Pretty Close to Perfect

Books by Donna Schwartze Suggested reading order: Eight Years The Only Reason Wild Card The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay Truth or Tequila Raine Out No One Wants That Leave It On The Field Pretty Close to Perfect * * * PRETTY CLOSE TO PERFECT DONNA SCHWARTZE This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, organizations, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental. Any trademarks, product names, service marks, and named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are only used for references. This book is intended for adults only due to sensitive language and sexual content. Copyright ©️ 2023 by Donna Schwartze All rights reserved. No part of this book or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, distributed, stored, transmitted in any form or by any means, or adapted without the prior written consent of the author and publisher. ISBN: 9798832400518 Published by Blitzen Bay Books LLC, 2023 [email protected] Created with Vellum PRETTY CLOSE TO PERFECT DONNA SCHWARTZE For my loyal readers. Thanks for supporting me on every step of this journey. Your devotion to my stories and characters is what drives me to keep writing. I could not do this without you. * * * 'I don't believe in magic.' The young boy said. The old man smiled. 'You will, when you see her.' — Atticus Contents Author’s Note Prologue 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 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Epilogue What’s Next? About the Author Author’s Note Pretty Close to Perfect can be read as a standalone novel, but there are character appearances from past books. If this is the first of my books you’re reading or if it has been a while since you read my other books, please use this guide to understand how the characters connect. Couples: Noelle/Elle (Introduced in The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay, law student) and Nash (Introduced in The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay, former Army Ranger). They met in The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay. Kit (Introduced in The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay, teacher) and Butch (Introduced in The Trident Trilogy, former Navy SEAL). They met in No One Wants That. Millie (Introduced in The Trident Trilogy, former CIA agent) and Mason (Introduced in The Trident Trilogy, former Navy SEAL). They met in Eight Years. Raine (Introduced in The Trident Trilogy, CIA agent) and Alex (Introduced in Truth or Tequila, former professional baseball player). They met in Raine Out. Sophie (Introduced in Truth or Tequila, public relations consultant) and Seb (Introduced in Truth or Tequila, professional baseball player). They met in Truth or Tequila. * * * How the characters met: Elle and Kit are cousins. (The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay) Millie, Mason, Raine, and Butch met working together. (The Trident Trilogy) Raine and Sophie were neighbors as kids. (Raine Out) Alex and Seb played on the same professional baseball team. (Truth or Tequila, Raine Out, and Leave It On The Field) Mo is Millie and Mason’s son. Mack is Millie’s dad. He’s dating Carol. * * * Other characters: Dresden and Leni Clark - Elle’s parents (Introduced in The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay.) Liv Young - Nash’s mom (Introduced in The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay.) Sam - Nash and Elle’s neighbor in Blitzen Bay (Introduced in The Runaway Bride of Prologue NOELLE July 5, 2022 Blitzen Bay, California A few rays of the morning sun are filtering through the pine trees that surround our house. They’re warming me through the cool sheets that are twisted around my body. Nash has been rubbing my back since I woke up about thirty minutes ago. I’ve never been this content in my life. “You know we’ll have to leave this bed eventually.” “Wanna bet?” I sling my leg over him in an attempt to keep him in place. There’s not a chance I’m leaving this bed and I’m determined to keep him here too. He runs his hand over my thigh. “Is this supposed to keep me pinned down?” “It will keep you pinned down. There’s no way you have a counter move for it.” “You sure about that?” His hand starts crawling toward my side. “Don’t you dare,” I say, trying to roll away from him. He wraps his arm tightly around me to prevent my escape. “What’s wrong? I thought you were sure I didn’t have a counter move.” “Naaaash,” I say as I start to squirm, “watch yourself. You’re really close to getting a time out.” His hand stays idle for a few seconds to give me a false sense of security, then springs back into action, landing on my ribs. “Stop!” I jerk back and forth trying to get out of his hold. “No tickling! You know that’s not approved by the Geneva Conventions.” “The Geneva Conventions were written for POWs.” He mercifully stops tickling and moves his hand down to my butt. He gives it a little smack. “Are you my prisoner? I thought I was yours.” “You are.” I climb onto his body so we’re stomach to stomach. “And you will stay in this bed until I release you. You know this is my favorite