Overnight Cinderella

Dammit, why wasn’t she the average woman she tried to be? Why wasn’t her skin covered in acne instead of translucent and soft? Why couldn’t she stutter when she spoke and be a slow thinker instead of a woman with rare wit and keen intelligence? Even those horn-rims were beginning to grow on him.

Why don’t you get to work?

He caused a fuss over the lack of vegetarian items on the buffet and was soothed by the head chef then directed to another table across the room. He asked for imported beer and was told the company had only purchased kegs of domestic. They offered to send someone to the bar to get him what he wanted. All in all, he was pleased with Cami’s choice of caterer. They were eager and efficient.

When she joined him at the end of the evening, she looked tired, well-fed, and like a woman who needed a kiss. But he wasn’t the man to give her one. The evening had proved without a doubt that he lusted after Cami Jones. He reminded himself the things he wanted most in life he destroyed.

Life had shown him one pattern time and again. The pattern of betrayal and loss. At thirty-three he was old enough to know he didn’t want to repeat that cycle again.

Three

Duke thought the presentation to the board went well even though he’d been thinking about his partner. He couldn’t help it. If ever a lady needed his protection it was Cami Jones. She reacted to everything and everyone with the same nervous leg tapping that made her seem as though she’d burst into a thousand pieces if something went wrong. He’d tried to tease her, calling her Thumper and she’d relaxed. But he wondered if it would be enough. They still had four months of working together, and he hoped she’d get stronger.

And so many things could go wrong in the boardroom and in life. The board of directors was a shrewd group of men and women who’d each clawed their way to the top. One little temporary event coordinator was easy pickings as far as they were concerned. But they wouldn’t mess with him.

He wanted to shelter Cami and protect her, but the one thing he needed to protect this fragile little lady from was himself. As soon as Max adjourned the meeting, Cami stood and beat a hasty retreat. Duke took his time gathering his papers and then noticed Cami’s purse lying on her chair.

Damn, she wouldn’t be able to leave without her purse. He’d send one of his secretaries down with it. He didn’t have to see her again today.

She was waiting for the elevator when he got there.

“I thought you’d be back in your office by now,” he said. Dammit, did he sound huffy?

“Max asked me to schedule an appointment with his secretary for next week.”

He shrugged and handed her purse to her. “You left this behind.”

She reached for her bag and their hands brushed. She pulled back, the purse dropped to the floor. Cami bent to gather the spilled contents. Duke grabbed a handful of items.

“Thank you,” she said as the elevator doors opened.

“Still reading the same book?”

She blushed and nodded.