Perfect Ten by Nikki Worrell Read Free Book Online Page A

could tell she thought I might be a gold digger.
    “For the record, I’ve got more money than I need. I don’t want her money. Look, like I said, I like her. I just want to have a nice date. Could you at least tell me what kind of flowers she likes?”
    Grace still sounded a little skeptical, but she said, “Sunflowers. She loves sunflowers and daisies.”
    “Thank you. That’ll do for a start.” I hung up before she could ask any more questions about me. Hopefully, she wouldn’t call Stan to complain about me bothering her. He wouldn’t like to know that I called to get information on Faith. But he wouldn’t fire me either, so whatever.

Chapter 7
    I pawned off my Friday-night date with a newbie who couldn’t say no to me. I wasn’t specifically requested, so I could get away with it. I had more important things to do. Technically, it could be considered research for Saturday’s date. I was planning to stalk Faith.
    So now, I’m wondering. Since I had her address, how weird would it be to try to run into her? I mean, it could happen, couldn’t it? She lives in Santa Monica, right on the beach. It’s a great area, and I know it well. There’s a big, public walkway running the entire length of the beach. I could casually stroll past her house a time or two. Maybe she’d be sitting on her deck or taking a walk herself. Fuck it. I’m going for it.
    It took me almost an hour to groom myself. A fucking hour. I showered and shaved, made sure I didn’t have any stray eyebrow hairs around, cut my nails. I felt like a damn girl. You believe that shit? But—I looked good. And I wanted to look good.
    I’ve been told more times than I can count that I have a great ass. So, on went my tight, dark jeans. No sagging pants for me, thank you very much. I put on a black button-down shirt, straight from the cleaner’s, and even broke out my cowboy boots. Jeans and cowboy boots may not be typical beach attire, but I knew it was a good look for me, so I went with it. I wasn’t planning to walk in the sand anyway. I did wonder if the silver belt buckle I put on was too much, but my mirror told me it wasn’t.
    So now, I was strolling by her house, no flowers, though—I nixed that idea for now. It was a nice house. Small, but in one hell of a location. If I had to guess, I’d say her house cost well over two million. It was cute too—just like Faith. The dark blue awnings stood out against the stark white of the siding. Typical beach colors, but it was the double-tiered deck that made it.
    A large table for six with blue-cushioned swivel chairs filled the bottom deck, along with some vibrant flowers in large pots scattered here and there. There was a circular staircase leading up to the top deck where I could see a couple of rocking chairs and comfortable-looking chaise lounges. I’d love to be up there sitting in one right now, instead of down here hoping for any fleeting glimpse of Faith. As lovely as the house looked, it was missing one thing. Her. Strike one. So I’d take a slow stroll along the walk and maybe catch her on the way back.
    I traveled about a half mile before I couldn’t take it anymore and turned around to walk back past her house again. The excitement I felt over the possibility of getting a peek of her was kind of ridiculous, but it was there nonetheless. My strides were longer and quicker on the way back, but alas, no Faith. I hoped she wasn’t out for the evening.
    I allowed myself one more walk by before giving up and going home. And guess what? My perseverance was rewarded.
    I spied Faith while I was still a good distance away. She wasn’t alone, though. A dark-haired, nymph-like creature was sitting next to her up on the second deck. From their body language, it looked like the brunette was scolding Faith. I willed her to tell the girl to fuck off, but she just sat there nodding her head, smiling.
    The smile made me think that maybe Faith wasn’t quite as intimidated as I’d first thought.