His Kind of Perfect (Sugar Bay #1) by Kinsley Gibb Read Free Book Online

five
mile run and a beer, he was finally able to unclench his jaw. When he thought of
the storage room scene, he wanted to bend something. That Anabelle would rather
date a stranger instead of him was unbelievable.
    “What’s with the grumpy face?” Dani met him
on the walkway in front of their sister’s farmhouse.
    “Did you know Anabelle was on Cupid’s
Match?” He wanted to kick the dirt but he knew his sister would use the
childish action against him.
    “No. Why should I? Anabelle is your
obsession, not mine.”
    He shook his head at her imitation of a
goggle eyed, drooling maniac. There was no denying it so he didn’t try.
    “What happened?” she asked after she’d had
her fun.
    “I found out she’s going on a date tonight
with a match.”
    “That’s kind of scary.”
    “Exactly. Why would she go out with a
stranger, instead of me?”
    “Did you ask?” Dani’s eyes were big behind
the brainiac glasses she wore when she had problems with her contacts.
    “Yes.”
    “I take it from the grumpy face, you were
shot down?”
    He glared at his kid sister rather than
answer her.
    “Impressive. Go Anabelle.”
    “Shut up.” Two sisters he had. It was a
good thing his best friend, Joe, was always around although that braying ass
liked to give him a hard time too.
    “Women throw themselves at you and you
can’t be bothered, but Anabelle treats you like you have leprosy and you can’t
get enough.”
    “It’s not that bad.”
    “Oh really? She barely makes eye contact
when I’m in meetings with the two of you.”
    He shrugged, that was the reason he’d
started sending Dani on errands when he knew Anabelle was scheduled to come in.
    “You should check on her though. Make sure
she’s safe.”
    “I promised Dylan I would take the kids
shopping tonight for Halloween costumes, since you have a tutoring session tonight.”
    “Right.” She nodded and adjusted her
backpack. “After that then.”
    “Maybe.”
    “You’re never going to rest until you do.”
    He shrugged. “Drive safely,” he said,
ruffling her shiny brown hair.
    “I will. Bye brother. Have fun with the
monsters.”
    He laughed and walked up the steps to
Monster Headquarters, aka his sister’s home.
     
 
    Frilly tutus and colorful tights filled Derek’s
vision.
    “Uncle Derek, can you reach that tiara for
me, please?”
    His youngest niece, Esme, indicated the
light blue sparkly crown on the top row of dazzling crowns.
    “Here you go, little monster.”
    “Thank you!” She squealed and danced her
happy dance, hugging the crown like she was never letting it go. Her eyes
sparkled and he was glad he’d volunteered for shopping duty. His nieces always
made him smile.
    “You sure you don’t want to be batman,
sweetie?”
    She gave him a look of pure exasperation he
figured she’d copied from her older sister who was on the cusp of crossing into
the dangerous land of hormones and boys. On Janie, the look dripped
condescension of the highest order and was a little bit scary, but on
preschooler, Esme, it was adorable.
    “Ok, little monster.” He said and tugged on
her brown pigtails.
    “Uncle Derek, what do you think about this?”
    Speak of the devil. He took in the sexy
pirate outfit complete with a ruffled off the shoulder top, short skirt and fishnet
stockings his oldest niece held in front of her.
    “That’s a big fat…NO.” His sister would
tear him apart if he bought that.
    “No?” An eyebrow arched high over
incredulous eyes. A storm brewed, he could sense it.
    “No,” he replied, crossing his arms over
his chest. There was no way he would capitulate in the face of his niece’s
brand of warfare. She did preteen pout like nobody’s business but his sister’s
would torture him for the rest of his life if he brought that costume home. He’d
be sixty and still be harassed by his sisters for the one time he was sent out for Halloween costumes and bought a
glorified hooker outfit instead.
    He shuddered. No