A Ring for Cinderella

by Judy Christenberry

  “That’s okay. I’ll just have to take Paul with me.”

  “You have a date?” Rosa asked, hope in her voice. She worried that Susan didn’t get out much.

  “No, it’s sort of a job, but Paul won’t get in the way. He can sit in the lounge. What’s the occasion at your mother-in-law’s?”

  Rosa made a face. “Pedro’s sister is in town with her wealthy husband.”

  “Looks like we’ll both have an exciting evening,” Susan said with a laugh. “I’ll take Paul home now.”

  In spite of Paul’s protests, Susan insisted he come with her. Those protests were nothing compared to the ones he made when he discovered he had to bathe and put on his one pair of nice slacks and a clean shirt.

  “I can stay by myself, Susan. I’m eight now. I don’t need to go with you.”

  She smiled down at his earnest expression. “Sweetie, I know you’re eight. But I can’t leave you alone at night. Besides, it will be interesting. You haven’t been to a hospital since you were born.”

  Scowling, he dragged his feet to the door of his room. “I won’t have a good time.”

  “Sometimes, we don’t. But we do what we have to, right?” It was a lesson she’d learned long ago.

  “Yeah,” he agreed, resignation in his voice.

  “Go ahead and take your shower now, Paul, while I figure out what we’re going to eat for dinner. I’ll need the bathroom after we eat.”

  Some day they were going to have more than one bathroom. When Megan was home, she and her sister had to share the larger bedroom, leaving Paul the smaller room for himself. Her dream was to have a home where everyone had his or her own space.

  Megan had gone to the University of Nebraska early for orientation and to find a job. Although like Susan, Megan had gotten a scholarship for her tuition, she still intended to help Susan pay for her room and board.

  Which brought Susan’s thoughts back to this evening. As she opened a can of tuna to add to the casserole she was making, she justified her behavior in taking the money again.

  They were good reasons.

  And had nothing to do with the handsomeness of the cowboy. But she couldn’t deny his good looks affected her. Not that anything would come of it, of course. But he was a sexy man.

  And for an hour, she would be his fiancee.

  Zach went to his favorite store on the Plaza and bought everything he’d need to dress for the evening. Then he checked into a nearby hotel.

  It was difficult to think of practical matters after what the doctors had told him about his grandfather. The one person he loved more than anyone else on earth could die at any moment His grandfather had had a heart attack this morning. They’d flown him by helicopter to Kansas City and finally stabilized him, but it had been touch-and-go.

  Dear God, he loved that old man.

  And why wouldn’t he? Gramp had been there for him all his life, had become his only parent when his mom and dad had died in a car accident when he was eight.

  Gramp had given him hugs as well as a whack on his rear when he’d needed them. He’d taught Zach ranching and manners.

  He’d taught him to be a man.

  And Zach had failed him.

  The one thing Gramp had wanted was for Zach to marry. To provide sons to carry on the ranch traditions that had gone on for four generations. He’d tried. Five years ago, he’d married a beautiful woman, sure he’d found his own true love.

  He snorted in disgust That marriage hadn’t worked out. No marriage. No heirs.

  Which brought him back to Susan Greenwood.

  An hour later, he settled into the dining room of the hotel and ordered a steak with all the trimmings. He’d talked to the doctor before he’d come down to dinner and Gramp was holding his own, looking forward to Zach’s arrival that evening with his fiancée.

  Gramp was like a dog with one bone. He never left it alone. He wanted great-grandsons.

  Too bad making babies wasn’t part of the deal with Susan, he decided with a wry smile. The lady was one tasty morsel. But he’d had enough of women with cash-register hearts. He might enjoy a night spent with one every once in a while. Hell, he was a man. But he wasn’t about to give any of them legal or emotional control over him or anything that belonged to him.

  But Gramp’s happiness was important to him.

  That was why he was dressed in a sport coat, slacks, crisp white shirt and, worst of all, a tie. He hated those things. But tonight was important. If he’d come to the hospital in his jeans to introduce his fiancee, Gramp would be offended.

  After paying his bill, he settled his Stetson on his head and headed for the rental car. Since he’d traveled on the helicopter with Gramp to Kansas City, he didn’t have his pickup with him. Instead, he had to fit his big frame into a four-door sedan.

  He’d gotten directions from the concierge before leaving the hotel, just to be sure he had the right area of town. As he drove, the neighborhoods changed from the elegant to the barely habitable.

  Pulling up in front of an apartment building with peeling paint and a small patch of grass that hadn’t been mowed any too recently, he frowned. Had he made a mistake? Susan had looked high-class, though he now realized she’d worn no jewelry other than plain gold earrings.

  He got out of the car and locked the door. Checking the address once more, he headed for the stairs in the center of the building. When he found the apartment on the second floor, he rapped firmly.

  The door swung open, and he had to drop his gaze to look at the person who had opened the door. A little boy stared up at him.

  “Hello. I’m looking for Susan Greenwood.”

  “Okay. Susan?” the boy called. “He’s here.” Then he turned back around to stare up at Zach. “I’m ready.”

  That gave Zach pause. “Uh, okay. Where are you going?”

  “With you. But I don’t want to.”

  Chapter Two

  “Paul, that was ill-mannered. Apologize to Mr. Lowery, please,” Susan called as she entered the living room of their apartment.

  Then she looked at Zach Lowery.

  Gone was the scruffy outdoorsman in his tight jeans and Western shirt. In his place was a cleans-haven, expensively dressed man. Handsome as sin.

  She also realized she recognized him. His picture was in the society pages frequently. But he was usually dressed in a tux with a beautiful woman on his arm.

  All that remained of the. cowboy she’d met earlier today was his hat.

  “I’m sorry about Paul. but I couldn’t get a sitter. And I promise he’ll be well behaved.” She lifted her chin as she met his glare. Her arm stole around Paul’s thin shoulders, afraid the man would hurt her brother’s feelings.

  Zach Lowery looked down at Paul, and Susan was relieved to see his glare soften. “I’m sure he will be. Are you ready?”

  “Yes.” she agreed, releasing a sigh of relief. She picked up her purse. As Paul preceded her, she pulled the door closed behind her, making sure it was locked.

  “How long have you lived here?” Zach asked as they went down the stairs.

  She frowned. Why would he want to know that? She didn’t expect friendship from the man. In fact, she’d decided to keep anything personal out of their agreement. Then she wouldn’t feel quite so bad about taking his money.

  “About four years,” she finally said when she couldn’t think of a reason not to answer. This place had been all they could afford after her mother’s death, but she definitely wasn’t going to tell him that.

  “It’s not a very safe neighborhood.”

  “I thought you didn’t live in Kansas City,” she said, not about to have an out-of towner criticize her home.

  “We’re only about fifty miles out of town. I do come to Kansas City occasionally,” he assured her dryly.

  “Yes, I’ve seen you in the society pages.”

  He ignored her words and led the way to a shiny blue car.

  “Wow,” Paul said with a sigh. “I like your car.”r />
  Susan hurriedly hid her smile. Considering the wreck she drove, Paul’s enthusiasm was understandable. Zach Lowery probably couldn’t understand his reaction.

  “It’s a rental, but thanks,” he said, smiling at her brother.

  Maybe he was a nice man, after all. She hadn’t been sure after he had left the diner.

  He came to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. Such attention flustered her. She wasn’t used to it. “Oh, I have to make sure Paul gets his seat belt on,” she said, not slipping into the seat as he expected.

  “I can fasten my own seat belt,” Paul protested. He was definitely well past the helpless stage.

  “Of course you can. And I’ll show you how these work. They’re a little tricky,” the man said with a kind smile. He waited until Susan had gotten seated, closed her door, then opened the door for Paul. Susan turned and watched over her shoulder as the two males conferred over the seat belt.

  Once they were under way, she cleared her throat. After doing some thinking about the evening in front of her, she’d concluded she and her co-conspirator needed to get their stories straight. “I think we need to talk.”

  “Want more money?” he asked in a low voice that she hoped Paul couldn’t hear.

  “No! I meant we should match our stories. I don’t know anything about you. Or you me.”

  “I’m thirty-three, been married once and divorced after three miserable years. No children. I live at the ranch. I attended Kansas University. I like sports, country-western music and beautiful women.” He clicked off his preferences in a rapid-fire fashion, leaving Susan stunned.

  When she said nothing, trying to sort out the information he’d given her, he said, “Well? Aren’t you going to tell me about yourself?”

  “Of course, I—I’m twenty-five. I work for the Lucky Charm Diner and Catering Company. I’m doing public relations and—and the advertising campaign. I graduated from the University of Missouri here in Kansas City.”

  He pulled the car into the hospital parking lot. “And you have Paul.”

  Susan realized he was under the misapprehension that Paul was her son, but what did it matter? Paul was hers, whether she’d given birth to him or not. And it eliminated the need to reveal her mother’s sordid past. That information was definitely personal.

  “Grampwon’t have the strength to ask much,” he continued. “I’ll do all the talking. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll make one up. After all, he... it won’t matter what I say.”

  The emotion in his voice was the sexiest thing about Zach Lowery, and that was saying a lot. He was a man who cared about his grandfather. to the point of doing anything to ensure his happiness.

  She nodded.

  “Is your grandfather sick?” Paul asked from the back seat

  She started to hush her brother, but Zach answered first.

  “Yeah, buddy, he is.”

  “Are the doctors going to make him better?”

  This time Susan spoke first “Paul, you mustn’t ask questions right now. And be very quiet in the hospital. Some people will be trying to sleep.”

  He liked the kid.

  And Susan was right He was well behaved.

  Zach led the way down the long corridor to the intensive care unit Susan followed, holding Paul’s hand. “Is there a lounge where Paul can wait?” she whispered, surprising him.

  “He can go in with us. They won’t stop us. Gramp knows the right. people.” When they reached the door, Zach signaled to one of the nurses.

  “The doctor said we could see my grandfather,” he said softly, sure the doctor had left word with the nurse. He didn’t want any battles tonight. But there would be one if they tried to interfere.

  “Yes, Mr. Lowery. The doctor warned us. Come this way.”

  She led them into a bare room, the only furniture a large bed in the center. His grandfather looked so small, lying there with tubes in him. He’d always been a big man, strong and active.

  “Gramp?” Zach said softly as he moved to the head of the bed, touching his grandfather’s shoulder.

  The old man came awake slowly. “Huh? That you, boy?” he asked groggily.

  Zach fought to keep tears from his eyes. “Yeah, it’s me, Gramp. I kept my promise. I brought Susan to see you.” He motioned for Susan to join him, watching his grandfather as she stepped forward. The sudden spark in the old man’s eyes told Zach he’d done the right thing.

  “Hello, Mr. Lowery,” Susan said softly, her voice husky and sweet. Without any prompting, she reached out and clasped his wrinkled hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

  “Me, too, girl. Me, too.” He struggled to sit up, and Susan quickly helped him arrange another pillow beneath his head.

  “Would you like me to raise the bed a little?”

  “Yeah, that’d be good.” He leaned back in relief.

  Zach watched as Susan helped his grandfather get comfortable. He was getting his money’s worth, he’d have to say that.

  “Who’s that?” Pete Lowery demanded, staring at Paul, who’d followed Susan around the end of the bed.

  Zach had forgotten about the boy.

  Susan spoke before he could think what to say. “Paul’s mine. I think he’s the reason Zach hadn’t said much about me. He wasn’t sure how you’d feel about a ready-made family.”

  Zach stared at her, stunned by her words. Her explanation made sense, but he hadn’t planned out that much in advance.

  “Shame on you, Zach. You know I love kids. Come here, boy. What’s your name?”

  Susan eased Paul forward, holding his shoulders as he stood next to the bed.

  “Paul,” the little boy whispered.

  “You’d be about what, seven, eight years old?”

  “Eight.”

  “Your ma must’ve been a baby when you were born,” Pete teased.

  Paul didn’t know how to answer, turning to look at Susan.

  “Yeah, she was,” Zach answered, deciding it was time he took over the conversation. “Has the doctor been in to see you? How did he say you were doing?”

  Pete waved away Zach’s questions. “Don’t want to talk about that stuff. Susan, tell me, has this scalawag been good to you?”

  She smiled. “Very good.”

  As well she should say, Zach thought cynically. She was being well paid. But he had to admit she was giving great value. Gramp liked her, he could tell.

  “So why haven’t—” Pete broke off and grimaced, drawing Zach’s attention.

  “You shouldn’t talk so much,” he urged, stepping closer and touching his grandfather’s shoulder. Susan stepped forward and tucked in the cover that had come loose.

  “Nonsense. It was just a twinge,” Pete insisted. “I want to know when you two are going to get hitched.”

  “What’s ‘hitched’ mean?” Paul asked, looking puzzled.

  “Married, boy, married. Don’t you want a new daddy?” Pete asked, his gaze on Paul’s face.

  Zach almost swallowed his tongue. “Uh, Gramp, that’s not, I mean, we haven’t set a date.”

  “Why not? You’re not getting any younger. Me, neither.” He sighed, sort of fading into the pillows, which only underlined to Zach how little time he had left with his grandfather.

  “That’s not important right now. We want to concentrate all our attention on getting you well.”

  “You want to get me well? Then get yourself married to this little lady. Now, before it’s too late for me to see you happy.” His breathing was becoming noisier and his eyes were closing.

  “I think your grandfather is tiring himself out,” Susan said, her soft hands pulling the covers higher again before she tenderly cupped Pete’s cheek. “You need to rest, Mr. Lowery. Paul and I will go to the waiting room and give you a little time alone with Zach.”

  Pete’s eyes came open again. “You’re a sweetheart, Susan. You take good care of my boy, okay?”

  She leaned down and kissed his cheek. “You just take care of you
rself. Zach’s a big boy. He’ll be all right.”

  Pete chuckled, a sound Zach hadn’t been sure he’d ever hear again. “Yep, you’re a sweetheart.”

  Zach’s gaze met Susan’s as she and Paul walked past him. On a sudden urge, he caught her arm and bent down to brush her lips with his.

  He only did it to persuade Gramp everything was on the up-and-up. And to thank Susan for a great performance. His action had nothing to do with the fact that he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind all afternoon. Or those luscious lips of hers.

  Nope, nothing to do with those things.

  Thankfully she wasn’t facing Gramp, because she appeared startled by his action.

  “I’ll be out in a few minutes,” he assured her, and winked at Paul.

  They slipped from the room.

  “Now, tell me why you haven’t married her,” Gramp ordered, his voice sounding much stronger all of a sudden.

  “Why did that man kiss you?” Paul asked as soon as they were in the waiting room.

  “Because—because he—I don’t know.” Susan knew, but she didn’t want to explain to Paul that she and Zach were lying to Zach’s grandfather.

  “I like him.”

  She looked at her little brother in surprise. The few times she’d accepted a date, Paul had been...difficult. “Zach?”

  “Yeah. And his grandfather, too. Why don’t I have a grandfather?”

  It wasn’t the first time Paul had questioned her about his family. She gave her standard answer. “You had two grandfathers, just like everyone else. sweetie, but they died before you were born.”

  “Oh.”

  “Look, here’s a television. Want me to turn it on? I think Monday night football is playing.”

  “Okay.”

  Paul wasn’t very enthusiastic, because he intended to be a baseball player, but football was better than nothing.

  And maybe it would keep him from asking more uncomfortable questions.

  Half an hour later, Zach came into the room.