Free Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery Page B

any secrets, but then I don’t have anything to hide.”
    â€œThen you’ll be fine. Have you started looking for a house?”
    â€œNot really. I’m still getting to know the different areas.”
    â€œI live on the golf course. Great views. The houses are well-built and a nice size. You should come see my place sometime.”
    â€œSure.” She wondered how he afforded one of those homes. She’d seen them on her drive around town and had even picked up a flyer for one. But unless the mayor had a secret plan to double her salary in the next week, Charity couldn’t begin to pay for something like that. Prices were great in Fool’s Gold, but even here a home on the golf course was pricey.
    â€œYou said you grew up in small towns,” she said. “In California?”
    â€œOregon. I went to school in Eugene, which is a good-sized town. Got my degree in accounting and went to work for a midsized accounting firm. Then I went into the government side of the business. After about five years, I transferred to the private sector. One of my first jobs was auditing one of Josh Golden’s companies. That brought me here.”
    â€œJosh has companies?”
    Robert raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t know?”
    â€œNo. It’s not as if we’ve spent much time together.”The tour of the city had barely been an hour. “I know he used to be some famous bike rider guy.”
    Robert laughed. “There’s a description to make him proud.”
    â€œYou know what I mean. I don’t follow many sports. I’d heard about him, but nothing specific.”
    â€œHe owns several companies. The sporting goods store. He’s a partner at the ski resort, the hotel.”
    She reached for her wine and nearly knocked it over. “He owns the hotel where I’m staying?”
    Robert nodded.
    No wonder he chose to live there, she thought, feeling embarrassed for implying he was irresponsible. “I had no idea.”
    â€œHe hired the firm I worked for and I came out to do an audit. I liked the town. When I mentioned that to Josh, he said they were looking for a treasurer. I applied and got the job.”
    â€œIt’s a long way from Oregon,” she said, still trying to take in the fact that Josh was a business mogul.
    â€œI don’t have a lot of family. I’m an only child and my parents were a lot older when they had me.” He smiled sheepishly. “Mom always said I was a miracle.” The smile faded. “They died a few years ago. I have a cousin, but that’s about it. I figured I’d make my own family.”
    â€œI know the feeling,” she said, surprised they had so much in common. “I was raised by my mom. I never knew my dad. My mom took off when she was pregnant, and never told me where she was from. Ialways wondered if I had relatives out there, somewhere. If anyone knew about us. When I lost her, I felt really alone. I wanted a place to belong.”
    â€œSo you came to Fool’s Gold?”
    She nodded. “A recruiter got in touch with me. I was looking to make a change.” Mostly due to a bad breakup, but why mention that?
    â€œI’m glad you moved here,” Robert said, his dark eyes gazing steadily into hers.
    He was nice, she thought as she smiled at him. Warm and caring and he shared a lot of her goals. He was the kind of guy she was looking for. At least on the surface. If only there was some kind of physical connection between them. Something that…
    The hair on the back of her neck stood up. An unexpected warmth spread through her. For one brief shining moment she thought the chemistry had finally kicked in. The second of relief was followed by a mental groan when she saw Josh walking past their table and being seated on the other side of the room. He was with Mayor Marsha and apparently here for dinner.
    â€œSpeak of the devil,” Robert said lightly, nodding at the