A Cinderella Affair

by A. C. Arthur

  “Call me Camille,” she said with a quick smile. “You’re willing to pay whatever amount we ask for the property. Therefore I have to assume that you believe this is a good investment for your company. I know I have the money to do this myself but I don’t have the time or the expertise that you and Adam do. You would have full control over the contractors and the renovation project with some minor input on my part. This way both of our visions for this property can hopefully come to fruition.”

  “But in the end if you don’t decide to sell it to us,” Max said, “then what?”

  She looked at Adam thinking he would jump in at any moment. But he didn’t. He just watched her in that cool, amused way of his. She did not falter. “If I decide to keep the house after the renovation I will pay your investment back, with interest. So it’s not like you’re going to lose money. Actually, it puts you in a win, win situation. Either way you’ll make some sort of profit.”

  Max was rubbing his chin. “But it won’t be as big a profit as if you just sold us the house outright.”

  Finally feeling relaxed and like this idea could quite possibly go through, Camille sat back in her chair. “To the contrary, I’m saving you the initial output of money. You won’t have to pay the two point five million I would ask for the house in addition to all the renovation costs. This way you’ll put up five hundred thousand at the most right off the bat with the potential of either getting a twenty percent increase on your return or—”

  “Or giving you four million dollars, which the house will undoubtedly be appraised for when the renovations are done,” Adam finished.

  So now he decided to speak; well, she still wasn’t backing down. “Thereafter, you would ultimately sell the house for seven point five million, still making yourself a huge profit. So you see, you win either way.”

  “This is ridiculous!” Moreen stood. “You have no idea what you’re doing. These men are professionals in real estate. We should sell for the two point five and get the hell out of here. Who wants to be bothered with renovations anyway?”

  “I do,” Camille said quietly.

  Adam was watching her but Max was looking down at the folder in front of him. She wondered what he was thinking but found herself more enraptured by the intense gaze between her and Adam.

  What was it about this man that made her warm all over? Not just warm, excited, empowered. He could have shot her deal down before they even entered this meeting and then again when they sat down but he’d given her the floor. He’d trusted that she could present this deal without making a fool of herself. Camille didn’t receive that type of trust often and she appreciated it. She intended to let Adam know as soon as the meeting was over.

  “I think it’s a gamble. She strikes me as being too emotional and too personally attached to this house to let it go,” Max was telling Adam when they’d stepped outside to talk it over. “But I can’t deny that she’s smart. I checked into the history of her company last night and she’s built herself a small fortune without the help of her father. That tells me she knows how to do business.”

  Adam nodded. “I agree.”

  Max looked at him questioningly. “Is that all you have to say, that you agree?”

  No, that wasn’t all he had to say but what was going through his mind was only meant to be heard by one person and she looked a lot better than his brooding cousin. “She told me about the idea on the elevator. I was a little shocked at first but after hearing her talk I think it’s a good one. In reality we can’t make them sell that house to us. But if we invest in the renovation there’s still the possibility that in that time she’ll get over her mourning and let us have it.”

  “So you think this is all about her mourning the loss of her father?” Max asked.

  Adam slipped his hands into his pockets. “I’m pretty sure it is.” Along with other things, he thought, things that Max didn’t need to know. Adam sensed that Camille needed to take this stand, not only against them for trying to buy the house without her permission but against her stepmother. There was no love lost between the two of them, of that he was sure. “Besides, I’ve wanted to get my hands on that house for too long to let it slip away now. Even if I only get the chance to renovate it I’ll be satisfied.”

  “But what if she sells it on her own at the end of all this? She’ll get the profit and we’ll get a measly hundred grand.”

  “It’s not about the money, Max.”

  Max frowned. “It’s not? Since when? That’s our business, Adam. We buy properties, fix them up and then sell them for a lot of money. That’s the bottom line.”

  “Not this time,” Adam said solemnly.

  This time it was about something else, or should he say someone else. It was about this woman and the thoughts she’d put into his mind since the first moment he’d seen her. Adam wanted her in his bed, but that was the easy part. He also wanted her trust, her confidence. He had no clue why but wasn’t in the habit of second guessing himself either.

  “Let’s do this deal and see where it takes us,” he said to Max. “Like she said, we win either way.”

  “Yeah,” Max said slowly, keeping a close eye on his younger cousin, “but which one of us is going to win bigger?”

  Moreen tossed her head back and laughed. Camille recognized the sound and stood, crossing the room to stand near the window.

  “Just what do you really think you’re doing?” Moreen asked.

  Camille kept her back to her, drawing strength in the fact that she didn’t have to face her. “I thought I was speaking in plain English so I’m not sure what you aren’t understanding.”

  “This isn’t about that house. Oh, no, I think it’s about much more than that.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Moreen. If you don’t want to go along with it then I’ll buy your half of the house and you can be on your way.” Then my life would be so much simpler.

  “I’ll speak in plain English for you. He’s rich, he’s handsome, he’s got playboy written all over him. Besides the fact that you could never handle that type of man, Adam Donovan would not be caught dead with a woman like you.”

  With those words Camille spun around and glared at Moreen. She was, as expected, dressed in a sophisticated burnt-orange suit with her purse, hat and shoes matching. She wore jewelry, not gaudy, but tasteful diamonds at her ears, neck and on her fingers. She was cool and chic and sexy and Camille was slightly intimidated.

  But she was also angry. “First of all, I couldn’t care less what type of man Adam Donovan is. This is a business deal and if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t even be here trying to pull this off.” She took a step closer to Moreen because she wanted to prove to the mean woman and herself that she wasn’t afraid to. “And furthermore, what do you mean a woman like me? There is nothing wrong with me.”

  She said the words, felt the power of them washing over her and wanted to scream with victory. But then Moreen laughed again, effectively cutting down Camille’s triumph.

  “You are small potatoes compared to the polished allure he’s used to. You’re frumpy, disguising it only in the expensive clothes you design. You dress the most beautiful women in the world but you aren’t one of them.”

  Camille’s heart raced and her fists clenched at her sides. She could hit Moreen. She could get one good swing off and watch her skinny, toned body fall to the floor. But what good would that do? Moreen would only laugh at her again.

  “Is everything all right in here?”

  Adam’s voice echoed in her head and Camille took a shaky step back. She found his eyes and knew instinctively that he would know something was wrong with her and would undoubtedly try to come to her rescue, again. He was beginning to be very good at that.

  “I’m fine,” she was saying but he’d already started walking towards her. She took a step back so that he wouldn’t touch her. The last thing she wanted to do was put on a show for Moreen. The old witch would get way too much pleasure out of watching Cami
lle melt from Adam’s touch.

  He must have sensed her further discomfort because he didn’t reach for her like she knew he wanted to. Instead he turned to Moreen and said curtly, “Have a seat so we can finish this.”

  Moreen acted as if she were adjusting her clothes before regally lowering herself into the chair.

  Camille took a deep breath and was about to cross the room to where she had been sitting previously when Adam took her by the elbow and guided her to the chair at the other end of the table. Once she was seated he sat beside her and waited while Max closed the door.

  “We will invest in the renovations of the house with you,” Adam said seriously, looking from Camille to Moreen.

  “On two conditions,” Max added.

  “This is insane.” Moreen swore.

  Camille and everyone else in the room ignored her. “What are the conditions?” Camille asked.

  “We, Donovan Investments, will have the final say on all renovations. We will gladly consult you on initial ideas but the final say will be ours.”

  Adam quickly jumped in. “You said yourself that you do not have the expertise in this area. We do. If we are going to invest in this project we have to know that it will be done right.”

  Camille looked at both men. There was a resemblance there. Along the lines of their jaw, the broad shoulders, the self-assured stance and almost arrogant air they both emitted. They were both extremely handsome, Max with those dreamy eyes and Adam with his easygoing charm. But there was no doubt which one she was drawn to.

  Camille sighed with that admission. She’d tried to fight it, tried to ignore it, but it was no use. She was more than attracted to Adam Donovan. And that, she knew, was a big mistake.

  “I trust your judgment,” she said finally when her thoughts threatened to break her out into a sweat.

  “The second condition is that Donovan Investments be given the first option to buy the property in the event that you decide to sell.”

  Camille looked at Max then because it was easier to keep her cool. “Absolutely.”

  Max smiled. “Then I guess we have a deal.”

  Camille smiled in return. “I guess we do.”

  Adam reached out and clasped her hand. “Congratulations. You’re an excellent negotiator.”

  His eyes were saying something else and Camille was listening, however foolish.

  “Is anybody going to ask me what I think of this deal?” Moreen asked in a huff.

  “Pardon us, Mrs. Davis. We just assumed that you were in agreement,” Max said. “But if you have something further you wish to discuss, we can do so.”

  Moreen waved a hand. “Just advise me when I can expect a check.”

  Camille turned to her instantly. “I’ve offered to buy your share.”

  Moreen stood and glared down at her. “And I am declining your offer.”

  Adam released Camille’s hand and stood. “Then I guess you will be waiting until the renovations are completed for your payday just like us, Mrs. Davis. Our attorneys will keep you posted,” he said by way of dismissal.

  Camille just knew that Moreen was going to have a hot retort for him but was surprised when the old crow smiled in what she thought was a sweet way and extended her hand to Adam. “I am sure you will do your job expertly, Mr. Donovan. I only wish we could have wrapped this up without all the fanfare.”

  Adam shook her hand. “Actually I think this will be a very enjoyable partnership.”

  “If you say so,” Moreen crooned before turning toward Max who had come around to her side of the table.

  “I’ll walk you out, Mrs. Davis,” he said politely.

  “Thank you, Mr. Donovan. You are both such handsome gentlemen. I’m sure your mothers are very proud.”

  “Yes, they are,” Max said then tossed Adam a baleful look over his shoulder.

  Adam grinned and nodded as they left the room.

  Immediately Camille let her head fall into her hands. “She’s going to drive me straight into the nut house.”

  Adam came to stand behind her, putting both hands on her shoulders and leaning over to speak into her ear. “Not if you don’t let her.”

  Camille shook her head. “She just gets to me, that’s all. She’s done it for years.”

  “You’ve let her do it for years,” Adam said then helped her to stand. “Stop giving her the ammunition to hurt you.”

  His hands went around her waist as if they belonged there and she, to her own horror, moved closer to him bringing her hands to rest on his shoulders. The position felt right, it felt comforting. “Old habits die hard,” she said with a frown.

  “Then I think it’s time I help you develop some new habits.”

  Camille didn’t have a moment to protest before his lips came down on hers. He covered her mouth with smooth finesse. A practiced move she was sure, but one that undoubtedly had the woman of choice swooning. At least it did with her.

  As if it were the most natural thing in the world her lips parted for his and when his tongue slipped inside her mouth hers wrapped around it in a twirl of sensual heat. He pulled her close as he deepened the kiss. Camille tilted her head and opened her mouth wider to receive this sweet torture.

  On and on it seemed to go, his tongue stroking hers. Her moans echoing throughout the room. He nibbled her bottom lip and she shivered. His tongue glided over her teeth and her fingers flexed in the material of his suit jacket.

  She was dizzy and way too hot to be wearing all the clothes she was wearing. Her heart beat rapidly but she didn’t feel the urge to be sick or to run for cover. Instead she felt a sort of freedom that threatened to overtake her, threatened to have her stripping for him right here in this office.

  He pulled away breathing as heavily as she was and rested his forehead against hers.

  “This could easily turn from a habit to an addiction,” she whispered.

  His hands moved past her waist to cup her bottom. “I’m counting on it.”

  Chapter 4

  “I’m booked on the five o’clock flight,” Camille said when she was once again in the limo, this time with Adam sitting next to her.

  “Then we have more than enough time to get something to eat,” Adam replied.

  He should have been in the office meeting with Max about work permits and what they would do first with the house. He needed to call the architect and send the designer on a buying trip as soon as possible. And he was positive that his brothers would want to hear about the results of the meeting, although he was sure Max had already called to fill them in.

  There were pros and cons to belonging to a big family. He only had two brothers but his mother had two sisters and a brother, and his father had two brothers, which meant they had children and all the cousins were pretty close. So there was virtually nothing that went on in the life of one Donovan that all the Donovans didn’t find out within a day or so.

  Generally Adam didn’t let that stress him. At the lowest point in his life all that family closeness had been his saving grace. Linc, being the older Donovan brother, had arrived in his room that first night after the demise of Adam’s relationship with Kim Alvarez. He’d told him to be a man, to take those conflicting emotions and channel them into something that would pay off in the end, business. Linc was totally focused on business and becoming successful, at least he had been until he’d met his wife. Adam smiled at the memory of the spirited Jade Vincent, the woman who’d tamed his dominating playboy brother.

  Trent had been a little more blunt in telling Adam to suck it up and find the next available pair of legs to climb between. But then that was Trent’s way. He was an ex-navy Seal, a tactical man with basic divide-and-conquer ideas. There wasn’t a woman on this earth that could do battle with Trent and Adam pitied each woman who had ever tried.

  Max was his cousin but had been as close to Adam as a brother. The first of the Donovans to take Adam and his business ideas seriously and older than Adam by two years, Max had a strong influence on him.
Adam wondered if allowing Camille’s changes into this business deal may have disrupted his relationship with Max, but then thought better of it. Donovans were loyal to a fault and they didn’t let anyone or anything come between them. Max agreed with the deal, which meant he saw potential in it just like Adam did.

  The problem was, Adam was beginning to see something else in his dealings with Camille Davis.

  He liked her. A lot.

  That could be both a bad and a good thing. That analysis, however, would have to wait. Camille wouldn’t be in Vegas much longer, but while she was he intended to be with her every minute.

  “I’m not hungry,” Camille said quickly.

  He lifted her hand in his and stroked his thumb over her smooth skin. She looked a little nervous so he touched her, enjoying the feel of her soft skin against his own. “What did you have for breakfast?” he asked in a slow, soothing voice.

  She looked as if she were deeply contemplating her answer. It was a simple question and the mere fact that she had to concentrate so hard to answer it spoke volumes to him. “You did eat something before you came to the meeting, didn’t you? I called room service for you myself before I left the hotel.”

  “Is that why they sent that buffet to my room?” She turned to him. “That was way too much food. I had a glass of juice and some fruit,” she stated pointedly.

  He nodded even though he wasn’t pleased with her answer. “Then you are hungry. It’s past lunchtime and I’m starving.”

  “Adam,” she began.

  He squeezed her hand gently. “Don’t argue, Camille. You wouldn’t want me to starve, would you?”

  She gave him a smirk, then smiled. “You really are used to getting what you want, aren’t you?”

  He smiled in return. “It’s a habit.”

  “I thought we were working on breaking habits.”

  When the car came to a stop Camille prepared to get out but was stopped by Adam’s hand on her leg. “Virgil’s just picking up our lunch,” he told her.

  Convincing herself that his hand on her leg wasn’t causing her pulse to trip she blinked and asked, “We aren’t going to a restaurant?”