One Night Forever (The Cinderella Chronicles) (18 page)

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Authors: Lisa Renee Jones

Tags: #cinderella, #lisa renee jones, #hot secrets, #dangerous secrets

BOOK: One Night Forever (The Cinderella Chronicles)
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With an amused look on
his face, Matt tugged playfully at the cover. “I’ll go warm up the
bath, but you’ll have to drop the sheet to take it.”

He was gone before she
could respond. The water started running seconds later. Lauren took
another sip of coffee and looked around the room. It was decorated
with a definitive masculine flavor. All black furnishings with a
matching leather chair in the corner gave it a sleek, contemporary
look. A clean and crisp feel came with the daylight view. Even the
art was simplistic. Black and white paintings were strategically
placed around the room, as were several sculptures.

But the thing she liked
most about the room was a huge fish tank in the corner. Though
she’d noticed it previously, she’d never really taken the time to
admire it. Filled with all black and blue fish, it accented the
room, and pulled it all together. She sighed, imaging how relaxing
it might be to lie in the bed and simply watch the serenity of the
tank.

A flash of her lying with
Matt, watching the fish, and then falling to sleep made her shake
herself. What was she doing here? This was real life. No fantasy to
protect her from the truth of things. He was her boss. She was his
employee. Another glance around the room and she reminded herself
he was also very rich. She wasn’t.

She didn’t belong
here.

Matt walked back into the
bedroom. She watched him cross the room, smiling, charming as
always. There was no hint that he might think this was a mistake,
her being here in his apartment. He had even said he never brought
women to his apartment. Yet he brought her. She was so very
confused.

Why didn’t he see how
wrong what was happening between them was?

One of them had to be
logical and smart. Clearly, it had to be her. The little daydream
had to end.

Chapter Twenty-One

 

Lauren was stalling.
Trying to find a way to fight the intimacy of the morning. It
amazed him how easily he read her. He knew she was scared. Well, he
was too. Still, they had to deal with what formed between them. And
the only way Matt knew to do that, was head-on.

They had to face
it.

Matt sat down on the bed
as she brought the cup to her lips and took a tiny sip. He reached
for the coffee and took it from her, setting it on the nightstand.
Then, he climbed on the bed, and put his knees on the sides of her
legs. Her eyes went wide with surprise. “Time to give up the
sheet.”

For an instant, she
looked like she might resist. Mischief slipped into her eyes. “What
will you give up if I do?”

His brow lifted. “I can
think of all kinds of things. All of which will be quite
pleasurable.” But he didn’t give her time to think. In a flash, he
moved, discarding the bedding, and pulling her into his arms. He
stood, Lauren naked in his arms, and started walking to the
bathroom. She clung to his neck, laughing with the playful moment.
Unlike any moment in his past, Matt felt the completeness of being
with Lauren. She made him laugh. Everything else evaporated. Work
wasn’t his life anymore.

Things between them were
complicated, but he didn’t care. For the first time in his life, he
felt something real. This wasn’t about his money or social status.
His mom and dad had been close, but he’d always considered them
unique. And they’d found each other before money had found their
lives. Once the mighty green entered the pictures, people’s motives
became cloudy. If anything, with Lauren, his money seemed to work
against him, serving as a wedge between their worlds.

Settling Lauren inside
the tub, the bubbles swallowed her. “Oh,” she said in a sigh. “This
feels wonderful.”

For several long moments,
Matt stood above her, absorbing how delicate and perfect she looked
in his big tub. He’d never really used the huge garden style
whirlpool. Baths took too long and time was something he didn’t
have to spare. But with Lauren around that might change.

Pushing his boxers down
his legs, Matt decided to join Lauren. It would be a first for him.
Taking a bath with a woman indicated an intimacy he would have
avoided in the past. But then, this was Lauren. Everything with her
was different. Sitting down behind her, Matt pulled her back to his
front. She slid down into the water, the bottom of her hair getting
wet as she rested her head on his chest. And then she sighed. A
contented sound that echoed exactly what he felt.

Matt rubbed his chin on
the top of her head and slid his hands down her arms. “You
like?”


Um,” she
murmured. “I like.”


We couldn’t
have done this at the hotel. The tub was too short. I wouldn’t
fit.”

She laughed. “Being
short, I never considered the length of a tub.”


Most hotel
showers are made for midgets.”


Like me,” she
laughed again.

They were quiet a minute.
Matt took water in one hand and dribbled it down her shoulder. He
repeated the action on the other side. “I really like having you
here, Lauren.”

There was something in
Matt’s tone that made Lauren swivel around to see his face. The
position thrust her wet, bare breast against his chest. His eyes
dropped. His index finger traced the bubble on one of her
nipples.

Her breath caught in her
throat. The way he touched her…it felt more potent than usual. A
spell of sorts seemed to surround them. There were things between
them unspoken. Things that danced in the air, wanting to be
exposed. A flutter of panic seized Lauren. She needed to stop this
before it was too late. “Matt…”

The doorbell rang. Matt
looked up with a frown etched in his face. “Who in the hell could
that be?”

Her hand curled in his
chest hair. She really didn’t want to be interrupted right now.
Then, again yes she did. An escape was what she wanted. Wasn’t it?
“You better get it.”


No,” he said
looking down at her nipple and once again tracing it with his
finger. “They’ll go away.”

The doorbell rang again.
Matt looked up, meeting Lauren’s gaze, and then lowered his mouth
to hers. His message was clear. He was not getting the door. Their
lips brushed, a soft caress, tender and sweet.


Matt. Hello?
Matt?”

The voice, very female,
rang though the air like a dart of poison. Lauren stiffened,
feeling the pain of betrayal before she erected a shield. It
sickened her stomach and made her chest tighten. Abruptly, she
moved to her knees wrapping her arms in front of her chest. Oh,
god. Who had she been fooling? Of course, he had other
women.


Lauren.” Matt
reached for her and she slid further back against the faucet. A
combination of anger and embarrassment flared inside and she
reached for the feelings, preferring them to the pain of betrayal.
He had actually had the nerve to say he didn’t bring women to his
home, yet this one obviously had a key.


Matt,
darling, where are you? I know you’re here. The doorman told me
so.”

The voice stopped at the
bathroom. Lauren looked up to see a beautiful, curvy blonde staring
at them. The woman’s hand went to her mouth. “Oh, no, Matt. I am
soooo sorry.”

Matt practically growled
at her. “Damn it, Gina, what were you thinking?”

The blonde turned and
rushed out of the room. Lauren wanted to move, but standing naked
and dripping in front of Matt felt wrong, even humiliating at this
particular moment.

Matt reached for her
again, this time more insistently. She tried to back away but he
didn’t let her. He pulled her into his arms, and Lauren fought the
tears his touch delivered. Never again would she allow a man to
impact her like this. Never. It hurt so much she barely understood
Matt’s words. She didn’t want to hear him. “That’s
Gina.”

Gina. Why did she need to
know this person’s name? “Shut up,” Lauren said fighting the urge
to hit him. Anything to get him to shut up.


She’s my
sister, baby, I swear. My sister. I know from the look on your face
what you’re thinking. Gina’s my sister.”

The words eased into her
mind but she couldn’t seem to digest them fully. All she could
think of was…what? “Sister?” Lauren’s eyes lifted to his.
“What?”


Yes. My
sister. My damn
irritating
sister.
She has a key to feed my fish when I’m away. I don’t know why in
the hell she just let herself in like that, but I intend to find
out.”

The words rushed over her
like a wave of relief. She sank against him letting her forehead
fall against his chest. He ran his hands down her hair. “Lauren,
sweetheart, look at me.” But now she felt foolish. Damn. Matt tied
her in knots. Feeling this vulnerable scared the hell out of
her.

Forcing herself to look
at him wasn’t easy. “I’m sorry, Matt. I know we’ve made no promises
to each other. It was just seeing another woman walk in here while
I was with you, it…”


I’m not
seeing anyone else, Lauren. I’m too obsessed with you to want
anyone else.”

She blinked. Stunned.
“You are?”


Yes, I
am.”

She swallowed. Emotion
welled inside. Joy, fear, excitement, unbelievable tenderness. “I
don’t know what to say.”


Say you feel
the same way.”


I do,
but…”

He kissed her. It was a
long, passionate kiss. When he raised his head, he brushed hair
from her eyes. Tenderness filled his deep blue eyes. “Save the
‘buts’ for later. I have to go deal with my sister. I’ll grab you a
robe and you can come meet her.”


Oh, no.”
Lauren shook her head, adamant in her reaction. “And especially not
in your robe.”

Matt laughed. “It’s a lot
more than you had on when you first saw her.”

Lauren sighed as Matt
stood up, water dripping from his muscular body. The man made being
wet sexy, plain and simple. She would definitely add a repeat of
this event to her fantasy list. Next time with no
interruptions.

Forcing her eyes from
Matt, she thought about his sister. “This really is
awkward.”

Matt dried off and then
disappeared out the door. He returned wearing a pair of jeans and
nothing else and holding a dark blue robe. He sat it on the sink.
“Hurry and get out and come meet Gina.”


Matt?” He
looked at her with a question in his eyes. “Can we not tell her I
work for you?”

His face was completely
void of expression, and his silence a bit too long. “If that’s what
you want.” Then he turned and left the bathroom.

* * * * *

Matt walked into the
living room to find his sister looking frazzled as she paced the
length of the room. The minute she saw him, she froze. “I’m so
sorry, Matt. You never… I mean…” A blonde hair fell in her face and
she shoved it away. “I just didn’t think. You don’t have
visitors.”

Fixing her in a hard
stare, he wasn’t about to let her off without a reprimand. “You’re
right. You didn’t think.” He motioned to the couch. “Come sit and
tell me what was so urgent. “


I feel
foolish now,” she said, claiming the cushion opposite Matt’s. “I
embarrassed her didn’t I?” He gave her a look that said she did
that and more. Her response was to explain. “I did try and call,
and when you didn’t answer, I came over. I just figured you were
sleeping.”

He waved off her
fretting. “Talk. What’s up?”

A slow smile slid onto
her painted red lips. “Carl proposed.” Gina held out her hand, and
excitement lit her face.

Matt had known this was
coming but it still came as a bit of a shock. His little sister was
getting married. He pulled Gina into his arms and hugged her.
“Congratulations sweetheart. You finally found a man who’ll put up
with your shopping habits.”

Gina shoved at his chest.
“That’s not funny. I don’t shop that much.” Matt leaned back and
raised a brow. Gina frowned. “I pay my own way.”

Matt reached for her hand
and looked at the ring. “Good thing. He’ll be paying for that rock
for a while.”


You’re
terrible Matt,” Gina said. “I love Carl. That he gave me a nice
ring is simply a perk.”


I know.” Gina
did like her shopping but when it came to the heart, she was
genuine and down-to-earth. He squeezed her hand. “I like Carl and
I’m happy for you.”


Thank you.”
She smiled big. “I’m really happy. I just had to tell
you.”

They hugged for several
seconds before Gina cleared her throat, pulling away from Matt,
motioning over his shoulder. Matt turned and smiled when he found
Lauren in the doorway. “Come join us.” He motioned her forward. “My
sister was just sharing her good news.”


I’m so sorry
about barging in but I was really excited.” Gina bit her bottom lip
and held out her hand. “I got engaged.”

Matt watched Lauren’s
expression go from reserved to a friendly smile in an instant. She
rushed across the room, tripping twice on the bottom of the
ridiculously too-big robe she wore. Stopping in front of Gina, she
examined the ring. She looked adorable and sexy. Seeing her in his
robe made him feel possessive. Or maybe Lauren in general made him
feel that way. He wasn’t sure anymore.

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