The Cinderella Scandal

by Barbara Mccauley

  Rolling her eyes, Sophia dipped her fingers into the ice water, then flicked Rachel's face.

  Rachel gasped, then scowled at Sophia. "Hey!"

  "Got you breathing, didn't I? Now be quiet, sit still and let's see what your man can do."

  But even Tina held her breath when the dj announced the band. Five men strolled out, everyone wearing sunglasses, looking very cool and very hot at the same time. They took their places, paused a moment, then the drummer tapped his drumsticks and said, "One, two, three, four!"

  The lead guitar started solo, strong and loud, the drums rolled in a moment later. The sound was hard-beating southern blues. Like a living, breathing entity, the heavy bass and keyboard joined in, pulsating through the crowd, pulling them to their feet and moving them to the dance floor.

  Then Jason stepped to the microphone.

  "Tell me why…"

  His voice trembled through the room, a smoky, raspy sound that was uniquely his own. A sound that echoed a hundred years of soul and sorrow, all the life of every blues singer who'd stepped on that stage before him. He sang of deception and lies, lost love and heartache. Passion flowed like lava from his words and set the room on fire.

  This was Jason? Tina thought in stunned amazement. She'd never heard him sing before, had never dreamed he was this good. The audience and dancers moved to the beat, and Tina couldn't stop herself from moving with them. He was better than good, she thought. He was terrific.

  Tina glanced at Rachel, saw the love shining in her eyes, and felt her chest swell with happiness for her sister. To be that deeply in love with someone, and to have them love you back, was a dream come true. Of course, in this case, the dream came with a few difficulties. But surely, Tina thought, when two people were that deeply in love, there was no difficulty that couldn't be resolved.

  Tina could only hope that someday she'd find that kind of love, too. That someday there'd be a man who'd look at her the way Jason looked at Rachel.

  Remembering Reid's kiss yesterday and the way he'd looked at her made Tina's stomach flutter. She knew it was just physical between them, but that didn't seem to discourage her thinking about the man constantly. If anything, it simply fueled the fire he'd lit inside her. Made her wonder what it would be like if he'd done more than kiss her, more than lightly brush his hands against her breasts. Her breasts ached just thinking about it, her skin felt tight and hot, and—

  The room exploded with applause and cheers at the end of the band's first song. Thank goodness, Tina thought, shaking off the tingling sensation that had been curling through her blood. That kind of thinking was only going to lead to more sleepless nights.

  While the applause continued, Rachel grabbed Tina's hand and squeezed. To say that Controversy had been well received was a bit of an understatement.

  "Isn't he wonderful?" Rachel shrieked over the noise. "Isn't he?"

  Laughing, Tina and Sophia hugged Rachel, then Sophia said, "I have to go say hi to someone. I'll be back in a little while."

  Jason started his next song, a slower, soulful tale of forbidden love. Couples melted together on the dance floor, swaying gently to the music. Tears in her eyes, Rachel leaned forward in her chair and kept her eyes on Jason. Why he hadn't received a recording deal already amazed Tina, but she knew it was a tough business, that even the most talented singers and groups were often passed by. She hoped this would be Jason's chance to make his dream come true.

  At the touch of a hand on her shoulder, Tina glanced up. A man flashed dimples and a diamond earring stud. His build was lean, his biceps the size of tree trunks. He nodded toward the dance floor.

  She hesitated, though for the life of her, she didn't know why. She was at a club, for heaven's sake. A nice-looking man was standing here asking her to dance. Didn't she tell herself she was going to cut loose and have a good time?

  So why was she so … uninterested? "Uh—"

  "Sorry, pal, she's with me."

  At the sound of the deep, familiar voice, Tina snapped her head around.

  Reid?

  Maybe this wasn't her lucky night, after all.

  She watched the man who'd asked her to dance move away. Frowning, she looked back at Reid.

  "I am not with you, and that was very pushy." She sipped from her water glass, wishing it were the wine she'd passed on earlier. "Maybe I wanted to dance with that man."

  "Did you?"

  Oh, why pretend? She was a lousy liar, and coy simply wasn't her style. She shrugged. "Not really."

  Grinning, he sat in the chair Sophia had vacated. "Hi, Rachel."

  "Hi, Reid," Rachel replied without taking her gaze off Jason. She had a dreamy, faraway look in her eyes.

  "The wine you ordered, Mr. Danforth." A cocktail waitress set a bottle of wine and three glasses on the table, then filled the glasses. "Can I get you anything else?"

  Tina didn't miss the suggestive tone in the waitress's voice. Or the lack of response from Reid when he shook his head.

  "What are you doing here?" she asked him when he handed her a glass of wine.

  "Same as you, watching the show."

  She lifted a dubious brow. "Why do I have the feeling there's more?"

  Reid slid a second glass of wine across the tabletop to Rachel, who didn't notice. "Sophia invited Ian."

  "Really." Why did he have to look so handsome in his black leather blazer and sage-green T-shirt? And why did her pulse have to do somersaults every time she saw him? Gathering her wits, forcing her hand to stay steady, she took a sip of the wine. "And you just happened to come along?"

  "Actually, Sophia told Ian to bring me."

  Wine nearly sloshed out of her glass when her hand wobbled. My own flesh and blood conspiring against me. Wondering where her dear sister had disappeared to, Tina scanned the crowd, then spotted Sophia standing with Ian at the back of the room. When Sophia waggled her fingers and smiled knowingly, Tina glared back.

  The band slipped into another fast number, and with the music so loud, it was easy to avoid any kind of serious conversation for the next few minutes. What she couldn't avoid or ignore was the proximity of Reid's body. His aftershave was woodsy, masculine, and she resisted the animal urge to slide closer and draw the intoxicating scent into her lungs.

  When the music shifted back to a slow number, he leaned in, making her heart skip when he brought his mouth to her ear.

  "With a voice like that," Reid said, nodding at Jason, "why's he working in a bakery?"

  "The hours leave his afternoons and evenings free for writing and practicing with his band." His warm breath on her ear made it hard to think. "Mostly, he stays because of Rachel. They can see each other every day, and manage to sneak in a little private time, too, especially when my mother's not there."

  "So your parents really don't know what's going on?"

  Tina shook her head. "My father's kitchen is his own little world, and my mother—" she sipped at her wine, then shrugged "—well, her vision is skewed by her aspirations."

  "What aspirations are those?"

  With the wine cooling her nerves and Reid's voice warming her insides, Tina felt herself relaxing. "To see Sophia and Rachel married into prominence and wealth, and at least one grandbaby on the way. That's the real reason she bumped my restaurant and rented the space to your family. She sees the campaign headquarters as a hunting ground for potential husbands."

  "What about you?" Reid asked. "Doesn't she want to see you married, too?"

  "Heavens, no." The laugh in her throat quickly faded when she realized that if she moved just a smidgen, Reid's mouth would be touching her neck. The very thought of it made her shiver and inch away. "It doesn't matter that I'm twenty-four. I'm her baby. She doesn't think of me that way."

  He shook his head slowly. "You're no baby, Tina."

  Something in Reid's voice, in his eyes, something dark and smoldering, sent heat pulsing through her veins. Was this a game to him? she wondered. And if it was, did she want to play? It would be da
ngerous and very foolish and she'd lose. She hadn't the experience or the skill to take on a man like Reid.

  She'd be the one left hurting, she was certain of that. Was that a chance she could take?

  Before she could even consider her answer, he'd already tugged her to her feet and was pulling her toward the dance floor. And when he drew her into his arms, she wasn't thinking at all.

  The song was slow, smooth, as sexy as it was soulful. Her body molded to Reid's, and they moved as one. They were close, a blending of soft against hard. Even if she'd wanted to, she couldn't have pulled away. She cursed the fact that she didn't want to. She could have stood like this forever with Reid, her head on his shoulder, his arms tightly around her.

  But there was no forever, not with Reid and not with the song. When it ended, she sighed and lifted her head.

  "Come home with me."

  Her breath caught at his words. Her heart drummed. Come home with me. It would be so simple to leave here with him. To fall into his bed. She was certain it would be a night to remember.

  But nothing would be simple tomorrow. She was just as certain about that, too.

  While the dance floor began to clear and the band left the stage for a break, she imagined what it would be like. No man had ever made her feel like this before. Made her hot and cold at the same time. Made her ache. Made her yearn.

  She needed space. Standing here, with Reid still holding her, she couldn't breathe, let alone think.

  "Rachel is…"

  "Backstage with Jason."

  Tina glanced at the table where they'd all been sitting. The seats were all empty now. "Reid, I—"

  He dipped his head, brushed his lips over hers. She forgot what she'd been about to say.

  "I … I need a minute," she said breathlessly, shivered when he touched her cheek with his hand.

  "I'll wait for you at the table."

  Nodding, she turned, and on weak knees headed for the ladies' room. What kind of spell had he woven over her? she wondered. Whatever it was, it was as potent as it was formidable. A heady mix of excitement and fear.

  Anticipation shivered through her.

  Inside the rest room, Tina squeezed her way through the mass of buzzing females and made her way to a sink. Dampening a paper towel, she pressed it to her cheeks and neck while the women around her slicked on fresh lipstick, smoothed their hair and adjusted their low-cut dresses and tops.

  She looked at her own dress, and though it was pretty and she thought she looked nice enough, she still felt like a sparrow in the midst of swans. A daisy next to roses. For the hundredth time she wondered why Reid would want her. Even if all he wanted was a one-night stand, he had his pick of the most beautiful women in Savannah. For that matter, in the world. It simply made no sense to her.

  But did it have to?

  For once, did she have to be so damn logical, so sensible? she asked herself. While the women chattered and laughed and pressed all around her, Tina stared at her own reflection, not even certain who she was anymore. For once, couldn't she just let herself be? Let herself feel? Just enjoy the moment, the night, and not worry so much about tomorrow?

  She felt a hand on her arm and blinked.

  "Tina," Rachel said, her voice quavering. "We have to go."

  "What?" When tears spilled from Rachel's eyes, Tina quickly pulled her sister into a stall and closed the door. "Rachel, honey, what's wrong?"

  "We have to go. Please."

  "What's happened? Are you all right?"

  "I—" Rachel swallowed, then choked on a sob. "I broke up with Jason."

  * * *

  Six

  « ^ »

  He sat at the bar, nursing a beer, but he wasn't drunk. Not yet, anyway. At 2:00 a.m., the night was still young.

  Reid figured he wasn't the first man to close down a bar thinking about a woman, and was even more certain he wouldn't be the last. In the ongoing battle between the sexes, womankind would forever remain a confusing and incredibly frustrating creature.

  Reid decided that no woman could possibly be more confusing, or more frustrating, than Tina Alexander.

  "Mind if I join you?"

  Reid swiveled a glance at Jason. If the singer's face dropped any lower, it would be scraping the wood floor. After two encores his group had finished a few minutes ago. The club was starting to thin out, and even Ian had left after the music ended. But there were still plenty of late-nighters scattered in the bar. "You buying?"

  "Sure." Jason slid onto the stool beside Reid, then gestured to the bartender for a new round.

  "That was a hell of a performance."

  "A record producer was in the audience." Based on Jason's tone, he might as well have said his best friend had died. "He wants the group to come to Los Angeles next week and cut a demo."

  "Congratulations."

  Jason shrugged, took a long pull from the beer bottle that appeared in front of him. "I asked Rachel to come with me."

  Reid waited, didn't think he needed to ask the obvious question.

  "She broke it off." Jason dragged a hand through his hair. "Told me she was happy for me, but she didn't want to see me anymore. She asked me if we could just be friends. Friends, for God sakes! Why the hell would she say something like that?"

  Reid shook his head. As if he had any answers when it came to women. But he realized it just might explain why Tina had left without even saying goodbye.

  When she hadn't come back from the rest room, he'd assumed she'd made up her mind about coming home with him and the answer had been no. He'd also considered it might be payback for the way he'd left her in the garden the night before. Somehow, though, he didn't think that was Tina's style, and when Rachel hadn't come back, either, even after the band started playing again, and Sophia seemed to disappear, as well, it hadn't taken a rocket scientist to figure out something was up. Now he at least had an inkling why the Alexander women had all vanished like smoke in the wind.

  His expression dark, Jason looked at Reid. "I wanted to put a fist in your face. Nearly jumped off the stage a couple of times. You're bigger than me, but I figured the element of surprise would be in my favor, in the short run, anyway."

  Reid lifted a brow. "What did I do?"

  Jason shrugged. "I see you sitting with my girl, then she breaks up with me. What would you think if you saw the woman you love with another guy?"

  "I have no idea," Reid said honestly. "I've never been in love."

  "Lucky you." Jason shook his head. "It hurts like hell. Walking around with your heart on your sleeve, it's damn embarrassing."

  Reid might have agreed, but why kick a guy when he was down? And anyway, if that's what love felt like, he wanted no part of it.

  "Anyway—" Jason sighed "—once I calmed down a little, I figured out she didn't break up with me because of you. I've just been jealous since you showed up. Everyone's talking about seeing you and Rachel together, and what a great pair you'd make. I know she wouldn't cheat on me, but the thought of you making a move on her made me crazy."

  "Women do that to a man," Reid said with nod.

  They clinked bottles and drank.

  "All Mariska talks about is having a Danforth for a son-in-law." Anger narrowed Jason's eyes. "How's that supposed to make a guy feel?"

  Not so good, Reid figured. Unless the guy happened to be a Danforth and had a thing for one of Mariska's daughters. Not that he was interested in marriage, of course, Reid thought. Hell, no. Maybe one day he'd settle down, but that was way in the future. He was attracted to Tina, very attracted, but he sure wasn't ready for picket fences and baby carriages.

  When Jason indicated another round to the bartender, Reid could see that an already long night was going to be even longer. What the hell, he thought with a sigh. There were taxis outside and he didn't have any better place to be, anyway. He'd pay for it in the morning, as would Jason, but somehow getting drunk tonight seemed to beat the alternative of being alone.

  * * *

 
"If I live to be a hundred, I'll never love again." Her nose red, her eyes swollen from her tears, Rachel stared unseeing at the cup of peppermint tea that Tina set on the kitchen table. "My life is over."

  After two pots of coffee, and because it was nearly three in the morning, Tina had brewed a pot of organic tea. With all the caffeine buzzing in her system, she doubted she'd be able to fall asleep for three days. In the corner, Delilah slept peacefully in her cushioned basket.

  "Your life is not over," Tina said. "We'll figure something out."

  Rachel shook her head. "The minute he told me he was going to Los Angeles, I knew we had to break up. He's going to be a star, Tina. A big star. I'd only be in his way."

  Tina sighed. They'd been over this a hundred times since they'd left Steam, but Rachel was being ridiculously stubborn. "He loves you, Rachel. You know he does."

  "Did you see the way all those women were looking at him tonight?" She reached for another tissue from the nearly empty box on the table. "Why would he stay with me, subject himself to all the hassels from Mom and Dad, when he could have any woman he wants?"

  "He wants you, Ray." Tina couldn't understand why her sister had suddenly become so incredibly unreasonable and emotional. "He adores you. Don't give up so easily. We'll call Jason tomorrow."

  "And you." Delicately Rachel blew her nose. "I ruined your night, too. You should have gone back to the club with Sophia."

  "For one thing, I only went there for you," Tina said firmly. It killed her to see Rachel like this, frustrated her that she couldn't talk any sense into her. "And for another thing, do you think I'd leave you alone when you're hurting like this? If Sophia hadn't already promised the owner she'd help him close tonight, she wouldn't have gone back, either."

  "Still, if it wasn't for me," Rachel said forlornly, "you'd be with Reid right now."

  Tina's pulse jumped. "What are you talking about?"

  "For heaven's sake." Rachel rolled her reddened eyes. "I'm not blind. I saw the way he was looking at you."

  Hoping her hand wouldn't shake, Tina calmly picked up her cup of tea. "What way was that?"

  "Like he wanted to cover you with whipped cream and lick it all off."