His Kind of Perfect (Sugar Bay #1) Read Free

original character.”
    “Creative but first you’ll have to Lysol
them to death.” She wrinkled her nose and he laughed, his eyes crinkling at the
corners. It was unfair laugh lines on guys added to their attraction yet each
morning she was a wrinkle Nazi slathering anti aging cream on every possible
hint of a line.
    “Possibly,” he admitted, still grinning.
    She looked away to avoid the yummy sight lest
she be lulled into submission. A graffiti heart etched on the rail caught her
attention and she fingered the penciled groove left behind by Troy F. or Susan
G. who’d loved each other forever. She wondered how long forever had been to
the hormonal vandals.
    Three months?
    Maybe.
    To hormonal preteens, three months would
have been an eternity.
    “I think they’d be perfect for your
office.”
    That captured her attention.
    “They could hold samples, projects,
materials…anything you want.”
    The sexy grin was back and she caught her
breath. She wanted to smile back but she didn’t.
    That path
led to heartache.
    Be
professional .
    “That would be incredible Derek, and very sweet
of you, but I haven’t the funds for renovation right now.” It would have been
perfect. She could imagine it in her studio, functional yet a charming, a
conversation piece and a great way for clients to witness the charm of
repurposing.
    His smile turned sheepish. “I’m sorry, I’m
messing this up. They are yours. I’m giving them to you.” He tilted her chin and
forced her to meet his eyes. The earnest expression held another unnamed
emotion, and refused to let her go. “You’ve been great for business and I want
to show my appreciation.”
    She blinked, breaking the intimate moment eye
and pulled away.
    “I couldn’t. It’s too much. You should sell
it.” She exhaled a breath. “I can’t let you lose the profit.”
    “Anabelle, Anabelle.” His voice was soft
and he caught her gaze, the combination was seductive. “Let me give it to you.
You know you want it.”
    She did, dammit. Her resolve weakened.
“I…don’t…know…”
    His smile was triumphant. He knew he had
her. “A ‘thank you’ would be a good start and whatever else you want to throw in.
I certainly wouldn’t turn down a kiss.” He winked and Anabelle started.
    “Thanks Derek,” she said with a weak smile,
stepping back before she did something stupid like kiss him as requested.
    Dating never looked so good.
    Mooning over a guy young enough to be
her…younger brother was dangerous. Her mother would be disappointed and tell
her it was unprofessional as well as inappropriate so Anabelle did what any
professional businesswoman would do given the same situation.
    She beat a hasty retreat.

Chapter 2

 
    Hunched over her keyboard, Anabelle
concentrated on writing tedious specifications when the dire notes from Jaws sounded.
    Ba…bump
    She froze.
    Fear along the lines of the fated Nantucket
swimmers filled her. Her older cousin, Brody, had thought it fun to show her the
hair-raising classic one night when he babysat. Her eight-year-old imagination
soaked in the delicious horror but for months she’d avoided large bodies of
water especially if she couldn’t see the bottom. This had earned Brody a hall
of fame spot on her mother’s bad boy list. Years later, he has yet to earn any
forgiveness. Her mother’s memory was legendary.
    Claire Broussard wouldn't appreciate the
ring tone Anabelle programmed for her, but when Charlie had first heard it,
she’d whooped with delight.
    Ba...bump.
    She pushed the speaker button. "Hello
Mother."
    "Anabelle." A southern drawl
filled the studio. Regardless of the fact her mother had lived most of her
adult life in Sugar Bay, she refused to let go of her Louisiana drawl.
    “How are you dear?”
    “Fine.”
    “Business?”
    “Doing well mother.”
    She knew where this was headed. The pearly
pink envelope taunted her from its hidden spot. There was order to Claire’s
life and civilities had to be