Her Own Fairy Godmother

by Marie Higgins

  Her Own Fairy Godmother

  (Where Dreams Come True Series)

  By Marie Higgins

  Copyright © 2015 by Marie Higgins

  Cover design by Shaela Kay Odd

  Edition License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Other published stories from Marie Higgins

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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  Other published stories from Marie Higgins

  “Bargaining With a Rogue” – Regency Romance

  “Royal Revenge” – Contemporary Romance Short Story

  “Finding the Perfect Man” – Romantic Comedy

  “Stealing the Duchess” – Regency Romance Suspense

  “Secrets and Lies” – Victorian Romance Suspense

  “Haunting Secrets” – Victorian Paranormal Romance

  “Love Lost in Time” – Victorian Time-Travel / Suspense

  “Waiting for You” – Paranormal / Time-travel Romance

  “Aim for the Heart” – 1920’s Romantic Suspense

  “Becoming a Lady” – Regency Romance

  “In the Arms of Danger” – Romantic Suspense

  “Crazy For You” – Romantic Comedy

  “My Heart’s Treasure” – Victorian Romantic Suspense

  “Protecting The Heart” – Contemporary Short Story

  The Gifted Series (Regency Romantic Suspense – touch of paranormal)

  “Madison’s Gift” – book 1

  “Katrina’s Sight” – book 2

  “Felicia’s Spirits” – book 3

  Your Every Day Hero Series (Romantic Suspense / Romantic Comedy)

  “Prince Charming is a Liar” – Romantic Comedy / Suspense

  “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Altar” – Romantic Suspense / Romantic Comedy

  “You Are My Everything” - Romance

  Where Dreams Come True Series (fairy tales)

  “The Witch Hunt” – Young Adult Fantasy

  “Champion” – Robin Hood / time travel

  “Her Very Own Godmother” – Modern-day Cinderella, romantic comedy

  “Keep on Believing” – Historical Cinderella

  “Once Enchanted” – Rapunzel romance

  Christian Historical Series

  “A Walk in Heaven” – book 1

  “Touching Heaven” – book 2

  “Reach for Heaven” – book 3

  Regency Romance Series – Sons of Worthington

  “The Sweetest Kiss” – book 1

  “The Sweetest Touch” – book 2

  “The Sweetest Love” – book 3

  “The Sweetest Secret” – book 4

  “The Sweetest Challenge” – book 5

  “Sweet Memories” – book 6

  Regency Romance Suspense Series – Heroic Rogues

  “Pretending You’re Mine” – book 1

  “After the Loving” – book 2

  “Wonderland by Night” – book 3

  “Worth Fighting For” – book 4

  Victorian Romance Series

  “Love Me Always” – book 1

  “Charmed by Knight” – book 2

  “True Love’s Deception” – book 3

  “Belong To Me” – book 4

  “Love Comes Blindly” – book 5

  Christmas Stories

  “A Thrill of Hope” - Contemporary

  “Dreaming of You” – Romantic Comedy

  “Love Lost in Time” – Victorian Time-Travel

  “Her Own Fairy Godmother” – Romantic Comedy

  “Becoming a Lady” – Regency Short Romance

  “Worth Fighting For” – Regency Short Romance

  “Dangerous Kiss” – Contemporary Short Romance

  “Snow Angel” – Contemporary Short Romance

  “Mistletoe Magic” – Contemporary Short Romance

  Cynthia Randall’s neighbor is all wrong for her. Rich and handsome, Damien Giovanni’s love ‘em and leave ‘em lifestyle isn’t a fit for her. Cyndi wants it all—the love, the romance, the white picket fence, and someday children. When the new Channel Nine Anchorman shows up at her station, Cyndi sets her sights on her old high school crush, Maxwell Harrington. Of course, he doesn’t remember her, but thanks to the Internet, Cyndi is armed and ready to make him her boyfriend—an easy no-fail method “Ten Ways to Win a Man”.

  Damien knows Max plays fast and loose, and Damien refuses to let Cyndi’s heart be broken again. He offers to help her. He wants to get closer to Cyndi and show her the wonderful woman he knows she is... and yes, he wants to win her heart.

  But which man will Cyndi want? It’s easy to lose track of who is wrong or right.

  One

  Rock Springs, Wyoming

  One more night—alone.

  Cynthia Randall drove her fiery red BMW into the one-car garage and pushed on the brake. She killed the engine and yanked the keys out of the ignition. Staring at the steering wheel, her chest tightened with emotion.

  Tonight would be the one-month anniversary of her breakup with Tim. Just thinking about walking into her townhouse without him sitting on her porch waiting for her to come home from work, made a lump form in her throat. For sure, his purebred toy poodle wouldn’t be yapping in a high pitch, threatening to tear off her big toe tonight. She could handle the dog, but it was harder for her to cope with Tim’s absence.

  She snagged her leather briefcase from the passenger’s seat, stuffed with material she’d have to look over before the morning’s meeting with Rock Springs’ Channel Nine Directors, and slid out of the car. Another evening keeping company with news reports rather than a man. She released an unsettled sigh. People had said, Cyndi, life will go on. She’d seen little evidence besides the fact that the sun still rose and set—and she was still very much alone. She wanted someone to talk to, watch television with, or take her out to dinner once in a while.

  And she definitely missed that sweet night kiss that made her head buzz with dreamy stars and the butterflies dancing in her stomach, and the tingles shooting through her as if she were having an out-of-body experience in an alien’s saucer.

  Cynthia grabbed her purse and bumped the car door closed with her hip. Her two-inch heels clicked against the cement as she hurried out of the carport. She fished around in her purse for the remote hooked to her keys. Figures she couldn’t find it. She’d just had the keys in her hand and the same magical force that eats socks from the dryer had worked again, sucking the keys to the bottom of her purse. Her fingers brushed over the key chain and she withdrew the remote, aimed it over her shoulder and clicked. When nothing happened, she clicked harder. Still, there was no locking sound. Gritting her teeth to hold back the angry words floating in her head, she tried it again and again until finally, the doors fastened fi
rmly.

  The evening’s cool air stroked her cheek. A gentle wind teased the strands of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail and tickled her neck. She flipped off a stray lock, an automatic reaction. It’s a good thing she didn’t wear her hair long. Time was wasted on fixing it, that’s for sure.

  Next to her townhouse, shadows danced under the streetlights as throaty giggles floated in the breeze. A movement from the Lexus parked in front of her neighbor’s townhouse caught her attention. She recognized the wave of the man’s raven hair and the shape of his abundant muscles.

  Damien Giovanni, her single, Italian neighbor who had turned romancing women into a career, was obviously doing what he did best. Getting another woman to fall for his false charms. She rolled her eyes. She was tired of feeling as if she’d caught Romeo in the act. Why did they have to live so close? Once in a while, she would like walking into her house without feeling like she was intruding on his privacy.

  On tiptoe, she sneaked toward her front door, not wanting to make her presence known. His deep laughter rang through the quiet night and made her pause before reaching her porch. Could his date be over so early in the evening? That man entertained women every night and into the early hours of the next morning. She didn’t even want to know what they did, although she wasn’t stupid or naive. She knew if she walked too close to his side of the townhouse, the Lord might spear a lightning bolt down on that man just to wake him up and put him on the straight and narrow, and she didn’t want to get burned in the process.

  The glow from the streetlight shone upon the figures leaning against each other beside the door of his sports car. She angled to get a better look. They moved together like two worms in electric-shock therapy. How disgusting.

  The woman in his arms was his usual five-foot eight, blonde Barbie doll. He laughed again, and the baritone ring sent shivers of desire down Cyndi’s spine. She cursed her weakness, admitting she enjoyed hearing his voice. Must be his Italian accent. Unfortunately, she couldn’t stand men like him who never wanted to settle on one woman.

  The Barbie wannabe raked her more-than-likely fake fingernails through his hair and linked her arms around his neck. Damien grabbed her closer and planted a kiss on her mouth. Cyndi grumbled under her breath. Couldn’t he do that in his house? It was bad enough to hear his voice, but to see him in action...

  Before she could look away, Damien pushed the woman from him and grinned. “See you later.”

  His husky voice stirred butterflies in Cynthia’s stomach, and she grumbled a little louder.

  Barbie waggled her fingers. “Call me.”

  “Why? You have my number.”

  Cyndi pursed her lips. The arrogant man. It didn’t matter. Women still flocked to him like dieters to a chocolate factory...and devoured him just as quickly.

  She clutched the briefcase to her chest and rushed to her front door before he spotted her. Damien would certainly know she had witnessed the quaint scene a second ago, and he would never let her live it down. Her neighbor always enjoyed making snide remarks just to rile her, and it worked.

  Fumbling with her keys, she hurried to find the one that opened her front door. They slipped from her fingers and hit the porch, clanging loud enough to wake the dead. Scolding her clumsiness, she knelt on one knee and swept her hand over the cement, searching for them.

  “Do you need any help, mí amore?”

  She jumped and fell back on her rear. The beating of her heart thundered in her ears, and she placed a hand on her chest. “Damien Giovanni. Why do you always sneak up on me like that?”

  He bent, grasped her upper arm with one hand and her keys with the other. His Levis crackled at the knees as he helped her stand, and the cotton shirt stretching across his magnificent shoulders was just as noticeable.

  He grinned. “Because I like the way you jump.”

  Heat from his touch crept up her arm. She yanked it away. “One of these days you’re going to scare me so bad I’ll use my can of pepper spray on you.”

  His chest shook, deep laughter spilling from his lips. “Honey, if you’re as steady with the little can of pepper spray as you are with your keys, I don’t see that as a threat.”

  She fisted her hand and punched his arm, a grin tugging at her mouth. It was hard not to like him despite his reputation. “Just give me back my keys.”

  He stepped away and folded his arms. “Say the magic words.” He wagged his eyebrows in that cocky, infuriating way of his.

  “Emergency, 9-1-1?”

  He tilted his head and laughed harder. The porch light illuminated his handsome features; straight nose, strong chin, and lips that looked like they’d be heaven to kiss...for other women, of course.

  “Oh, mí amore, you really know how to tickle my funny bone.” He dangled the keys in front of her. A twinkle of mirth still sparked in his eyes.

  “Yeah, well, you really know how to...um...irritate me.” She grabbed her keys and turned to unlock the door before he noticed the grin pulling at the corners of her mouth.

  He leaned his shoulder against the doorframe. She dared not meet his stare directly, knowing what she’d witnessed. There was no reason she should feel any kind of attraction toward him. He was not the kind of man who she would consider going out with anyway.

  If he were anything but the player she knew him to be, she might have given him a chance when he’d first suggested going out with him many moons ago. At this point in her life, she didn’t want one-night stands, and she was tired of the love ‘em—leave ‘em kind of guys. After enduring so many broken relationships, she wanted something that lasts. Something better. At age twenty-five, it was time she started thinking of marriage and a family.

  “I’ve noticed Tim doesn’t come around anymore. Did you two break up?”

  She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Our timing was off, that’s all.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You sure?”

  She tightened her fingers around the handle of her briefcase. “I don’t see why you’re so interested. I’m continuing with my life, just as he’s done.”

  He held up his hands and shrugged. “Hey, no need to get upset. You know, one of these days you’re going to thank me for being such a nosey neighbor.”

  She lifted her gaze to his and shook her head. “Only in your dreams, buddy.”

  He grinned and stroked his finger across her heated cheek. “My dear Cynthia Randall, it will be in your dreams.” With a wink, he turned and walked into his townhouse.

  She pushed the door open and rushed inside, breathing a sigh of relief. That man made her uncomfortable in more ways than one.

  As she walked to the bedroom, loneliness consumed her. She kicked off her heels and slid each foot into a fuzzy purple slipper. On the nightstand, the picture of her latest flame captured her attention—slapped her face was more like it. Tim’s grin used to make her smile, but now she wanted to spit at the silver framed three-by-five.

  How dare that man sponge off her for three months, having her pay his bills, buy his groceries, and help him with rent then leave her for another woman who made more money? And to top it off, he acted like it was Cyndi’s fault for the breakup. How dare he act like he didn’t have to find a job and that all he needed was to keep the sofa warm during the evening when they were together.

  But what made it worse that she had actually put up with him. What was she, stupid? Maybe she was just blind...or both.

  She grabbed the photo, flung it in the small wastebasket a few feet away, and brushed her hands together. There, that took care of one problem.

  Her gaze slowly swept around the room until it rested on her collection of snowglobes. For years she’d been obsessed with them because they had reminded her of her grandfather who’d died when she was ten years old. She’d always believed that if she shook the globe and made a wish as the snow fell, that her wish would someday come true. True, it had never happened, but it was fun to dream, anywa
y.

  Tim had always hated her snowglobes. He’d called her childish for having such a large collection. Forty-one wasn’t too many, was it? She should have known from the first time he voiced his opinion, that he wasn’t the man she should give her heart to.

  She entered the kitchen and took a TV dinner from the freezer; her usual gourmet meal on nights like this. After pulling the meal out of the box and setting the timer on the microwave, she turned to yet another order of business...collecting information on the Internet for tomorrow’s news.

  She made herself comfortable on the gray swivel chair and turned on the computer. Whistling a made-up tune, she tapped her fingers on the desktop and waited for the machine to boot. Within minutes, she’d logged onto the Internet. The homepage popped up and she scanned the headlines, searching for something of interest. In the top right of the screen, an article grabbed her attention.

  How to Win a Man.

  Her explosive laugh disintegrated to a snort. Yeah, right. Win a man? And there was a certain way to do it? She’d have better luck giving a mountain lion a haircut.

  She ignored the link and searched through several other articles, but her mind kept going back to the odd article. What would it hurt? She had a few minutes until dinner, and she needed a good laugh.

  Win a man? Not likely. But curiosity got the best of her. What if there was a way? Perhaps this article had the very thing she needed to keep a man in her life. It wouldn’t hurt to look...

  She clicked on the hyperlink.

  What do men find romantic? With the help of Jason Stewart, founder of guyswithemotions.com, we’ve uncovered just how women can win a man. Below, panelists answer women’s questions and bare their souls.

  Cyndi leaned back in her chair, threading her fingers together over her stomach, eager to read more.

  1. Dark Chocolates. “Milk chocolate is for kids. Dark chocolate is for falling in love.” The chemical phenylethylamine, found in dark chocolate, mimics the feeling you have when you’re in love.

  She arched an eyebrow. Very interesting.

  2. Hard-to-find gifts. A gift that requires effort is sure to be a big hit with the guys.

  3. Compliments. The quickest direction to a man’s heart is through his ego.