A Reason to Stay Read Online Free PDF Page B

Her own building near downtown Houston was surrounded by cement parking lot and sadly lacked any foliage.
    Faith wasn’t sure what a fishing enthusiast’s place would look like, but when he opened the door, there were no muddy fishingboots near the entrance, no lures or empty frozen dinner trays stacked on the counter as she expected.
    The modest living area was neat and orderly, everything in its place, like something out of a magazine. Modern even, with walls painted the lightest shade of gray, the sofa slipcovered in a textured chevron print in a darker shade. The lamp shades were definitely Pottery Barn.
    Frankly, his decorating taste surpassed her own, even if she picked up all the clothes off the floor of her tiny apartment.
    â€œCan I get you something to drink?” their host asked.
    Chuck dropped his camera bag on the floor. “Sure. A beer, if you’ve got it.”
    â€œSorry. I have sweet tea or lemonade.”
    Chuck shrugged. “Lemonade, I guess.”
    Faith shook her head. “I just need a shower, thanks.” She needed to hurry and get cleaned up and out of here. Even now, she should be shooting crowd reaction to the tournament.
    Noticing several other networks setting up in the parking lot as they’d started across the lake annoyed her to no end. She’d been benched by her own stupidity. The only thing she could do now was hurry and get back to the action.
    Geary smiled. “Shower is in this direction.” He led her down a hallway lined with doorways and framed photos. He stopped at his linen closet and pulled out a few extra towels.
    â€œAre these your bass?” she asked, pointing to a couple of shots with him holding sizeable fish in front of him.
    â€œYeah,” he said, grinning. “Those were all caught here at the lake. Snagged that fifteen-pounder about twenty yards off the dock out back.”
    Another showed him on a stage accepting a large trophy. “So, you fish these tournaments too?”
    â€œYup,” he said as he handed off the towels.
    â€œBut not this one?”
    He shook his head. “Not this one. I didn’t have enough points this year to qualify.” He led her to a bathroom located at the end of the hall. “This is the guest bath. There’s shampoo over there.” He pulled out a drawer next to the sink. “And here’s a hair dryer.”
    She extended her appreciation, glad he wasn’t expecting her to use his personal shower and hair dryer. Something about that seemed just too—well, too intimate.
    â€œOkay, well, I’ll just leave you to your business.” He smiled and backed out the doorway, shutting the door behind him.
    She turned and glanced at herself in the mirror. What a wreck! Thank goodness he’d offered her his place to clean up. Otherwise, she wasn’t sure what she would’ve done.
    She hung her change of clothes on the door hook.
    If pressed, she’d have to admit he wasn’t hard to look at. Under different circumstances she might even find him attractive, although she’d never really gone for outdoor types.
    Faith dumped the damp blouse on the floor and unzipped her skirt.
    She’d not gone for anyone, really. There had been a couple of guys in college she was mildly interested in, but she’d needed to focus and not get bogged down with romantic complications.
    It was cliché perhaps to blame her parents for her attitude toward men, but watching their relationship had definitely colored her own view about such things and influenced nearly every decision she made, particularly the ones about love, marriage, and the way she had chosen to live her life.
    Her earliest memories included waking to shouting and her mother’s accusations about her father sneaking home in the predawn hours, followed by slamming doors and the sound of glass breaking.
    If she ever married, she’d choose a stable, trustworthy man who would be dedicated to her