Read Online A Ring for Cinderella by Judy Christenberry - Free Book Online
Authors: Judy Christenberry
Ads: Link
the house,” Kate added.
Zach clenched his jaw, as if she’d insulted him. “Thanks, but I’ve already made reservations.”
“Then we’ll see you tonight. Susan knows the way,” Kate returned, staring back at him.
“Damn it, how much more family do you have?” he demanded as soon as they were in his rental car.
“That’s it, except for their husbands. Oh, and they have three darling children between them.”
“Didn’t you explain to them that the marriage isn’t real? That we signed an agreement?”
“Yes, of course I did,” she protested.
“Then why were they vetting me? I didn’t expect that.” And he didn’t much like it. The redhead, Kate, had looked at him as if she didn’t trust him.
“I didn’t expect anyone to tell them,” Susan retorted, anger in her voice. “If you hadn’t decided to announce to the world that we were married, it wouldn’t have happened.”
He didn’t have anything else to say. He was guilty. But the woman had been reluctant to call Susan to the phone. Okay, so he’d been impatient. He wasn’t used to people telling him no.
He particularly didn’t like being told no in regard to the woman beside him. He was having to tell himself no often enough. No, to touching her. No, to claiming her as his own. No, to taking her to bed.
Why should he have to put up with a no from someone else?
He parked the car outside an expensive restaurant on the Plaza, the famous outdoor shopping mall in Kansas City. No words were spoken as they entered the restaurant and an attentive waiter showed them to a table.
He waited until they’d ordered before he spoke again. “Look, Susan, let’s put all this family stuff aside. There’s no point in arguing over things that don’t matter.” He drew a breath of relief when she nodded in agreement.
“Okay. I’m going to the hospital after lunch. Then I’ll pick you up at your place at—I don’t know how far it is to your sister’s house.”
“Not far. About fifteen minutes.”
“Where do they live?”
“Near the Plaza.”
He frowned. “Pretty pricey digs. They have a lot of money?”
“Why?”
Damn it, the woman was staring at him with a suspicious expression on her face. “Just curious. Did you think I was planning a robbery or something?”
She shrugged her shoulders and looked away, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. “So...so you’ll pick me up around five-thirty or a little after?” She started to get up.
“Yeah. Where are you going? We haven’t eaten yet.”
“Oh. I—I forgot,” she whispered, revealing her nervousness.
He reached out and covered her hand with his, feeling it tremble. “Hey, sunshine, quit worrying. You’re doing a good thing. I’ve already talked to Gramp this morning. He’s feeling better than he has the entire past six months.”
She nodded and tugged on her hand.
“Any problems at work this morning?”
She seemed surprised by his question. “No, of course not.”
“How long have you worked there?”
“Just a little over a week.”
The waitress brought their food, but Zach didn’t let the conversation drop. In no time, he’d wormed the information out of her about her previous job and the sexual harassment she’d suffered.
“Hey, they’ve got laws against that!”
“Yes, but I need a salary coming in. I couldn’t afford to fight that battle.”
There was no whining or self-pity. Just a matter-of-fact explanation. He hated the thought that some man had treated her so badly, but he understood why it had happened. She was beautiful. More than beautiful, she gave the appearance of something gentle and...and precious. Strange word for him to use, but it described her.
“Well, at least you know that won’t happen now, working for your sister.”
“Yes, I’m quite lucky.”
None of the women he’d dated—or married—
would consider herself lucky to live in a run-down apartment supporting two siblings. Another interesting
Zach clenched his jaw, as if she’d insulted him. “Thanks, but I’ve already made reservations.”
“Then we’ll see you tonight. Susan knows the way,” Kate returned, staring back at him.
“Damn it, how much more family do you have?” he demanded as soon as they were in his rental car.
“That’s it, except for their husbands. Oh, and they have three darling children between them.”
“Didn’t you explain to them that the marriage isn’t real? That we signed an agreement?”
“Yes, of course I did,” she protested.
“Then why were they vetting me? I didn’t expect that.” And he didn’t much like it. The redhead, Kate, had looked at him as if she didn’t trust him.
“I didn’t expect anyone to tell them,” Susan retorted, anger in her voice. “If you hadn’t decided to announce to the world that we were married, it wouldn’t have happened.”
He didn’t have anything else to say. He was guilty. But the woman had been reluctant to call Susan to the phone. Okay, so he’d been impatient. He wasn’t used to people telling him no.
He particularly didn’t like being told no in regard to the woman beside him. He was having to tell himself no often enough. No, to touching her. No, to claiming her as his own. No, to taking her to bed.
Why should he have to put up with a no from someone else?
He parked the car outside an expensive restaurant on the Plaza, the famous outdoor shopping mall in Kansas City. No words were spoken as they entered the restaurant and an attentive waiter showed them to a table.
He waited until they’d ordered before he spoke again. “Look, Susan, let’s put all this family stuff aside. There’s no point in arguing over things that don’t matter.” He drew a breath of relief when she nodded in agreement.
“Okay. I’m going to the hospital after lunch. Then I’ll pick you up at your place at—I don’t know how far it is to your sister’s house.”
“Not far. About fifteen minutes.”
“Where do they live?”
“Near the Plaza.”
He frowned. “Pretty pricey digs. They have a lot of money?”
“Why?”
Damn it, the woman was staring at him with a suspicious expression on her face. “Just curious. Did you think I was planning a robbery or something?”
She shrugged her shoulders and looked away, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. “So...so you’ll pick me up around five-thirty or a little after?” She started to get up.
“Yeah. Where are you going? We haven’t eaten yet.”
“Oh. I—I forgot,” she whispered, revealing her nervousness.
He reached out and covered her hand with his, feeling it tremble. “Hey, sunshine, quit worrying. You’re doing a good thing. I’ve already talked to Gramp this morning. He’s feeling better than he has the entire past six months.”
She nodded and tugged on her hand.
“Any problems at work this morning?”
She seemed surprised by his question. “No, of course not.”
“How long have you worked there?”
“Just a little over a week.”
The waitress brought their food, but Zach didn’t let the conversation drop. In no time, he’d wormed the information out of her about her previous job and the sexual harassment she’d suffered.
“Hey, they’ve got laws against that!”
“Yes, but I need a salary coming in. I couldn’t afford to fight that battle.”
There was no whining or self-pity. Just a matter-of-fact explanation. He hated the thought that some man had treated her so badly, but he understood why it had happened. She was beautiful. More than beautiful, she gave the appearance of something gentle and...and precious. Strange word for him to use, but it described her.
“Well, at least you know that won’t happen now, working for your sister.”
“Yes, I’m quite lucky.”
None of the women he’d dated—or married—
would consider herself lucky to live in a run-down apartment supporting two siblings. Another interesting
Similar Books
