Chasing Perfect Read Online Free PDF

about everyone. There aren’t any secrets. But I grew up in a place like this. I wouldn’t want to be in the big city.” He leaned toward her. “We should grab lunch sometime. I could fill you in on small town eccentricities.”
    Robert was nice, she thought, looking into his dark eyes. Smart, with a good sense of humor. “I’d like that.”
    She paused, hoping for a slight whisper of anticipation, a quiver or a hint of physical reaction. Something. Anything.
    Nothing, she thought with a sigh, refusing to think about her amazing reaction to Josh Golden. It had been a blood sugar thing. Or too much coffee and not enough sleep. Robert was a better choice by far.
    She was about to excuse herself when her gaze fell on a plastic toy on Robert’s desk. It was a bobblehead and the oversized head looked oddly familiar.
    â€œIs that…”
    â€œJosh Golden,” Robert told her. “Have you met him?”
    â€œUm, yes.” The man had his own bobbleheads?
    â€œWhat did you think?” Robert’s voice was casual but she thought she saw a flash of something intense in his gaze.
    â€œI didn’t have time to think anything,” she said, telling herself it was nearly the truth. Not being able to breathe meant fewer functioning brain cells.
    â€œHe’s pretty famous. A cyclist. Tour de France, and all that.”
    â€œI’m not much of a sports fan,” she admitted. “Why is he here and not out racing?”
    â€œHe retired a while ago. All the women here go crazy for him. He has a reputation for being something of a ladies man. You’ll probably fall for him.”
    Charity stared at Robert. “Excuse me?”
    â€œIt’s inevitable. No woman is able to resist him.”
    Talk about a challenge, she thought, a little annoyed. “There must be at least one who’s said no.”
    â€œI haven’t heard of her. But Josh isn’t in it for anything but the thrill of the chase.”
    Some of her pleasure at the conversation faded. “Is that a warning?”
    â€œNo. I’d, ah…” He glanced at her. “I’d really like you to be different, Charity.”
    His gaze was warm, which was nice. She smiled.
    â€œI’ll do my best,” she said. “I’m not really the groupie type.”
    â€œGood.”
    She stood. “I need to get back to work. It was nice to meet you.”
    He rose as well. “The pleasure is all mine.”
    A nice man, she thought as she left. On the surface, everything she was looking for. Of course the handful of other men who had been in her life could have fit that description, as well. But they had all been disasters.
    She hadn’t come to Fool’s Gold to fall in love, she reminded herself. She’d come for a job and to put down roots. Although falling in love with the right guyand getting married would be really nice. Having a family had always been part of her dream.
    There was time, she thought as she made her way back to her office. Robert might not make her heart go into arrhythmia, but that could be for the best. She’d learned her lesson several times over. She was going to be completely sensible when it came to her personal life. Sensible and calm and rational. Anything else would just blow up in her face—she was sure of it.
    Â 
    T HE REST OF C HARITY’S work week passed quickly. She met more of the city council members—all women—and familiarized herself with ongoing development projects. Sheryl left at four-thirty nearly every day, but Charity worked later. On Thursday, she stayed until nearly seven, when her stomach growled loudly enough to break her concentration. She glanced out her window and was surprised to see that it was dark.
    After shutting down her shiny new computer, she collected her handbag, a briefcase filled with files she would review after she had dinner, and left.
    The building was quiet and a little spooky.