Chasing Perfect Read Online Free Page A

your lunch,” she called over her shoulder as she sailed toward the door.
    â€œShe’s nice,” Charity said. And close to her age. Maybe Pia was a potential friend.
    â€œJust so you know, Pia’s a lot more talk than action, at least when it comes to being bad.” Marsha shook her head. “Oh, Charity, you’re being thrown in the deep end. I hope that’s all right.”
    â€œI was looking for a challenge,” Charity told her. Not to mention a job that was far away from her old one. She’d wanted a fresh start and the job in Fool’s Gold had offered exactly that.
    â€œGood. I don’t want to scare you away on your first day. Maybe on your second.”
    Charity laughed. “I don’t scare so easy. In fact, this weekend I’m going to drive around and get to know the different neighborhoods in town.”
    â€œThinking of buying a house?”
    â€œNot right away, but in a couple of months. I want to settle down.” Having a permanent address and ties to a community had always been her fantasy.
    â€œThere are some lovely homes. Although with all the men who will be moving to town, you might want to wait a bit. You did mention you were single. Maybe you’ll meet Mr. Right.”
    â€œUh-huh,” Charity said and sipped her coffee. Mayor Marsha was very nice, but not the most subtle person.
    As for Mr. Right—Charity wasn’t looking for perfect. She just wanted a nice guy who loved her as much as she loved him. Oh, and a man who was single, honest and faithful. Characteristics depressingly hard to find on the dating scene—at least in her experience.
    â€œIf anyone around town catches your eye,” Marsha said as their food was delivered. “Just ask me. I know everyone.”
    Once again Charity’s brain flashed to Josh. Fifteen kinds of physically amazing and a thousand kinds of trouble, she thought grimly. She might not be able to ignore the weird way her body reacted when he was in the room, but she could do her best to ignore him. And she would. Even in a town as small as Fool’s Gold, it couldn’t be hard.
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    â€œY OU MAKE ME crazy. You know that, right?”
    Josh continued to study his computer screen and ignore his assistant. Something he was good at. It came from years of practice.
    Unfortunately Eddie wasn’t the type to take the hint. “I’m talking to you, Josh.”
    â€œI knew that.” He turned his attention from the e-mail to his seventy-something assistant who stood with her hands on her hips.
    Eddie Carberry wore her white hair in short curls. She liked heavy makeup and velour track suits. She had one for every day of the week. If it was Monday, she was wearing violet.
    â€œThey’re getting on my nerves,” she announced. “What the hell were you thinking? I know you’re not sleeping with them, so it’s not about sex. Don’t tell me you’re being nice, either. You know how I hate that.” Eddie glared at him as she spoke.
    He knew better than to take her temper seriously, just as he knew the “they” in question were the three college-aged girls that were supposed to be helping her in the office.
    â€œYou said you wanted to cut back on your responsibilities,” he hedged. “You said you wanted a staff.”
    Eddie rolled her eyes. “I said I wanted to look like Demi Moore, too, but I don’t see you doing anything about that. They’re not staff, they’re blonde and every cliché that goes with the hair color. All they want to talk about is you.” She raised her voice. “Josh is justso handsome,” she said in a mocking squeak. “Do you think he’s going to ask me out?”
    She lowered her voice to its normal gravelly tone.
    â€œI thought you’d explained everything when you hired them.”
    He winced. “I did. In detail.”
    â€œThen you’re going to have to do it