed her hands on Sherri’s shoulders and adjusted her stance so that she could see herself in the mirror. The eyelashes made her eyes look huge, and her cheekbones appeared more angular and distinct. She looked better than she ever had, she really did.

“Now let’s free up that gorgeous hair and unbutton your shirt. You look like you’ve come to interview at the library.” Tina set Sherri’s hair loose and puffed it with her fingers. “You’re a regular Bernadette Peters with those ringlets, has anyone told you that?”

“Oh, I hate my hair,” Sherri said.

“We always want what other people have, but trust me, it’s amazing. Look at you, Sherri. You’re beautiful! What on earth made you so sad? Did you and your friend get into an argument?”

“No. My mother died.”

Sherri could tell that Bunny Tina wasn’t prepared for something that bad to have upset her. “Oh, you poor thing.” Instead of brushing her hair, she started to pet it. “I’m sorry to hear that, I really am, but listen, don’t mention it. Gloria won’t even hire a girl if she hears her parents are divorced. Remember, no drama. This is a family resort. You need to ooze sweetness and smiles. Just tell her what she wants to hear, even if you have to lie. Trust me, it doesn’t matter to her if you’re telling the truth—all she cares about is how you look and how you seem.” Bunny Tina led Sherri out of the bathroom and down the stairs and pointed to the door for the locker room. She gave her a big hug. “When you get the job, I’ll look out for you. Remember, Sherri. If you’ve got an edge, don’t let Gloria see it, and don’t let her scare you. She scares the crap out of all of us, but you won’t make it here if you show it. Good luck!”