His Kind of Perfect (Sugar Bay #1)

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

Book: His Kind of Perfect (Sugar Bay #1) Read Free
Author: Kinsley Gibb
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maintained.
    “How’s the tour?”
    “Fine.”
    “How are Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Lou?”
    “Oh you know...Lorraine hasn’t met a
stranger and has the energy of a golden retriever. And Lou, the poor sod,
follows her lead.”
    Anabelle winced. She knew from experience,
getting her introverted mother to be social was hard work. Poor
Aunt Lorraine.
    Fingers crossed, she asked, “So you’re
having fun?”
    “I wouldn’t exactly say…fun.”
    Of course not. Her
mother was allergic to relaxation and fun. She was a cross between the Grinch
and Cruella de Ville. It was no wonder she suffered from a mild heart attack
earlier this year.
    “But you’re resting though, correct?”
    The annoyed sigh was clear despite the
distance. “Yes, Anabelle, the old lady is resting, just as the doctor ordered.”
    “Mother, this is for your own good. Most
people would love a tour of Europe.”
    “Hmmph.” Her mother’s code for ‘I’m not
ready to admit you’re right and I am wrong because I’m never wrong’.
    "Well I'm glad you're enjoying your
birthday present.”
    "You mean the kidnapping? What’s not
to enjoy? Being dragged from ruin to ruin.”
    “Look on the bright side, you no longer
have to worry about Gladys Perkins.”
    “Don’t get me started Anabelle. If I get
back and she’s turned the Winter Ball into Moulin Rouge, it will be your
fault.”
    Guilt was her mother’s weapon of choice.
She sighed. “I’m sure the other ladies in the league can handle things without
you for a little while longer.”
    “Yes, but Moulin Rouge?”
    The Ladies League was the power circuit for
ladies of leisure and Claire was a veteran powerhouse. In the last few months,
new blood had joined the ranks. According to her mother, Gladys Perkins was
loose in all ways and would be the destruction of The Ladies League.
    Jeez. The drama.
    From her mother’s ongoing rant, Anabelle had
expected an older harlot, along the lines of Madonna circa Like a Prayer,
gyrating along the pews and grinding against Jesus. The reality had been
anticlimactic. There hadn’t been a peekaboo dress in sight. No ropes of gothic crosses either. Gladys wore Versace and
Michael Kors. She was partial to the cheetah print, but a little cheetah never
hurt anybody. Anabelle thought Gladys was a nice older lady with a zest for
life.
    “Would that be so bad?”
    “Can you picture me dressed like a can-can
girl?”
    “You could always dress like a courtesan.”
    A long silence followed. Had she gone too
far?
    “Did you get your cousin's invitation?”
    Stabbed, right through the heart. Yep,
she’d gone too far, her mother’s response was lethal.
    “Yes. It’s a little rushed though.”
    “According to Marybeth, Josie wanted to get
it done before she began to show.”
    “Got it.”
    “Josie did a delightful job with her invitations.
Stunning, isn't it. The dear girl always had exquisite taste.”
    Anabelle didn't bother adding to her
mother's monologue on all that was wonderful about Josie. If she didn't love
the girl so much, she'd really have to hate her. The girl had a charmed life
whereas Anabelle’s life…a disaster.
    “And her fiancé, the doctor!”
    Anabelle sighed while her mother rambled. She
opened a drawer, dug to the bottom and found an unopened bag of Dove chocolates.
    Her secret stash.
    Three months, she’d made it. She’d left the
bag unopened and controlled her chocolate addiction.
    Until today.
    Sanity weighed against falling off the wagon.
    She ripped open the bag and the sweet scent
of chocolate hit her.
    Heaven.
    She’d been so good for so long and now, Charlie
was going to win their bet but she didn’t pause. Instead, she unwrapped an almond
and chocolate bite of yumminess and popped it in her mouth. She closed her eyes
while the chocolate melted in her mouth, savoring the experience.
    “His family owns the Organic Farm. True
stewards of the land.”
    Another bite wouldn’t hurt. She was still
under a hundred calories.

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