Jillian Hart - Her Perfect Man

Love is complicated. When it ends, its even more so.

Rebecca squeezed her eyes shut, as if looking in instead of out.

She was a soft touch. Hers was a goodness that didnt come and go, but remained when the going got tough. She was no holiday Christian. It was his guess that she had a big, forgiving heart.

When she opened her eyes, she gave another shoulder shrug. My sisters tell me thats part of healing and moving on. But this love thing is painful.

It can be, Chad answered. So, this guy, hes the one you were hoping to marry?

Not exactly. I was just hoping, is all. And now Im on a path I didnt expect.

Maybe its a better one.

Maybe. She smiled at him, truly smiled.

Just like that his heart clicked, and he was in like with her. How about that?

Books by Jillian Hart

Love Inspired

Heaven Sent

His Hometown Girl

A Love Worth Waiting For Heaven Knows

The Sweetest Gift

Heart and Soul

Almost Heaven

Holiday Homecoming

Sweet Blessings

For the Twins Sake

Heavens Touch

Blessed Vows

A Handful of Heaven

A Soldier for Christmas

Precious Blessings

Every Kind of Heaven

Everyday Blessings

A McKaslin Homecoming

** A Holiday To Remember

Her Wedding Wish

Her Perfect Man

Love Inspired Historical

Homespun Bride

High Country Bride

JILLIAN HART

makes her home in Washington State, where she has lived most of her life. When Jillian is not hard at work on her next story, she loves to read, go to lunch with her friends and spend quiet evenings with her family.

Her Perfect Man

Jillian Hart

Published by Steeple Hill Books

Contents

Chapter One

T he phone was ringing inside her apartment, but Rebecca McKaslin stepped out into the late-summer evening anyway. Thank goodness for caller ID. Why was Chris calling? He knew she wouldnt talk to him ever againmostly because shed told him so. How many times would she have to let it ring before he got a clue?

Exasperated, she yanked the door shut and the lock gave a metallic click. See, this was the reason shed adopted her newly instated No Man policy. Men, they didnt call when you wanted them to, but when you didnt want them to call ever, then, voil, the phone rang off the hook.

Well, she was a free and independent woman these days and she wasnt even going to let the thought of her ex-boyfriend bug her. It was too bad that he had regrets, because she didnt, thank you very much. She went to hike her purse strap higher on her shoulder

Wait. No purse strap.

No purse. How had she forgotten it? It was right there by the door on the little hallway table where the phone had been ringing with Chriss number flashing away.

No biggie, she told herself and lifted her hand to sort through her keys.

Wait. No keys. She stared at her empty hand. Had she left her key ring inside, too? Oh, probably. Talk about being an airhead, Rebecca. If she wasnt careful, she was going to turn into her sister Ava who, as adorable as she was, forgot everything.

Okay, this was a major problem. How was she going to drive the car? Pick up the pizza? Get to her sisters house in time to babysit?

Good going, Rebecca. Way to start off the evening. She folded a stray lock of brown hair out of her eyes. She tried the doorknob just in case it wasnt really locked and that click had been a figment of her imagination.

Nope. The knob didnt turn. Wasnt that just her luck? If she had her purse, she would have her cell phone and so a quick call to someone in her family would fix this in a jiffy. If it wasnt after five oclock on a Friday, she could bother her neighbor Ephraim, but he was off at a church function.

So who did that leave? Asking a neighbor she didnt know to borrow a phone? She hadnt lived in this complex long. She didnt know her neighbors, other than Ephraim, but she was going to have to start knocking on doors. As she was shy, that was not something she was looking forward to. Although judging by the quiet stillness of the complex, most of them probably wouldnt be home.

On a brighter note, the phone inside her apartment had stopped ringing. Was Chris finally giving up? Getting a hint? Finding a clue?

A girl could always hope. Because she was done with dudes for goodor at least the next decade. Prince Charming could come walking around the corner and she would be Fort Knox. Her affections impenetrable. Her No Man policy was unshakable.

You need any help? A mans voice came out of nowhere right behind her.

Her heart jumped hard enough to make it to the moon and back. She turned around and clutched the porch rail to steady herself. There was a drop-dead handsome guy standing on her walkwayand not just everyday ordinary handsome, either. But twenty on a scale of ten. Really wow. She had to be dreaming, right? She blinked, but nope, the gorgeous guy was still standing there as real as could be.

He was a big athletic-looking guynot heavily muscled, but not lanky, either. He was tall with blond hair and a wholesome, guy-next-door grin. He wore a loose sport T-shirt and basketball shorts. Friendly looking.

I saw you lock yourself out. He had a wholesome smile, too, one that brought out a dimple in his right cheek and an honest sparkle in his dark eyes. He was also carrying a cardboard box in the crook of his arm. I wasnt peeping or anything. I was unloading my truck and I couldnt help noticing. Im moving in next door.

Oh, youre Ephraims new roommate?

Guilty. You must be Rebecca. Hes talked about you. Only good things, though. Said to look you up if I wanted to join a Bible study group.

Id be happy to give you the information, except

All your information is inside?

Yep.

Isnt that always how it goes? He flashed her a hundred-watt grin. You look like youre on your way somewhere.

Yep, in a hurry without the keys to start my car.

Thats gotta spell trouble. He was, as her sister Ava would say, super-duper.

But was she noticing? No. It was good to know her No Man policy was firmly in place. Talk about peace of mind. She crossed her arms over her heart like a shield. Trouble? Thats the least of it. Im running late, and now this. Its just been one of those days of doom.

Hey, I have those too now and then.

There was something about that friendly smile, Rebecca decided as she found herself smiling back. If there really was a Prince Charming, then this man would be him.

A pretty girl like you is probably rushing out for a date, right?

Im pleading the fifth on that one.

I see. His voice was warm as if it was a smile all on its own. Im Chad, by the way. Chad Lawson.

Rebecca McKaslin.

Well, Rebecca. Do you have a spare key lying around?

No. Im not that organized. Mostly because she wasnt usually this absentminded. And if I did, I wouldnt be standing here staring like Ive lost my mind.

Thats not how I would describe you.

Then you are too kind. She shaded her eyes with her hand. I hate to bother you, but could I use your phone?

That would be no bother at all. There went that dimple, flashing at her. He had the knack of putting people at ease. Youre going to call a locksmith?

Or my sister for the key. Its her condo. I rent from her. Shes not going to be happy with me. Katherine is pregnant and on bed rest.

Is she going to be okay?

Rebecca sighed. Right now she should start collecting all the reasons why she wasnt going to like Chad, but then he had to go and ask the perfect question. She had to like anyone who asked about her family. It looks as if she and the baby will be fine, but you never know. Its some high blood pressure problem.