Perfect for You

by Candis Terry

  “And Hobbiton is?”

  “I take it you’re not a fan of Bilbo, Gandalf, and Gollum.”

  “Who?” His brother Ethan had been a fan of the series of books so he vaguely knew who the characters were. But getting a rise out of her by playing dumb was more fun than owning up.

  She sighed. “Hobbiton is the movie set where they filmed Lord of the Rings. Next to Disneyland it’s the coolest place ever.”

  “I never really got into reading that much.” Because it took him damned near forever to learn. “Haven’t seen the movies. Haven’t been to Disneyland.”

  “For someone who lives in Southern California, that is an unforgivable sin,” she said emphatically. “You don’t like fantasy?”

  “Depends on what kind we’re talking about.”

  “Now there’s a conversation that begs to be discussed over a glass of wine.” She chuckled before her expression tightened. “When I was young, I wasn’t allowed to read anything other than educational or religious books. When I finally discovered fiction, I devoured all the classics. Reading is still something I prefer to do rather than watching television.”

  He could almost picture her with her wavy hair pulled up on top of her head, dressed in PJs, sitting in a comfy chair by the fire, and lost in the book in her hand.

  “I liked being read to when I was a kid,” he admitted. Because it was far more enjoyable than trying to put the letters together and comprehend them too. “During the summer, my grandmother read us stories like Treasure Island and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Then my brothers and I would go out and pretend we were explorers and adventurers. Usually it led to a broken wrist, a bad sunburn, or a rash of poison oak.”

  Brooke laughed. “I can imagine with the five of you so close in age it was a lot of fun.”

  “We definitely had our moments.”

  “Okay, Mr. Evasive.” She pointed a tortilla chip in his direction. “Your turn. What’s the first thing you’re dropping into your bucket list?”

  He’d never been much of a dreamer. Spare moments were always spent planning, preparing, and making things happen. He glanced out at the ripples glistening across the ocean and went with the first thing that came to mind.

  “Swimming in the ocean in the moonlight.”

  “Not afraid of sharks. Check.”

  “Only those in the boardroom.”

  Her eyes glimmered. “With or without clothes?”

  “In the boardroom? You really are adventurous.”

  “In the ocean.”

  “Depends.”

  “Now we’re getting somewhere.” She lifted her glass, sipped, and looked at him over the rim. “And before you go thinking that with me nothing is off-limits, I do have boundaries.”

  “Which are?”

  “I try to stay away from being thrown in jail. Or getting my heart broken.”

  She didn’t say it but he could hear the unspoken word again.

  His stomach tightened. “Who broke your heart?”

  An almost imperceptible shrug lifted her shoulders. “Someone who claimed to love me, but lied.”

  “Those aren’t words to speak lightly,” he said, wanting a name and address so he could pay this asshole a personal visit.

  “No. They’re not.” She tucked the straw between her lips and drained her glass. “And I’ve never said those words to anyone because of that.”

  “Yet earlier you said your bucket list included marrying the love of your life.”

  “Because someday—hopefully—I’ll be brave enough to say those three little words to someone special.” She flashed him a cautious smile. “It’s not that I don’t believe in them, it’s just that I really have to believe in the person who will—hopefully—say them back.”

  The guy who’d broken her heart must have been a total idiot. Brooke was special. The kind of woman who’d inspire a man to change his wicked ways.

  If that was even possible.

  After lunch, Dec had taken only a few steps down the wharf before he realized that Brooke and her little dog weren’t beside him. While his internal clock might be saying it was time to get back on the road, Brooke’s internal clock was on a completely different schedule.

  He caught up to her with her nose pressed to the window of a little pink shop called Fantasy Island.

  “We need to get back on the road.”

  “We will, Captain Obvious. Just walking off that shot of rum first.” She looked up at him. The gold in her eyes sparkled in the sunshine. “Don’t tell me you’re not dying to see the rest of what this place has to offer.”

  Idly he glanced to his left where the wharf ended and the ocean continued.

  “Oh my God.” She thrust her fists on her hips. “You didn’t even give it a thought, did you?”

  “No.”

  “I’m going to have to completely reprogram you.”

  “It’s time to go,” he insisted.

  “Nonsense.” She scooped Moochie up into her arms. “We’re going inside.”

  Judging by the frilly stuff in the front window, he really didn’t think this version of Fantasy Island was his style.

  “I’m not going in there.”

  “Then stay outside and bake in the sun. I’m going in.”

  Once she disappeared through the glass door, curiosity got the best of him.

  Surprisingly inside the place was more than he imagined. One side of the shop was obviously for the small fries in the girl kingdom with tutus and wands, castles and crowns. On the big girl side where Brooke currently stood were dresses and jewelry, perfume, and lingerie in the form of costumes. Really sexy, next-to-nothing, every-man’s-fantasy costumes.

  Though he was a man who appreciated women’s lingerie, he tore his eyes away from the silk and sexy. Especially when Brooke walked right into the midst of it and his imagination drove into warp speed. While she wandered around with Moochie tucked in her arms, he wandered off to the safest place in the store.

  “Do you see something you like?” the woman behind the counter asked him as he peered into the glass display case. Without warning his gaze came up and found Brooke holding up a light pink short and see-through little number.

  “Yes,” he said without hesitation. “Yes, I do.”

  The woman’s gaze followed and she smiled. “Are you looking for a gift for her?”

  He hadn’t been.

  But when he looked back into the display case he spotted a silver bracelet with two charms. Next to it was a display of charms of all types. He pointed. “Can you add that charm to that bracelet?”

  “Absolutely.” The woman slid the items from the glass case. “This will suit her well.”

  Hesitant to actually purchase the considerably personal item, he turned and looked across the store at his assistant.

  Nine-to-five Brooke was something to behold. After-hours/road trip Brooke was even better.

  Fate sealed, he pulled out his credit card.

  Once they left the princess shop, Brooke settled her newly purchased fairy crown with its streaming and sparkling pink ribbons on her head. Then she set Moochie down on the wharf so she could trot alongside. The dog had other ideas. Immediately she put her front paws on Dec’s leg and looked up at him with adoration and a cute little whimper.

  As Moochie tap-danced with her hind feet Dec asked, “What’s that mean?”

  “That means she wants you to pick her up and hold her. I think she has a crush on you.”

  “How is that even possible?”

  Brooke laughed at the confusion crinkling his forehead. “She’s female. And I’m guessing you do pretty well charming the ladies.” Grumpy or not, she knew he could charm the pants off of her any day, any time. In fact, if he wanted to right now, it would totally not offend her.

  “None with fur.”

  “There’s always a first time. No worries,” she said. “She can walk. The exercise will do her good.”

  Moochie gave him another pitiful little growl and continued her
wiggle dance.

  “Shit.” He picked up the dog and snugged her against his chest. “Sorry. I can’t resist that face.”

  Brooke could swear she heard her dog sigh. And that was even before Moochie looked over at her with a smug Yeah, I’ve got this look.

  “Sucker.”

  On an average day, Dec was gorgeous. Today, with the blue T-shirt hugging his pecs, the sun gleaming on his nearly black hair, the sunglasses perched on his chiseled face, and a cute pooch in his arms, he stole her breath.

  And apparently she wasn’t alone.

  Completely unaware of the lusty looks he received from the women who passed by, he led the way toward the end of the wharf.

  “Look.” She pointed to a building. “A wine tasting room. Dare we try?”

  “We need to get back on the road.”

  Totally what she expected him to say. Breaking Dec out of his “all work, no play” zone wasn’t going to be easy by anyone’s standards. Too bad for him she had plenty of game and lots of determination.

  “Oh come on.” She headed toward the rustic building that loosely resembled a sailing ship. “Loosen up a little. It’s a beautiful day. The road isn’t going anywhere. And your family doesn’t expect you to get there at breakneck speed. If they get mad, I’ll take the blame. It’s what I do.”

  The heat of his eyes scorched her from behind those sunglasses.

  “What do you mean, it’s what you do?”

  “You don’t believe your clients love you all the time, do you?” She shrugged. “I’m your buffer. If they have an issue, they yell at me so that by the time they get to talk to you, you’re still the Prince Charming of the financial world.”

  “I don’t want you to be my buffer. That’s harassment. The company doesn’t approve of that in any form.”

  “Easy, cowboy. It’s not a big deal. I can handle it.”

  “It’s unacceptable. How often do you save my ass like that?”

  “Pretty much daily.” She prodded him toward the tasting room door. “Now, let’s get down to some serious sipping.”

  “I’m driving. No sipping.”

  “Too bad. I guess that just means more for me.”

  “Not this time.” He turned an about-face and headed back toward the parking lot with her dog still tucked in his arms.

  Brooke sighed. She thought she’d had him right up until she’d spilled the beans. Apparently he’d had no idea how often he rocked someone’s boat and she had to settle the stormy sea.

  Well, he knew now.

  Time would tell how many steps that set them—or at least her—back.

  Chapter 3

  The sunset smoldered on the horizon in fiery shades of tangerine and gold before the velvety darkness of night descended. Then the coastal route became a moonlit display of a black velvet sky with the near full moon casting a spotlight over the Pacific Ocean.

  The hour had grown way past dinnertime and Dec had snacked on corn nuts until his teeth hurt. He needed a real meal. A glass of Maker’s neat wouldn’t hurt either. The hours on the road had started to wear on him. And that didn’t even come close to the impairment of his rationality from being in such close proximity to the woman in his passenger seat.

  Listening to her had been entertaining and insightful, but inhaling her sweet scent and looking at all the tanned skin that rose above and below her tank top and shorts was pure torture. As they drove into a charming little seaside town, he knew he needed a break before he actually broke and did something he’d regret.

  “How about we grab a bite to eat?”

  “I vote we find a place to stay for the night.” Brooke snuggled her little dog closer to her chest and petted her affectionately. “You look exhausted.”

  “I won’t take that as an insult.”

  “Good. Because it wasn’t meant as one. You’ve been driving for almost . . .” She peered at the clock on the dashboard. “Eight hours. So I should either take a turn and give you a break, or we should stop for the night. I’m sure your family would prefer you to arrive rested and in one piece.”

  “I can keep driving,” he said, unfamiliar with someone other than a family member worrying about his well-being. “I just need to refuel with food and caffeine.”

  “We could just stop in a gas station and you could ply yourself with a few dozen Red Bulls and a bag of chips.”

  “Bad idea.”

  “So is you continuing to drive when you’re tired.” She peered through the windshield and pointed toward a little visitor’s information hut. “How about you stop here and ask if there are any restaurants open late and we can discuss?”

  “It’s not open for discussion. But I’ll stop and ask about a place to eat.”

  After several minutes inside the visitor’s information center, Dec went back to the car armed with brochures and pamphlets he didn’t want or need. The older woman inside the center had been so sweet and insistent he couldn’t say no. “There are some restaurants a couple of miles ahead where we can grab a bite to eat,” he told Brooke.

  “I’ve already got reservations for dinner.” Brooke held up and waggled her phone.

  “You’re kidding,” he said, although he really wasn’t surprised. At the office Brooke was all over everything and had most things taken care of before he even knew he needed them.

  “Do you doubt my executive assistant talents?” she asked with a smirk, knowing she was totally kickass at what she did.

  “Never.”

  “Good. Because this is the kind of stuff I do. I’ve been making your travel arrangements for four years. I’ve learned all the super-secret handshake places to go on the web to find what you need.”

  What he needed was to get out of the damn car before he weakened and dragged her into his arms for a slow, wet kiss.

  The charming, tree-lined street leading to their destination was dotted with beachy cottages, waterfalls of bougainvillea, and sweetly scented tufts of night blooming jasmine.

  While Dec listened to driving directions via his phone, Brooke dealt with the energetic crackle in her veins.

  She’d pulled a fast one on him, and who knew how it would go over. He’d either be too tired to argue or he’d be pissed. Since she’d been dealing with the latter for days, she didn’t feel the slightest bit intimidated.

  Even if she should.

  When the Google Maps lady told them they’d arrived at their destination, Dec leaned forward and glared through the windshield. “This doesn’t look like a restaurant.”

  “It’s not.” Brooke clutched Moochie tighter. “It’s an inn by the sea.”

  “With a restaurant.” He turned his head and those distrustful eyes nailed her through the darkness. “Right?”

  “There’s not an actual restaurant inside the inn. But the lady on the phone said they can either have food delivered or there are a couple of restaurants nearby.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Then why are we stopping here?”

  “Because I booked a reservation. Good thing too. Last one for another hundred miles.”

  “I told you I was okay to drive.”

  “And you’re hardly irritable.” She sighed when the tension in his jaw twitched. “Look. You’re tired. You need a break. It’s obvious you don’t trust me enough to drive your car—”

  “I never said I didn’t trust you.”

  “You never said I could drive your car either.” She gave a small sharp jerk of her head. “So like it or not, we are stopping so you can get some rest. We’ll get up early and finish the drive tomorrow so you can arrive fresh as a daisy.”

  “Do I look like the daisy type?”

  Not even.

  “Doesn’t matter, boss man. We’re doing this.”

  He pulled into a small lot near the inn and stopped the car. Before he could rip into her for going against his wishes, Brooke unhooked her seat belt and opened the car door. “It’s gorgeous.”

  The Colonial-style inn was secluded, nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac s
treet, and only steps away from the beach.

  “I’ve always dreamed of staying in a place like this,” she said.

  “Get back in the car. We’re not staying.”

  “Of course we are.”

  “I’m not arguing with you about this.”

  “Good.” She snapped on Moochie’s leash and set her little dog on the ground, knowing her teeny tiny bladder was probably bursting. “Come on, Mooch.”

  “Brooke,” Dec called out in a growl that sent a shiver down her spine. “I’m serious.”

  “Me too. I’m not going to end up roadkill because you’re too damn stubborn to admit defeat.” She tossed the words over her shoulder and kept walking. A double dose of guilt clawed at her conscience as she headed toward the inn.

  If he was irritated now, he was going to be royally ticked off when he discovered the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

  Because she kept walking, Dec had no choice but to follow. He cussed once or twice because she was right. He needed to call it a day. But the hell if he’d give her that satisfaction.

  He caught up with her inside the lobby where a small check-in desk was located near the double doors. The rest of the large open room had nooks of comfortable seating for reading, and a long sofa in front of a stone fireplace. As soon as Dec closed the door behind him the sound of waves crashing onshore muted. Celtic harp music played softly through hidden speakers.

  “Mr. Kincade?” At his nod, the older woman behind the desk waved them in. “We’re so pleased you’re joining us tonight.”

  He tossed Brooke a dirty look. “Thank you.”

  “As I explained to Ms. Hastings over the phone it was a stroke of luck that we had a last minute cancellation. Apparently the groom got cold feet. We have the last available room in town. Good thing you called when you did.”

  One room?

  Holy fucking shit.

  “That’s . . .” He looked at Brooke, who refused to look back. “Great.”

  The woman behind the desk held out her hand. “If I could just see your card to verify the security code?”

  When he reached for his wallet Brooke whispered, “Since I kind of sprang this on you, let me get this.”