Cinderella Busted (The Cinderella Romances #1) (4 page)

Cinderella
.

Tammy was right. Tammy was always right.

Lily punched in Rhett’s number and turned off the interior light. With the darkness came a jolt of panic. What if he didn’t answer? He was arguably the most important executive on the entire eastern seaboard. Why should he wait around for her call? What if something better had come up? Or
someone
better? He probably had a hundred girlfriends.

Rhett answered on the second ring, and her heart woggled wildly in her chest. “I was afraid you’d changed your mind,” he said. “Where are you?”

Lily felt her whole face pull into a wide grin. He had worried, too. How cool was
that
? Considering who
he
was. “I’m sorry I’m a bit late.”

It was Tammy’s idea to make you sweat, but I can’t tell you that
.

“If I’m still invited, I’m at the corner of Gomes and Estrada.”

“Of course you’re invited,” he said quickly. “Come down three more streets to Larkin and take a right, second house on the right. I’m out front waiting for you.”

Lily heaved a loud and contented sigh. The way he said
waiting for you
made every single vertebra in her spine quiver in unison.

“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” she said breathlessly and didn’t even flinch at her inability to sound cool and calm.

Rhett Buchanan was waiting for
her
, and if his voice alone did that to her, what would his touch do? She felt her grin stretch even wider. For tonight, she
was
Cinderella. She intended to enjoy every minute and hope Prince Charming didn’t pry enough to find out she was a gardener.

At least she
felt
beautiful, arrayed in the brand new cocktail dress she and Tammy flew over to Niemen Marcus to purchase that afternoon. Two hundred dollars’ worth of black chiffon in horizontal tiers with a silver pendant of cubic zirconia stones and matching drop earrings. Tammy had also found a pair of sexy black sandals for her, not too tall since Lily didn’t often wear heels. An outfit worth every penny she had spent.

“Well, here goes everything,” she murmured and put the Porsche in gear. “Please, Lord, just let me have a good time this one night.”

She made the turn as directed and found the entire street lined with cars on both sides. The second house on the right was lit up like a Christmas tree, and as promised, Rhett waited in the middle of the front yard. Attired in a navy blue suit, cream-colored shirt, and dark tie, he looked every inch the billionaire.

Good grief, Lily! The richest man in Florida is waiting out front for you like a high-school boy at a birthday party
.

She forced herself to breathe. Why, oh why couldn’t Rhett be poor, so they could have a chance together? She didn’t want to like him because there could be no future for them. But just looking at him made her feel tingly all over.

Just one night. Keep telling yourself that, Lily
.
Just one night.

She slowed to a stop in front of the house, unsure what to do since there was not a parking place in sight. Rhett spotted her immediately and hand-signaled someone in front of the house as he strode toward the Porsche. A valet jogged to the Porsche, and Rhett reached her side by the time the man climbed in the driver’s seat.

Rhett slid the valet a bill. “Don’t let anything happen to the young lady’s car.”

The valet grinned and took off.

Rhett took Lily’s hand in his. His touch felt warm and confident. He pressed a kiss against her knuckles and smiled. “I’m so glad you came.”

Her hand felt white hot at the spot where his lips had touched her skin, and she yearned to reach out and touch the spot. She felt dizzy and weak-kneed and couldn’t ever remember anyone gallantly kissing her hand.

“Me, too,” she said and inwardly groaned at her ineloquent response. “I mean, thank you so much for inviting me.”

He didn’t move and stared as though he were memorizing her features. She could drink in the sight of him all night, and his sensual gaze did funny things to her heart. Good grief, was this what the poets meant by
love at first sight
?

No, no, no. Just one night, Lily. Just one night
.

“You look stunning,” Rhett said finally and stepped back to scan the dress, too.

She felt the grin explode onto her face, both ineloquent and involuntary. No help for it. “Thank you.”

Gracious, did he still have hold of her hand? How had she missed that? Without thinking, she squeezed his fingers, and his eyes immediately twinkled, then darkened. He leaned in and gently brushed his lips across hers like a stealth bomber on a strafing run, mission over almost as soon as it began.

Before disappointment could filter to her brain, his lips pressed again—more firmly now—and she felt the tip of his tongue part her lips. The only other part of him touching her was the strong hand enveloping hers. His tongue gently played with hers, their lips together with only a fine pressure, and the tingling sensuality made her sway. His other hand cupped her elbow as he pulled away.

“Steady?” he asked softly.

She nodded, completely incapable of speech or even breathing for that matter.

How embarrassing.

“I hope my kiss did that,” he said, his voice whisper-smooth.

Her chagrin evaporated. She smiled and willed air into her lungs.

“I wanted to stake my claim before I took you inside and was forced to introduce you to anyone.” His eyes twinkled again. “I remember how you affected me the first time I laid eyes on you, and I don’t want anyone inside getting any ideas.”

Shoot me now, and I’ll die happy
.

Her heart bucked wildly behind her ribs, and she wanted to ask,
how did I affect you?
But no words would come with her heart performing wild-mustang pirouettes and making it hard to breathe again. So she kept silent, desperate to look poised and elegant for this sensual man. She settled for what she hoped was a dignified smile.

He smiled back. “All right, let’s head inside. Remember, you’re with me.”

Prince Charming refused to let go of her hand, and Lily trembled with pure unadulterated joy for the first time in her life.

“Who the hell is that?” Delia Armstead hissed into Garrett’s ear and dug her fingernails into his arm.

She nodded toward the front door, and he followed her gaze. Rhett Buchanan guided a breath-taking blonde down the three steps into Delia’s massive great room, and Garrett quickly stifled the smile guaranteed to drive Delia’s claws in deeper. Small wonder his boss had trouble concentrating this afternoon.

Of course, Rhett would argue if Garrett voiced that thought aloud. The man had a mind like steel trap, and you never had to tell him something twice. Rhett Buchanan was the smartest man Garrett had ever known, and he long ago decided Rhett possessed a photographic memory.

But not today.

Garrett had been repeating himself ever since Rhett got back from the nursery, and Rhett’s mind had wandered off
twice
in their conference call with the Rome office that afternoon. Now Garrett knew why, or rather he could
see
why.

Delia’s father, Chester Armstead, had cornered their special guest Grant Horning on the far side of the room, and Rhett was slowly working his way that direction, stopping to snag a couple glasses of wine off a passing tray carried by one of the half-dozen waiters Delia had hired for the night.

“Well?” Delia hissed.

“I don’t know. Never saw her before in my life.”

“How
dare
he bring another woman into
my
home?” she snapped.

Garrett wondered about that himself. The move was definitely gutsy even for Rhett. He slanted a sideways glance at Delia and grimaced. Men usually considered Delia a beauty with her sleek dark hair and violet eyes, but at the moment, her rage had melded her features into a mask resembling The Wicked Witch from Oz. Man, what a transformation.

She yanked his arm and spun him sideways. “You
have
to know something,” she snapped. “You’re his best friend. Cough it up.”

“I don’t know anything other than he met a woman at the nursery today when he went to inspect our tree shipment, and he invited her to the party.”

“
My
party,” she said, glaring. “What nursery? Since when does Rhett inspect tree shipments? That’s your job.”

“Bloom & Grow is a nursery in Jupiter, and it’s a long story, but the nursery requires the actual owner to approve final stock selections.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she fumed.

“Yes, that’s what Rhett said, too.”

Until he got lucky
.

“What’s so funny?” Her hands were on her hips now, not a good sign.

“Not a damn thing,” he said, trying to look grim and unsure whether he succeeded.

“Well, you’re going to introduce me to her,” Delia said and slipped her hand through his arm.

Garrett pulled away. “Like hell I will. I’m not getting in the middle of this.”

She snatched him back, lightning fast. “Yes, you are. Or did you forget I set up this whole party just so the two of you could schmooze Horning.”

“No, Delia,” he replied calmly, “you volunteered to give the party, so you could sink your hooks back into Rhett. Now that you’ve dumped your polo player.”

“You’re horrible,” she hissed, refusing to let go of him.

“No, just truthful and your father wanted to schmooze Horning as much as we did. But I’ll introduce you if you’ll leave me alone and leave me out of this. After the introduction, I’m walking away, and you’re on your own.”

“Fine,” she said curtly and urged him forward.

Lily spotted a face she recognized and felt a spate of panic. The man who worked with Tammy picking out Rhett’s trees was walking straight toward her, and the gorgeous woman on his arm had her gaze locked on Rhett. Lily’s jig was up.

Rhett turned as the couple approached, and he reached for her hand. Was he staking his claim again? If so, Lily sure didn’t mind.

“Good evening, Rhett.” Tammy’s client was almost as handsome as Rhett, similar in height and build, blond where Rhett was dark. His smile looked positively devious.

“Garrett,” Rhett said, then nodded at the beauty. “Delia.” He turned to Lily with a tender, almost apologetic smile. “Lily Foster, this is Garrett Tucker and our hostess, Delia Armstead.”

Tucker shook Lily’s hand. “Very pleased to meet you, Ms. Foster.”

The woman’s hand shot out, and a look in her eyes made Lily hesitate before clasping the hand in her own. Delia Armstead was either an old girlfriend of Rhett’s or would like to be his new girlfriend. Her handshake was strong and intended to make Lily wince before she tugged free.

“Pleased to meet you,” Lily murmured.

The woman said nothing.

“I’m going to go freshen my drink,” Tucker announced suddenly and scooted off through the crowd, muttering something that sounded like, "ten bucks."

Unfortunately, the beauty didn’t follow him. Instead, she sidled around to Rhett’s other side and slipped an arm through his.

“How’ve you been, Rhett?” she asked silkily. “I’ve missed you.”

One question answered. Delia was a girlfriend. The next question was
old girlfriend
or
still a girlfriend?

“What do you think of my redecorating in here?” Delia purred, easing into Rhett’s side. “I hired Lawson from Palm Beach to do it since I was so pleased with the work he did on the solarium.”

“It looks very nice,” he said matter-of-factly.

Lily tried to tug her hand free, but Rhett’s grip was like steel. That helped to soothe the inexplicable hurt she felt, but not much. He had escorted her to a party at his
girlfriend’s
house, and on their first date no less! She inwardly seethed.

“I want to go freshen my drink, too,” she said, angrier still that her voice held an edge. “You two catch up. I’ll be right back.”

Rhett had no choice but to let her go now or be rude to his hostess. Lily scooted free this time and headed straight for the bar without a backward glance. She couldn’t bear to see the woman’s hands on Rhett.

And already, too
.
Boy, had that infatuation hit fast.

She closed in on the bar and noticed a double set of open French doors leading out to the patio.
An exit
. She immediately formed her plan. Quick stop at the bar for looks, then out to the patio, around the side of the house, and grab a valet to find Rob’s Porsche.

She felt like an absolute loon. She’d known Rhett all of seven hours, and she felt crushed by the fact he had another girlfriend.

“A chardonnay, please,” she said, after the hired bartender handed off a requested scotch rocks to the gentleman in front of her.

“We have a choice—”

“Any is fine,” she said, cutting the bartender off.

“Delia’s famous for her wine collection,” a deep baritone voice said from her left. “You shouldn’t’ve been so quick.”

Lily slanted a furtive glance from beneath her lashes. Had Scotch Rocks said that? The man hadn’t moved far, and he was turned slightly toward her, so just in case, she said aloud to no one in particular, “I didn’t feel like making choices tonight.”

Scotch Rocks ignored her and shifted away, so Lily refocused on the bartender. “Thank you,” she said and accepted the glass of chardonnay he handed over.

She took her first step toward the terrace doors when the baritone stopped her again. “We didn’t get introduced yet.”

Etiquette held her in place. She half-turned, looking for Scotch Rocks, when she saw a large tanned hand extended her direction.

“Aidan Cross,” the baritone offered.

She stared down at the hand for the span of two heartbeats, then followed the hand up a well-muscled arm to broad shoulders and finally to a brilliant, devil-may-care smile—mentally noting the man must be dangerous in the ladies’ competition with a smile like that, to say nothing of the blond-streaked curls and dark eyes.