A Cinderella Affair

by A. C. Arthur

  “I’m glad you’re pleased. You can tell your mother-in-law that I’ll send her a first look of all the new lines if she’d like,” Camille said, pleased at Jade’s words.

  “Actually, that’s the second reason I was calling. You see, my sister would like to meet you as well, so I was thinking of a weekend meeting. Just us girls, like an endless slumber party for grown-ups.” Jade laughed.

  Camille found herself smiling, although she couldn’t believe they were actually inviting her to come. “I don’t know, Jade. I’m pretty busy.”

  “Girl, I can imagine. That new line is hot. I was especially impressed with the young-adult designs. It’s about time somebody paid attention to the younger market in a positive way. That was a pretty bold move on your part and I commend you for going out on a limb. But I’m talking about the weekend. I’ll have the jet pick you up Friday after work and then it’ll bring you back home Sunday evening. You won’t miss a minute of business time. But you’ve got to have some time just for you.”

  She remembered Adam’s words and couldn’t help but agree. Jade’s kudos about her show also went a long way to boosting her self-esteem. While that article was hurtful, there was still a bright side. Her business was booming and Adam Donovan did seem extremely interested in her. She decided to go with the flow. “You’re right.”

  “Of course I’m right. Now, I’ll have my assistant fax you all the important info about pickups and drop-offs and I’ll see you Friday night.”

  “Okay,” Camille said with enthusiasm. “I’ll see you Friday night.”

  “I don’t know what she wants, Trent. That’s why I came to you.” Adam draped the towel he’d been using around his neck and sat on the bench in the locker room. He’d called Trent last night after he’d received another phone call from Kim. She was adamant about meeting up with him and he still couldn’t figure out why. It must be something really important for her to continue calling him. But before he agreed to meet with her he wanted to know where she’d been for the last nine years.

  Trent called him back this morning and suggested they meet at the gym. Adam hadn’t been to the gym in about a week, he was so tied up with approving things for the Davis house and finishing Ben’s house since his cousin now indicated that he’d be back in the States before Christmas.

  While they worked out he’d given Trent the rundown on Kim’s calls. As he’d expected, and as he felt himself, Trent was suspicious.

  “She’s been gone for how long? Nine years? That’s time enough to get in a lot of trouble.” Trent sat on the bench beside Adam. “Or she could have been in trouble before she left.”

  “What kind of trouble?”

  “I don’t know. She was your girl, not mine. I’m just saying the way she’s calling you sounds desperate. Now I remember Kim being a very attractive young woman, which means that she’s probably a knockout now. You’re my brother and I love you, but I don’t see that she’s in need of a man and wants you.”

  Adam bowed to him. “Thanks a lot, man.”

  Trent chuckled. “I’m serious. Besides, you’ve got your hands full with another woman. You don’t have time for Kim Alvarez. But I agree her timing is suspicious as well as her tenacity. I’ll look into it tomorrow.”

  “Thanks,” Adam sighed.

  “Now you wanna talk about what’s really bothering you?”

  Standing, Adam retrieved his shirt from his locker and slipped it over his head. “Nothing’s bothering me.”

  “Denial is a waste of time with me and you know there’s nothing I hate more than wasting time. So cut the crap and tell me what’s going on.”

  Trent was a no-nonsense man. He was a question-and-answer man. A bottom-line man. Adam respected that about him. His brother never seemed indecisive or confused about what he should or should not do. Adam envied that about him.

  “I like Camille Davis,” Adam said simply.

  Trent slammed his locker closed and chuckled. “Is that all? Is that what has you all jacked up? Mom’s worried sick about you. Max is afraid you’re going to lose your business edge. And it’s all about you liking Camille Davis.”

  “No. It’s not just about me liking her. It’s about me really liking her.”

  Trent paused between pulling on his pants and staring at his younger brother. “You act like this is a problem. Is it a problem?”

  Adam exhaled a breath. “It’s a problem for her because she doesn’t believe me. And it’s a problem for me because I know the consequences.”

  “And Kim’s calling you out of the blue brings those consequences to the forefront? I see your dilemma. But I’m not the one for this conversation. You know my stance on women. Do what you need to do, for as long as you need to do it with them and move on. Don’t give them anything of yourself besides the physical.”

  “I know. I know. You’ve told me all this before.” Adam had gone over all of this in his mind. He knew what his stance on women should be after what Kim did to him. He also knew what he felt for Camille, regardless of his past.

  “Then what’s the problem?” Trent put on his shirt and looked down at his brother.

  “The problem is I can’t give her the physical part of me without sacrificing myself.”

  “Wait a minute, are you saying you can’t sleep with her?” Trent asked with confusion clearly written on his face.

  “I’m saying I won’t sleep with her just for the hell of it.”

  Trent made a low whistle. “First Linc and now you. Did I teach the two of you nothing?”

  Adam couldn’t help but laugh. “You taught us a lot, we just had the good sense not to follow your instructions.”

  “Then you shall suffer the same fate as Linc.”

  Adam lifted his gym bag on his shoulder. “Have you been around Linc and Jade lately? I don’t think you could say he’s suffering.”

  Trent smiled and fell into step beside Adam. “I have to agree with you there. He does seem really happy. Jade’s good for him.”

  They walked out of the gym and were headed for their cars when Trent paused, clapping a hand on Adam’s back. “I think Camille Davis might just be good for you, too.”

  Chapter 9

  “I’m so glad you could make it,” Jade said as she embraced Camille.

  Camille had no choice but to hug her back even though she was unsure why this woman who barely knew her was being nice to her.

  Just as Jade’s itinerary had said, Camille was picked up at her apartment at seven that evening. She boarded the Donovan private jet at seven forty-five and at nine o’clock she was sitting in the back of a limo heading toward the home of Jade and Lincoln Donovan.

  And what a home that was. It was huge and impeccably decorated from the two rooms she’d seen so far. Jade obviously had great taste in everything, including clothes.

  “Thanks for inviting me.”

  “Don’t mention it.” Jade smiled as she took Camille’s purse from her shoulder. “Now, come on into the kitchen. We’re cooking a late dinner and then we’re going to have brownies and the best damned homemade pound cake you’ve ever tasted for dessert.”

  Camille followed her but groaned in the process. Sweets were her weakness but memories of the struggle she went through to lose weight strengthened her resolve. “I can’t have brownies and pound cake. Do you have any frozen yogurt?”

  Jade paused just as they walked into the kitchen. “No way. This is a weekend of indulgence. And I am not going to watch you eat frozen yogurt while I pig out. I didn’t invite you to my house to torture me.”

  For a minute Camille didn’t know what to say; then Jade smiled and she released the breath she’d been holding.

  “You’ll eat cake and brownies just like us.”

  “You can put frozen yogurt on top of your cake, though.” A female that Camille didn’t know spoke. One look at her and she knew this had to be Jade’s sister. They had the same slanted eyes. Jade’s coloring was more exotic than her sister and she was an inch or so taller,
but they still had a strong resemblance.

  “Thanks. I’m Camille Davis.” Camille extended her hand to the woman.

  Noelle waved her hand away and gave Camille a hug. “It’s good to finally meet you. I’m Noelle, Jade’s sister.”

  What was it with these people and hugging? Camille thought. Coming from a household where Moreen was in charge didn’t exactly prepare her for an abundance of female kindness. But Camille had resigned herself to be open this weekend. She’d been invited here for a fun-filled weekend and she was determined to make the most of it.

  “So what are we having for dinner?” she asked happily.

  He was not going to go see her.

  This weekend was for the girls. Jade had made a point of explaining that to him again last night when he’d shown up at her spa.

  Adam drummed his fingers on his desk blotter. He’d known the moment the Donovan jet landed because he’d phoned the pilot earlier in the day and requested that he notify him when he returned from Los Angeles.

  That was more than two hours ago. It was now almost midnight and he was still at his office. He’d been working like a madman all week long. Quite the contrary to what he’d told Camille about enjoying life. But the second he entered his apartment he’d found himself bombarded with thoughts of her. He called her every day desperate to hear her voice and they’d been talking amicably. Actually, they’d been talking like two teenagers in high school way into the wee hours of the morning about anything and nothing.

  So he really liked her, that wasn’t so bad. And so he was really horny thinking of her in bed in one of Jade’s guest rooms. With a curse he stood from his chair and paced his office. He had two choices: call her or go home and take a cold shower.

  He did neither.

  A half hour later he was pulling up in front of Linc’s house. Turning off the ignition he sat in the car staring at the house. Which room would she be in? He knew the layout to Linc’s house like the back of his hand since this had been one of his renovation projects. There were three levels; the basement housed Linc’s gym and Jade’s massive library. The main level held the living room, dining room, den, kitchen and sunroom. The second level had four bedrooms and a master suite along with four bathrooms and two home offices, one for Jade and one for Linc.

  The windows for the master suite were all facing the back of the house. Linc wanted to wake up to the sun rising over the mountaintops. Adam scanned the windows of the second level debating which one it would be. He’d been concentrating so hard that he hadn’t heard anyone approach. So when the tapping on his window sounded he nearly jumped into the passenger seat.

  Looking out the window he glimpsed Linc standing with one hand in his pocket, a goofy grin on his face. Pressing the button he watched the window slide down.

  “You know if you weren’t related I’d be kicking your ass right about now?” Linc said casually.

  “But I am related so I’d appreciate you not scaring ten years off my life.” Adam put the window back up and opened the car door to get out. Pressing the alarm, he stood in front of the car looking back up at the house.

  “I’m pretty sure Jade won’t appreciate company at this hour.” Linc was still grinning.

  Clearly Adam hadn’t thought this through. This was his brother’s house but it was almost one o’clock in the morning. A friendly visit this most definitely was not. To hell with it, he wasn’t about to lie to Linc. Most likely because he was sure Linc already knew why he was here.

  “I just thought I’d drop by to say hi,” he said in a voice he hoped was casual.

  Linc nodded. “You couldn’t wait until morning? Or better yet, you couldn’t have come over earlier this evening?”

  “Jade warned me not to interrupt them last night. You heard her, she wasn’t joking.”

  “Yes, I heard her. Which has me asking again why you would come over here at this time of night? If Jade warned you about coming over earlier—”

  “All right!” Adam yelled, then thought of what time it was and lowered his voice. “I came to see Camille because I tried not to come earlier this evening but lost that battle and ended up here anyway. And I know it sounds ridiculous and totally out of character for me but it is what it is. Now, I’d like for you to tell me which room she’s in.” He paused then looked at his brother fully dressed with a jacket on. “What are you doing coming in at this hour?”

  Linc chuckled. “Lucky for you Jade also ordered me out of the house tonight. So I stayed at the casino for as long as I could without falling asleep on the craps table.” He walked away, heading up the front steps. “Come on if you’re coming.”

  Adam followed knowing that he was going to catch hell tomorrow morning when Linc had a chance to tell Trent and Max what he’d done. Strangely enough he didn’t care. As long as he got to see Camille.

  They were greeted with laughter the moment they entered the house. Continuing to follow Linc through the foyer and past the living room they entered the den, which was covered in darkness except for the candles lit around the room.

  “Good evening, or good morning, ladies,” Linc said with a slow smile.

  Three incredibly beautiful women looked up from their position on the floor and all but one of them smiled in greeting.

  Camille’s gaze found Adam’s instantly and held. He wasn’t sure if she was shocked or angry by the sight of him. But at this point didn’t really care. He walked in past Linc. “Hello,” he said, moving closer to where Camille sat.

  Jade jumped up, putting a hand on his chest. “What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay away,” she said with mock anger.

  “I know. You did. But—” Adam paused. “How come you’re not yelling at him?” he asked, pointing a thumb in Linc’s direction.

  “He lives here. You, on the other hand…”

  Adam leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I know I don’t live here. But it serves you right for tempting me like this.”

  Jade only shook her head. “You have so lost the battle,” she said wistfully.

  Pulling back, Adam looked at her in question.

  “We’ll talk about it later,” she told him.

  “Hey, Adam. You’re keeping pretty late hours now, aren’t you?” Noelle asked with a knowing grin.

  “Ah, if you ladies are finished, I’d like to take my wife to bed,” Linc interrupted, putting a hand around Jade’s waist.

  Adam smiled at Noelle, knowing that, too, would be a conversation for later. But he couldn’t let all that concern him, either. What he was concerned with was the woman now standing on the other side of the couch, her blue silk robe pulled tightly around her body. A body he was having a difficult time sleeping at night without thinking about.

  “We weren’t finished but since we’ve been interrupted we’ll have to pick up where we left off tomorrow. Right, Camille?” Jade asked with a huge grin.

  Camille fumbled with the belt on her robe, then found Jade’s gaze and smiled back. “Right. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

  Noelle clapped. “That sounds like a plan. And since I’m the only one without a guy I’m heading to bed first. Good night all,” she said, then disappeared from the room.

  Linc looked over at Adam. “Shall I expect to see you at breakfast?”

  Adam looked at Camille and shook his head negatively.

  “Then good night to you. And, Camille, it’s good to see you again.”

  Camille nodded to Linc. “Same here. Good night, Linc.”

  They were alone.

  Adam, who hadn’t thought past seeing her again, was now at a loss for what to say or do. She looked stunning. That tone of blue perfectly accented her mocha skin. Her chin-length hair had been pulled back into a loose knot. She stood close to the couch as if she didn’t really belong here. He took a step toward her and she took one backward.

  He paused. “I’m glad you came,” he said slowly.

  She shrugged and walked around the couch to stand at the end of the sofa table. “
Jade’s really nice. I didn’t want to turn her down.”

  “You looked like you were enjoying yourself when I walked in.”

  “I was,” she said quickly then cleared her throat. “Do you normally show up at people’s houses at this time of night?”

  Adam took off his jacket and laid it on the chair in front of him. He took this opportunity to move a little closer without seeming as if he were moving closer. “This is my brother’s house.”

  “I know that but it’s just weird that you’re paying him a visit at this hour.”

  “I’m not here to visit him,” he said and was finally standing just a few feet away from her. “I’m here to visit you.”

  Nervously she licked her lips. “You could have waited until morning.”

  He shook his head. “No. I couldn’t.”

  For a minute they both stood still, then Adam took another step close to her. “I need to touch you, Camille. It’s been a week since I’ve touched you.”

  He watched as her eyes closed and she took steadying breaths. When he’d left her in L.A. she’d been like putty in his hands, kissing and touching him as if she were going to miss him every bit as much as he was going to miss her. Apparently something had happened in the last week to change her comfort level. And Adam knew what that meant. “It’s okay, Camille. Just keep on breathing. Nothing’s wrong with you being here.”

  Camille shook her head but kept her eyes closed. This wasn’t like her other attacks, she seemed to have some control this time. With her eyes closed he was able to approach her and just as he’d admitted, touched his fingers to her cheek. “What’s the matter, baby?”

  She opened her eyes slowly and seemed to take a moment until they focused on him. “There was another article. I saw it a couple of days ago. It said I was giving you and Linc personal favors to model for me.”