Cinderella and the Playboy / The Texan's Happily-Ever-After

by Lois Faye Dyer

  Jennifer badly wanted to say yes but she was torn. She’d vowed before Annie was born that she wouldn’t expose her daughter to a succession of men friends. At least, not until she knew the relationship was serious. And she had no clue whether Chance contemplated a future. Given his history with women, she doubted it.

  Not to mention that she had so little free time between her job at the diner, caring for Annie and her college classes.

  Still, she’d discovered during the night she’d spent with Chance that he was more complicated, more complex, more loving and certainly more fun than she’d expected.

  She wanted to know him better. But how to do that without breaking her commitments to Annie, work and school?

  “I have a class tonight that I can’t skip,” she said slowly. “But I can meet you for coffee afterward, if you’d like?”

  “I’d like,” he agreed promptly.

  They arranged to meet outside the campus library after her class and Chance said goodbye.

  “Did he tell you about the paternity suit?” Linda asked when Jennifer relieved her behind the counter.

  “Yes, there were blood tests and they proved he’s not the father.” Jennifer walked the length of the counter, pouring coffee into customers’ cups and exchanging hellos with her regulars before returning to the center section where Linda waited. “We’re meeting for coffee after my class tonight.”

  “Yes!” Linda crowed, her smile wide. “That’s terrific, Jennifer.”

  “I’m not sure if it is or isn’t, but I know I want to see him again.”

  “Trust me,” Linda said firmly. “You and the doc are great together. Dating him is going to be soooo good for you.”

  “Who’s dating?” Shirley asked as she and Yolanda joined them.

  “I’m meeting Chance tonight after my class,” Jennifer whispered, aware of the interested customers within hearing range.

  “Cool.” Shirley’s eyes were bright with approval.

  “Now you’re doing the smart thing,” Yolanda told her. “That man is fine.” She rolled her eyes and the other three laughed out loud.

  “Hey, are you four working or talking?” the boss yelled from the pass-through window into the kitchen.

  They exchanged guilty glances and dispersed, Yolanda winking at Jennifer as they left the counter to wait on customers in the booths.

  When Jennifer called her neighbor and babysitter, Margaret Sullivan, to tell her that she was meeting someone for coffee after class, Margaret was delighted. She assured Jennifer she was happy to stay later than usual with Annie and told her to enjoy herself.

  Since Annie was accustomed to having Margaret stay with her while Jennifer was at class, Jennifer didn’t feel too guilty about staying out later than usual. In any event, Annie was always asleep when Jennifer returned and would never know if her mom was out later than usual.

  Try as she might, Jennifer had difficulty concentrating on the classroom lecture. Although she took as many pages of notes as usual, her attention wasn’t fully concentrated on the speaker. When at last the instructor released the group, she took a moment to slick a fresh coat of color on her lips before leaving the lecture hall.

  Chance leaned against a waist-high wall outside the library entryway. His hands tucked into the pockets of faded jeans, he scanned the passing groups of chattering students, looking for Jennifer.

  He saw her hair first. Long caramel-blond silk caught up in a ponytail, she walked a few steps behind a quartet of younger students. Lust stirred as he watched her walk toward him, her long legs encased in jeans, a plain white scoop-necked T-shirt tucked in the belted waistband, simple black flats on her narrow feet and a pale blue sweater over her shoulders.

  He wanted to take her to bed. Now. But strangely enough, he was willing—hell, he was even happy—to know he’d get to spend innocent time talking with her at a coffee shop.

  His stomach growled.

  He needed more than coffee, he realized, counting the hours since he’d grabbed a sandwich at lunch.

  “Hi, there.” She reached him just as he pushed away from the wall.

  “Hello, beautiful.” He couldn’t resist bending to brush a kiss against her cheek, just at the corner of her soft mouth.

  Even in the light from streetlamps and the library windows behind them, he could see the color flush her cheeks.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked, hooking an arm around her shoulders to anchor her against his side. He took the books from her hands and tucked them under his free arm before urging her into motion. “Because I just realized I missed dinner and I’m starving.”

  “I had a cup of soup before class but I guess I could have a bite of something.” She looked up at him, her ponytail brushing silkily against his cheek as she moved. “Did you have somewhere in mind?”

  He nodded. “There’s a great Italian restaurant just down the block. How do you feel about pasta?”

  “I love pasta,” she told him.

  “Great.”

  A half hour later, they were seated across from each other at a table covered with a red-checked cloth. The table was lit with a white candle in a squat wine bottle, its green glass half-covered with drippings of melted wax. Plates of lasagna, green salad and stemmed glasses filled with ruby red wine sat in front of them.

  Jennifer took another bite of lasagna and sighed, half closing her eyes as she swallowed. “This lasagna is fabulous,” she said.

  Chance nearly groaned at the sensual expression on her face as she savored the food. He forced himself to focus on her comment, instead of the overwhelming urge to lean over the table and cover her mouth with his. “Uh, yes, it is, isn’t it. I used to eat here at least twice a week.”

  “You must really love Italian food—this isn’t exactly in your neighborhood,” Jennifer commented.

  “I taught a few classes here,” he told her. “Before I took on a few other medical duties and had to cut back on teaching.”

  “Did you like doing it? Teaching, I mean?”

  “Yeah, I did.” He smiled at her, lifting his glass to salute her. “Another thing we have in common—we both like to teach.”

  Jennifer tipped her glass at him in response and sipped. “I don’t know if I’d ever want to teach at the college level,” she admitted to him. “I’m more interested in teaching young children.”

  “An honorable goal,” he agreed. “And little kids are a lot of fun. What subject do you see yourself teaching?”

  Time slipped by as they ate, drank wine and talked.

  The restaurant’s crowd was growing thin when Jennifer glanced at her watch and gasped. “Oh, my goodness—look at the time!” She looked at Chance, her expression apologetic. “I really have to go. I’m working the early shift and have to be at the diner by 5:00 a.m. I’ll be staggering if I don’t get some sleep.”

  “Much as I hate for the night to end, I don’t want to be responsible for you being exhausted tomorrow,” Chance assured her. He stopped a waiter to request the bill and moments later, they left the restaurant.

  Despite needing sleep, Jennifer wished the drive back to her apartment wasn’t quite so short.

  “Wait,” Chance muttered as she twisted her key in the lock of her apartment door.

  Jennifer paused, looking up at him, and he bent his head, his mouth covering hers in a kiss.

  Sweet, sensual and so arousing that Jennifer’s insides melted like warm chocolate, the kiss lured, enticed and made desire and need beat through her veins.

  When at last he lifted his mouth from hers, she realized that she was pinned between his hard body and the wall next to her door. The cove of her hips cradled his, the hard proof of his arousal snugged against her abdomen, and the tips of her breasts ached under the pressure of his chest.

  “Honey,” he rasped against her throat, “it’s damned hard to leave you.”

  She smiled, eyes half-closed at the caress of his lips against her skin when he spoke. “I know,” she murmured. “It’s hard to l
et you go.” She planted her palms against his shirt and gently pushed.

  He retreated a bare half inch, and his head lifted so he could look down into her face.

  “But if you don’t leave, I won’t sleep and that’s why you brought me home, remember? So I could sleep.” She wasn’t sure if she was reminding him—or herself.

  “Damn.” He sighed, a short gust of air that stirred the tendrils of loose hair curling at her temple. “You’re right.”

  He pressed a final hard kiss against her lips and stepped away from her. The loss of his weight and warmth made her want to grab him and pull him back.

  A smile lit his dark eyes and his lips curved in a half smile.

  “I know how you feel, honey. If you didn’t have to work early tomorrow, I’d kidnap you and take you home to bed.” He reached past her and pushed the door partially open. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the diner for breakfast.”

  “Okay,” she whispered breathlessly. “Good night.”

  The door clicked shut behind her and she twisted the lock, sending the dead bolt home.

  “Did you have a good time?”

  Margaret’s voice behind her snapped Jennifer out of her daze.

  “Yes.” She turned, carrying her books into the kitchen area to drop them on the end of the table. “I had an absolutely lovely time.”

  Margaret’s eyes sparkled behind the lenses of her glasses. “I’m glad—and I’d like to meet the man that put that glow on your face,” she teased.

  Jennifer laughed. “He’s pretty terrific, Margaret.”

  “Good. It’s about time you met someone terrific.” The older woman turned to collect her knitting, tucking the length of cable-knit red and cream-colored afghan into her bag. “I’m heading home so you can get to bed. Now what did I do with my book?” She searched and found a paperback mystery stuck between the cushions. She slipped the book into her knitting bag and took out a key chain. “Walk me to the door?”

  “Of course.” Jennifer freed the dead bolt and opened her apartment, waiting in the doorway while Margaret crossed the hall to unlock and go inside her own home.

  “Good night.” Margaret lifted her hand and closed the door.

  Jennifer waited until she heard the click of the locks sliding home across the hall before closing and securing her own front door.

  The apartment was quiet without Margaret’s cheery presence. Jennifer turned off the living-room lights and went to her bedroom, switching on the bedside lamp before tiptoeing into Annie’s bedroom. The little girl was sprawled on her back, red-gold curls a tangle on the pillowcase and the blanket half on, half off the bed.

  Jennifer straightened the blanket and tucked it in at Annie’s waist before leaning over to kiss her daughter’s cheek. Annie mumbled and stirred, rolling over to snuggle her face against the soft fur of the stuffed brown bear in her arms.

  A surge of love and affection swept over Jennifer. Once again, she was caught off guard and staggered at the depth of her love for her daughter. Annie was a treasure and in so many ways, a constant source of surprise for Jennifer. The little girl enriched her life in ways she’d never envisioned before she became a mother.

  And Jennifer loved every one of them.

  She moved quietly back into her own room, stripped out of her clothes to take a quick shower, then pulled on her pajamas and climbed into bed and switched off the light.

  After a long time, her world now seemed to be full and the future stretched ahead of her, filled with possibilities.

  What could possibly go wrong? she thought with a drowsy smile just before she fell asleep.

  Jennifer’s sense of well-being and happiness lasted less than twelve hours.

  Due to working a split shift at the diner, she was alone in her apartment just before noon the next day. Annie was at school and Jennifer was almost dressed and ready to return for her second four-hour shift, padding about barefoot as she quickly dusted and neatened the rooms after assembling a casserole and tucking it into the refrigerator for Annie’s and Margaret’s dinner.

  A knock on her door interrupted her and, thinking it might be Margaret, she hurried out of the kitchen. A quick glance out the apartment door peephole startled her speechless and she froze, staring at the man who stood outside in the hallway.

  “What on earth is he doing here?” she murmured to herself, nonplussed.

  The man knocked again, an impatient rap of his knuckles against the door panels.

  Annoyed, Jennifer threw the dead bolt and yanked open the door. “Hello, Patrick.”

  “Hello, Jennifer.” Her ex-husband smiled, exuding boyish charm.

  His endearing smile had no effect on Jennifer. Fortunately, she thought dispassionately, she’d been well and truly inoculated.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “I’d like to talk to you.” He peered over her shoulder and gestured at the room behind her. “But I’d rather not have this conversation in the hallway. Won’t you ask me in?”

  Jennifer narrowed her eyes, studying him. She knew very well that Patrick wanted something but she couldn’t imagine what it could be. He’d blithely walked away from their short marriage before Annie was born and hadn’t contacted her since.

  Nevertheless, whatever he wanted to talk to her about, it was probably best done in the privacy of her apartment.

  “Very well, come in.” Reluctantly, she stepped back and waved him inside.

  “Nice,” he commented, his gaze running over the small rooms. “You always did have a natural ability for decorating, Jennifer.”

  Jennifer ignored the comment, knowing full well his compliments were always charmingly insincere. “I have to leave for work, Patrick, so maybe you can cut to the chase and just tell me why you’re here.”

  His gaze sharpened with swift annoyance and then he shrugged, his expression bland once more. “You always were appallingly direct, Jennifer.”

  “I prefer to call it being honest,” she told him. “So…?”

  “Very well.” He reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and took out a newspaper clipping, handing it to Jennifer.

  She unfolded the newsprint, frowning when she saw it was the photo of her and Chance, dancing at the Founder’s Ball, and the accompanying gossip column notation listing their names.

  “I’m afraid I don’t understand.” She looked at him, confused.

  “It appears you’re dating Dr. Chance Demetrios.”

  “And if I am?” Jennifer couldn’t imagine where this conversation was going. Granted, she hadn’t dated anyone since the divorce but surely Patrick wouldn’t care if she went out with someone.

  “I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’ve finished med school and completed my internship.”

  “Congratulations.” She eyed him, waiting, wishing he’d get to the point.

  “I’m applying for various positions—including an opening in the research department at the Armstrong Fertility Institute.”

  Jennifer stared at him, beginning to guess where the conversation was going. “And you’re telling me this…why?”

  “Dr. Demetrios and his partner are doing cutting-edge research in his field. I want to be a part of that research team.”

  Slow anger began to churn in Jennifer’s midsection. “What does this have to do with me?”

  Patrick smiled, shaking his head at her. “Jennifer, Jennifer,” he chided. “I’m sure you can see my point. I want you to use your influence with your boyfriend to move my name to the top of the hiring list.”

  “No.” Jennifer shoved the newspaper clipping into his hand. “If that’s all you wanted to talk to me about, I really have to get to work.” She walked to the door.

  “How’s Annie?”

  Jennifer froze, hand on the doorknob, then slowly turned to stare at him. “I’m surprised you know her name.”

  “Of course I know her name,” he said, faintly reproachful. “After all, she’s my daughter.”

  Unease shiver
ed up Jennifer’s spine. “I thought we resolved your connection to Annie when you agreed to give me full custody in return for my not asking for child support. You’ve never shown any interest in her before.”

  “That’s true,” he agreed blandly. “But I’ve been rethinking my position as her father. I’m wondering if I shouldn’t ask the court to set up a visitation schedule so I can get to know my daughter.”

  “You don’t want to get to know Annie,” Jennifer told him, coldly furious. “You’re using her to threaten me so I’ll ask Chance to hire you.”

  “You always were quick to grasp the basics,” he conceded. “I don’t want to take you back to court and force you to let me have Annie for alternate weekends. If I were involved in demanding research, perhaps I would be too busy to have her with me, anyway.”

  “This is blackmail,” she said, fighting to keep her words even. Anger warred with worry, threatening to make her voice tremble.

  “Blackmail is such a harsh word, Jennifer,” he informed her. “I prefer calling this a…negotiation for mutual benefits.”

  “You’ve always been good at hiding your selfish interests behind pretty words,” she retorted bitterly. “I won’t do it, Patrick. I can’t do it. Chance and I don’t have that kind of relationship but even if we did, I wouldn’t ask him to hire someone like you.” She pulled open the door and stood back. “Now get out of my house.”

  “I suggest you think it over.” He moved toward her, stepped into the hallway. “I’ll call you soon.”

  “Please don’t,” she insisted. “My mind isn’t going to change.”

  He merely smiled and walked down the hall.

  Jennifer closed the door with quiet force and threw the dead bolt before she turned, the solid door panel supporting her when she slumped.

  Eventually she’d learned Patrick hid a snake’s personality behind the charming, handsome facade. Their divorce had certainly shown her a side of him that was unattractive and selfish, but threatening her with Annie’s welfare if she didn’t help him use Chance to further his career…well, it was beyond belief, even for Patrick.