Perfectly Broken Read Online Free PDF Page B

so.”
    “Because I could show up if she was there.”
    Bret rolled his eyes. “What the hell has gotten into you?”
    “I need to get her out of her shop — get her on a level playing field.”
    “That’s ridiculous. You do need help.”
    “Give me something! Anything!”
    Bret finished his beer. “Peyton lives in her grandmother’s old house, where she grew up. Her grandmother lives in a nursing home now.”
    “How’s that supposed to help me?”
    “Peyton’s not like the girls you hook up with. She’s not going to just jump into bed with you.”
    “I’ve figured that much out.” Reed signaled for a beer.
    Bret narrowed his eyes. “This isn’t just some challenge, huh?”
    “No.” Reed grabbed the back of his neck. “I guess I just like her.”
    Bret flashed a wry smile. “I’ve never seen you get serious about a girl. And Peyton is a girl to get serious over. She’s the type that wants a boyfriend, a husband, babies, the white picket fence. You up for that?”
    “I don’t know. At this point, I just want to take her to dinner.” Reed slumped back in his chair.
    Bret signaled for another beer and looked at Reed, hardly recognizing his friend. He gathered his thoughts then looked around the bar, ensuring there were no spies or undercover agents in Cooter Brown’s before divulging highly-classified government information. “Peyton runs in Audubon Park every morning.”
    Reed’s eyes lit up. “Thanks, dude.”
    “No matter what,” Bret warned, “you cannot let Peyton know I told you. Quinn will kick my ass.”
    “Understood.”
    “I don’t need more problems. She’s already pissed about my XBOX.”

CHAPTER SIX
    THE PAST TWO mornings, Reed dressed like he intended to run, stationing himself in different places amongst the runners, bikers, dog walkers, and yoga groups, hoping to “accidentally” bump into Peyton. But he never found her. He wondered whether she’d taken the mornings off, or whether he had come at the wrong time or maybe holed up in bad spots, or perhaps Bret was simply jerking him around, making him out to be some creepy stalker on the hunt for a young, single woman in Audubon Park in the early morning hours.
    He picked a new location on the third morning, by the fountain at the St. Charles Avenue entrance. It was a good spot, probably where he should’ve been the first two mornings, where the joggers made their turn along the path. But with each passing runner, he worried he once again might be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Coffee cup in hand, he braced himself against a graceful oak tree, the sun just beginning to peek through, creating a maze of shadows along the green grass around him.
    Then in the distance, he saw a woman in a t-shirt and baggy shorts, whizzing past other runners in tight shorts and tank tops. He couldn’t make out her face yet, but there was only one woman in the world who’d dress like that. He tossed his coffee cup in a trash can and prepared to make his move. As she drew closer, he saw she was wearing earbuds.
    “Peyton!” he called out. She ran right past him. Reed cursed under his breath then raced to catch up with her. “Peyton!” But she didn’t turn back. After some more cursing, Reed came up next to her.
    Peyton stopped mid-stride and pulled out her earbuds. “What are you doing here?” She started to run in place.
    “I run here sometimes,” he lied then cracked a smile giving himself away.
    “Right,” she mocked, as Reed watched her breasts jiggling slightly, her locket rising and falling. “How many miles is it all the way around the park?”
    “Um, three,” he guessed.
    Peyton stopped running in place and narrowed her eyes. “Are you following me around now?”
    “No!” Peyton looked him up and down, making him uncomfortable. His worry about being a creepy stalker rushing back, Reed said the first thing that popped into his head. “Bret told me I could find you here.” Peyton smiled. “But please don’t