Dreams of Perfection (Dreams Come True) by Rebecca Heflin Read Free Book Online Page B

Josh, and she did, he wouldn’t let this go. But the opera had been both breathtaking and heartbreaking, leaving her tearful at the end. Although her father’s firm held a box at the Met, she’d never been to an opera.
    On Blake’s arm, she’d met some of the city’s most influential people. Her ego got a boost when a few of the women recognized her name. Apparently even the rich and famous liked to live vicariously through steamy romance novels.
    Following the performance, Blake had taken her to an intimate little restaurant for a sumptuous dinner accompanied by a crisp white wine and erudite conversation. Now, tucked under his arm in the back of the limo, she could hardly believe her fantasy had come to life. 
    The car pulled up in front of her Park Slope brownstone. Before the chauffeur could do his duty, Blake opened the door and helped her out.
    As they climbed the steps up to her front door, hand in hand, she wondered if he would kiss her good night. The thought sent her pulse into overdrive.
    He turned her to face him. “I had a lovely time, Ms. Darcy Butler.” He smiled, crinkling the corners of those mesmerizing eyes. Cradling her face with his broad surgeon’s hands, he leaned in ever-so-slightly. “You’re not going to faint again, are you?”
    She just shook her head no. Standing on the step above him, her face was almost even with his. This was it, she thought, as she glanced at his lips. The Perfect Kiss. A kiss that would be the ideal combination of heat and tenderness, seduction and devotion, need and fulfillment. She sighed in anticipation.
    His lips tenderly brushed hers, testing, tasting, before diving into the kiss. His mouth was warm and inviting. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she melted against him, enjoying the feel of the athletic body she knew lay beneath that well-tailored tuxedo. God, it had been so long since she’d been kissed.
    Then disappointment began to creep in. The kiss held warmth, but no tenderness; it hinted at seduction, but not devotion; and while there was clearly need, it left her unfulfilled.
    Huh. Maybe they just needed practice. Something to look forward to.
    He lifted his head and, gazing into her eyes, stroked her cheekbone with the back of his hand. “I would love to see you again. I have to fly to South America tomorrow to operate on a boy injured in a mine collapse, but I’ll be back next week. Can I call you?”
    “I’d like that.” Despite the less-than-Perfect Kiss, she still felt lightheaded.
    He took her key and opened the door for her before walking away.
    “Blake?”
    “Yes?”
    “I had a wonderful time. Thank you.”
    A soft smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “See you next week.”

Chapter 9
    The following Monday, Josh stared out the window of his cluttered office, absentmindedly tapping a pencil on his leg and ignoring the stack of cases on his desk. Who was this Blake Garrett? Obviously he wasn’t the actual character from Darcy’s book. Fictional characters didn’t just come to life. Except maybe in the movies.
    He wasn’t above doing a little detective work. The law firm contracted with a service that could find the proverbial needle in the haystack. If there was any dirt to be found on this guy, they’d find it.
    Feeling better now that he had a plan of action, he returned to the brief he’d been drafting. A few sentences in, someone knocked on his door. “It’s open.”
    Mark Woodring, a fifth-year associate, stuck his head in. “Hey, man, you up for some hoops tonight?”
    About to go with his first inclination to decline, Josh thought better of it. The physical activity and the male companionship might help relieve the stress and unwind the knots that had formed in his neck and shoulders since meeting Blake. “Sure. What time?”
    “Seven.”
    “Great. See you then.” The pick-up game gave him the incentive he needed to finish the brief before he left for the day. Then he’d be free to have a beer or two after the