Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

Instead he smiled. “You’re my only priority.”
    He was teasing, she told herself. He had to be. Yet there was something about the way he spoke the words that made her want to moan…or purr.
    â€œOh, my,” Sheryl breathed.
    Charity looked at her. Sheryl grinned unapologetically before returning to her desk.
    Charity tugged on the hem of her conservative tweed jacket. “Fine. Good. Then we’ll take our tour.” She hesitated. “We’re not riding bikes, are we?”
    His perfect mouth curved into a knowing smile. “You’ve been talking about me.”
    Charity didn’t like the sound of that. It implied an interest she absolutely refused to acknowledge. “You’re difficult to avoid, what with the posters, screen savers and bobbleheads.”
    â€œWhich is your favorite?”
    She immediately thought of the picture on Sheryl’s screen saver—the one showing Josh in the shower. Naked. His back to the camera.
    â€œI haven’t given it any thought,” she lied. “Can I get back to you?”
    â€œI can’t wait to hear the answer.”
    â€œI’ll bet. Does your ego ever get too big to carry around?”
    The grin widened. “Sure. That’s why I have fans. To help with the heavy lifting.”
    Impossible man, she thought, trying not to laugh. She pointed to the door. “Let’s get this over with.”
    â€œDon’t pretend this isn’t the highlight of you day.”
    â€œAre you always so sure of yourself?”
    He held open the door. “It’s part of my charm.”
    She was sure it was—which meant she was in serious trouble.

CHAPTER FOUR
    J OSH LED THE WAY TO a shiny black SUV. A really big one that required a step to make it into the passenger seat. Charity was grateful that her simple navy dress hung past her knees and wasn’t very fitted. The style allowed her to make the climb without flashing any of the good citizens who might be watching.
    Josh climbed in next to her, moving with the easy grace of an athlete. He rested his arm on the console between them and leaned close. Too close. With her first breath, she caught the scent of his body—a warm and masculine smell designed to melt the last barrier between her good sense and a free-for-all begging for attention.
    He was exactly like the men who had drifted in and out of her mother’s life, she thought, determined not to be sucked into the same pain and heartbreak she’d seen countless times. Showy men were nice to look at, but horrible bets when it came to relationships. How many times had her mother had her heart broken? Ten? Twenty? It seemed as if every few months she found someone new. Someone perfect and shallow who promised everything, then left her shattered.
    Charity wanted happily-ever-after. And normal. Something Josh could never be.
    â€œWhat would you like to see?” he asked, his voice low and slightly suggestive.
    She forced herself to stare out the front of the SUV and told herself she was desperately bored. There were a thousand things that needed her attention back in her office. Phone calls to be made, plans to be started, lists to be reviewed. Nothing about her time with Josh was the least bit interesting.
    Charity sighed. At least when she lied to herself, there was no one to call her on it. “You’re the local,” she said. “I’ll let you pick the route.”
    â€œFair enough, but you’re going to need to put on your seatbelt.”
    She reached for the strap. “Because it’s the law, right? We’re not going up a mountain or anything.”
    He chuckled. “Not on a first date. I like to save the intense stuff for later. To make sure you can handle it.”
    She wanted to point out this wasn’t a date, but that would require speaking and his verbal play had left her throat a little dry.
    The man was charm personified, she thought, wondering if it was a