Chasing Perfect Read Online Free Page B

again.”
    Apparently.
    Young women had done everything from showing up in his bed naked and uninvited to claiming to be pregnant with his baby—all in a bid to get his attention. He understood the theory. If they belonged to someone the public perceived as special then they were special, as well. Telling them he wasn’t worth their time didn’t seem to get through. This summer he’d tried offering jobs instead, thinking the reality of working around him would allow them to see the man behind the myth. So far the plan wasn’t working.
    â€œI could get more help out of a couple of cats,” Eddie grumbled. “And you know how I feel about cats.”
    He did. She resented any creature who dared to shed on one of her track suits.
    â€œI’ll talk to them,” he said.
    â€œYou’d better.” She lowered her arms to her sides, then walked toward his desk. “The storefront on Third leased out.”
    He leaned back in his chair as she sat down. “Good.” It had been vacant nearly three months.
    â€œThe lease is at the attorney’s. I’ll pick it up later today for you to read.” She cleared her throat. “You have a request to ride in a charity race.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œIt’s for sick kids.”
    â€œIt usually is.”
    â€œYou should do this one.”
    She was trying to provoke him. For some reason Eddie believed if she could get him to yell, he would give in.
    â€œIt’s in Florida,” she said. “You could go to Disney World.”
    â€œI’ve been to Disney World.”
    â€œYou need to get out, Josh. Ride again. You can’t—”
    â€œNext?” he asked cutting her off.
    She stared at him, her eyes narrowed. He stared back.
    She blinked first. “Fine. Be that way.” She sighed heavily, as if her life was nothing but pain. “I keep getting calls about a charity golf tournament. The sponsor has a connection with the ski resort and they’re thinking of holding it in town.”
    Golf he could do. It wasn’t his sport, so excellence wasn’t expected or required. He could simply be charming for the cameras, raise some money and call it a day.
    â€œOkay on the golf.”
    â€œAt least that’s something,” she grumbled. “I’ll havethe sales figures for the sporting goods store later today. Preliminary numbers are good. The flyers did a nice job of bringing in business. Internet sales are up, too. Now if we could get a picture of you on some of the bikes we carry…”
    He ignored her. Which meant looking away. One of the blondes walked by just then and assumed he was glancing at her rather than away from Eddie. The young woman smiled and slowed.
    Damn.
    Eddie turned and saw the girl. “Get back to work,” she snapped. “This isn’t about you.”
    The girl pouted, but did as she was told.
    â€œDid I say they make me crazy?” Eddie asked.
    â€œMore than once.”
    â€œYou need a girlfriend. If they think you’re with someone else, they’ll back off.”
    â€œNo, they won’t.”
    â€œProbably not,” she agreed. “I swear, Josh, there’s something about you. Women everywhere are just dying to be in your bed.”
    He winced, not wanting to have this conversation with his septuagenarian assistant.
    â€œI guess the good news is if you’d done it as much as they said, you’d be dead now.”
    â€œA cheerful thought,” he said dryly.
    Eddie stood. “I’ll be back later with those numbers.”
    â€œI’ll count the hours.”
    She barked a laugh as she left. Josh returned his gaze to the computer screen, but not his attention. The girls in his office were the least of his problems. What kept him up nights wasn’t the young women so convinced he was the answer to every prayer they’d ever had. It was the reality of knowing he was a total fraud and no one had