Cinderella on His Doorstep

by Rebecca Winters

  Turning on her heel, she started to retrace her steps, but Alex moved faster. In the next breath his hands had closed around her upper arms, pulling her back against his chest. “Why did you come?” he asked in a silky voice.

  With his warm breath against her neck, too many sensations bombarded her at once. The solid pounding of his heart changed the momentum of hers. Aware of his fingers making ever-increasing rotations against her skin through her top, she felt a weakness attack her body. Pleasure pains ran down her arms to her hands.

  “I—I wanted to thank you.” She could hardly get the words out.

  “For what?” he demanded, turning her around, causing her head to loll back. His dark gaze pierced hers. “That sounded like you’re leaving on a trip. Mind telling me where you’re going?”

  “The landfill? It may be a French one, but I can still think of more romantic places.”

  “Dana.” His voice grated.

  Of course he already knew the answer to his own question, but his male mouth was too close. Her ache for him had turned into painful desire. She needed to do something quick before she forgot what they were talking about.

  “I should have taken your advice before you went to so much trouble for me.” She tried to ease away from him, but he didn’t relinquish his hold. “My only consolation is that it’s one room less you’ll have to clean and furnish once you get started on the inside of the château.”

  Those black eyes roved over her features with increasing intensity. “You knew your father wasn’t going to approve. What’s changed?”

  Dana moistened her lips nervously. “Remember the old saying about picking your battles?” She noticed a small nerve throbbing at the corner of his mouth. In other circumstances she’d love to press her lips to it. “This one isn’t important.”

  She kept trying for a little levity, hoping it would help. It didn’t. Her comment had the opposite effect of producing a smile. Some kind of struggle was going on inside him before his hands dropped away with seeming reluctance.

  This was the moment to make her exit. “See you around, Alex.”

  Needing to put distance between them, she went back to the château to pack. It had emptied except for Paul and David. While they were talking in the grand salon, she hurried out to the car with her suitcase and headed for the hotel.

  The same woman she’d talked to before smiled at her. “Bonsoir, Mademoiselle Lofgren.”

  “Bonsoir, madame. I need the key to room eleven, please.”

  Her arched brow lifted. “Eleven? But it is already occupied.”

  “I know. My father and I have adjoining rooms.”

  “Non, non. A Mademoiselle Brusse checked in a little while ago. I’ve already given her the key.”

  Something strange was going on.

  “I see. Thank you for your help, madame.”

  “Of course.”

  Dana grabbed her suitcase and opted for the stairs rather than the lift. Once she reached the next floor, she walked midway down the hall and knocked on her father’s door several times, but he didn’t answer. No doubt he was with Saskia, but this couldn’t wait. She pulled out her cell phone and called him.

  “Dana?” He’d picked up on the second ring.

  “Hi, Dad. What’s going on? I tried to check in my room, but the desk said Saskia had picked up the key.”

  He answered her question with another one. “Where are you?”

  “Standing in front of your hotel room door.”

  “I’ll be right out.” The line went dead.

  Within seconds he joined her in the hall and shut the door behind him. His famous scowl was more pronounced than earlier in the day. “Saskia and I have been having problems, but I can’t afford to end things with her until after the picture’s finished. She doesn’t know my intentions of course.”

  Dana was glad her father was coming to his senses for his own sake.

  “She begged me to let her stay in the adjoining room while we work out our differences.”

  Poor Saskia. “That sounds reasonable.”

  His eyes darted to her suitcase. “Saskia’s room is free at the hotel in Angers. I called and told the concierge to have it waiting for you.”

  “Thank you,” she muttered, “but I’ll make my own arrangements.”

  There was a long silence before he said, “If you go back to the château, you do so at your own peril.”

  Their gazes clashed. “And Monsieur Martin’s, too?”

  His eyes flashed with temper. “How did that man get his tentacles into you so fast?” he countered.

  Dana stood her ground. “Why won’t you answer the question, Dad?”

  It took him forever to respond.

  “I still forbid you, but as you reminded me earlier with all the carelessness of your culture, you’re not seventeen anymore.”

  He went back in the bedroom. As she turned away, she heard the door close. Despite his hurtful remark, she was confident he wouldn’t penalize Alex. Not because he’d had a sudden attack of human decency, but because he knew he’d never find a spot this perfect for his film.

  Her throat felt tight all the way back to the château where she discovered the gate had been closed. A symbolic dagger for the trespasser to beware?

  She closed her eyes, afraid she was being as superstitious as her father. After a minute, she reached for her purse and pulled out the remote. Once she’d driven on through, she shut it again, then continued on to the courtyard.

  After getting out of the car, she tried to open the front door, but it was locked and Alex’s truck was nowhere in sight. He might still be around the back, working. Acting on that possibility, she drove to the other end of the château. It wound around to the orchard.

  He wasn’t there.

  A hollow sensation crept through her. She checked her watch. It was already eight o’clock. Disturbed that he might have made plans with a woman and had gone into Angers for dinner, she drove to the front of the château once more.

  Of course she could phone him, but he wouldn’t appreciate a call if he was with someone else. Besides, he’d thought she’d gone back to the Hermitage for good. The only thing to do was drive to the next village in the opposite direction from Chanzeaux where she wouldn’t run into her father by accident. After grabbing a bite to eat, she would come back and wait for Alex.

  “Bonsoir, Monsieur Martan.”

  “Bonsoir, Madame Fournier. Has Mademoiselle Lofgren checked in yet?” He hadn’t seen Dana’s car outside.

  She shook her head. “Non, monsieur. She doesn’t have a reservation here.”

  “Then her father isn’t staying here, either?”

  “But of course he is! The person in the adjoining room is Mademoiselle Brusse. She’s an actress doing a film with le fameux Monsieur Lofgren.”

  His hands clenched in reaction. If Dana hadn’t come here, then she’d probably driven into Angers to get herself a hotel room. The last trip to the landfill had cost him time before he’d showered and changed clothes, thus the reason he’d missed her.

  “Merci, madame.” Before she could detain him with more gossip, he went back outside to phone Dana from the truck. It rang seven times. He was about ready to hang up in frustration when he heard her voice.

  “Alex?” She sounded out of breath.

  “What’s wrong?” he demanded without preamble.

  “My left front tire is flat. I’ve been trying to work the jack, but I’ve been having problems. Pretty soon I’ll figure it out.”

  The band constricting his lungs tightened. “Where are you exactly?”

  “Somewhere on the road between Rablay and Beaulieu.”

  “I’m on my way.” He started the engine and drove away from the hotel. “Stay in your car and lock the doors.”

  “Don’t worry about me.”

  “What caused you to go in that direction?”

  “When you weren’t at the château, I decided to get dinner in the next village, but I never made it.”<
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  The blood hammered in his ears. “You came by the château?”

  “Yes. Dad and Saskia have been quarreling. It’s nothing new, but while they work things out she’s going to stay in the adjoining room.”

  “Why did you come back?”

  “In order to ask if I could rerent my bedroom so to speak, that is if you don’t mind.”

  He muttered something unintelligible under his breath.

  “What did you say, Alex? I’m not sure we have a good connection.”

  This had nothing to do with the connection. His hand tightened on the steering wheel. “And your father approves?”

  There was a brief silence. “No. Does that mean there’s no room at the inn?”

  Ciel! “You know better than to ask that question.” The fact was just beginning to sink in that she’d come to him whether her father liked it or not.

  “You sound upset. In case I’ve ruined your plans for the evening, please forget about me. If I can’t fix the tire, I’ll walk to the château and wait until you come home later.”

  “No, you won’t—” A woman who looked like her wasn’t safe in daylight. Alex didn’t even want to think about her being alone in the dark.

  “I realize you think I’m too young to do anything on my own, but I’m not helpless.”

  “Age has nothing to do with it. I’m just being careful.”

  “Point taken,” she admitted in a quiet voice.

  His body relaxed. “Where would you like to eat tonight?”

  “You mean you haven’t had dinner, either?”

  “As a matter of fact, I went to the Hermitage in the hope we could drive into Angers for a meal, but Madame Fournier informed me a certain actress had taken over your room.”

  “Saskia didn’t waste any time announcing herself.”

  “Madame Fournier lives for such moments.”

  Her sigh came through the line, infiltrating his body. “I don’t want to talk about either of them. I’m too hungry. To be honest my mouth has been watering for one of those quiches we bought in Angers. Are there any left?”

  He smiled. “I’ve saved everything for us. There’s more than plenty for several meals.” Alex preferred dining in tonight where he didn’t have to share her with anyone. While his thoughts were on their evening ahead, he saw her car at the side of the road and pulled off behind her. “Don’t be alarmed. I’ve got your car in my headlights.”

  “I have to admit I’m glad it’s you. I’ll hang up.”

  Alex heard the slight quiver in her voice before the line went dead. Though he had no doubt she could handle herself in most situations, her relief was evident. So was his now that he’d caught up to her.

  After shutting off the ignition, he reached in the glove box for his flashlight and got out of the truck. She rolled down the window and poked her beautiful golden head out the opening. He caught the flash of those startling blue eyes in the light.

  “Did I do it wrong?”

  For a second he was so concentrated on her, everything else went out of his mind. “Let me take a look,” he murmured, before shining the light on the tire. It was flat, all right.

  She climbed out of the car. “What can I do to help?”

  Her flowery fragrance seduced him. “If you’ll hold the flashlight right there, I’ll have this changed in a minute.”

  Their fingers brushed in the transfer, increasing his awareness of the warm feminine body standing behind him. He hunkered down to work the jack and remove the tire. Several cars slowed down as they passed before moving on. “You must have picked up a nail.”

  “I’ll get it fixed tomorrow.” When he started to get up she asked, “Would you like the light to find the spare?”

  “Thank you, but I don’t need it.”

  He opened the car door to trip the trunk latch. Except for her sleeping bag, there was nothing else inside. That made it easy to retrieve the smaller tire and put it on. After he’d tightened the lug nuts, he lowered the car and put the flat in the trunk with the tools.

  She walked toward him and handed him the flashlight. “You did that so fast I can’t believe it.”

  “All it takes is practice. Over the years I’ve gotten a lot of it driving trucks out in areas where you have to do the repairs yourself or walk fifty miles.”

  “Thank you for coming to my rescue, even if you pretend it was nothing.”

  “It was my pleasure.” Unable to help himself, he briefly kissed those lips that had been tantalizing him. They were soft and sweet beneath his. He wanted so much more, but not out here on the road in view of any passerby. “Now let’s get back to the château. I’ll follow you.”

  He helped her inside the car, then he jumped in the truck. She made a U-turn and headed for Rablay-Sur-Layon only a short distance off. Once they’d turned onto the private road, he pressed the remote so they could drive through the gate.

  The noise it made clanking shut was the most satisfying sound he’d heard in a long time. It signaled that they’d left the world behind. For the rest of the night it was just the two of them.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ALEX’S unexpected kiss had done a good job of melting her insides. She’d been wanting it to happen, but he’d caught her off guard out there on the road where other people could see them. To make things even more frustrating, he’d ended it too soon for her to respond the way she ached to do.

  Dana had almost suffered a heart attack when she’d seen him walk toward her car dressed in a charcoal shirt and gray trousers. His rugged male beauty electrified her senses.

  By the time he parked next to her in front of the château, she was feeling feverish with longings she couldn’t seem to control. If she didn’t get a grip, he’d be convinced he was dealing with a schoolgirl instead of a mature woman.

  As she started to get out, he opened the back door and reached for her suitcase.

  Being on her own so much, she had to concede it was wonderful to be waited on and taken care of. When she looked back on the dilemma she’d been in before he’d phoned her, a shudder rocked her body. He’d spoken the truth. She wouldn’t have been safe inside the car or walking back to the château alone.

  Alex used his remote to open the front door. Once they were inside he put down her suitcase and turned on the lights. She felt his dark-eyed gaze rest on her. “Food before anything else, I think.”

  “I like the way you think.”

  By tacit agreement she followed him through the foyer past the staircase to a hallway leading to the west wing. He turned on another light. Dana hadn’t been in this part of the château before. They passed a set of double doors.

  “May I see inside?”

  “Of course.” Alex opened them for her. “This is a drawing room that opens into the grand dining room. As you can see, boards have been nailed over the broken windows. When they’re repaired, they’ll look out on the front courtyard.”

  The beauty of the interior caused her to cross her arms over her chest and rub her hands against them in reaction. “I’ve never seen anything so lovely. The ornate walls and ceilings make me feel like I’m in a palace. After this, you wonder how your mother adapted to life in a normal house.”

  “I’m sure my father did his share of worrying about it, but they had a good marriage which hopefully made up for a lot of things.” Just then he sounded far away.

  “Believe it or not, my parents had a solid marriage, too, albeit an unorthodox one. Mom had to make most of the concessions, but she must have wanted to, otherwise she would have left him because he’s quite impossible.”

  Dana followed his low chuckle back out to the hall and down to a turn that opened up to the kitchen.

  “How incredible!” It was massive with a vaulted ceiling and an open hearth fireplace that took up one wall. Modern appliances had been mixed in with the ancient. A long rectory-type table with benches sat in the middle of the room. She estimated sixteen people could be seated there comfortably.

  “Through
that far door on the right are the steps leading down to the wine cellar. The door at the other end of the kitchen leads to a pantry and an outside door. Another leads to a bathroom.”

  “You’ve reminded me I need to wash my hands after ineptly handling that jack. Excuse me for a moment.”

  She darted through the pantry stocked with supplies. A new washer and dryer had been installed in there. The pantry was big enough to be a master bedroom. Beyond it she found the bathroom Alex had upgraded. It wasn’t quite as large as the one upstairs, but it had every accoutrement.

  The tiles covering the walls and ceiling were the same as the ones lining the counters in the kitchen. Each was an original and had been hand-painted on a cream background to depict grapes, apples, pears, all the fruits probably grown on the estate.

  Continually charmed by everything she saw, Dana was in a daze when she returned to the kitchen. She’d been gone so long, Alex had already put their meal on the table. He was standing next to one end with a bottle of wine in his hand.

  “Sorry I got detained, but the tiles were so adorable I had to study them.”

  “Now that I’m getting to know you better, I find that entirely understandable. Sit down and I’ll serve you.” As she took her place, he uncorked it and poured the pale gold liquid into their glasses.

  Their eyes met. “Is this a special wine?”

  “It is now.” His deep voice sounded more like a purr. He sat down opposite her and lifted his glass. “To us. May our unexpected month together hold many more pleasant surprises.”

  He’d just laid down the ground rules. She wasn’t to read more into that kiss than he’d intended. After the month was over, this season of enchantment would come to an end. She smiled through her distress at the thought and clinked her glass against his. “To you, monsieur. May you outlive any regrets for your magnanimity.”

  With her emotions in turmoil, she forgot and drank her wine like it was water. Too late she realized her mistake and tried to recover without him noticing, but it wasn’t possible considering she was choking. His dark brown eyes smiled while he munched on a croissant. “When you’re able to speak again, tell me how you find your wine.”