The Cinderella Obsession (18 page)
Read The Cinderella Obsession Online
Authors: Amber Carew,Opal Carew
"Oh?" She traced her finger along his lower lip, the grim line of her mouth curving up into a smile.
"I want someone soft and feminine."
"Really? What else?"
"Someone creative."
She kissed his nose. "Anything else?"
He ran his finger along the bare skin above the edge of the lace dress, which lay crumpled around her waist. "Someone who’s incredibly sexy and willing to seduce me."
Laughing, she batted at his hand and started to get up, but he caught her around the waist and pulled her back against him.
His face turned serious. "I also want someone loving and easy to be with. I always felt the other women I’ve dated were competing with me, trying to prove something. That meant a lot of pressure--on them and on me. With you I can relax and be myself." He cupped her face gently and kissed her with all the tender emotion flowing through him. "Vanessa, I love you." He kissed her again. "And I have a feeling you want to have a family as much as I do."
"Oh, I do, Nick, but…."
She drew herself away from him. As she stood up, she shoved the dress to the floor then pulled on her discarded jacket and hugged it to her body.
"Vanessa, what is it?"
"I just … Nick, won’t you always wonder about
her
?"
"Her?"
"Yes. Your fantasy woman. Your Cinderella." She paced across the office a couple of times, Nick following her lithe movements with his gaze. "Nick, I know about dreams. You’re my dream and I’m lucky to have found you. Don’t you think … won’t you always wonder what she might have been like…?"
"
Her? She?
Vanessa, are you starting to feel a wee bit schizophrenic?"
She glanced at him sharply, her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I know who
she
is, too."
"No, you don’t. You’re bluffing."
He stood up and she took a step away from him. "No, I’m not."
"But you can’t, you … I called the insurance company. They promised. I threatened to…."
He took another step towards her. She retreated. "You threatened them? Tsk, tsk, Vanessa. That wasn’t very nice. Well, I’d better let them off the hook then. I’ve known ever since that day you came to work at the house. The day we kissed out in the garden."
"No! You couldn’t. You didn’t say a thing." She jerked to a stop when she backed into the desk.
"I wanted to know what you were up to. And once I found out why you’d crashed my party, that you’d always dreamt of being Cinderella--"
"Rachel!"
He swept his arms around her and pulled her toward him. "-- I decided to make your dream come true. At least partially." He fluttered light kisses across her cheek. "I didn’t know then that I’d fall madly in love with my sweet Cinderella."
"Fall … but…?" Her eyes lit up with understanding. "When you were talking to Amy on the phone, when you said you wanted to ask
her
to marry you … you were talking about--"
"You." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small purple satin box. "I believe you have the mate to this one," he said as he snapped open the box, revealing her glass slipper earring.
She reached into the pocket of her blazer and pulled out the twin. "Yes," she whispered, staring into his eyes with unconcealed joy.
She tugged off her gold earrings and slipped on one of the crystal earrings. Nick handed her the mate and she slid it onto her other ear.
"Beautiful." The earrings glistened in the light, but not as brightly as Vanessa’s eyes, aglow with happiness. "And as for marriage…."
He tugged another box from his pocket, velvet this time, and handed it to her. She opened it. Glittering at her from inside lay an exquisite heart-shaped diamond in a setting to match her antique earrings.
"I don’t need any more time to know that I want you forever. One weekend of thinking I’d lost you was more than enough to convince me. This is a symbol of my heart, Vanessa. Please accept it. Say ‘yes’ to happily-ever-after."
"Yes," she whispered almost choking on a sob of joy. "Oh, yes. Nick."
Their lips came together in a flash of passion, erupting within them the fireworks befitting a fairy tale come true.
###
the
Author
Amber Carew is the pseudonym of
Opal
Car
ew
, an award-winning author of
erotic
romance.
She
was
named
"Fresh
Face
of
Erotic
Fiction
2009"
and
her
books
have
won
the
Award
of
Excellence
and
the
Golden
Leaf
Award,
and
been
finalists
for
the
National
Readers'
Choice
Award,
HOLT
Medallion,
Laurel
Wreath
Award,
Gayle
Wilson
Award
of
Excellence,
and
Passionate
Plume
Award.
Opal
loves
crystals,
dragons,
feathers,
cats,
pink
hair,
the
occult,
Manga
artwork,
and
all
that
glitters.
She
earned
a
degree
in
Mathematics
from
the
University
of
Waterloo,
and
spent
15
years
as
a
software
analyst
before
turning
to
her
passions
as
a
writer.
She
lives
in
Canada
with
her
husband,
two
sons
and
two
cats.
To
learn
more
about
Opal,
visit
her
website
at
www.opalcarew.com
,
or
contact
her
at
OpalCarew@BestRomanceAuthor
s
.com
.
Contemporary romance
Contemporary fantasy romance
Contemporary futuristic
romance
ooks
by
Opal
Carew
Contemporary erotic romance
Futuristic erotic romance
Celestial Soul-Mates series
Book 1:
The King and I
Book 2:
The Commander
'
s Woman
Book 3:
Passion Play
Fantasy erotic romance
Contemporary erotic short stories and novellas
Red Hot Fantasies series
Volume 1:
The Male Strippe
r
Volume 2:
The Strange
r
Volume 3: The Office Slave
(
coming soon)
Volume 4: The Captive (coming soon)
Volumn 5: The Bridal Affair
(
coming soon)
with
Amber
online:
Website:
http://www.
Amber
Carew.com
Twitter:
http://twitter.
c
om/#!/opalcarew
Facebook:
http://facebook.co
m
/OpalCarewRomanceAuthor
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/OpalCarew
If you enjoyed this love story by Amber Carew, you might like to try another one of Amber's other contemporary romances,
VIRGIN WANTED
, or one of Amber's
contemporary
fantasy
romance
s,
VIRGIN WIZARD
.
If you'd like something
a little hotter you might enjoy one of Opal Carew's erotic romances,
TOTAL ABANDON
.
And,
i
f you'd like something
a lot hotter you might enjoy one of Opal Carew's erotic short stories,
THREE
.
An excerpt of each of these four books is included below.
by Amber Carew
Gillian is tired of her mother trying to push her on a date with her boss' son. She doesn't want to be hooked up with any guy—especially a rich one—let alone one who would put an ad in the paper looking for a virgin, no less.
Cade is tired of his father trying to hook him up with a bride. If he did want to find a wife, which is not tops on his priority list, he is perfectly capable of finding his own woman. In fact, he's quite intrigued by the sparky-eyed beauty storming out of his office building. She's spunky, determined
—
and sexy as hell. When she mistakes him for a blue collar worker, he decides this is the perfect opportunity to get to know a woman he's attracted to without worrying about whether she's after his money.
Gill is determined to put Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome out of her mind, even though his touch ignites her passion like a keg of jet fuel. Mom calls that kind of passion infatuation. Cade calls it chemistry. Gill just calls it dangerous.
Chapter 1
"Virgin Wanted
No experience necessary!"
Gillian's focus zeroed in on the phone number at the bottom of the personal ad and
she gasped. Snatching up the phone, she jabbed out the sequence of numbers and drummed her fingers on the table top while listening to the electronic whir over the line.
When she heard the familiar voice on the other end she cried, "Mother. How could you?"
"How could I what, dear?"
Her calm voice didn't fool Gill for a minute. "I'm referring to the ad in the Citizen." Absently, she grabbed a red pen from the collection of writing utensils in the blue plastic cup beside the phone, then outlined the ad.
"Oh, you saw that, did you?" Mom's nonchalant manner perturbed Gill. Had she hoped Gill wouldn't see it?
"Do you know how many crazy people you'll get phoning you with an ad like that?"
"Yes, dear. I know. You're the first one."
Gillian's fingers splayed flat on the table top. "Mother!"
Why me?
she asked herself.
Why have I been cursed with a mother who gets involved in such crazy schemes?
"So, dear, are you calling to apply?" The hopeful note in her voice put Gill on guard.
"For what exactly?" she asked, warily.
"Why, to marry Jeremy Farraday, of course."
Oh, no. Not
Jeremy
again. Jeremy Farraday. Mother had been after her for the past two years to meet her employer's son and Gill had successfully avoided the event so far. Now it seemed Mom's goal had evolved to marriage. Gill suppressed a groan.
"What does this ad have to do with marrying Farraday's son?"
"Mr. Farraday has decided it's long past time for Jeremy to get married, so—you know how I've told you what a take charge kind of guy Mr. Farraday is
—
he's decided to search for a bride for his son. He asked me to help. Everyone's always talking about the power of personal ads so I thought I'd try one."
Gill folded the open section of the newspaper in half, then in half again, leaving the red-rimmed ad centered in front of her. "Isn't this going a bit beyond the call of duty? After all, you're the personnel manager for Farraday's company, not for his family's personal life."
Gill heard her mother sigh heavily. "Gill, Mr. Farraday sees getting a wife for his son as an important aspect of continuing the business."
Gill snorted. "He wants heirs, you mean?"
"Yes. He's an old-fashioned man. He feels this is part of the business and ... well, Gill, I just couldn't say no."
Gill clenched her jaw. Mom was too willing to be pushed around. When would she ever learn to push back? "Yes, you could. If he tried to fire you, you could sue him. He'd be laughed out of court when people found out he terminated you because you refused to be a matchmaker for his son."
Mom's soft sigh whispered over the line. "Gill, you know I don't like to make trouble."
Gill knew that only too well. When her stepfather had been busy ripping Gill to shreds, making her feel like the most incompetent fool on earth, Mom had held her silence. Afterwards, she'd picked up the pieces of Gill's self-esteem and helped patch it together again, but Gill had always wished she'd stepped in and actually spoken up for her.
Did this Farraday Junior's father berate him? Gill wondered. Probably not. He was probably spoiled rotten and living grand on his daddy's cash. He probably got anything he wanted. He wanted a wife, so Daddy just ordered his minion to stick an ad in the paper and get him one.
Her gaze flicked to the first line of the ad.
Virgin wanted.
It sounded like an ad for a human sacrifice. Probably marrying Farraday Jr. would be about as much fun as being thrown into a volcano.
Actually, it would probably be Dullsville in the extreme. After all, what kind of personality could the guy have if he needed his father to find a wife for him? She'd have thought that even if his attractions were minimal, he'd have been able to find someone willing to marry him with all his money. Of course, that's what they'd be flaunting with this ad. And it would probably work. Most women found wealth a great attraction, even if Gill didn't.
Gill found it hard to believe the son would actually go along with something like this. Would he just calmly let his father pick out a wife for him? And how would a father come up with an idea like this? She could just imagine Farraday calling a meeting of his staff and calmly discussing the steps for a bride hunt. Probably called for a statistical analysis to determine the percentage of virgins available in the population around Ottawa and a market report to decide what would attract the appropriate age group. Gill shook her head, suppressing a giggle.
"So, how did this all start?" she asked.
"Well, Mr. Farraday has been suggesting Jeremy get married for quite a while now, but Jeremy
—
like all children it seems
—
is resisting. I think it's as much to annoy his father as anything else."
"Mom, I'm sure this guy doesn't run his life just to annoy his father."
"Sometimes I wonder. Anyway, Jeremy just got back last week
—
remember I told you he went off to manage a project in Japan?
—
and his father tried to pin him down on when he'd find a wife. Well, maybe Jeremy's been thinking about
things
, you know, because a close friend of his lost a brother recently and sometimes that makes you think about where your own life is going. Anyway, to make a long story short
—
"
"Too late, Mom." Gill smiled, as Mom carried on, totally oblivious to her teasing comment.
"Jeremy told him he hasn't married yet because he's looking for a woman who's ... shall we say ... saved herself for marriage." Mom ignored Gill's snort of disapproval.
Saved herself?
Good heavens. This guy must be straight out of the Dark Ages. "That explains why such an attractive catch is still unattached at thirty-one. He also wants a woman who's near his own age."
Gill traced her finger along the outline of the airplane depicted on her purple coffee mug. "I'll bet there aren't many women of that description floating around."
"Precisely my point. That's why you'd be so perfect."
Gill clamped her eyes shut. She should have seen this coming. "Why do you think I fit the bill?"
"Oh, don't be silly, dear."
Gill resented the fact Mom thought she knew her so well. But she didn't call her on it. Gill valued their closeness as much as Mom did. Mom had always believed in her, had always made her believe in herself. Unlike her stepfather.
"I think he'd be perfect for you."
"You think his bank book would be perfect for me, you mean."
"Darling, there's nothing wrong with marrying a wealthy man."
"There is if that's the only reason for marrying him." She took a sip of lukewarm coffee.
"So far, you haven't found a good reason for marrying anyone. Or even dating, for that matter," she grumbled. "But I think once you got to know Jeremy you wouldn't be marrying him for his money."
"So you've told me."
"And he's gorgeous." Mom's voice had slipped into her persuasive tone.
"Great. So I should marry him for his looks instead." She plunked her cup on the table.
"That's not what I meant."
"Mom, you know how I feel about rich men."
Her mother's voice softened. "Yes, I know, dear. But you've got to remember, your stepfather was only one man. Not all rich men are like Eric," Mother continued, "and I can personally guarantee that Jeremy isn't."
Oh, Mom. You and I just don't see the world the same way. All rich men are selfish and power-hungry. That's how they get to be rich.
"I don't want to talk about this."
Gill could hear a tapping sound from the other end of the line, probably her mother playing with a pen, as she tended to do while on the phone. "Gill, if you'd just meet Jeremy...."
"Don't start on that again! I don't want to meet him. And I definitely don't want to marry him."
Gill picked up the red pen lying in front of her and, as she reached across the table to drop it back in the cup, she accidentally knocked her mug and spilled a few drops of coffee on the newspaper. She snatched some tissues from the box on the side table and blotted up the blobs of dark liquid.
"How do you know if you don't
—
"
"Stop pushing. Why would you push your only daughter off on some stranger, anyway?"
"Jeremy's not a stranger."
"He is to me," Gillian shrilled.
"Okay, Gill. Calm down. Look, let's forget all this nonsense for now. We haven't seen each other for a while. Why don't you come downtown and we'll have lunch?"
"I don't have time, Mom. I have a lesson starting at one. I could come over tonight, though."
"Why don't you come for an early lunch, then?" Her voice switched back to that reasonable, persuasive tone she did so well. "If you got here around eleven thirty, we could be finished in time."
Why did Gill have the feeling Mom was up to something? "I don't know." She glanced at her watch. Ten thirty. "It'll be pretty tight."
"Look, I have to go now. I'm due at a meeting in five minutes. Meet me at eleven-thirty. Please?"
It had been over a week since they'd gotten together. Gill had canceled their dinner last Tuesday because she'd had to work late. She sighed. "Okay, Mom."
"Thanks, honey. And, Gill ... wear something nice, will you? Not the usual leather jacket and jeans. I like you to look presentable when you come to my office."
Gill started having second thoughts.
"And not too flashy. Your black suit with a nice white blouse would be appropriate."
"Mom
—
"
"Good-bye, dear. Got to go."
Mom hung up before Gill could finish her protest. How could someone Gill loved so much be so annoying? She called work to check her afternoon schedule, then went to shower and dress
—
in her scarlet suit
—
with a nice white blouse.
* * * *
Gill arrived at her mother's office building at quarter after eleven, checked in at reception in the lobby, and grabbed the first free elevator up. She patted her hair—coiled at the back of her head and held by a gold barrette
—
checking for loose tendrils. This hairdo, her only other concession to her mother's request to dress conservatively, caused a tugging weight at the back of her head, giving her a headache. Maybe she ought to take it down, she thought, just as the elevator doors swished open. Too late.
"Gillian. There you are." Gillian's mother stood waiting on the eighth floor and climbed aboard. "I've got to drop off some papers in the executive office before we go."
She pushed the button for the twenty-second floor.
"Can't you do that when we get back?" Gill didn't want to be late. The doors closed and the elevator proceeded upwards.
"It'll only take a minute, honey."
She eyed Gill's outfit critically, but said nothing. They rode in silence all the way to the top. Gill tugged at the hem of her blazer. She tried to push aside the feelings of inadequacy that accompanied the thought of visiting the office of a rich man like Farraday. She would not be intimidated.
When they stepped off the elevator, Gill glanced around, feeling a little overwhelmed despite her resolve. Large potted palms stood between each elevator column and a plush sage green carpet covered the floor. A svelte blonde woman sat behind a cream colored desk with the slightest tinting of rose in the wood grain. She glanced up at their arrival and smiled.
"Hi, Claire. How are you?"
"Fine, Rita. I've got something for Jeremy." She waved the manila folder in her hand. "Is he here?" She glanced around expectantly.
"No, he's moving into his apartment today. You know him. He won't leave it to movers. He has to have a hand in it himself."