Chasing Perfect Read Free

then braced herself for it.
    His large hand engulfed hers. Sparks even bigger than those that had killed her computer jumped between them. Her stomach flipped, her privates cheered and she half-expected to see fireworks shooting up by the ceiling.
    â€œMr. Golden,” she murmured, withdrawing quickly, then sinking into the seat behind her. She did her best not to think about the fact that, thanks to Sheryl’s screen saver, she had now seen his bare butt.
    â€œJosh, please.”
    And how many women screamed that on a regular basis? she wondered, turning her attention to the much safer mayor.
    â€œJosh is exaggerating my role in the meeting,” she said, pleased to find out she could speak in a complete sentence. “He knew about the other offer of land, which was the problem with getting the university to sign. Once that was dealt with, the other problems were easily solved.”
    â€œI see.” Marsha looked at Josh, who shrugged modestly.
    Given the fact that Josh was obviously a famousathlete and comfortable flashing his butt for the camera, she would have expected him to jump at the chance to make himself the star of the moment. Oddly enough, he didn’t.
    â€œWe have the letter of intent,” Charity continued. “I’ll have Sheryl set up a meeting to move forward. With the construction bids already in place, we can streamline the process and get the research facility built quickly.”
    â€œExcellent.” Marsha smiled at her. “Why don’t you go get settled? You’ve had a busy first hour. We’ll have lunch tomorrow so you can tell me how it’s going.”
    â€œThanks.” Charity rose. “Nice to meet you, Josh,” she said, backing away so there was no chance for him to offer to shake hands again.
    Once she was safely back in her office, her first order of business would be to give herself a stern talking-to. She had never once, in her whole life, reacted to a man this way. It was beyond embarrassing—it had the potential to interfere with her ability to do her job. She could accept that some flaw in her genetic makeup made her always pick exactly the wrong guy. She didn’t like it, and she wouldn’t allow herself to act like a freaked-out groupie or sex-starved crazy person when she was around Josh. Fool’s Gold was small. They were bound to run into each other. She had to get a grip on herself and her hormones.
    There had to be a reasonable explanation, she told herself firmly. She hadn’t been sleeping that well. Orshe could be missing a B vitamin or not eating enough broccoli. Whatever the cause, she would figure it out and fix it. She refused to live her life all quivery and weak. She was strong. She was self-actualized. She was not going to let a little thing like a gorgeous man with a butt like a Greek god mess up her day.
    Â 
    â€œW ELL ?” M ARSHA ASKED when Charity had left.
    A single word with a thousand meanings, Josh thought grimly. What was it about women and language? They could make a man squirm without putting much effort into the task. A skill he both admired and feared.
    â€œShe’s smart and fair,” he said.
    Marsha raised her eyebrows. “You don’t think she’s pretty?”
    He slumped back in the chair and closed his eyes. “Here we go. Why do you feel a compulsion to pair up everyone you meet? I’ve been married, Marsha. Remember? It didn’t go well.”
    â€œNot your fault. She was a bitch.”
    He opened one eye. “I thought you liked Angelique.”
    â€œI was concerned that if she stood in the sun, the heat would melt all the plastic she’d had put into her body.”
    He laughed. “Very much a possibility.” His ex-wife had been born beautiful, but hadn’t rested until she was extraordinary.
    â€œSo you like her,” Marsha asked.
    He had a feeling they weren’t talking about his ex anymore. “Why does my opinion