Not Quite Perfect (Not Quite Series Book 5) by Catherine Bybee

year since she and Dakota had met the Fairchilds. The previous Thanksgiving, she, Dakota, and Walt found themselves on a private plane en route to the East Coast, where they enjoyed a full weekend of food, friends, and then a ride into New York City, via helicopter, to shop. Then there was the unexpected charter when Dakota had gone missing in Denver with her mother-in-law. Mary was told a plane was waiting for her and to get in. She did! Then there was the last book release Dakota had  . . . private planes, penthouse suites, even a full day at the spa and five-star meals the entire week. She’d tried to pay for some of it  . . . any of it. It would put her behind in her savings plan for the future, but she was willing. The occasion was that important. But no one would take her money. Monica’s connections to The Morrison Hotel chain and the Fairchilds’ unlimited ability to use the air as their private freeway was equivalent to her suggesting she pay for gas when it was under three dollars a gallon  . . . No, hon, we’ve got it this time.
    Now . . . here she was moving from a private plane to a waiting town car for a date that was apparently going to take place in San Francisco.
    Who did that? Who took their dates to San Francisco from LA?
    Glen, apparently.
    The town car didn’t take them far. In fact . . . it didn’t take them anywhere at all. She’d no sooner reclined in her seat than the car stopped and someone opened her door.
    “What is this?”
    Glen shrugged. “A helicopter. The drive in would take an hour at this time of day.”
    Mary simply shook her head and popped this into her memory book.
    The helicopter required her to put on a big set of earphones to talk. “I’m officially using you now,” she told him.
    He shook his head with an unconvinced smile. “It’s not using if you’re going along for the unexpected ride.”
    She didn’t agree.
    Flying never bothered her. In fact, the thrill of the takeoff and landing on a normal plane always made her smile. She didn’t worry about crashing. She was pragmatic enough to know that more people died on the freeway en route to the airport each year than those who died in the air. The helicopter was an extension of a roller coaster at a theme park. The vertical, the horizontal, the tiny dip to the side. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much. She didn’t even care that the silly earphones were probably messing up her hair.
    “If you took all your dates out like this, you’d be married by now.” The noise inside the earphones was tinny and full of the sound of wind.
    “Getting married requires more than a helicopter ride.”
    “Women can be crafty. You should watch out.”
    “For other women?”
    She nodded and glanced at the city fast approaching.
    “I’m on a date with you and you’re talking about other women.”
    She glanced over her shoulder and caught his shocked eyes. “Oh, don’t give me that look. We will get along a whole lot better if you don’t pretend you don’t date often.”
    Shock gave way to acceptance.
    Mary turned back to her window. “Lying is a deal breaker, Glen. I think you should know that.”
    “Then I won’t lie.”
    She took in his chiseled jaw once again. “What about you? Any deal breakers?”
    He opened his mouth—
    “No, let me guess.”
    He closed it.
    “Users.”
    He pointed one finger in the air and smiled.

    The Top of the Mark sat on Nob Hill in the Mark Hopkins Hotel. The view of the city was remarkable. Other than a helicopter hovering over, this was the best view money could buy.
    The lounge had a fair number of guests with an accomplished pianist entertaining the room.
    The first course of their evening would take place here.
    Glen requested a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and smiled as he sat across from Mary to enjoy it.
    “Wow.”
    “My favorite West Coast city,” Glen confessed.
    “I can see why.”
    “Don’t tell me this is your first time.”
    Mary quickly shook her head.