Cinderella Substitute (15 page)

They started to dance to the music. He could feel her standing stiff and ramrod straight in his arms.

"Relax, Jenni, it's just a dance." He heard the indignant hiss of her breath and took the opportunity to pull her closer.

She remained rigid in his grasp, then relaxed a little and 137

The Cinderella Substitute

by Nell Dixon

leaned into him. Her body felt soft and warm against his. He smelt the faint vanilla perfume she always wore.

"Why are you doing this, Nate?" she murmured against his ear, her voice breathy with an emotion he couldn't define.

"We need to talk. About you and me." He surprised himself by his choice of words, but he knew he had to make Jenni listen to him. The song ended and he felt her move out of his reach.

"Time for you to be Santa." She hadn't given him any indication of whether she might be prepared to hear him out or not.

"Promise me we'll talk."

He noticed her swallow as if nerves had made her throat as dry as his own.

"Alright, but you'd better go and change." Nate nodded. If Jenni had given him her word he knew she wouldn't break it.

He hurried upstairs to change into the Santa suit and collect the gifts. He just hoped he would be able to find the right words.

* * * *

Jenni watched him go with a troubled heart. What had she let herself in for? Hadn't it been just a few days ago he had told her in this very building
"I was in love once'
? She flinched. The words still had the power to hurt her. After everything he had gone through with Cerys, he wasn't looking for the kind of relationship that Jenni knew she wanted. The kind of relationship she deserved. One where she was loved 138

The Cinderella Substitute

by Nell Dixon

for who
she
was and not some ghostly imitation of another woman.

At last it had ended. The last of the guests had gone. Jenni and Nate remained alone. She felt dead on her feet. The strain of the evening sucked all the emotion out of her, leaving her lifeless and numb. The bar staff remained busy collecting the last of the empty glasses. Jenni felt as flat as the champagne dregs.

Jenni didn't want to talk to him. She felt sure she knew already some of the things he would say. How he could never fall in love with anyone again, and how it might be better if she looked for another post in the New Year.

"I've ordered coffee for us." Nate came over to where Jenni sat in a small alcove that overlooked the gardens.

"I'm so tired, Nate. I think I'd just like to go to bed." Jenni wished her heart would stop its painful thumping every time she looked at him. Even dressed as Santa Claus, he was sexy.

He raked his hand irritably through his hair. "We need to sort things out between the two of us, Jenni."

"There's nothing to say, Nate." To her dismay, she burst into tears.

He sank down beside her on the couch. "We can't turn back the clock, Jenni. Is that what you'd like to do?" His eyes locked with hers.

"I..." Her voice failed her and she shrugged lost in misery.

She could see their reflections in the window pane, a tired woman in a blue velvet gown and a handsome man dressed as Santa Claus. Two strangers framed in a gold glow, like the scene on a Christmas card. "I just can't go on like this, Nate.

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I don't want to be anyone's second best and I know that's all I will ever be to you."

She watched the color drain from his face, leaving him pale and ashen in the mellow light of the alcove lamp.

"That's not true, Jenni. After the time we've spent together, you must know that." His eyes darkened with anguish. "Is there someone else, Jenni? Does Mike Walker mean something to you?"

"You know he doesn't." She felt astonished that he could still have any doubts about her feelings for Mike.

"Then what else do I have to do to convince you, Jenni?"

His voice shook with suppressed emotion. "I love you."

She was desperate to believe him but how could she? "No, you don't! You loved Cerys, everyone knows that. I'm just Jenni, the mousy girl in your office, remember. The one who gets to go play pool and eat pizza."

"Cerys is my past, Jenni. You taught me that." He rubbed his face. "I love you, Jenni. You and your silly Christmas tree and lousy flower arranging. I love the way you play pool and walk round a freezing field in the dark with my stupid dog. I love
you
."

"I'm not right for you, Nate. You need someone like Jo Marchant, someone sophisticated and elegant. I'm not like that."

He rounded on her, "Are you listening to anything I'm saying to you? I love you, Jenni. You're worth ten of Jo Marchant any day. Don't you see? Cerys was the one who was the imitation of what love should be about, not you."

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Jenni stared at him, struggling to accept what he had just told her.
Nate loved her.

"If you don't feel the same way then say so, Jenni. I know I've been an idiot, but over the last few weeks I've finally come to appreciate what love really is. You've shown me that because for me, that person is you."

The anguished note in his voice betrayed the depth of his feelings.

"Oh, Nate." She slipped her arms around his neck. She thought of all the things he'd done for her, the risks he'd taken. The truth had been there in front of her face and her own self-doubt had blinded her.

"I love you, Jennifer Blake." He slipped from the edge of the sofa to kneel at her feet. "I love you, and I'm asking you if you'll do me the honor of becoming my wife."

She leaned forward and kissed him tenderly on the lips. A fierce hunger swept through her at the brief contact, setting her heart soaring free from the iron bands of pain which had tormented her for so long. "I love you, Nate, and I would be honored to accept."

"Of course, there is one thing," she added.

A shadow passed over his face, "What's that?"

"Well, I will have to make sure it's you inside that suit. I don't want to end up as Mrs. Claus by mistake," she said. "It's not every day a girl gets a proposal from Santa."

His eyes sparked at her words, "If you marry me, Jenni, I promise you can check as many times as you like." He swept her into his arms and sealed his promise with a kiss that took her breath away.

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"You're the only one I want, Nate. Now and for the rest of our lives," she promised.

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by Nell Dixon

Coming Soon

from

Moonlit Romance

Blue Plate Special: Pops' Girls: Janie, Learning to
Trust by Laura Hamby

Janie Powell is a woman on the run. Leaving an abusive ex-fiance behind, forming attachments is low on her list of priorities. However, a certain hardware store owner with the most amazing eyes tempts her resolve. Learning to trust him and embracing the future requires nerves of steel. Will her past let her go?

Myles Channing has his hands full with high-maintenance women. Besides being a woman who needs love and nurturing, Janie is a woman Myles himself could fall in love with easily. Will he be able to teach her to trust men again, him in particular?

Available April 2006

Blue Plate Special: Pops' Girls: Cindi, Lessons in Love
by Shara Jones

Struggling waitress and surrogate mother to her younger brother, Cindi Petroneli will do anything to help Ryan—

including reluctantly hiring handsome college professor, Steve Richland as his tutor. Determined to rely on no man, can she resist when her resolve is tested by the sexy-as-sin professor and his LESSONS IN LOVE?

143

The Cinderella Substitute

by Nell Dixon

Steve Richland is passing time in small town Glen Meadow until his California dream job comes through. Providing math and baseball instructions to Ryan keeps him in sexy Cindi's playing field, but will it keep him from leaving Glen Meadow and surrendering his freedom for fatherhood?

Available May 2006

Blue Plate Special: Pops' Girls: Katie, Learning to
Live by Meg Allison

Katie Marie Morrison hides behind a flirtatous mask as she serves burgers and peach cobbler at Pops' Dinner. Her bright smile and sarcastic wit hides the devastating knowledge she was just a one-night-stand for the one man she ever loved.

Jeff McAlester, her only lover, returns home for good. But timing is everything and it's Katie who's now ready to leave.

Despite their rekindled love, she doesn't want to stay. Can Jeff, the man with bluer-than-blue eyes and highly-charged kisses, help Katie learn to live a little ... the old fashioned way with a white picket fence and Happily Ever After?

Available June 2006

If you are connected to the Internet, take a moment to rate this eBook by going back to your bookshelf at www.fictionwise.com.

144

Document Outline

• Moonlit Romance
  
• www.moonlitromance.com
  
• Copyright ©2006 by Nell Dixon
  
• NOTICE: This eBook is licensed to the original purchaser onl
  
• This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons.
  
• Distributed by Fictionwise.com
  
• The Cinderella Substitute
  
• by
  
• Nell Dixon
  
• Moonlit Romance Publishing
  
• Rich, Arkansas
  
• Contemporary Romance
  
• For David who always believed in me and Jessica Foote, witho
  
• The Cinderella Substitute
  
• Copyright 2006 Nell Dixon All Rights Reserved
  
• Published by Moonlit Romance Publishing, Rich, Arkansas, USA
  
• All characters and circumstances are the invention of the au
  
• Moonlit Romance Publishing is a small publisher of quality r
  
• CHAPTER ONE
  
• Nate jabbed the buzzer on his desk for the third time. Where
  
• What could be keeping her? Today of all days he needed to ge
  
• He opened the door to her office and saw her in her usual se
  
• "Jenni?"
  
• He moved round the desk to take a better look. A pile of pos
  
• "What's the matter? Are you ill?"
  
• Nate couldn't imagine why his super-efficient personal secre
  
• She shook her head and he caught a glimpse of tears on her p
  
• "I'm all right." She wiped the tears away from under her gla
  
• Nate sighed. "Well you don't look it," he remarked. In fact,
  
• "You're not doing one of those faddy diets?" He hoped he'd h
  
• She blinked with astonishment and glared at him. "No!"
  
• Nate settled back onto the edge of her desk and folded his a
  
• "Good. You're skinny enough. In fact, he ran a critical eye
  
• He felt a momentary pang of guilt. How come he hadn't notice
  
• "Boyfriend trouble?" he suggested, confident that he'd manag
  
• "Nate!" The colour returned to her pale face and her express
  
• "So do I get an explanation?" He tapped his foot against the
  
• "I'm not sure that you do, to be honest," she said, sounding
  
• He made a mental note to be more considerate of her social l
  
• "Maybe I'd better deal with the rest of the post and then we
  
• "No!" Her quick snatch took him by surprise. "Erm, that is,
  
• "Jenni, what's going on?" Her strange behaviour bothered him
  
• She hesitated. "I got a letter from my mother."
  
• For a moment he questioned her sanity. Dead people didn't wr
  
• "Remember I asked if it would be all right to use the office
  
• It came back to him then, a late night conversation after wo
  
• "She wrote back to you?"
  
• "I sent a letter with a self-addressed envelope. I thought i
  
• "You haven't opened it."
  
• She licked her lips and with a desultory shrug of her should
  
• An overwhelming rush of pity surged through Nate. He knew fr
  
• "Do you want me to open it?" He made the offer before he had
  
• "I..." She hovered for a moment, and then pushed the envelop
  
• He ripped it open and thought at first the woman had merely
  
• "What's the matter? What does it say?" Jenni's slender frame
  
• He spoke quickly to reassure her. "It's all right. She wants
  
• Jenni read it through, then glanced up at him with a worried
  
• "Do you know the café she's talking about?" Nate was deeply
  
• "I think so. It's on the other side of town. Near where the
  
• He knew the area she meant. The buildings appeared run-down
  
• "I'm coming with you tomorrow." He noted Jenni looked stunne
  
• "That's very kind of you, Nate, but I'll be fine," she stamm
  
• "It wasn't a suggestion, Jen. I'm coming with you. It's a ba
  
• "It's Saturday tomorrow, Nate. You can't give up your day of
  
• "Really, it's no big deal. I haven't anything planned and yo
  
• She smiled at him, taking him by surprise.
  
• "Well thanks anyway, Nate. It's really nice of you and I do
  
• * * * *
  
• After Nate had departed to his own office, Jenni stashed her
  
• Why had she become so emotional over that letter? Nate must
  
• Jenni sighed as she crossed the room to switch the coffee ma
  
• The phone on her desk rang, making her switch her mind back
  
• Sure enough, a few minutes later the door of his office flew
  
• "Jenni, get your coat! We're going on a site visit."
  
• She grabbed her handbag ready to shove her notebook and Dict
  
• "River Park. Anywhere, as long as I'm away from interfering.
  
• She pulled her coat on hurriedly and followed as he strode d
  
• Only when they were several miles away from the office did N
  
• A pang of sadness pierced her heart. He must have loved Cery
  
• The car slowed and stopped at traffic lights. Jenni noticed
  
• "That's the Café!" The words jolted out of her mouth before
  
• It wasn't a cosy tearoom with chintz-covered tables. Layers
  
• "That's where your mother wants to meet you?" Nate's voice w
  
• "Afraid so." To her dismay, her voice sounded brittle. She w
  
• She tried to picture herself and Nate entering the grubby li
  
• His inner radar must have detected her doubts.
  
• "It'll be all right Jen." He sounded so sure that she couldn
  
• "It just doesn't seem like the kind of venue that would enti
  
• "It also doesn't seem like the kind of place you would be sa
  
• They pulled up in one of the newly completed car parks outsi
  
• Nate called the site foreman on his mobile to let him know t
  
• A short tour of inspection and a flurry of phone calls later
  
• "I dare say you'll be glad to get back to your office today.
  
• Jenni shivered as they headed back to the car. Nate frowned
  
• "I think Mr Doughty has a point. You look awful, Jen."
  
• "Well, thank you! You sure know how to make a girl feel good
  
• Nate raised one dark eyebrow at her uncharacteristic outburs
  
• She pushed her glasses back onto the bridge of her nose and
  
• "Okay, I'm not going to argue with you." He unlocked the car
  
• "It's almost lunchtime. Do you want me to get sandwiches?" S
  
• "And when did you last fetch yourself a sandwich?" he accuse
  
• Her cheeks heated with a guilty flush. The truth was she cou
  
• She noticed they weren't heading back towards the city. "Whe
  
• "To get lunch," he said shortly.
  
• She did a rapid mental calculation of how much money she had
  
• He threw her a look of amazement. "I'm buying. Consider it p
  
• The road they ended up on narrowed into a single lane track.
  
• Jenni felt unusually nervous as Nate helped her down the hig
  
• The light pressure of his fingers on her gloved hand disturb
  
• "Are you sure you're well, Jen?" He gave her a puzzled look.
  
• "Fine." She found the lie tripped off her tongue, well aware
  
• He led the way into the pub. The landlord called to him in r
  
• As she sat down and slipped off her coat and gloves, Nate or
  
• "I thought it would warm you up," he said, when she gave him
  
• Jenni suppressed a sigh. That would teach her to skimp on ma
  
• The menu arrived and she studied it with care. A hot meal wo
  
• "Choose what you want, Jen." Blushing, she realised he'd mis
  
• "I'd like the steak and kidney pudding, please."
  
• He smiled at her in approval and asked for the same dish for
  
• She sipped her drink while she relished the warmth from the
  
• "I come here with Rufus after I've walked him down by the ri
  
• She looked at the oak beams and the tasteful decorations sur
  
• "It's nice," she said and meant it. It was nice, nice to esc
  
• "It's been a strange day today." She spoke without thinking.
  
• "Well, I guess we'll find out tomorrow." His dark blue eyes
  
• The meal arrived and saved her from answering. She did know
  
• She shoved the memory away and began to eat. The pie was goo
  
• "I guess you were hungry after all then?" Intent on her food
  
• Flustered, she didn't know what to say. Social situations al
  
• "Relax, Jen, I was teasing you." He smiled at her, obviously
  
• Hesitantly, she smiled back. "I suppose I was hungrier than
  
• He looked so different when he smiled—younger, and the shado
  
• Shocked by her thoughts, she called a halt right there. Nate
  
• Later on, feeling warmer and fuller, they emerged into the d
  
• "It's not worth going back to the office. We've put in enoug
  
• She guessed it wasn't his real reason for not wanting to ret
  
• "Well, if you're sure. You're the boss!" If she were honest
  
• "What time do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?" He took
  
• "Um, I thought maybe one o'clock. I'd like to be there a bit
  
• He nodded a reply while negotiating the car through a narrow
  
• "Where along here do you live?" He'd never been to her area
  
• "Over there." She indicated the small parade of shop fronts
  
• She could see him looking for her home. As she viewed the st
  
• "So where is your flat?"
  
• The shop fronts looked scruffy and neglected in the gloomy w
  
• "I live above the hairdresser's. There's my door, by the pos
  
• Nate gave her a curious look and she knew he had to be wonde
  
• "Well, thanks again for lunch. It was really nice." She rele
  
• "My pleasure. I'll see you tomorrow, Jen."
  
• She knew he must be thinking her rude, but she simply couldn
  
• The cold wind hit her face as she climbed out of the car. Na
  
• "Get an early night and don't worry about tomorrow. Everythi
  
• Jenni left the security of his presence behind and crossed t
  
• CHAPTER TWO
  
• Nate woke with a cry. His heart raced, and drops of sweat be
  
• He slid out of the clammy cotton sheets and headed for the b
  
• He debated the idea of making himself a drink and returning
  
• * * * *
  
• Jenni had spent a restless night. She had lain awake till th
  
• To her surprise the last question had robbed her of nearly a
  
• She had always been aware of Nate attractiveness, but becaus
  
• She shook her head at her fancifulness, and concentrated on
  
• With a deep breath for courage, she pushed open the dented l
  
• Her adoptive father's voice rang in her head. "What kind of
  
• She pushed the piece of paper carefully to one side and sear
  
• After a shower, Jenni surveyed her wardrobe gloomily as she
  
• He had already roped her in to organize everything. She knew
  
• The morning dragged by, although with the number of times Je
  
• The unexpected sound of the downstairs buzzer threw her into
  
• As she opened the downstairs door to the cold wintry day, a
  
• "I took the liberty of bringing you these." Nate sounded muf
  
• "Well, um ... Thank you." Jenni stammered with confusion. No
  
• "I don't suppose I could come in? It's rather cold out here.
  
• Mortified by her bad manners, she accepted the bouquet and u
  
• Flustered, she hunted in her tiny kitchen for a container. E
  
• Nate had removed his leather jacket and sat down on the corn
  
• "Can I get you a drink of anything before we go? I think we'
  
• "A cup of tea would be nice. At least I know you're better a
  
• "Oh, no!" Jenni dived to rescue it and restore it to the con
  
• She scuttled into the kitchen before Nate could comment on h
  
• With the tea made and feeling calmer, she carried the drinks
  
• "Are the paintings your own work?"
  
• Anxiety welled up inside Jenni as she watched him examine he
  
• "These are very good." The genuine admiration in Nate's tone
  
• "You really like them?" She had always done little pictures
  
• "They're very good, Jenni. I didn't realize I had such a tal
  
• Aware she must have a smile like a Cheshire cat, she blushed
  
• He drained his mug then examined his watch. "We ought to lea
  
• With a few quick gulps she swallowed the rest of her drink.
  
• As she climbed into Nate's car, she saw him through new eyes
  
• She pushed her glasses back up to the bridge of her nose and
  
• Halfway to the café, an urge to stop the car and run away sw
  
• Nate parked the car a couple of streets away from the café.
  
• The establishment appeared deserted, except for the sulky-fa
  
• "Do you have any idea what she looks like, Jenni?" he asked
  
• She reached inside her bag for the precious photograph. He s
  
• "You have the same eyes." He sounded thoughtful.
  
• Jenni tucked the photograph back inside her bag, and continu
  
• Nate chatted amiably to while away the time—light, inconsequ