Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page A

for speeding. She can be very intimidating. She has three sons. They play football in high school, so they tower over her. But I swear they all tremble in her presence.”
    Charity chuckled. “That could be more a mom thing than a police thing.”
    â€œYou’re probably right.” He paused. “I’m heading out to San Francisco this weekend, to meet up with friends. But I wanted to know if you’ll be free next weekend for dinner.”
    Dinner with Robert. It sounded…nice.
    â€œI’d like that,” she said.
    â€œGreat. We’ll firm up the day and time during the week.” He glanced at his watch. “I need to get going, if I’m going to be in San Francisco on time.”
    â€œSure. Enjoy your time with your friends.”
    â€œI will.”
    He left through a side door that led to the employee parking lot.
    Dinner with Robert would be a very pleasant way to spend an evening, she told herself, then winced. Pleasant? Couldn’t she do better than that? So what ifshe didn’t feel sparks when she was around him? Sparks were dangerous, not to mention highly overrated. Better substance than flash.
    She returned to the second floor, but before she got all the way to her office, Sheryl came running out to meet her.
    â€œYou’re going to be late,” her assistant told her. “You’d better hurry.”
    â€œFor what? I don’t have any more meetings today.”
    â€œYou have one now.” Sheryl sounded delighted. “Marsha called a little bit ago and put it on your calendar. I’m beyond jealous. Not that I need a tour, but still. I wish it were me.”
    Charity didn’t like the sound of that. “What’s the meeting?”
    â€œJosh is coming here to show you around town!” Sheryl’s eyes brightened with excitement. “Just the two of you, alone. It would make all my fantasies come true. Well, not all of them, of course, but at least the ones I can talk about.”
    Time with Josh? “Why would Marsha set something like that up? I can find my way around town on my own.”
    â€œThis is with Josh! You’re so lucky. Marsha is doing you a really big favor.”
    Charity privately thought she didn’t need those kinds of favors, but she wouldn’t say that to Sheryl. Not only was the mayor her boss, but she had to assume Marsha was simply trying to be nice. It wasn’tas if Charity could confess her total lack of control whenever Josh was within twenty feet of her.
    Her reaction to him was bad enough, but being a cliché made everything even worse. Apparently every woman in town reacted the same way. The poor man, so overwhelmed by female interest. It was amazing he got anything done in a day. She frowned. Maybe he didn’t. For all she knew, he sat around and lived on his racing proceeds and naked-butt-picture royalties.
    None of which mattered, she reminded herself. She had a meeting to get through.
    â€œWhen am I supposed to meet him?” she asked Sheryl.
    â€œNow,” a low male voice said from beside her.
    The sudden explosion of her heart speed took her breath away. Her thighs trembled and she watched the world narrow to a single person illuminated by an almost otherworldly light.
    What was it about him that got her entire body in on the conspiracy to betray her? It had to be chemistry, or a deficiency on her part. Nutritional or possibly mental. Maybe if she went to the gym more. Or at all.
    â€œHello,” she said, going for calm and hoping she made it. “Nice to see you again. I understand we have a meeting scheduled.”
    â€œMarsha thought I should show you the town.”
    â€œIsn’t she the best?” Charity asked, trying not to clench her teeth. “And while I appreciate the thought,I’m pretty good at finding my own way around Fool’s Gold, so if you have something else you need to get to…”
    He didn’t take the hint.