Cinderella Substitute (16 page)
Read Cinderella Substitute Online
Authors: Nell Dixon
- She blinked back the tears that threatened to brim behind he
- "I'm sorry, Jenni." Nate slipped his arm around her shoulder
- "Why do you think she didn't come?" Disappointment gave way
- Nate shrugged. "It could be anything, Jen. She might have ha
- She knew he was probably right, but it didn't stop her feeli
- The grey, cold weather matched her feelings as they walked b
- Nate opened the door of the car for her. "It was her loss, J
- "Any mother would be proud to have a daughter like you." He
- He started the engine and pulled away from the curb. "What a
- His question took her by surprise. She answered him before s
- "Good," he said. "You can come out to dinner with me."
- She stopped wiping her glasses and turned to look at him. "W
- He threaded his way through the traffic, unable to look at h
- The trouble was he seemed to be asking her for the wrong rea
- "I think I'd rather just go home. Thanks, anyway." She schoo
- "If you're tired, we don't have to go out," he countered. "W
- She gave a deep sigh. "Nate, it's very kind of you, but you'
- "Who said you were imposing? I thought we were friends, Jenn
- Jenni pondered the dilemma in silence. She didn't particular
- "Well?" They were at the traffic lights and he waited for he
- Soon they were outside Nate's house. The lights were on down
- The wimp in question came bustling along the narrow hall to
- Nate clipped on Rufus's lead and they set off. They took a p
- It was very dark. The cloudy sky almost eclipsed last vestig
- "You're cold. Come on, we'll head back." Nate whistled. Afte
- The street lamps lit up as they made their way back to the h
- "Jenni, if you really want to go, I'll take you home, but if
- "Meaning?" Nate had aroused Jenni's curiosity. He never reve
- "You know an invitation to dinner means dinner and nothing m
- She swallowed. Well, that was plain enough. She was an asexu
- He grinned. "I wouldn't dare!"
- Back in the house he hung the dog lead up on the kitchen wal
- "I don't mind. Whatever you prefer." She wasn't sure about s
- "I know a good pizza place," he suggested.
- Relieved, she smiled. "That sounds great!"
- He grinned back at her as he zipped his jacket. "And after d
- She discovered he wasn't kidding. The place for pizza turned
- "Come on Jen, I'll show you how to play."
- Nate demonstrated the hold and quickly potted a few shots. H
- She felt awkward as she attempted to copy how he had held th
- Her hands shook as he removed his fingers. She bent again to
- "That's not bad for a first attempt." Nate leaned in to take
- She swallowed nervously as she took her time to position her
- "Try to keep the action nice and smooth, don't jerk." His br
- Her knees shook as she made the shot. To her surprise, it ro
- "There you go! Told you it was easy."
- Nate straightened up with her to watch the shot. His express
- The tense moment passed and he shook his head, laughing. "Cu
- The evening passed all too quickly. She soon discovered a na
- He refused to allow her to call a taxi and insisted on drivi
- As the car slid to a halt, she realized they had arrived out
- "Thank you for everything today, Nate."
- He smiled at her, but his eyes stayed serious and businessli
- "Well, you did warn me not to get my hopes up." But the hurt
- "I'd better get back to Rufus."
- Relief tinged with regret swept through her. "Well, goodnigh
- He leaned across her to open the door.
- "Goodnight, Jen." His lips brushed her cheek. Her heart and
- CHAPTER THREE
- It had been a lovely evening. Jenni had been nice, funny and
- He pulled to a halt outside his house and switched off the e
- He sighed as he let himself into the house. Rufus padded up
- Nate sank down in a leather armchair. He swished the glass i
- That had been the worse part. The silence. It had seemed to
- He swallowed the rest of his scotch in a single gulp and tur
- * * * *
- Jenni watched from the window as Nate's car rolled out of si
- Jenni paused in her self-analysis, not sure she wanted to go
- After she changed for bed, she replaced her precious photogr
- She woke the next day with a mild headache and a discontente
- "You know an invitation to dinner means just that." Nate's w
- Maybe she should take Lorna's advice and revamp herself. Ent
- Later that night, Jenni surveyed her day's handiwork with a
- * * * *
- Jenni felt self-conscious of her appearance as she walked th
- Lorna waved to her from the reception desk and Jenni hurried
- "You look different," Lorna announced. "I don't know what yo
- "I'll tell you everything at lunchtime." Jenni automatically
- Lorna lifted an immaculately pencilled eyebrow. "Sounds inte
- Jenni caught sight of the time and cut her friend short. "I
- She squeezed in to the lift as the door started to close. Th
- "It's Jenni, isn't it? Mr Mayer's P.A? I'm Mike, I work in a
- "Yes, I'm Jenni. I thought I saw you at the meeting last mon
- The lift door opened and he followed her out onto the landin
- Jenni knew she must be as scarlet as a poppy. She paused, fe
- The door opened in front of her before she had time to turn
- "When you've finished flirting, Jenni, we've got a meeting."
- Her breath whooshed out of her at his sudden appearance. Sha
- "I'll just be a minute," she heard herself say as she slippe
- The door slammed shut behind her and she heard the deep rumb
- * * * *
- The meeting passed by in a blur. The workload was fast and f
- "You'll need to check your passport is valid if this project
- She almost dropped her stack of cups. "I don't have a passpo
- "No passport? You mean you've never left the country or that
- She carried on placing the dirty cups on the tray. "I've nev
- He stood staring at her in disbelief. She returned his gaze
- "Well, you'd better get one sorted out quickly. If this all
- She wasn't sure what to say. The prospect of traveling excit
- "A little notice would have been nice," she suggested.
- He frowned. "This isn't something new, Jenni. I know I haven
- She paused with the tray in her hands. "No. It's just that,
- A trace of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Just l
- "And did you?" he asked, his voice smooth. "Have plans?"
- She could see amusement glinting in his eyes. She gathered u
- She swept into the tiny kitchen where the conference supplie
- She filled her friend in on her weekend over a cheese salad
- "I've been telling you for ages to make more of yourself, Je
- Jenni sighed and sipped her tea, ignoring Lorna's teasing. "
- Lorna stared at her. "Why would you be making a fool of your
- Jenni shook her head in reproof at Lorna's blatant hint. "Ye
- * * * *
- Nate watched Jenni depart in a huff along the corridor. He w
- No wonder Mike Walker had started to pay her attention. Jenn
- He heard Jenni sneak back into the office after her lunch br
- * * * *
- "Did you have a nice lunch?"
- Jenni gave a guilty start as Nate entered the office. Had he
- "Lovely, thanks." Nate in a bad mood could be very trying. S
- "Go anywhere nice?" He drummed a pen against the top of her
- Her temper rose. What on earth was the matter with him today
- "Only to the café down the road. Did you forget something, N
- "I just wanted to let you know that we have a hectic time ah
- She looked at him and tried to interpret the expression on h
- "What I mean, Jenni, is it might not be a good time to, you
- Now he really had her beat. She was horrified. Was he hintin
- "I wasn't aware my private life was any concern of yours, an
- He drew himself up to his full height. She knew by the frost
- "I was referring to your friend Mr Walker," he announced in
- "Well, that told you," she muttered.
- How to completely humiliate yourself in one easy lesson. It
- She switched off that particular memory.
- Nate's door exploded open. "Have you done those memos yet?"
- "Almost," she lied, and started to type, forcing herself to
- * * * *
- The morning turned into a long and horrible afternoon. By th
- She switched off her monitor with a sigh. Nate still remaine
- He looked as tired as she felt. Dark circles had formed unde
- "I'll take you home. I've had enough for today." He switched
- Even with her higher heeled shoes he still loomed over her,
- She trailed along the corridor behind him to the lift. The d
- "I can catch the bus, Nate. It would save you from going out
- He checked the messages in the "in" tray. "No, I'll take you
- She accepted the slip of paper from him and started to read
- Her mother's words leapt up at her from the cheap lined pape
- "Sorry I couldn't get away to meet you. I'll be in touch whe
- The signature said Tracey, her birth mother's first name. Th
- The guard's footsteps rang muzzily in her ears. She heard hi
- "I'm sorry. I don't know what happened." She never fainted.
- "I thought you were going to pass right out. You looked as w
- "I'm fine, honestly."
- His nearness made her nervous. The faint masculine scent of
- "I'll drive you home." He placed his arm around her waist on
- * * * *
- Nate's heart raced as he supported Jenni on the walk across
- He relinquished his support with relief when they reached th
- "How do you feel now?"
- She looked at him. "I'm okay, just feeling rather foolish. I
- "It was a bit of a shock. I asked the security guard if he k
- She seemed to be digesting the information. "If Lorna had be
- He grunted an assent. It sounded logical.
- Jenni must have spoken to Lorna about the weekend's events.
- There had been enough rumors after the accident, along with
- He glanced across at Jenni. Behind those awful glasses she w
- He pulled the car to a halt in the lay-by opposite her home.
- "Thank you for the lift." She paused as if trying to come to
- Her suggestion took him by surprise. He'd had the feeling th
- * * * *
- Second thoughts occurred to Jenni even before she opened the
- She escaped into the kitchen to prepare the supper before sh
- Her cupboards were pretty empty as she hadn't had chance to
- He appeared so vulnerable, sprawled in her tatty throw-cover
- Fifteen minutes later, she had two fluffy ham and cheese ome
- "Nate."
- He didn't stir, so she placed a tentative hand on his arm an
- "Supper's ready."
- He groaned and pulled himself straight while he rubbed his e
- Nate ate his dinner like a starving man. Soon both their pla
- Jenni followed him down the narrow stairs so she could slip
- "Don't stay down here, Jenni. It's too cold." His dark blue
- CHAPTER FOUR
- Jenni watched Nate leave before she closed her door and trud
- The downside soon followed the high of his kiss. Nate was st
- She peeled off her clothes and promised herself a few days a
- She clicked off the bedside light after she hopped into bed.
- * * * *
- The following week passed by in a blur of late hours. Nate r
- When her phone rang on Friday afternoon, Jenni had the start
- "Are you all set for tomorrow then?" Lorna chirped.
- She had finally relented to Lorna's nagging about going shop
- "If I must," she said, only half joking. The idea of change
- "Don't tell me you're feeling chicken? Listen, pop down late
- Jenni hung up to cross the office, ready to feed the invitat
- Nate had already made it clear he expected her to go this ye
- The light on the copier started to blink and Jenni ducked do
- "Yes, it's at the Langstone Club this year." She scooped up
- "It's that new hotel-cum-country club on the outskirts. It's
- Mike handed her back the leaflet. She noticed his round, ple
- "I'm afraid that won't be possible." Nate's voice cut in.
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