One Night Forever (The Cinderella Chronicles) (22 page)

Greg’s hand dropped away
and Lauren couldn’t have been more thankful. Tears burned the back
of her eyes, and she knew she had to get away from the crowd before
she made a fool of herself. She sidestepped Greg and made her way
past the others dancing. She managed to get to the hallway and half
ran toward the lobby. She heard Matt’s voice behind her, calling
her name, but she kept walking. Tears were coming and she needed to
be alone.

* * * * *

Matt had seen Greg grab
hold of Lauren, and known from the look on her face that she was
upset. But before he could get to her, Bret had. From what Matt had
seen, he owed his friend a thank you for his helping hand. He
hadn’t taken the time to find out what had happened. Getting to
Lauren had been the most important thing.

He managed to catch up to
her and reach for her arm just as she was about to exit through the
hotel doors, not even bothering to get her coat. She whirled around
to face him, tears in her eyes. “Stop, Matt. People will see. I
told you that before. Lori saw us and gossiped. Greg heard us on
the dance floor. I can’t take this anymore. Just stop!”

Matt didn’t bother to
tell her that raising her voice was only bringing more attention to
them. He really didn’t care. He’d tipped the hotel staff well many
times over in the past few weeks. No one was going to give them
trouble.

“
Come upstairs
and talk to me,” he said softly.

She glared at
him. “Oh great! Announce
that
to the world,
why don’t you?” Then, her face crumpled and she burst into
tears.

He pulled her close and
she didn’t resist. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. Please don’t
cry.”

She buried her face in
his shoulder. “I…I can’t work for you anymore. I’m sure half the
staff is watching us.”

He ran his hand down the
back of her hair. “Ask me if I care?”

“
I…” she
sniffed, “care. I’ve ruined my future in advertising.”

“
No, you
haven’t.”

She pulled back to look
at him, new agitation in her features. “I have to! You know as well
as I do how word travels in this industry. I’m dead
meat.”

“
Dead meat?”
he asked trying not to laugh at her choice of words.

She punched him in the
shoulder and tried to get free. “You’re laughing at me. You have a
job and a career. I don’t.”

He held her tightly,
careful not to hurt her. “Stop. Please.” She squirmed. Matt waved
off a doorman who had started toward them.

Then he dropped to one
knee.

She stared at him,
suddenly very still. “What are you doing?”

He held her hands in his.
“This is not how I planned this, but Lauren, I love you. All the
success in the world doesn’t mean anything without you. Will you
marry me?” Matt kissed one of her knuckles and then the
other.

A flash of panic skirted
across her face. Then, as usual, Lauren surprised him. She dropped
down to her knees to face him, swiping at her damp cheek with one
hand. “What?”

He gave her a somber
look. “You asked me what I talked about with your mother. I told
her I was going to marry you. I love you, Lauren. Marry
me.”

Lauren’s hands were
shaking as she clenched his shirt. “I don’t know what to
say.”

“
How about
yes?” he asked. Anxiety tightened his chest. The thought of her
saying no knifed at his gut.

“
I love you,
too,” she whispered.

Okay that was a start.
“You’re killing me here, woman. Will you marry me?”

She laughed, her lashes
still damp with tears. “Yes.”

Relief washed over him,
and he kissed her. Everyone in the lobby cheered. Matt and Lauren
looked around them and then at each other, laughing. Offering her
his hand, Matt helped Lauren to her feet.

He leaned close to her
ear. “There’s a very real ring in our room waiting for you. But if
you want to throw in a fantasy item, like say a red bra, I can live
with that.”