The Cinderella Seduction: A Suddenly Cinderella Novel (Entangled Indulgence) (14 page)

A knock on her front door sent her springing out of bed and rushing to find her robe. Throwing it on, she hurried down the stairs, tying the belt on her way.

A courier bearing a long white box tied with a bright red ribbon stood on her stoop. “Stefanie Stefanopoulos?”

“Yes, that’s me.” She reached out to take the clipboard and pen.

She signed, and he took back the clipboard and handed her the box, too big to be flowers. “Have a good day, ma’am.”

She would wager the client list for Good Enuf to Eat that the box held a gift from Nick. Really, who else could it be? Curious to see what was inside, she nodded. “Thanks, you too.”

She closed the door with her hip and walked into the kitchen. Setting the present atop the counter, she slid off the ribbon, too pretty to cut, and lifted off the lid.

Oh. My. God
.

Wrapped in red tissue paper, a scarlet satin gown lay inside. Feeling as though she were living a dream, better yet a fairy tale, she lifted it out and held it up. The label was designer, the size exactly hers. Though formalwear could be tricky, she had the sense it was going to fit—perfectly. Holding it against herself, she took a few turns about the bricked floor. The long flared train swept the floor—a fairy-princess gown, indeed.

A folded note on thick, cream-colored stationery was still in the box. Pulse skipping, she broke the seal and read:

A gown for a goddess. I will send a driver for you at six. Until then—

Yours, Nick

Nick wasn’t hers, not yet. But despite all the obstacles in their path, Stefanie determined to hold onto the hope that somehow, magically, he might be.

Chapter Eight

The temptation to try on the dress had proven too great to resist. Unfortunately, doing so had made Stefanie late for her Starbucks meet-up with Macie. Hurrying over to their table, she said, “Coffee’s on me. What would you like?”

Macie looked up from her e-reader and smiled. “Since you’re buying, make my Splenda latte a venti.”

A few minutes later, Stefanie settled back in with her café mocha and Macie’s latte. Taking a sip of her drink, Macie eyed her. “You look…different.”

Stefanie forced a shrug. “That’s the point of a makeover, isn’t it?”

Her friend wasn’t fooled. “You’ve had sex!”

“Shush!” Mortified, Stefanie darted her gaze about the crowded cafe.

Lowering her voice, Macie leaned over and said, “You slept with Nick Costas.”

Knowing that denial was pointless, Stefanie nodded. “Guilty as charged.” Hours later, she still couldn’t stop smiling. Even with all the worries and unknowns still weighing on her mind, she felt sort of…wonderful.

“So?” Macie prompted, “How was it? Judging from the way you’re glowing, I’d say it must have been pretty freakin’ amazing.”

Blushing, Stefanie admitted, “It was.”

“So when are you seeing him again?”

Stefanie sat back. “Tonight. He wants to take me on another date.” She couldn’t imagine anything topping the previous night, but the gown he’d sent certainly suggested the evening he had planned would be special as well as formal. Was he intending for tonight to be a last hurrah—or the start of something new and wonderful?

Macie’s smile dimmed. “What is it? What’s with the face?”

For the first time since the night before when Nick had swept her off her feet—literally—Stefanie felt her spirits hit a lull. “I just wish we had more…time. He goes back to Greece on Thursday.”

She didn’t mention tomorrow’s meeting or the reason for it. Macie was her best friend, but some things were best kept among family. So far as her friend knew, she’d only been playing tour guide to her father’s business associate.

Setting down her coffee, Macie shrugged. “You’ve been talking about going to Greece ever since I’ve known you, so buy a plane ticket and visit him.”

Macie had a knack for making everything seem so straightforward, so simple. “You think?”

Macie nodded. “I don’t think. I
know
. But it’s still only Tuesday. Take it from me, a lot can happen in twenty-four hours. The best approach is to stay positive about the present. Speaking of which, what are you wearing tonight?”

Perking up, Stefanie reached into her bag and took out her phone. “He bought me a dress.”

“Get outta here!”

“No, I’m serious.” She brought up the picture she’d taken of the dress hanging on her closet door and handed over the phone.

Macie’s eyes popped. “That’s not just a dress. That’s a
dress
.”

“I know, I know. And Mace, it’s…
Vera Wang
.” Even Stefanie recognized the famous designer.

Grinning, Macie said, “With most men you’d be lucky to get a text message next day, flowers if he’s really into you. This guy sends a designer gown. He doesn’t do anything by half measures, does he?”

“No, he certainly doesn’t,” Stefanie agreed with a sigh, thinking back to all the ways he’d made love to her last night.

“If you need it altered, I know a fab tailor who does same-day turnarounds for special clients. I’ll text you the info. Be sure to tell him I sent you.”

Stefanie felt her smile widening. “Thanks but I tried it on—that’s why I was late—and it fits me
per-fect-ly
. I don’t even need shapewear!” The latter almost made her giddy.

Macie shot her an I-told-you-so look. “That’s awesome.”

“I’m not sure how he knew my size, but he did.”

She stopped there. After the sexy night they’d shared, Nick must be intimately familiar with every inch of her. Or perhaps he’d looked in her closet before leaving. That he’d thought of her after leaving her bed certainly seemed like a positive sign.

A gown for the goddess you are.

“Have you worn the shoes yet?” Macie asked. “The Cinderella slippers,” she prompted.

“There really hasn’t been an occasion.”

Macie grinned. “Well, there is now. They’ll be stunning with this dress.”

“You’re right. They will be,” Stefanie agreed. The shoes were still in their elaborate box, tucked onto a shelf at the back of her closet. Until now, she’d as good as forgotten them.

But they were definitely coming out of the closet tonight. She hoped whatever pixie dust or other magic they possessed would be enough to rub off on Nick and her both.

…

Waking up in Stefanie’s bed had been a wake-up call for Nick in more ways than one. Despite the hot sex they’d had, and her obvious enthusiasm, he sensed that apart from her fiancé she hadn’t much prior experience. Considering she must be in her late twenties, that carried her as close to virgin status as a non-virgin could come. She was the sort of woman a man took for his wife, for the mother of his children, not for casual sex.

There had been nothing casual about last night.

Lying beside her that morning, his arms wrapped around her curvy body and his face buried in her fragrant hair, he’d felt closer to peace than he could ever remember being. Warmhearted, funny, and wonderful with Mara, she was unlike any woman he’d ever dated. And as good as she was in the kitchen, last night had demonstrated that she was even better in the bedroom. He wasn’t sure how or even if she fit into his life, especially after Wednesday’s contentious meeting, but after last night he was determined not to let her slip away without a fight.

He’d begun by buying the dress. A quick glance in Stefanie’s closet once she’d slipped back to sleep had confirmed her size. As to the color, there had been only one thought in Nick’s mind: red. Returning to the hotel, he’d waited for the concierge desk to reopen at nine, and then given the man the details along with his credit-card information, a short list of preferred designers, and his preferred color—red. The hotel’s recommended personal shopper had taken it from there, including arranging the delivery. Nick’s online check of the tracking number confirmed that the gift had been delivered and signed for. Seeing Stefanie’s signature on the scanned document, he’d felt his pulse quickening. Imagining how beautiful she would look dressed—and undressed—had him counting down the hours.

The teleconference with the other international investors would take up most of the day. Seated at the secretary desk, his laptop open and reports of charts and graphs fanned out in front of him, Nick started when house phone rang.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Mr. Costas,” the hotel desk clerk apologized, “but there is a Ms. Stefanopoulos here to see you. Shall I send her up?”

At the mention of Stefanie, Nick’s heart began revving like the engine of the expensive car he’d raced at the Indy 500 in his daredevil days. Had she rethought their second date? Had his gift offended her in some way? “Yes, please, provide her with the elevator code.”

He ran a hand through his hair to smooth it, vaguely aware that he was nervous. It wasn’t like Stefanie to drop in. She must have something important to say. Nick only hoped it wasn’t a preemptive good-bye.

The suite doorbell sounded. “Coming,” he called out. He crossed the carpet to answer it, tucking in his shirt on the way.

He opened the door. “Jacquie,” he managed to get out, staring down at Stefanie’s stepmother. Heart plummeting, he stepped back for her to enter. “This is a surprise.”

Sporting a white fur coat, black jeans, and thigh-high boots, and wearing red lipstick far too bright to flatter a woman of her years, she sauntered inside. “No doubt you were expecting my stepdaughter.”

Nick didn’t deny it. Why should he? Stefanie was a grown woman and free to spend time where and with whom she wished. Beyond that, from everything he’d so far seen, Jacquie had never bothered to be anything near a mother to her.

“Nice digs,” she observed, her crassness setting Nick’s teeth on edge. Looking around, she seemed to catalog the suite’s every nook and cranny. “Fresh flowers make all the difference.” She plucked a calla lily from the vase. Twirling the flower, she added, “Back when I was working full-time as a realtor, I always made sure all my showings were staged with fresh flowers in every room. The smell of baking cookies and fresh wall paint helps, too,” she added with a piercing laugh.

In no mood for her real-estate reminiscences, Nick followed her over. “I am afraid I am in the midst of preparing for a teleconference.”

She followed his gaze over to the desk where he’d obviously been working. Turning back, she nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll be brief.”

“That would be appreciated, thank you.” He didn’t bother asking her to sit.

She drew an audible breath. “Are you aware that my husband is looking into taking out a second mortgage on our home to repay you?”

“I was not,” Nick admitted. “But then since he has not yet deigned to meet with me, how would I know this?”

If she were expecting sympathy, she was destined to be disappointed. A developer risking his multimillion-dollar home because of a botched business deal wasn’t quite the same as innocent orphans and frightened young mothers being turned away for lack of space.

Her eyes narrowed. “Of course he hasn’t met with you yet. He’s been too busy lining up his ducks, meeting with bankers and brokers and debt consolidators and… Well, our house has been like Grand Central Station ever since you got here.”

“I am sorry to hear that.”

She shrugged. “Look, this charade has gone on long enough. Are you going to grant him an extension or not?”

Nick was stunned and not only by the bald rudeness of her demand. Nick had no intention of granting additional time, but that was beside the point. “That is one of many matters he is free to propose to me tomorrow.”

She scowled. “I know how you Old World types operate. The world’s one big Old Boys’ Club so far as you’re concerned. For your information, I’m not just his wife. I’m a member of the board.”

“Congratulations.”

She glared. “We both know my husband has been pretending to be sick. I think he has this crazy idea that if you spend enough time with Stefanie, you’ll fall for her and forgive his debt.”

Nick didn’t speak. If that was indeed the plan, then Stefanie’s father was even more reprehensible than he’d considered.

“But men like you don’t fall for girls like Stefanie. You may sleep with them out of boredom or pity or convenience but that’s the end of it.”

Though burning to tell her how wrong she was, for Stefanie’s sake Nick sealed his lips.

Apparently mistaking his silence for agreement, she continued, “Stefanie and I have never been what you’d call close, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stand by and let her whore herself out for the family—even if Christos’s financial crisis is all her fault.”

This really was intolerable. “How is your husband’s reneging on repaying his debt any fault of Stefanie’s? Other than being on the board, she doesn’t have anything to do with running the company.”

Her brow, likely Botoxed, lifted. “You really don’t know, do you?”

Heart drumming, Nick forced a shrug. “Enlighten me.”

“Stefanie’s former fiancé swindled us out of three million dollars. It was a textbook Ponzi scheme—and poor Stefanie made an easy mark. I warned Christos not to give that mini-Madoff any money, but he did anyway. I think he wanted to get in good with his future son-in-law, feather the nest for Stefanie, so to speak. We were all so relieved she’d finally found someone.”

I was engaged for a while but it…didn’t work out…

Looking pleased with herself, she tapped his arm with the flower. “As you can imagine, Stefanie blames herself. She’d do just about anything to make things right for her dad—anything. Putting herself through an extreme makeover in one week is just the tip of the iceberg.”

“A makeover?” One of the things he’d first noticed and liked about her was her utter absence of artifice.

She nodded. “I know she’s still plain and chunky, but if you saw how she normally looks, you wouldn’t even recognize her. That messy braid, those geeky glasses, and don’t even get me started on her clothes. Before she heard you were coming, I don’t think she even owned eye shadow. I know it’s hard to believe, but what you’re seeing is actually her ‘after’ look.”

Shocked, he demanded, “Why would she do all this?”

She looked at him askance. “To seduce you, of course, so you’d let her precious pop off the hook.” She rolled her eyes. “Pathetic, I know. I’m sure she’ll be back in her sweats just as soon as you leave for the airport on Thursday. Now my girls, on the other hand—”

“Get out.” Nick rounded the table and closed the gap between them. Grabbing her by the elbow, he ferried her toward the foyer, the flower falling to the floor.

Her mouth flew open, making her look like a hooked fish. “Let go of me. You may not comprehend our American laws,” she hissed, apparently forgetting he was a Harvard-educated lawyer, “but this could be construed as assault.”

Nick bit back a bitter laugh. “Then sue me.” Reaching around her, he threw open the door.

Left with little choice, she backed into the hall. “You should be thanking me, not manhandling and insulting me. I came here to warn you. You’re being played.”

“Your unpleasant visit has only confirmed what I knew already. You’re a conniving shrew. I may not forgive your husband’s debt, likely I will not, but after today I do pity him.”

He closed the door in her face. Turning, he barricaded it with his back.

All along he’d known Stefanie was covering for her father, but he’d never considered she’d use sex to manipulate him. His scandalous past with women must have made him seem like easy prey. That he’d fallen for her good girl act, for
her
, made it hard to hold back from putting his fist through the nearest wall.

Instead he scraped a hand through his hair and fought to fathom how the last few minutes could so completely alter everything. Just that morning, he’d left Stefanie wrapped in a bed sheet and a postcoital cocoon, her satiny skin still rosy from his lovemaking, the innocence of her sleeping smile rivaling an angel’s. Based on what he’d just heard, though, she wasn’t so very innocent. Until now, he’d assumed he’d seduced her, but now he saw he’d had it all wrong.