Pamela Hearon – His Kind of Perfection (страница 1)
A very personal trainer…
Personal trainer Bree Rice is happy to help Kale Barlow get in shape to win back his ex. Kale’s drive and enthusiasm make him the perfect client. He’s such a great guy, it’s easy to be his friend, too. All too soon, though, their friendship develops into something deeper…something off-limits.
Bree knows love and work don’t mix—been there, felt that heartache. But it doesn’t seem to matter how many times she reminds him of his original goal. Kale is nothing if not determined, especially when it comes to convincing Bree that they are the perfect partners, both in and out of the gym.
“Merry Christmas, Kale.”
The greeting came out much too quietly for the happy occasion, but her breath caught in her throat when he pulled her to him in a hug and his soft lips brushed her earlobe.
“Merry Christmas, Bree.” His breath scampered down her neck, where it should have been stopped by the shawl collar of her sweater. Instead, she could swear she felt it meandering its way down both her front and back, leaving a trail of warmth, then coming to a halt low in her belly and just hanging there like the high-pressure front before a storm.
Once she pulled away, she managed to get her breathing back under control as she helped him out of his overcoat. Beneath it were the same clothes he’d worn to the party at the gym, looking even better from ten more days of training.
She bit her bottom lip to keep from licking it.
If I had to choose the one thing I love most about writing Mills & Boon Superromance stories, it would be that I get to make up real people. Now I realize that sounds like a paradox, but it really isn’t. Yes, the characters I write are fictitious, but they have all the qualities of a real person. They are everyday people, complete with perfections and flaws. They are the people next door and our best friends.
Years ago, I read a survey that asked women what first attracted them to their spouses, and I was surprised by the number-one answer: he made me laugh. Later, though, when I met my husband, I understood the answer perfectly. During our first date, he kept me laughing. I had such a delightful time, I wanted to see him again…and again. Oh, yeah, he was sexy with steely, gray-blue eyes and a charming smile, but it was his sense of humor that put me at ease and made me comfortable enough to open my heart.
In His Kind of Perfection, Kale Barlow struggles with his weight—as many of us do—while Bree Rice struggles with her eating. Although they’re opposites in many ways, it’s Kale’s ability to make Bree laugh that makes him endearing…and irresistible.
Ultimately, Kale and Bree learn an important lesson we all should know: you don’t have to be perfect to be perfect for each other.
Until next time,
Pamela Hearon
His Kind of Perfection
Pamela Hearon
PAMELA HEARON achieved the impossible—she met the love of her life on a blind date, beating the odds at romance roulette. The insight she gained from the experience opened a universe of fun, romantic stories begging to be told. Accepting the challenge, Pamela became a storyteller—a matchmaker who unites those couples destined to be together despite the seemingly impossible odds stacked against them. Drop by for a visit on Pamela’s website at www.pamelahearon.com, friend her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/pamelahearon, or email her directly at pamelahearon@gmail.com.
To Michelle—You make me the most blessed of all stepmoms
Contents
June
KALE BARLOW WASN’T sure at exactly what moment it happened, but sometime in the past fifteen minutes—sometime between “This won’t take very long” and “Can you hold this wrench?”—the ground had shifted beneath his feet.
He reached for his beer and took a long, cool swig, gaining a second to refocus before he spoke. “You’re breaking up with me because I’ve gained a few pounds?”
Adele tossed her head, a habit holdover from when she’d had long hair. “It’s more than a few, Kale.” Her eyes flicked to the belly protruding over his cargo shorts, and her nose wrinkled in distaste. “I was reading this article this morning, and it hit a nerve, you know?” She held up the regional newspaper and tapped a spot with her finger. “It talks about how the attraction between two people’s got to be there, and if it’s not, then something’s wrong in the relationship.” She shrugged. “It made me realize it’s just not there anymore.”
“Oh, hell, Addy.” Kale grabbed the rag from his back pocket and swiped it down his sweaty face. “You put too much stock in those dime-store psychologists. As I recall, the attraction between us was fine last night.”
She rolled her eyes. “Mr. Fit’s not a ‘dime-store’ psychologist. He’s a fitness trainer, and he makes a lot of sense.”
Kale answered with an eye roll of his own. “That’s probably a syndicated column written by a guy in Manhattan whose sole purpose in life revolves around fitting into a thirty-two-inch waistband.”
“You just don’t get it, Kale.”
“Yeah, I do.” He rammed the rag back into his pocket and shifted his weight to lean against the pontoon boat whose motor was cutting out for no apparent reason. “You’re upset that my business went from being an eight-hour shift to a sixteen-hour shift when Memorial Day came around, and suddenly I don’t have time for long romantic walks along the beach.” He waved a hand toward the marina and the parking lot where seven more boats waited on their trailers for his attention. “But it’ll take four months of this to have anything extra to pay for that January cruise to the Bahamas you’ve got your heart set on.”
Adele crossed her arms defiantly across her chest. “The cruise was your idea. I suspect you think you’ll enjoy it because you won’t be required to do anything except stuff your face around the clock.”
Kale flinched inwardly at the direct hit. Napping in the sun in a chaise longue with a never-empty beer in his hand and a snack bar or full buffet always within reach