Imperfectly Yours Volumes 1-4 (A New Adult Romance Series) : Imperfectly Yours, His Diversion, Of Fear And Fate, Hard To Love You by A. Gardner Read Free Book Online

only hint I’m getting.
    Bristlecone.
    What the hell does that mean?
    “You up?” Aunt Scarlett yells down the hallway.
    “Yep.”
    Today is day one of my internship at the Banley building, the largest building in town. It's also owned by the Haskell’s. I don’t know how I’m going to get through the day having to see Dane’s dad walking around. The town is starting to talk. People seem to know now that I was one of the last people to see Dane Haskell before he disappeared. I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle the stares.
    I grab the outfit I picked out last night, knowing I would hit snooze and wake up at the last second. My nightmare kept me prisoner in dreamworld. So much in fact that I slept through my first alarm. I sweep my hair to the side. Who cares if it’s done up all perfect or tangled in my face. No one will be talking to me anyway.
    I slip into gray slacks and a boring sweater, already starting to crave the night I went out with Zanna. The temporary numbness I felt was worth the hellish hangover the next day. I have a lot to blot out. I need to forget. I stare in the mirror and wipe away the smeared mascara under my eyes. Dark circles remain. I look tired. I force a fake smile. That’ll be good enough for my new boss.
    I hate summer. Someday I guess I’ll like it but today I hate it. Zanna’s going on vacation next week. The beach is full from dawn to dusk, and I’m stuck indoors working. On top of that this is Aunt Scar’s busy season. Tons of weddings and cocktail parties to cater to. She’s already working overtime as it is . . . and she thinks she’ll easily be able to handle a store front. If that ever happens I’ll be stuck here forever.
    A pain starts building behind my eyes. Stop thinking, Mikki. My thoughts are going crazy. I need some air. I need some coffee. I need a vacation. Scarlett lightly knocks on my bedroom door.
    “Hey,” she says softly. “You almost ready? Don’t want to be late for your first day.”
    “Yeah,” I sigh. “Give me a few minutes.”
    “If you ever want to talk . . . I’m here. You know that, right?” She plants a hopeful stare on my reflection. She doesn’t understand and I don’t expect her to. I can’t tell her about Dane. She’ll be heartbroken that I’ve kept it from her for so long, not to mention furious that I’d chosen to lose my virginity to a Haskell.
    “Things have been tough,” she goes on. “I know that.”
    That’s an understatement.
    “I just want to get out of here,” I mutter.
    “Well . . . look on the bright side. This internship might open a few doors. It’s great experience.”
    “And it’s at the Banley building,” I finish. Scarlett looks down, biting the side of her cheek. Word had spread quickly that I was the last person to see Dane Haskell before he went missing.
    “I see,” she responds. My shoulders sink as I glance at the time. “Keep your chin up.” Scarlett smiles. She walks over and places her hands firmly on my shoulders.
    I wish Mom was here.
    “I’m sure everyone’s forgotten everything by now,” she adds.

Two
     
    “It’s him. ”
     
    Aunt Scar is wrong. My day of stares and giggles is just beginning. I walked through the front door and endured blatant glares the moment I stepped into the lobby. An Administrative Assistant named Paul showed me around the building. Lots of glass doors. Lots of desks and record rooms. Ringing phones and quiet chatter filled the floor I’d be working on. Then I was tossed in the back room with all the filing cabinets. My first assignment after making the usual coffee run would be to file the stacks of folders that clutter my desk.
    I move a little in my chair and it squeaks. The noise is loud compared to the silence around me. I pick up my first folder, already glancing at the time. I have to be here until five. This internship is full time for most of the summer. Not very good pay but I get the company name on my resume.
    “Uh, Mikki?” Paul pops