Cinderella Christmas (10 page)

“Nick!”

“I thought they belonged back with their rightful owner. Now that I know it was you that night, I didn’t have to resort to plan B.”

“Which was?” She took the panties out of the box and held them in her hand.

“Ask every maiden in the kingdom to try them on and find out who they fit.”

She had to laugh at such a ridiculous image. Then she decided she wanted to play just a little more before midnight.

“I guess I better put them on.” Her evening gown was a stunner, flowing teal chiffon that bared her shoulders and swirled around her legs as she walked. Glancing around to make sure no one on another balcony could see, Eve slipped her red panties on and began to pull them up beneath her skirt.

“You weren’t wearing any underwear?” Nick said, stunned.

She rearranged her skirts as she smiled up at him. “There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”

“You really are Miss Naughty. I like it. Get over here.”

“Why of course, Mr. Nice.”

He was kissing her as the fireworks went off, and all Eve could think about was the fact that she didn’t really need fireworks up in the sky. This man in her arms would provide fireworks for her any time she wanted.

#

When she woke up New Year’s Day, he was watching her. Maurice snored softly at the foot of the king sized bed.

She smiled. “What do you usually do on New Year’s? Watch a game? The Rose Parade? Go to the movies?” It intrigued her, how well she knew Nick and yet how much she still had to find out about him.

“I’m not big on football.” He touched her foot with his. “Not when there are other games afoot.”

She groaned at his pun.

“I was thinking about how this whole thing came about,” he said. “How I was kind of an experiment for you. And though I know I should feel cheap and degraded, perhaps a bit sordid – “

She laughed and threw a pillow at him. He caught her in his arms and pulled her on top of him.

“Oh, stop!” She was laughing so hard she didn’t see Nick reach for a small velvet box, open it and set it in front of her.

“Eve,” he said, completely serious.

“Oh my God.” She had thought this was where they were headed, but hadn’t expected a proposal so soon.

“Eve,” he said, sliding out from under her, wrapping the top sheet around his waist and kneeling down on the bedroom floor. “Marry me. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. I don’t want to wait. I want our life together to start as soon as possible. Like right now.”

She couldn’t get the words out, her throat was so tight.

“Eve?” he said, and she couldn’t keep him in suspense any longer.

“You know Maurice is part of the deal.”

“Are you kidding, he’s the whole reason we’re here right now. He helped me find my naughty little elf. I’m indebted to that furry fiend forever. Massages, steak any time he wants, elf hats with pompoms, the works!”

Maurice grunted softly in his sleep.

“See, he approves.”

“I love you,” Eve said. “And I can’t think of anything in this world that would make me happier than spending the rest of my life with you.”

He kissed her, then slid the diamond ring on her finger. It flashed in the morning light and Eve turned her hand, admiring it.

“I love it,” she said.

“I love you,” Nick replied as he lowered her to the bed.

Maurice grunted again, then whined. He was dreaming, probably of another massage with Betsy.

“I’m so glad you found me,” she whispered between kisses.

“You made it quite a challenge, always in disguise,” he said. “Thank God for Maurice. Who knew Cupid came complete with wrinkles?”

She laughed, totally at peace in his arms, happiness filling her and a future stretched out before her with Nick and his love.

“About that promise you made to me in the pool, Miss Naughty,” Nick whispered.

“Which one was that, Mr. Nice?”

“I think it went something like, ‘Anything, Nick. I’ll do anything’.”

“Did I say that?”

“You certainly did.”

“And what exactly would you like, Mr. Nice?”

He leaned over and whispered in her ear.

“I see. So if it’s a choice between being a good boy or a bad boy – “

“Oh, I’ll always vote for being a bad boy,” Nick said, looking down at her with a confident grin on his face.

“And you’re very, very good at it,” Eve whispered just before he kissed her.

Elda Minger is the bestselling author of dozens of romance novels, both contemporary and historical. She’s been a romance reader for as long as she can remember. Elda lives in Southern California with her family, both two and four footed, and is currently at work on her next novel. In her spare time she loves reading, movies, knitting, cooking, and is active in animal rescue. Someday, along with her cats and dogs, she wants to include a miniature pig in her menagerie.

She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached at [email protected]

A writer never works alone. It truly takes a village to create a finished eBook.

I want to give a huge thank you to Bev Lyons, Rudy Minger and Madeline Oolie. All three of you took the time to read Nick and Eve’s story and helped make it so much better! And a shout out to Bill Guest, who listened to this plot and laughed at all the right places.

To Abigail Westbrook for creating another outstanding cover. I think this one is the cutest ever.

To Betsy Smouse for all the excellent information about dog massage. Maurice couldn’t have had the time of his life without you!

To Mark Christensen, who helps me with all things computer, always has my back, and keeps me calm when I have to move outside my comfort zone.

And most of all, I want to thank you, reader to reader. I was a voracious reader before I ever began plotting stories of my own. My grandmother read to me every night before bed, and I’ve never forgotten what she told me. “With a book in your hands you can go anywhere in the world, be anyone, and have the most wonderful adventures.”

It’s truly been my pleasure to create
Cinderella Christmas
for you.

Annie’s Child

When Colorado rancher Ben Tanner discovers that his brother Brad has left town after getting Annie Brand pregnant, he knows he has to help her. Annie is from the wrong side of the tracks, a woman who has worked determinedly to improve her life. She wants so much more for her baby. At first she refuses Ben’s help, until he convinces her it’s the right thing to do for her baby. He offers her the safety and financial protection of a marriage of convenience until her baby is born and at least a year old.

Both Annie and Ben have been hurt before and have become independent people. As they spend time together, both respect and admiration for each other grow. Neither count on falling in love.

But then Brad comes back to town and he’s looking for Annie . . .

Ever After

Tara McFadden comes home to the small Illinois town of Lake Annie to lick her wounds after losing her job. What she doesn’t count on is running into her lover from the past, Sam Henderson.

Sam and Tara have a complicated past. But the minute Sam sees Tara, he’s focused on his present and future – a future with Tara. She left town without telling him the last time, but if Sam has his way, this time he’ll make sure she knows how much he still loves her and will choose to stay.

Click here to check these romances out on Kindle.
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I want to thank you for buying
Cinderella Christmas
and taking the time to read it. I hope you enjoyed it.

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Cinderella Christmas
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