The Perfect Blend Read Online Free PDF Page A

sleeve, a pair of black shorts, mud-soaked socks and even muddier shoes.
    The biggest shock of all, however, is how he looks. Most guys look rugged when dirty, hitting truly handsome when you clean them up. William Grey, on the other hand, goes from dashing to downright dangerous when you get him out of that suit coat.
    I remind myself just how inappropriate that thought is, that I know nothing of the personality, spirituality or even the rationality of William Grey III. I take a deep breath and walk calmly toward him. Which isn’t as easy as it looks, especially with my heels sinking into the turf with each step.
    â€œMr. Grey?”
    He looks up from a water jug, his eyes wide when he recognizes me. “Miss Black?”
    â€œMs. Haversham sent me over. I didn’t find you at the bank when I came to deliver the paper.” That’s not a lie. I don’t lie, but I do admit it took me thewhole drive over to come up with a non-condemning truthful statement.
    I watch him try and reconcile facts. Evidently Bea is as good as her word, for he walks toward me with his hand out. “You’re determined, I’ll grant you that. But you’ll find I am rather serious about my deadlines.” Some of his teammates start buzzing around behind him, shouting, tossing the ball back and forth, gearing up for the next half.
    I don’t have much time. “I came to the bank and she…”
    The world goes completely, instantly black.

Chapter Five
    One way to get an A…
    P ain.
    The most pain I have felt, ever. An enormous boulder has just slammed into my face, breaking it into a million screaming pieces. Explosions go off behind my eyes and the ground comes up behind me until I am curled sideways on the wet grass, clutching at my face, howling.
    â€œSumners, you great lumbering oaf!” It’s a voice I dimly recognize, seeming to come from miles away. My hands are wet, my face is wet, I can barely pull in enough breath to fuel my gasps of pain. There is a hand on my shoulder, trying to pull me upright but I remain curled in agony. I want to swat the large hand away, but I refuse to move either hand from my exploding face. “Miss Black? Miss Black, can you hear me?”
    Some part of me recognizes the voice. “Owwww.”
    â€œI’ll assume that is a yes.” From out of the darkness something rough and moist comes up against my hands. “This is a towel and ice. Come now, you’ll need it.”
    Through the pain’s fog, my female side registers that I must look pretty awful based on the number of bodies I sense standing around me. I have enough brothers to know nothing draws attention like a gruesome injury. With a sticky sadness I realize the wetness on my hands and face is blood. I’ve broken my nose. Or my eyes. Or both. Can you break your eyes? My current pain level says oh, yes, definitely.
    The voice comes into the fog again. “You could be seriously hurt. Let me have a look at you.”
    â€œNo.” I reply, half whining, half crying. I attempt to upright myself, with poor results. The world keeps spinning under me.
    â€œNo time to be brave, Miss Black. You’ve had quite a knock. You’re most definitely hurt.”
    I pry one eye open to peek at Mr. Grey from between my bloodied fingers. With my tiny slice of vision I snatch the towel from his hand, careful to keep the other hand over my throbbing face. I feel as though I’ve just had all my teeth polished by a jackhammer.
    â€œYes,” Grey says as he gestures his burly teammates to back away, “I do believe that’s our Miss Black in there somewhere.” He comes closer and softens his voice. “All right then, up with you. If you don’t sit up we’ll never get that bleeding to stop.”
    â€œI…”
    A set of arms scoops me up without any further ado and I find myself unable to stop them. I’m too dizzy, for starters, and I’m using both