Small-Town Cinderella (The Pirelli Brothers)

by Stacy Connelly

  The woman slipped out of the restroom before Debbie had a chance to respond, but her words had already painted a picture in her mind. An image of Drew waiting for her, of him planning this night, and everything else he’d done in the past few weeks. Watching out for her at the meet and greet, showing up for karaoke night, kissing her when she looked her worst and gazing at her as if she looked her best. Did it really make a difference what had inspired Drew to arrange a night like tonight? All that really mattered was that she wanted to be with him and he wanted to be with her....

  Or at least he had wanted to be with her. Walking back into the restaurant, she saw the booth was now empty. Had Drew left, thinking she’d changed her mind about coming back? The few bites of the cheesecake they’d shared settled like a rock in her gut. Had she blown this one chance?

  But no, he wouldn’t just leave. Not without making sure she was okay and likely following her back home. The gentleman in him went far too deep for him to walk out.

  “Miss?”

  Debbie started as their waiter appeared at her side. “Yes?”

  “Your date asked me to give you this.”

  “Thank you.” Unfolding a piece of paper, she expected to find a note. Instead the paper was folded like an envelope around a key card with a room number written inside.

  No words were really necessary, were they? Drew had already stated his case. Now the choice was up to her.

  And wasn’t that all she’d ever really wanted? A chance to live her own life? But from the moment her mother was diagnosed with cancer, Debbie’s future had been cast in stone—or shaped in a copper mold. She’d made a success out of following in her mother’s footsteps, yet it had always been out of necessity and never by choice. But now Drew was giving her that choice. This next step was entirely up to her.

  Did she really want to look back on tonight as something that might have been?

  Denial rose up inside her, swift and sure, propelling her feet toward the elevator. No way was she letting this opportunity slip through her fingers. And no way was she going to miss this chance to get her hands on Drew. The ride up to the fifth floor seemed to take forever.

  Debbie rushed toward the room, walking as fast as she could in her high heels. Her knuckles had barely rapped against the door when it was yanked open from the inside. Moments earlier, Drew had been impeccably dressed. His pale blue dress shirt had been properly buttoned and tucked into slate-gray slacks. Now the tails hung down over his lean hips, the sleeves were pushed back to his elbows and the top buttons were undone, giving her a glimpse of the muscled chest beneath. His hair was mussed from running his fingers through it, bringing out a hint of the normally tamed curl.

  The man she’d shared dessert with, who’d eaten from her fork and looked at her as if he was imagining licking the creamy cheesecake right off her, the man who normally looked so calm, so cool, so sexy was nowhere to be seen.

  She liked this man even better. The relief washing over his features erased her lingering doubts. Tonight mattered to him. Almost as much as it mattered to her. “Can I come in?”

  Drew stepped aside and opened the door wide. Glancing around the room, she noticed the burgundy-and-gold comforter was folded at the foot of the bed and the sheets were already turned down invitingly. Her pulse picked up its pace even as she saw the unopened bottle of champagne on ice. Her eyebrows rose as she looked back at Drew. “Pretty confident that I’d show up, weren’t you?”

  “Not at all,” he said with a completely self-deprecating laugh. “I was hopeful that you would come and figured if you didn’t, that bottle of champagne would keep me company tonight.” He sobered as he crossed the room to stand in front of her. He ran his palms down her bare arms until he reached her hands and linked their fingers together. “If you’re not sure about this, we can go back downstairs for dinner. We can share that champagne and then I can follow you home.”

  “Still trying to play the white knight, Drew?”

  “It’s getting harder,” he confessed, and then winced at the unintended double meaning to his words.

  “Then let me make it easier for you and remind you that I don’t need rescuing. You don’t need to save me from myself. I’m old enough to know what I want...and I want you.”

  Reaching up, she twined her arms around his neck and kissed him. For Debbie, it was like no time had passed between this moment of being in his arms and the last. One kiss, and she was ready for more. One touch, and she couldn’t get enough.

  She tasted the sweetness of raspberry and the sexiness that was pure Drew. He held her body tight to his own, leaving no doubt to how much he wanted her...wanted this. The heat pulsing through her left her weak, and when his kisses found the column of her throat, her head fell back. And when his lips traced the skin above the bodice of her dress, her bones melted like heated sugar.

  He found the tab of the zipper and he made the slow slide that much more seductive by tracing his fingertips along every inch of skin he exposed. Goose bumps stood at attention, and her breasts tightened with need. She felt only a moment’s hesitation as the dress fell to the floor, leaving her with nothing but her black strapless bra and matching panties. But every doubt she ever had about her hips being too round, her stomach too soft, her breasts too big was burned away by the heat of Drew’s touch.

  Suddenly everything that had always seemed too much or not enough was just right. A perfect fit, and Drew the perfect man...

  “You are so beautiful,” he breathed, and Debbie believed him. It was impossible not to when the words were spoken against her skin in a rough whisper and the hands that stripped away the last of her clothes were not quite steady.

  Lifting her up in his arms like he had that night in the parking lot, he laid her down in the middle of the bed. He followed her down, but only after he’d tossed aside his own clothes, revealing a body made lean and strong by hard work—broad shoulders, muscular arms, rock-hard abs and long, powerful legs. A lock of his hair had fallen over his forehead and desire darkened his eyes to the deepest, richest chocolate.

  He swallowed her gasp with his kiss at the first unrestrained contact of his body, so hard and hot above hers. She arched into his every touch—from her throat to her breast to her belly and her thighs.

  It was at the same time too much and never enough, and when the rising, building pleasure broke over her, scattering pieces of her heart and soul, she knew she would never be the same.

  * * *

  Debbie woke in the middle of the night. She didn’t need to check the clock to know sunrise was still hours away. Working at the bakery had set her internal alarm clock to a ridiculously early hour, but after so many years, she was used to it.

  What she wasn’t at all accustomed to was waking up in a man’s arms. Drew’s arms. He held her from behind, his body curving perfectly around hers as if the two of them were made for each other, as if they were meant to be together....

  No! That was not what tonight was about. They’d agreed! Both of them! This was to be a fling and nothing more. And now, after one night, for her to start thinking about forever—

  No! No, this wasn’t happening. She wasn’t falling for Drew when he’d made his own feelings more than clear.

  Nah, that’s just Debbie.

  In high school, they’d been friends, yet in her young, foolish heart, she’d longed to be his girlfriend. Now they were lovers, and she wanted to believe making love was the same as falling in love when she was old enough to know better.

  She had to get a grip on her emotions, and that wasn’t about to happen while she was still wrapped in the oh-so-tempting warmth and strength of Drew’s arms. She carefully pushed the covers away with one hand and tried to slip out from beneath the heavy weight of his forearm at her waist. His muscles automatically tightened, trying even in sleep to keep her close, and Debbie felt her willpower�
��if not her heart—fracture the tiniest bit.

  It would be so easy to stay, so easy to fall even deeper, to let him get too close. Under her skin and into her heart—

  Slapping a mental bandage over the break in her self-control, she eased away from Drew and out of the bed. Finding her way in the zero-dark-thirty hours of the morning was one thing. Maneuvering her way around an unfamiliar hotel room was far more difficult.

  Where had all her clothes gone? Drew had been so eager to strip them away—

  She slammed her mind shut on the memory, feeling her way across the plush carpet, pulling on each article of clothing as she found it—strapless bra, shoe, dress, underwear—freezing at the slightest sound coming from the bed, until she was almost fully dressed.

  Almost.

  What was it with her and shoes lately? She was missing a black heel, and searching for it in the darkness she couldn’t help remembering the morning at Drew’s house. How ruggedly handsome and yet adorable he’d looked holding the puppy in his arms. How proud and possessive on karaoke night when he’d called her out on wearing the shoes he’d bought to replace the ones Rain had used as a chew toy. How excited she’d been to read his invitation to meet him at the hotel and then touched to find the tiny crystal pendant inside. The pendant that had been the only thing she hadn’t taken off when they made love....

  There! Was that— Her fingers brushed against leather near the foot of the bed, and she almost wilted in relief as she grabbed the missing shoe. Drew’s low voice came from tangled sheets, and she froze. Not an indistinct murmur, but a single word—her name. Her pulse pounded as she waited for him to ask where she was going, why she was leaving, but no other sound came from the bed. He was still asleep, her presence lingering in his dreams.... The temptation to crawl back into his arms pulled at her, her senses already craving his touch, his taste.

  A shiver racked her from head to toe. She needed to go, needed time and distance to put the foolhardy dreams out of her head and out of her heart. But she couldn’t escape without leaving something behind to let Drew know she was fine. That she was every bit the woman he’d overhead the night of Darcy’s bachelorette party. A woman looking for adventure and excitement. A woman mature and sophisticated enough to know sex didn’t equal love.

  Aided by the glow of her cell phone, she found the embossed stationary and pen on the hotel room desk. After scribbling out her message, she slipped out as quietly as she could manage and closed the door behind her.

  Chapter Nine

  Seated on the small bistro table outside the bakery, Sophia leaned back against the white wrought iron chair and groaned dramatically around a bite of pumpkin-spice-and-chocolate-chip cupcake. “Oh, my gosh! These are so good. How long have you been hiding these from me?”

  Debbie managed a smile and tried to smother another yawn. Her friend looked so fresh and energetic, her pregnancy glow putting Debbie to shame. She was accustomed to waking up early, but normally that meant she went to bed early, as well. Making love with Drew and spending the rest of the night alone in her bed reliving every moment she’d spent in his arms had robbed her of all but an hour or so of sleep.

  She’d picked up the phone half a dozen times to call him, but she didn’t know what to say. Sorry I’m such a coward? Or maybe I know we agreed to a no-strings fling but after one night, I already want more?

  And she was terrified by just how much more. Wasn’t she the same girl who didn’t want to end up trapped by responsibility? Who wanted her freedom and fun? It was what she’d told her friends. It was what she’d told Drew. So why did those words sound so hollow? So...lonely?

  Frustrated by the endless questions circling her mind, she’d been glad when Sophia had stopped by during her break from The Hope Chest, the antiques store just down the street from the bakery. “I haven’t been hiding them. I’ve just added them as part of a fall menu.”

  “Tell me you plan to keep them on the menu. They’re too good to only have for a couple of months.”

  “I don’t know,” Debbie said lightly. “Maybe what makes them so good is knowing they’ll only be around for a short time.”

  Sophia shook her head as she dug her fork in for another bite. “No way. They’re too good and too addicting to give up. Nothing else is going to compare.”

  And that was what she was afraid of, wasn’t it? Debbie thought. Of being spoiled for life? Knowing from now on everything else would see like second best?

  Pressure built in her chest, almost like feeling the need to cry, and she had to remind herself that they were only talking about cupcakes, for goodness’ sake! She huddled deeper into the oversize cream sweater she’d grabbed before joining her friend outside in the cool, fall-scented morning.

  “I left you a message and you didn’t call me back,” the brunette scolded once she’d finished the cupcake and reached for her herbal tea. “I hope that means you’ve been too busy to keep in touch with old friends,” she continued with a spark in her dark eyes.

  “You only left that message the day before yesterday,” Debbie pointed out. But then again, a lot could happen in two days. A lot could happen in twenty-four hours. Things like meeting Sophia’s brother at a hotel and spending half the night making love with him.

  “Which doesn’t answer the question. Did anything happen on karaoke night?”

  “Karaoke night?” she echoed, feeling like so much time had already passed since then.

  Sophia frowned as she crossed her arms over her pregnant belly. “You chickened out, didn’t you?”

  “I did not!” she protested. “I went and I even sang a couple of songs! I had a great time and—”

  Drew had kissed her good-night.

  She’d had a great time that night because Drew had shown up. She’d sang those songs because Drew had encouraged her. He believed in her, and that had made her want to believe in herself....

  “You met someone!” Sophia exclaimed as Debbie’s voice trailed off.

  “I— No. No, I didn’t meet anyone.”

  Guilt twisted Debbie’s gut for not being completely honest with her friend. She’d known keeping a relationship with Drew secret would be difficult, but she hadn’t thought of this part. The lying part. Although technically, she’d told the truth. She and Drew hadn’t met that night. She’d known him her whole life.

  But it’s different now, isn’t it? Different knowing him as a man instead of just as a friend....

  “Gee, that’s too bad,” Sophia said in a voice far too innocent for Debbie to believe. “So I guess you don’t have plans for tonight?”

  “Why?” she asked, not bothering to hide her suspicion.

  “Because,” her friend drawled, “Kara’s best friend, Olivia, is in town, and we’re getting together for dinner. You should come with us.”

  The last thing Debbie wanted was to go out, but staying at home meant having nothing to do but relive each and every moment she’d spent in Drew’s arms—something she’d already determined was not good for her heart. “Sure, I’ll go. Sounds fun.”

  “Perfect! Why don’t you wear the sweater you bought the last time we went shopping?”

  Debbie’s eyes narrowed. The sweater was the very same one she’d worn to the singles’ meet and greet and was not something she would typically choose for a casual girls’ night out. “Why would you want me to wear that?”

  “Because you look amazing in it.”

  “When I bought it, you told me my boobs looked amazing in it.”

  “And they do!”

  “And you want me to wear it tonight...why?”

  “Because Sam might have run into Ryder Kincaid the other day and invited him along.”

  “Sophia!”

  “What? Think about it. He’s a Clearville guy, but he’s been living in San Francisco for ten years, so you can hardly say
you know everything about him.”

  “I know he’s going through a divorce.” Debbie had heard that much about the hometown boy’s return.

  “I know, but you keep saying that you’re not interested in anything serious. I doubt he is, either.”

  “So you want me to be his rebound girl?”

  “No, I want you to go out with a nice guy and have a good time.” Heaving a sigh, Sophia leaned back in the chair and folded her arms over her round belly. “You know, for all your talk at Darcy’s bachelorette party, I’m not so sure that a wild fling is really want you want at all.”

  Picking up her coffee, Debbie dropped her gaze to the rich, warm brew—just the color of Drew’s eyes—and tried to tell herself her friend’s words weren’t all too true.

  * * *

  As Drew drove back home, his mood was at odds with the crisp, clear fall afternoon. He’d known as he’d made his way out to the job site that today was not a good day to be working at the custom house. He was in the mood to tear things down—preferably with his bare hands—and not focused enough to keep his attention on the work next on his schedule. Sure enough, by midday he had plenty to tear down—pretty much the whole series of stairs leading to the front deck. The stringer, steps and treads weren’t up to his standard, and he’d wasted time and material building them.

  Three hours later, when he found himself snapping at Rain as she nosed around his toolbox, chewed on an electrical cord—one that thankfully wasn’t plugged in—stole his one of his leather gloves for the third time and basically acted exactly the way a puppy should act, he knew it was time to call it a day.

  Fortunately, thanks to her happy-go-lucky personality, she willingly forgave him for his bad mood and had burned off enough energy to ride back on the seat next to him with her head tucked against his thigh.