Cinderella Substitute (19 page)
Read Cinderella Substitute Online
Authors: Nell Dixon
- Nate leaned against the desk in front of her, his brow creas
- "But..." Jenni said, confused. There had to be something mor
- "The man she's living with is another kettle of fish altoget
- Jenni digested the information in silence for a moment. The
- "I don't know. I presume she knows all about this man. She s
- "Why would it involve me in any kind of danger?"
- Nate shrugged. "I'm not sure. All I can think is that he doe
- Jenni shivered. "Should I go to the police?"
- Nate scratched his chin, deep in thought. "I don't think it
- A chill of fear ran up Jenni's spine. "What shall I do until
- * * * *
- Nate sighed. Today was not going to plan at all. He had inte
- He wasn't sure what Jenni should do—he didn't want to cause
- "How long do you think it'll be before the detective finds o
- He could see the fear in her beautiful blue eyes—eyes that t
- The same look that had been in Cerys' eyes.
- Nate took a deep breath, fighting to drag air into lungs whi
- "He was hoping to have something by next week." Nate forced
- "What am I going to do?"
- Her voice held a note of despair. Nate gritted his teeth.
- "Stay at my house for tonight. You'll be fine there. Tomorro
- Jenni looked at him. He knew what few options were available
- "Nate, I couldn't impose on you like that. For all we know w
- "Do you want to go back to your flat? Stay on your own? Unle
- She nodded. "Okay, but I'll have to collect some things from
- "We'll stop by after work and you can pack your toothbrush."
- "Thanks for doing this, Nate." She stood up and crossed over
- * * * *
- Jenni closed the door behind her as she left Nate's office.
- Nate being around her all the time for the next few days was
- It was dark. Almost everyone else had gone home by the time
- She opened it a crack and saw he was deep in conversation on
- "That was Sam Woods. We did it. We've won the contract." A b
- "That's fantastic, Nate. You deserve it."
- Nate advanced across the room. He picked her up and swung he
- She felt a little giddy. "It was your design. I told you it
- His hands still encircled her waist. She felt his warmth thr
- "We'd better go. The cleaners will be here in a minute. I ne
- Jenni's stomach rolled with a sick nervousness as they pulle
- Fortunately, from Jenni's point of view, the only resident a
- "I'll show you where everything is. Then I'll make some tea
- "The bathroom is through there. Make yourself at home, Jen.
- She looked around at the comfortable bedroom, with its restf
- He looked a little irritated by her thanks. "You're welcome.
- Jenni took a few minutes to unpack her things and freshen up
- "Rose has left a lamb casserole for us." Nate handed her a m
- "That's very kind of her. Can I do anything to help?"
- "No, it's all ready. Have a seat and I'll dish up."
- She sat down at one end of the long beech table where he had
- He sat down opposite her and began to eat. Jenni wondered if
- "Are you alright, Nate? You seem to have a lot on your mind.
- "Sorry, I was miles away." He picked at the casserole on his
- "You don't seem very hungry."
- "I'm just tired, I guess."
- Nate looked far too attractive sitting there at the end of t
- She shifted on her seat and wondered what was on his mind. A
- "I wish we knew more about what was happening with Tracey."
- "We should know a little more about Tracey's situation tomor
- "I will. Thank you." He looked at her for a moment as if he
- She switched on the lamps before she crossed over to the win
- A small photograph in a simple silver frame stood close to t
- Nate had no pictures of Cerys in his office. Until now, Jenn
- "I'm sorry, I didn't mean, I was after a book..."
- Nate's attention stayed fixed on the photograph, his express
- "Nate..." Her voice came out as a husky croak.
- "I'd almost forgotten that was still there." His speech slow
- Jenni lifted her hand from the picture, her eyes still fixed
- Unable to stop herself, she moved to his side and placed a t
- "You need to let her go, Nate." Jenni's heart tore in two as
- "It's not that easy, Jenni," he said, "you don't understand.
- She swallowed hard. "I know you loved her."
- "I killed her, Jenni."
- She stared at him in disbelief. "It was an accident, Nate. T
- He lifted his head and met her gaze with tear filled eyes. "
- Jenni was convinced he had taken leave of his senses. He rub
- "I've never told anyone what happened that night."
- "But the police report cleared you of any blame. The acciden
- "I wasn't the driver that night. Cerys was the one behind th
- "That's impossible." Jenni blurted the words out before she
- He sighed, "To understand, Jenni, you have to know what Cery
- "She had a group of friends, "the crowd' she called them. I
- "Cerys tried so hard to be everything to everybody, I didn't
- Jenni's head reeled. "No one else knew?"
- Nate shook his head. "Only me. She swore she'd get help. Tha
- "The night of the crash, Cerys was at the wheel. I'd discove
- Jenni saw him relive the nightmare, the scene that tormented
- "She hit a patch of black ice and the car started to spin. C
- "There wasn't anything you could have done. It wasn't your f
- "I should have stopped her, made her go for her treatment. I
- Jenni longed to hold him close and take some of the burden h
- He closed his hand over hers, stilling the movement of her f
- She closed her eyelids as his lips brushed her mouth with th
- She opened her eyes again and rose jerkily to her feet. "You
- He didn't answer for what seemed like a long time, before gi
- He had dismissed her. Her heart still troubled, she left him
- * * * *
- The next morning Nate's housekeeper had bustled in and taken
- "Morning Nate, you look as if you've had a rough night. Baco
- "There's an extra person for breakfast this morning, Rose."
- "Oh? Will they want bacon and eggs as well?" Rose looked thr
- "I'm not sure. She'll be down in a minute I expect." He busi
- "Will the young lady be staying tonight as well? I'll need t
- Nate shot her a glance. He knew Rose's attempts of old to fi
- "For just you? Or will you be having guests?" Her cheeks glo
- Jenni slipped into the room. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear—oh!"
- "Rose, this is Jenni, my secretary. Jenni, this is Rose, my
- Rose must have approved, because she gave Jenni a cheerful s
- If the atmosphere between Nate and Jenni appeared a little c
- Nate only half-heard Rose's questions, his attention was giv
- CHAPTER NINE
- Panic gripped Jenni's heart. Why had Rose asked Nate about h
- "I won't leave you in the lurch, Jenni," he murmured while R
- "But what if I can't go home?" Jenni blurted her fear out, u
- "Then you'll have to come with me."
- She looked at him, expecting him to be joking, but his face
- "It's only for a few days, and anyway, things are winding do
- "Maybe the detective will say everything is fine and I'll be
- She continued in a hopeful voice. "It could be that we've bl
- "And the moon is made of green cheese and I'm related to Mic
- They stopped at the supermarket on the way, and Nate bought
- The staff soon assembled. A buzz of excitement filled the ai
- In the midst of the hubbub and chatter, Nate drew Jenni to o
- Jenni bit her lip. Nate smiled at her and squeezed her cold
- "I suppose so." Jenni's worries about her birth mother had b
- Mr. Field arrived right on time at twelve o'clock. A dry lit
- It quickly became clear that Tracey's only crime had been he
- Jenni listened in numbed disbelief as Mr. Field recited a li
- "Do you think my mother is in any danger?" Jenni asked as th
- "Not at the moment. However, I think you would be wise to he
- A sudden tremor ran through her body. Nate slipped his arm a
- "Why did I try to find her? Why? My father warned me. Oh Nat
- * * * *
- Nate had asked himself the same question.
- "I think you should do as Mr. Field suggested. Lie low. Come
- "It's very generous of you to offer, Nate, but I'm sure ther
- He interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. "Je
- She looked at him, her expression anxious. He could see her
- "You're coming, Jenni, and that's final. We'll finish off he
- Her eyes flashed. "There must be another solution."
- "I'm not debating this any more, Jenni."
- Jenni looked at him again. He read the mixture of hurt and f
- Almost.
- * * * *
- Jenni fumed to herself all the way to her flat. She knew dee
- To be alone with Nate in a small cottage beside the sea shou
- Jenni didn't want to be an honorable obligation, not to the
- * * * *
- Rose packed enough food for an army. By the time the Range R
- Nate selected an easy listening station on the car radio as
- "We'll stop off halfway. Rufus will need the exercise."
- They stopped at one of the many motorway services. While Nat
- He eyed her full hands with astonishment and, she thought, s
- "What on earth have you been buying?"
- "Just a few things to make us more comfortable and something
- She pulled out some boiled sweets. "Want one?" He accepted h
- Before she knew it, they turned off the main roads. The car
- "Where are we?"
- Rufus stood up in the back, panting in excitement.
- "The cottage is just at the end of this lane." As he spoke,
- "Wait here. I'll go and switch the electricity on." He jumpe
- A few minutes later, the cottage lights came on. Nate reappe
- Nate hefted the overnight bags from the car. "Come on. I'll
- He led the way along a narrow path skirting the back and sid
- The cottage had a simple layout. When they entered the front
- Nate dropped her bag on the end of the bed in the bigger of
- "This is yours," he remarked gruffly. "If you'll unpack all
- Jenni looked about her as Nate left to get the cooler bags i
- She unpacked her things into the wardrobe, then walked downs
- Jenni hummed to herself as she turned on the oven and popped
- * * * *
- Nate paused in his unpacking. He could hear Jenni singing as
- He crossed the landing to make up Jenni's bed with the linen
- Since her death, he had shunned as many of the celebrations
- He stopped in the doorway, not quite taking in the scene bef
- Red scented candles were lit along the welsh dresser. He cou
- * * * *
- Jenni turned around, the tray of lasagna in her hand. The ca
- He hated it, she could tell. He had that frozen, closed expr
- By the time he returned some fifteen minutes later, she had
- "I'm sorry, Jenni."
- She saw the Adam's apple in his throat move as he swallowed.
- "Over-reacted?" she supplied.
- He had the grace to look sheepish. "I guess that's the word.
- Her heart raced and tension hung like an invisible thread be
- "I'll get your supper. Sit down."
- For once he obeyed her. He sank down onto the low floral cov
- Jenni forced herself to sip slowly at her drink. Inside, her
- "I guess I owe you an explanation."
- Jenni shook her head. "No, Nate. You don't owe me anything.
- His eyes, which had been half-closed and hooded in the firel
- "I've never shared this place with anyone before."
- She became conscious of her body stilling, only her pulse ra
- "It's been my refuge, an escape from things. That's why it h
- "I know." Suddenly she did know. Jenni had been the one who
- She saw the mixture of emotions in his eyes. Compassion, gui
- "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go to bed, Nate. I'll see
- * * * *
- She wasn't sure what had woken her. It had taken her a long
- Then she heard Nate's voice; urgent, distressed. She pulled
- Jenni opened his bedroom door. She saw him clearly in the mo
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