joys of family…where no filter was
required because they loved you.
While Anabelle wasn’t unhappy, she wasn’t
bouncing with joy either. She was…content. She had a successful
business, good friends and on the verge of getting a dog.
Once upon a time she may have thought life
would have been different, that maybe by now she’d have a couple of
kids, assorted pets, and a maybe smooth riding SUV because minivans
were too tame, according to her best friend Charlie.
Derek weaved through the warehouse, his
assorted finds scattered about. “Look at this beauty, my most
recent find. I salvaged this from a school over in Clearwater.”
“They look like PE lockers.” She fiddled
with the wire baskets on the worn green shelves. The retro numbers
on the dinged metal tags reminded her of middle school. She sniffed
the air. “They smell like them too.”
He grinned. “They were but I’ve got plans to
turn them into a custom storage display. Mix a little new wood,
improve the configuration, age and stain the addition and these old
lockers will have a new purpose but still maintain its 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.
Excerpt from His Kind of Perfect - Chapter
2
Hunched over her keyboard, Anabelle
concentrated on writing tedious specifications when the dire notes
from Jaws
required because they loved you.
While Anabelle wasn’t unhappy, she wasn’t
bouncing with joy either. She was…content. She had a successful
business, good friends and on the verge of getting a dog.
Once upon a time she may have thought life
would have been different, that maybe by now she’d have a couple of
kids, assorted pets, and a maybe smooth riding SUV because minivans
were too tame, according to her best friend Charlie.
Derek weaved through the warehouse, his
assorted finds scattered about. “Look at this beauty, my most
recent find. I salvaged this from a school over in Clearwater.”
“They look like PE lockers.” She fiddled
with the wire baskets on the worn green shelves. The retro numbers
on the dinged metal tags reminded her of middle school. She sniffed
the air. “They smell like them too.”
He grinned. “They were but I’ve got plans to
turn them into a custom storage display. Mix a little new wood,
improve the configuration, age and stain the addition and these old
lockers will have a new purpose but still maintain its 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.
Excerpt from His Kind of Perfect - Chapter
2
Hunched over her keyboard, Anabelle
concentrated on writing tedious specifications when the dire notes
from Jaws
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