The Cinderella Fantasy

by Sara Jane Stone

  She didn’t come here tonight for sex, he thought as his gaze lingered on her underwear. But he’d managed to say the right things. He’d walked onto the beach without much of a plan. Hell, he’d gone home intending to change and instead, he’d stripped the blanket off his guest bed on the way out the door. Then, he’d decided to write the words in the sand because he needed to give her a sign that he cared. He’d needed to make up for deceiving her.

  She’d forgiven him. She’d made love to him. She was his.

  Thunder sounded again, closer this time. Too damn close to stay out there a second longer than needed.

  Everything went into the middle. He gathered the sides and hauled the blanket up. The damn thing was weighed down with rainwater. A third bolt of thunder sounded. This time, lightning illuminated the sky.

  “Fuck it.” He set the bundle down. “We’ll come back for that later. Right now, I need to get you out of this storm. Do you have your phone and keys?”

  She nodded. He took her hand and started to run across the sand. They kept up a steady pace, stumbling barefoot through the seaweed. The rain fell in sheets and tried like hell to slow their progress. But they reached the end of the rocks in record time.

  “Jared,” she panted, her pace slowing.

  But dammit, he could see the wooden stairs leading to the boardwalk. He stopped and bent low. He wrapped his right arm behind her legs and tossed her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold.

  “I’ve got you, princess.” His left hand rested on the wet fabric clinging to her ass. In his pocket, his cell shook against his thigh again.

  It’s like the damn thing wants to send a message to my dick.

  The phone vibrated again.

  And it is fucking working.

  But now wasn’t the time for round two. They needed to get out of the storm first. “Hold on tight and we’ll be at the car soon. We’ll be home in five minutes, and I’ll get you into some dry clothes.”

  “Jared,” she called over the storm. “I need to drive to my place. Nicole needs our car first thing in the morning.”

  “Why do you three share a damn Toyota?” he muttered. But he turned and headed for her car. He set her down by the driver’s side door, instantly missing the contact. He wanted to feel Lucy’s wet, warm skin against his right now, tonight, and tomorrow.

  “This is our company vehicle,” she said defensively. “It’s a good car. Plus, this way we all save on insurance.” She fumbled with her keys, but still managed to unlock the door. Rain pummeled them, soaking through his clothes.

  “I had another car,” she continued. “But it was in Barrett’s name. He leased it for me. Even though I made the payments, I had—”

  Bang!

  The storm cut her off. He didn’t want to hear the rest anyway. She’d lost enough to that cheating bastard. The fact that he’d taken away her car . . .

  I fucking hate that asshole.

  He pulled hard on the door. “Get in. I’ll follow you and take you back to my place.” She had the seatbelt drawn across her chest, but she paused before buckling it and looked up at him. “Afraid of the princess lair?”

  “I have eight fully renovated bathrooms ready and waiting for a round of wild, tantric, shower sex.”

  “Fireworks,” she murmured.

  “Damn right. We wouldn’t want to frighten Nicole and Emma.” He took the belt buckle from her and secured it. “Drive carefully. I’ll see you at your house.”

  He closed the door and then jogged back to where he’d parked his Jaguar. His cell danced against his leg for a fourth time. He frowned. Who the hell needed his attention right now? If one of the companies had an issue, they could call Finn.

  Unless Mom needs help again. If she walked out of rehab . . .

  Grinding his teeth together, he withdrew his phone. Two voicemails and three text messages, all from Finn.

  What the fuck?

  He hit the message icon and read the first message.

  911.

  Cryptic bastard, he thought. Then, he scanned to the second message.

  Meet me at your house.

  He glanced down to the third.

  FUCKING NOW!!!!

  Finn knew he had a date with Lucy. And Jared trusted the friend who’d launched the online dating plan to leave them alone tonight unless the sky was falling. If all hell had broken lose, or worse, something had happened to Finn . . . goodbye shower sex.

  Cursing, Jared started the car, linked up his phone and instructed his cell to play his voice messages.

  “I’m sorry, man,” Finn’s voice sounded through the car speakers. “I know you’re with Lucy, but we need to talk. Meet me at your place, and I’ll fill you in. And . . . I’m sorry. So fucking sorry, Jared.”

  The message ended. Jared hit stop on the second one. His best friend wouldn’t beg unless he was in trouble. But he hadn’t come this far with Lucy to call her and cancel their plans. He drove over the bridge and headed for the princess lair.

  He spotted Lucy standing by the front door, still dripping wet. The overhang protected her from the downpour, but still, she could have gone inside. When he pulled up to the curb and put the car in park, she ran down to meet him. He hit the unlock button and she pulled open the door.

  “Lucy, I know I promised you fireworks,” he said as she climbed into the passenger seat. “But Finn texted nine one one.”

  Her eyes widened. “Is he okay?”

  “If he didn’t call you, it’s about work,” Jared said quickly. “He left a message—”

  “You’re sure he wasn’t in an accident,” she said. “He’s not at the hospital?”

  He reached out and covered her intertwined hands with his. “He’s at my place. I’d say this could wait, but Finn doesn’t cry wolf. Plus, the sugar deal’s on edge already.”

  “Go,” she said firmly. “But text me when you see him. I want to know he didn’t do something stupid like drive his motorcycle in this storm.”

  “Finn’s a smart man,” Jared assured her. “I’m sure this is about work. I’ll talk him off the ledge, and if it’s not too late, I’ll call you.”

  She nodded. “Take care of him. Don’t worry about me. I can take a rain check until tomorrow night. Plus, I have a big day tomorrow. Two consults for potential parties followed by a hospital visit.”

  He leaned across the center console and pressed his lips to one cheek. “Tomorrow night, I’m taking you out. A real date, Lucy.” He kissed her other cheek. “I’ll be your unicorn, whatever the hell that means.”

  She laughed. “A creature that doesn’t exist. Like the single, wealthy bachelor with perfect hair.” Her fingertips teased the back of his neck, drawing small circles on his hairline. “Perfect abs—”

  “I’m right here, Lucy,” he growled. “I’m not going anywhere except to save your brother’s helpless ass.”

  “Thank you. From me, and from Finn. Just in case he forgets to express his gratitude.” She kissed him. Softly. Gently. And then she reached for the car door. “Call me tomorrow, Jared. I want that date.”

  She ran into the storm and disappeared into the princess lair.

  He closed his eyes. The rain hammered his car as the storm roared around him, driven into a frenzy that felt like a hurricane. It was too early in the season for a monster storm. He could count on the fact that hurricanes hit in late summer or early fall. What the hell had changed?

  I made love to Lucy Linden on the beach.

  And it had thrown the entire world off course. He’d made love to his friend’s sister, and now there was a damn hurricane raging outside. He couldn’t stop it. He sure as hell didn’t want to drive away. Not in this mess. Not away from Lucy.

  He put the car in gear and headed for the bridge. “Finn, you owe me.”

  Chapter 17

  “What have I done?” Lucy leaned against the front door. She needed to go upstairs and change out of her wet dress. A puddle pooled at her feet. That wasn’t good for the hardwood floors. Ni
cole would be mad. Their landlord would be horrified.

  She thumped her head against the door. The floors could wait. She wasn’t ready to release the door handle. Not yet.

  I had sex with Jared Mitchell. And then I watched him drive away.

  “I should have gone with him. I should have insisted,” she said. “I’m so stupid.”

  “Never say that.” Emma peeked her head through the double doorway leading to their office. “No matter what happened tonight, you’re not stupid. It’s just another disaster date.”

  “It was perfect.” Lucy held tight to the doorknob. Part of her wanted to run into the street and chase him down. She wanted to go with him and wait while he talked to Finn. “He told me I had to accept that fact that he’d lied to get my attention, and then a thunderstorm came rolling in, but otherwise, amazing.”

  Nicole stepped out from behind Emma and into the hallway. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest, and her lips were pursed. “This is what the end of your perfect dates look like?”

  “Yes.” She stared at her friends as her cold, wet body started to tremble. Laughter bubbled up. “This is what the aftermath of a perfect date looks like.”

  “Wait right here.” Nicole marched down the hall and disappeared into the powder room. She returned carrying one of the bath towels they reserved for guests. Nicole walked over and carefully wrapped the bath sheet around Lucy’s shoulders. “I’m assuming you decided to forgive him for lying to you?”

  “He was very convincing.” Lucy drew the towel closer. “Very.”

  Emma stepped in front of her, beaming like a fool. “That must have been some sex on the beach.”

  “It was,” she said wistfully. “It was perfect.”

  “Stop saying perfect,” Nicole said.

  “Don’t be jealous,” Emma chided.

  “Sex on the beach is never perfect.” Nicole crossed her arms in front of her chest. “There is too much sand. It always ends up in your underwear or suit, in the wrong places.”

  “I left my underwear at the beach,” Lucy said.

  Emma laughed. “That’s one way to solve that problem. You can give us all the details after you warm up. Go upstairs and take a hot shower.”

  Nicole’s frown deepened. “If it was so ‘perfect,’ why are you back so soon? Why did your ‘amazing’ date send you home soaking wet?”

  “Finn texted about an emergency,” Lucy explained.

  “So Jared ditched you for work.” Nicole raised an eyebrow. “I know he’s a billionaire and all, but Luc—”

  “Not work,” Lucy said quickly. “Finn needed him. And Jared couldn’t exactly show up with me. Then we’d have to tell Finn about us. It’s too soon for that. I don’t want Finn to explode because I had sex with his best friend.”

  “Who says Finn will be mad?” Emma asked.

  “If your brother has a problem with you and Jared dating,” Nicole jumped in. “I’ll talk to him.”

  I’m not sure that will help, Lucy thought.

  “I don’t think Finn will have a problem with us dating,” Lucy said slowly. “But sex on the beach isn’t exactly a relationship. I think we should wait and tell him after we’ve been on a few dates. And I should be the one to tell him.”

  “An excellent plan,” Emma said.

  “But until then,” Lucy looked at Nicole. “No one says a word to my brother about who I’m dating.”

  “My lips are sealed,” Emma promised.

  “Mine too,” Nicole said.

  And mine, Lucy thought.

  But what if she needed more than a few dates to make sure her unicorn was real? He could disappear back to New York at any time. Or fly away to North Dakota to talk about buffalo. He might forget to call tomorrow.

  She clutched the towel. She refused to go back to sitting on the sidelines of her own relationship, waiting and hoping for a connection that wasn’t there. She wanted a partner who was fully present in her life. A loyal soul mate.

  She pictured the last shot she’d seen of Jared with a model-of-the-week on his arm in New York. She pressed her lips together. Oh yes, she would need more than a few dates to make sure her unicorn could deliver her Happy Ever After.

  Jared drove through the storm, heading south along the Intracoastal Waterway. He took the southern bridge back to the island and followed Ocean Boulevard’s winding road beside the violent sea. Mansions lined the driver’s side, separated by the narrow, two-lane road. He’d driven by these same homes as a teenager. He’d raced Finn, first on road bikes and later on motorcycles past these multimillion-dollar estates. He’d joked about the day when he’d own one. He’d never believed it would happen. Not in high school. Or even in college.

  It was like expecting to find a unicorn on the fucking beach.

  But he’d made it happen.

  His cell vibrated, signaling another text. Probably from Finn. But Lucy’s brother and his emergency could wait another five minutes. With rain pummeling his back, Jared climbed out of the car and headed for the wooden stairs leading down to the sand. The waves rushed in, each one moving closer and closer to the seawall.

  High tide.

  He ran to the abandoned blanket. The water rushed up to it, but it hadn’t pulled the remnants of their picnic out to sea. If he’d waited until morning, Lucy’s panties would have disappeared.

  There’s nothing heroic about rescuing her underwear.

  Still, he gathered the sopping bedspread and heaved it over his shoulder. Then he turned and headed to the stairs with the rain at his back. When he reached his car, he placed the wet mess in the trunk.

  Five minutes later, he pulled into his red brick-lined driveway and found his garage open. The man who would make his life a living hell if Jared hurt Lucy stood beside his Ducati Scrambler. Finn had traded his suit for jeans and t-shirt. Both were soaked. Slowing to a stop, Jared put the car in park and climbed out.

  Jared headed away from the detached garage. The side door to his 1920s oceanfront mansion stood twenty paces away. “You could have let yourself in,” he called over his shoulder as Finn raced to catch up with him.

  “Thought about it,” Finn admitted. “I wanted to check the garage first. See if you were home.”

  They stepped under the overhang. Jared keyed in the security combination and then unlocked the pair of ornate wooden doors. He pushed through the old, heavy door and stepped into the tiled foyer. The hand-painted tile floor was one of the details he’d kept when renovating the old-world home. All of the original tiles, fireplaces, and hardwood floors remained. But he’d added a state-of-the-art, white marble kitchen and modern bathrooms.

  “Is there a reason you interrupted my date with a nine one one text and then drove your new bike through a storm?” Jared asked. He kicked off his wet, sandy dress shoes. Then he stripped off the white-button down shirt that felt like a second skin and tossed it to the tile floor.

  “Dry off. I’ll meet you in the kitchen. I need a drink first. Then I’ll give you the full story.” Finn turned and headed for the one room guaranteed to provide beer.

  Jared verged right toward the master suite. The home felt like a Mediterranean villa. From the stone pillars by the pool to the European tiles decorating the floors and walls, Jared’s Florida mansion bore a stronger resemblance to a museum than a home.

  After he’d pulled on dry running shorts and a Marlins t-shirt, Jared found Finn perched on a wooden bar stool. His friend sat with his back to the glass doors, which opened onto the front lawn and offered a view of the rough ocean. Both of Finn’s hands were wrapped around a bottle of local Florida brew. Tension rippled up his forearms.

  “Where’s Lucy?” Finn asked.

  Jared headed to the stainless steel fridge. “I returned her to the princess lair.”

  He opened the fridge and reached for a beer. As a rule, his housekeeper stocked this house with beer, a few bottle of high-priced vino for guests, milk, fresh fruit, and eggs. Today, she’d added a few to-go containers from the
Italian hotspot on Worth Ave with instructions for reheating the meals, listed on orange post-its. Beer in one hand, he withdrew a box marked “ravioli” and headed for the microwave.

  He glanced across the kitchen island at Finn. “Did you come over here to find her? Is that the big emergency?”

  “No.” Finn took a long drink from his beer. “How’d it go? Your talk with Luc?”

  Stop fucking stalling, Finn.

  But Jared played along as he scanned the post-it and hit the necessary buttons. “She understood about the Philip Ryder profile, and we moved on. We left the beach before the lightning. I’ll call her tomorrow. You have my word. Take her to dinner. A real date.”

  Finn raised an eyebrow. “What was tonight?”

  Sex on the beach.

  “A step in the right direction.” Jared bent over and withdrew the ravioli from the microwave nestled in the island. “I would be taking another right about now if you hadn’t sent out a series of distress texts. Ready to talk about it, or do we need to keep making small talk?”

  Finn looked him straight in the eye. “I blew any chance of closing the sugar deal.”

  “Tell me what happened.” Jared stabbed the ravioli with his fork. “Walk me through what went wrong, and we’ll fix it.”

  “Not this time.”

  Jared raised his eyebrows. “You’re going to tell me I’m not Superman again?”

  “No. But this is a major screw up. My screw up.” Finn didn’t look away. “I slept with Devilla’s daughter.”

  Ah, hell.

  Jared glanced down and focused on his pasta. Tempting as it was to question his friend’s sanity—he couldn’t. With Lucy’s panties still on his makeshift beach blanket, he couldn’t ask what the hell Finn was thinking.

  “Before we made an offer to buy the business?” Jared asked. “You’d met her before? Or tonight?”

  Finn shook his head. “Both. Marie DeVilla agreed to meet for dinner and a drink. We set it up through our assistants. But as soon as I saw her waiting for me at the entrance to the pizza place, I recognized her. We hooked up at a charity function last year.”

  “One time,” Jared said, the picture becoming clear in his mind.