Pretty Face Read Online Free PDF Page B

agony. But she was so freakin’ aware of how perfect he was compared to her own imperfections that the idea seemed too farfetched to consider. It was like watching a bird fly. You could admire it from a distance, but you knew there was no way you were going to sprout wings and take flight yourself.
    “Here, while I work up a plan, I’d like you to review some of my work.” Hunter handed her a folder he’d been carrying. “In there you’ll find some photographs and recommendations.”
    “Thank you.” She took it, opened it up, and marveled at what was inside. The papers smelled like him, a woodsy fresh scent. She wanted to pick them up and inhale. No video or photo had prepared her for him—right here—in the flesh. Carefully, she touched each page, enjoying the images of things he’d created and homes he’d brought to life. “They’re beautiful. You do marvelous work.”
    “Good, I’m glad you think so.”
    Cody sat at the far end of the table, stealing glances at him when she could. She reverted to an old habit, one elbow on the table with her palm covering the side of her face. It was a pitiful endeavor to look halfway normal while obscuring the ugliness she lived with every day.
    After a little while, he finished, tearing off the slip of paper which explained his proposal, handing it to her. “I can go put an order in for these materials, if you agree on my labor.”
    He held the paper out to her, and she took it, studying the numbers. They were blurry. Blinking her eyes, she focused, trying to make sense of it. Even though the work on her house wasn’t nearly as important as what was going on between her and Hunter, she settled her thoughts enough to realize what he offered was very reasonable.
    For a few minutes, she stalled. What should she do? Having Hunter around would be sweet torture. On the other hand, she’d have the opportunity to spend some stolen time with him. He wouldn’t know who she was, but at least she could be good to him while he was here. Cody owed Hunter so much. Maybe they could be friends. Telling him the truth at this point was out of the question, but hell, she didn’t know what she was thinking…this whole situation was a farce—a fiasco.
    “Well, what do you think? Do I have the job?”
    She looked up into his dear face. How could she tell him no? “Yes, I agree. You have the job.”
    Hunter smiled, and the woman smiled back at him. She had a beautiful smile. And she looked strangely familiar. Where had he seen her before? While he studied her, she kept one small hand over the very obvious scar on her face as if she were trying to keep him from noticing it. What she succeeded in doing was to draw attention to it, probably not what she intended. He wanted to wince. It looked like it had once been painful as hell. He didn’t ask about it, although he considered it. Ms. Napier seemed extremely self-conscious about it all. “Thank you, I look forward to working for you.” He held out his hand. “Like I said before, I’m Hunter Reed.”
    She looked at his hand. God, she was going to touch Hunter. Her first time to touch him and he wouldn’t even know it was her. “Cody. I’m Cody Napier.” She shook his hand and a wave of absolute love swamped her soul. “It’s so good to meet you.”
    “Okay!” Hunter stood up, apparently through. “Let me go get the materials we need and I’ll be back to work for you first thing in the morning.”
    “All right.” She followed him out of her kitchen. As he walked ahead of her, she studied him, memorizing his height, his breadth, the way he smiled, the rhythm of his walk. He was her Hunter. The man she loved.
    “By the way.” He stopped. “Let me ask you something. Would you happen to know a woman by the name of Sage Donovan?”
    Cold dread rose in her bones. Imperceptibly, she began to shake. “Sage Donovan?” She repeated. “No, I don’t believe so. I do tend to keep to myself, however. There are people moving in all