Absolutely Perfect

Absolutely Perfect Copyright 2023 by Cheryl Holt All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferrable right to access and read the text of this book. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, stored in, or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or invented in the future, without the express written permission or the copyright holder. Please Note The reverse engineering, uploading, and/or distributing of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions, and do not participate in or encourage the piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author. Thank you. Cover Design: Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs, www.wickedsmartdesigns.com Paperback and Digital format: Dayna Linton, Day Agency, www.dayagency.com ISBN: 979-8-88895-097-5 (Paperback) ISBN: 979-8-88895-080-7 (Digital Book) Library of Congress Pending First Edition: 2023 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the USA Cover ABSOLUTELY PERFECT Praise For Cheryl Holt Books By Cheryl Holt Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 About the Author “Best storyteller of the year . . .” Romantic Times Magazine “Cheryl Holt is magnificent . . .” Reader to Reader Reviews “Cheryl Holt is on my ‘favorite authors’ list. I can’t wait to see what she’ll write next.” The Reading Café “A master writer . . .” Fresh Fiction Here’s what readers are saying . . . “OMG! I just started reading this series yesterday. It was hard for me to close my Kindle and go to bed. So, so good!” Artemis “Cheryl Holt has packed in so much action that the reader is constantly spellbound. So many characters, so vividly portrayed! Rogues, unfaithfulness, loyalty, and delightful dialogue. You will love this book!” Gladys “It was fabulous! I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and I smiled. I read the whole book without stopping.” Robin “Action, drama, and intrigue. I read it in one afternoon. I couldn’t put it down!” Gina “You just can’t wait to turn the page to see what happens next. Outstanding!” Margaret “This book is such an emotional roller-coaster. I cried and laughed and cheered. It was so good!” Colleen LINKED HISTORICAL ROMANCE SERIES RUINED!! ABSOLUTELY PERFECT ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL ABSOLUTELY MINE BAYWICK HAPPILY EVER AFTER LOVE EVER AFTER MERRILY EVER AFTER CADS CAD’S WISH CAD’S PICK CAD’S CHOICE LOST GIRLS SOMEONE TO LOVE SOMEONE TO CHERISH SOMEONE TO WED ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS YOURS ALWAYS MINE JILTED BRIDES JILTED BY A CAD JILTED BY A SCOUNDREL JILTED BY A ROGUE FOREVER FOREVER YOURS FOREVER MINE FOREVER AFTER FOREVER BABY CALEB DUET ONLY YOU ONLY MINE LOST LORDS OF RADCLIFFE HEART’S DELIGHT HEART’S DESIRE HEART’S DEMAND SCOUNDREL HEART’S DEBT RELUCTANT BRIDES WICKED WANTON WONDERFUL LORD TRENT LOVE’S PROMISE LOVE’S PRICE LOVE’S PERIL SPINSTER’S CURE PROMISE OF PLEASURE TASTE OF TEMPTATION DREAMS OF DESIRE EROTIC HISTORICAL ROMANCES LOVE LESSONS TOTAL SURRENDER ABSOLUTE PLEASURE COMPLETE ABANDON MORE THAN SEDUCTION DEEPER THAN DESIRE FURTHER THAN PASSION TOO HOT TO HANDLE TOO TEMPTING TO TOUCH TOO WICKED TO WED SECRET FANTASY FORBIDDEN FANTASY DOUBLE FANTASY HISTORICAL ROMANCES SWEET SURRENDER NICHOLAS (republished as MY SCOUNDREL) MY ONLY LOVE MY TRUE LOVE THE WAY OF THE HEART CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES MOUNTAIN DREAMS SEDUCE ME KISS ME LOVE ME NOVELLAS MEG’S SECRET ADMIRER KNIGHT OF SEDUCTION SEDUCING THE GROOM OTHER NOVELS A SUMMER WEDDING AT CROSS CREEK INN MUD CREEK THE WEDDING SLEEPING WITH THE DEVIL NONFICTION LITTLE MIRACLES “We’re glad you’re here.” “I’ll try to be glad too.” Katherine Hastings smiled at the woman, Miss Clark, who’d just arrived. The poor dear looked nervous and beaten down, as if life had recently delivered many painful blows, but then, the first day was always the worst for their guests. None of them came in a good condition. They were in Katherine’s office at Mrs. Pettigrew’s Private Home for Young Ladies. Katherine was seated at the desk, and Miss Clark was perched on the chair across. The facility was an unwed mother’s home, one that was discreetly advertised. Katherine was the caretaker, having begun working for Mrs. Pettigrew the minute the doors were opened. A pregnancy, when there was no husband in the picture, was deemed a scandalous, shameful event. Furtive amours—that brought on disastrous results—were common, so there were many such places tucked away around the kingdom. Normally, they were awful enterprises, operated as charitable endeavors that never had enough funding. In most cases, unfortunate females were locked away by their parents so they couldn’t run off to find the cads who’d ruined them. The proprietors acted as jailors, and it increased the sense that the women were trollops who’d behaved egregiously. Mrs. Pettigrew and Katherine had both been seduced in their lives, had both birthed a bastard child, but they’d survived their ordeals and had managed to thrive afterward. They were keen to help others who desperately needed assistance at the most dreadful time they’d ever endure. To commence the business, Mrs. Pettigrew had purchased an old country cottage, situated in a scenic meadow that furnished views of the ocean. There was a manicured garden, with benches and walking paths that led to a rocky beach. The vistas provided opportunities for quiet reflection, which was definitely required. Her methods were very modern. A congenial atmosphere was fostered, with the occupants