Free Finding Perfect by Susan Mallery Page A

looked to be about nine or ten, with freckles and big brown eyes. He was skinny but had a wide smile that made her want to grin in return.
    â€œWhat would you rather do than go to school?” she asked.
    A shadow crossed his face then cleared. “I like to play baseball. I used to play T-ball when I was little.”
    â€œAre you in Little League now?”
    He shook his head. “My foster dad says it’s too expensive and takes too much time.”
    That didn’t sound good. “Do you like other sports?”
    â€œI like to watch football. They have those funny things they do with their hands. I try to watch what they’re doing, but it’s hard to see.”
    â€œYou know they make those up,” she told him. “There’s not just one right way.”
    His eyes widened. “For real?”
    â€œUh-huh. Come on.” She put her soda on the ground and tossed her hot dog foil and napkin in the trash, then she faced Peter. “We’ll make one up now. I’ll do a step, then you do a step.”
    She made a fist with her right hand. He did the same. They bumped top and bottom, then fist to fist, followed by an open-palm slap and a back-of-hand bump. He added two finger wiggles, and she ended with a double clap.
    â€œAll right!” Peter stood in front of her. “Let’s do it really fast.”
    They went through the sequence twice, without a mistake.
    â€œYou’re good,” Pia told him.
    â€œYou, too.” He glanced down the path and saw his friends. “I gotta go.”
    â€œOkay. Have fun. Don’t drink too much more lemonade.”
    He laughed and took off at a run.
    Pia collected her drink and stood. It was time to get back to work. As she grabbed her paperwork, she saw Jo crossing the lawn, headed for the auction postings.
    Her first thought was to chase after her friend and ask about Jake. Did he seem to miss her? Was he settling in? Then she remembered how the cat had crawled onto Jo’s lap and started purring within ten minutes of arriving at her house. Of course he was doing well.
    She turned and ran into someone tall, broad and strong. Jostled soda spilled out of the paper cup and trickled down the front of the man’s shirt.
    Pia groaned and raised her eyes only to encounter Raoul’s amused gaze.
    â€œSmall-town initiation?” he asked.
    â€œSorry.” She stepped back and brushed his chest, which proved to be more enjoyable than she would have expected. “It’s diet. It won’t stain or anything.”
    â€œI’m fine.” He took her hand in his and stilled the movement but didn’t release her fingers. “Are you all right?”
    â€œI’m fine. You’re the one who got doused.”
    His touch was light, barely noticeable, yet she couldn’t seem to focus on anything else. His skin was warm.She could feel individual calluses, the power he kept contained.
    The power he kept contained? What was this—a bad movie script? Who thought like that?
    Apparently her, she realized as she looked back into his eyes and discovered she didn’t want to turn away. Which made her immediately pull free of his hold.
    â€œSo, thanks for your donation. It’s very impressive. You really did enough with donating the camp.”
    â€œIt wasn’t a big deal,” he said easily. “I was happy to help.”
    â€œGood. We should all help, especially now. With the whole burned-down-school thing.”
    His dark eyebrows pulled together. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    â€œYes, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    No way she was going to mention that the feel of his skin on hers had thrown her. Not only was it irrational, a declaration like that put her into the scary-stalker category.
    She searched around for another explanation.
    â€œI saw Jo,” she said quickly. “The friend who took the cat?”
    He nodded.
    â€œI wanted to ask if Jake missed