Chasing Perfection: Vol. I Read online

  Suddenly, she went limp, her limbs falling to the bed as she passed out. I pulled out of her and went to the guest bathroom to clean up enough to go to my own bedroom. Before I left, I pulled a blanket up over her and got one of my notes out of the dresser. I quietly shut the door behind me as I left and headed up to my own shower to wash away what I'd just done.

  Chapter 24

  KRISSY

  When I first woke up, I couldn't figure out where I was. For a moment, I told myself it was because I was in a hotel instead of my own bed, but then I realized there was an arm around me and the memories of the night before flooded back to me.

  Shit.

  I eased myself out from underneath Taylor's arm and grabbed my dress from the floor. I dressed quickly, hoping the entire time that Taylor didn't wake up. I so didn't want to do the awkward morning after thing. I also wasn't going to do the whole leaving without a word thing. I found a pad of paper hanging on the refrigerator so I scribbled my number and said to call me.

  I really did like Taylor, I thought as I hurried down the sidewalk to my car, but I remembered everything from the night before, including how DeVon had kept creeping up in my thoughts. I couldn't deny that I was attracted to DeVon, but I also could remind myself of all the shitty things he'd done to me. I did that the entire way back to the hotel and those thoughts followed me into sleep.

  My phone ringing woke me hours later. I answered it with a groggy, “Hello?”

  “Krissy? It's Taylor.”

  I sat up. “Oh, hey.” Guess we were having the awkward morning after talk even though the clock said it was noon.

  “So, I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner tonight.” There was a pause, and then he added, “I had a great time last night.”

  “Me, too,” I said. “I'd love to go to dinner.”

  “Great!”

  She could almost hear that brilliant smile.

  “Do you want me to pick you up?”

  I hesitated. I wasn't sure I trusted myself to not invite him up if he drove me home tonight and I didn't know if I wanted two nights in a row. That felt a bit more like a commitment than I wanted. “Why don't we meet?”

  “All right,” he said amiably. “I'll text you the restaurant information.”

  “That sounds great.”

  I was glad he didn't linger on the phone. I had a lot to do today, not the least of which was picking out a dress for tonight and finding someone who could do something with my rat's nest of hair. I'd almost forgotten what a mess just-fucked hair could be. I really hoped it wasn't as bad when I had come in that morning as it felt now.

  I also knew I had to start apartment hunting, but I could put that off until tomorrow. I'd worked my ass off this week. I deserved a little bit of fun. I kept telling myself that as I treated myself to a trip to the salon. By the time Taylor's text came in around four, I'd managed to get rid of all my previous guilt and was determined to make tonight perfect.

  I arrived at the restaurant a few minutes after eight, but Taylor hadn't yet arrived. The host showed me to a secluded table in the back, then left me to admire the expensive white linen tablecloth and romantic candlelight. I was impressed. I knew Taylor didn't have much money. Getting a table like this in such a nice restaurant must've cost a fortune.

  I took my phone out of my purse, figuring I might as well check my messages while I waited. That way, I'd be all caught up and could turn off my ringer, allowing Taylor and I an uninterrupted evening.

  I had just finished replying to a text from Carrie telling me that she and Gavin were going to be planning a trip to LA soon when I caught movement across from me. I started to speak before I finished raising my head, “Hey, you're late...”

  My voice trailed off but my mouth hung open as I saw that the man sitting across from me wasn't Taylor, but DeVon. I snapped my jaw shut, my brain scrambling for a moment before righting itself.

  “What are you doing here?” I was aware that sounded rude, but to be fair, he was the one who'd just sat down, uninvited. I sat up straighter. I didn't have any reason to be polite. We weren't at work or a business dinner or anything like that. This was my personal time. “You have to go,” I said firmly. “I'm on a date.”

  DeVon gave me an annoying smirk that made me want to slap him. I clenched my hands together on my lap to resist the impulse.

  “I'm sorry, Krissy. I know I shouldn't intrude, but I thought you might like to know that Taylor won't be coming.”

  “What?” I couldn't have heard him correctly. How the hell did he know who I was meeting? And why was it any of his business?

  “He, too, is familiar with the rule about no dating between clients and agents.”

  I frowned at him. Was he seriously going to pull that bullshit again? “He's not a client.”

  DeVon's smirk widened. “He is now. I just signed him.”

  End of Vol. 1

  Chasing Perfection will continue in Vol. 2, release August 18th.

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  Acknowledgement

  First, I would like to thank all of my readers. Without you, my books would not exist. I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

  A big “thanks” goes out to all my Facebook fans, beta readers, and advanced reviewers. You are a HUGE part of the success of my series.

  About The Author

  M. S. Parker is the author of the Erotic Romance series, Club Privé.

  Living in Southern California, she enjoys sitting by the pool with her laptop, writing her next spicy romance.

  This book was a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2014 Belmonte Publishing

  Published by Belmonte Publishing.

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.