A Beautiful Thought (The Beautiful Series) Read Online Free PDF

slipped my phone into the side pocket before making my way out of my apartment, so I would not be late.

    Surprisingly, I ended up walking into the restaurant a whole ten minutes early. My eyes scanned the room, looking to see if Damon was already here.
    A tall blonde woman at the front counter made eye contact with me as I approached her.
    “Hello there. Welcome to The Fresh Ketch.” She smiled. “How many are in your party this evening?” she asked in a perky tone.
    “Two.” I reciprocated her friendly smile as I searched the crowd for a second time. Then, I quickly gazed back at her. “I’m meeting a gentleman here by the name of Damon Johnson. Is he here yet by chance?”
    She glanced down at the computer screen in front of her before looking back at me. “Not yet, but I do see your reservation. Would you like to be seated now?” She pointed behind her. “Or maybe you’d like to take a seat at the bar while you wait?”
    “Um…” I stalled. I could really use a drink at the moment, but I realized mixing alcohol with an important conversation was probably not the best idea. All in all though, it was about the only way I would make it through the next hour, so the bar was the way to go. I blinked at her and said, “The bar sounds fantastic.”
    “Of course.” She nodded. “Go ahead and take a seat over there, and I’ll send him your way as soon as he arrives.”
    “Thank you,” I responded before heading toward the bar.
    I noticed an empty cocktail table on the left in the back of the room. It was the perfect hideout spot. I ambled over to the wooden chair and settled into my seat. My nerves were now out of control with anticipation of seeing Damon for the first time since meeting him at Pearl’s party.
    A waitress appeared at my side. “What can I get you to drink, hon?”
    I rotated to face her, and I chose the first drink that came to the front of my mind. “A screwdriver, please.”
    “Going right for the good stuff.” She grinned. “Give me just a few, and I’ll be back.”
    “Sure. Thank you.”
    Within minutes, the waitress promptly returned with my drink. I sipped on it while watching the baseball game on a flat screen hanging from the ceiling. Oh-so slowly, the tension in my body dulled. At least, that was the case until the second my eyes caught sight of Damon striding through the front double doors. He was wearing a white collared dress shirt with the sleeves cuffed at his forearms. His dark denim jeans had a light-colored stitching.
    My pulse pumped uncontrollably as he approached the same woman at the front counter, and he offered her a friendly smile. The young blonde briefly spoke to him before pointing my way.
    Damon spun around, searching the crowd. When his eyes met mine, he revealed a heart-melting smile that defined the curve of his strong cheekbones. I was pretty sure my heart faltered for a few beats before kicking into an uneven rhythm. I forced myself to swallow deeply as he began to close the distance between us. His stride was composed, radiating strength and confidence. His brown hair was shorter than I remembered, and his tanned honey skin contrasted his soft blue eyes, making them appear calm and alluring. It was a strikingly hot mix.
    I stood to greet him. My knees felt weak, but I ignored the sensation as I smiled shyly. “Hello, Damon.” I kept it short and sweet, so I would not lose control of my voice.
    “Nice to see you again, Gail,” he replied, not missing a beat.
    The deep throatiness of his tone sent awareness trickling down my spine. I resisted a shiver at the sound.
    I gestured to the chairs adjacent to us. “Shall we?”
    “Of course.”
    After taking our seats, my adrenaline kicked into overdrive. I didn’t have the slightest clue how to get this conversation rolling, so I began with something simple. “Would you care for something to eat or drink?”
    “Sure.” He glanced down at my drink and then back up at me. A mischievous grin revealed