Cinderella's Christmas Affair by Katherine Garbera Read Free Book Online Page B

out of her house. Now.
    “It’s been a long time since…”
    “Me too,” he said, rubbing his thumb over her lower lip.
    She ached for him in the most primal way. Her breasts were full and heavy. Her nipples taut. If she leaned forward just an inch she’d be able to rub against his chest. That hard well-developed-buff-sports-guy chest of his that called to her like the HoHos in her kitchen cupboard. But she wasn’t ready to surrender everything for him. “I’m not sleeping with you, Tad.”
    “I don’t really want to sleep,” he said blandly.
    She couldn’t help but smile. “Please, just let it go.”
    “I can’t. You’re going to be my wife, CJ. You know I don’t say things that I don’t mean.”
    “Stop it,” she said, backing away from him. He did so say things he didn’t mean. He’d been the one to promise her at age twelve that he’d always rescue her and then he’d hurt her.
    The next condo she bought was going to have a huge labyrinth of rooms. In it she would be able to stand at one end of the maze and have to yell to be heard at the other.
    In such a complex, a six-foot tall man couldn’t dominate any one room. She could easily escape not only a person, but the feelings and memories they evoked. “You don’t know the real me. I don’t think I do.”
    “That might be true. But I’m not leaving until I do.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I know you’ll avoid me from now on unless we clear the air.”
    “Clear the air. Is that all you want to do with me?”
    “Hell, no. I want to take you to bed and break down all the barriers you’ve put between us.”
    “Tad, go away.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I’m not the girl you want.”
    “Yes, you are.”
    “Because I like the same Christmas tree you do.”
    He gave her a half smile that took her breath away. “No, because you’re beautiful and sexy and you’ve haunted my dreams since the last time I saw you.”
    She took the tray and left the living room. She couldn’t think when he said things like that. When he made her believe that forever and happily ever after might still exist. It was as if everything Marcus, her ex-lover and ex-boss, had taught her disappeared. But she knew better.
    “I’m not your dream woman, Tad. I’m no man’s.”

    No man’s dream woman. The words echoed in his head and Tad realized he’d unintentionally hurt CJ. The woman he thought had no weaknesses had just revealed one. And it was a deep wound. He felt like he’d callously torn the scab off of it.
    As badly as Kylie had hurt him when she’d left, Tad had never been bitter toward women. For one thing Pierce wouldn’t let him. He’d said one sour apple didn’t make the whole pie bad. And Pierce had been right. There had been other women since Kylie, but now Tad acknowledged that he’d kept them at arm’s length. Something he wasn’t going to be able to do with CJ.
    He knew a gentleman would leave but he’d never held that title. He was a businessman and sports enthusiast. He’d been a farmer and a brainiac. But never a gentleman.
    Since she’d reentered his life she’d become his dream woman. He wasn’t going to tell her, but other women paled when compared to her. Which was why he’d decided to marry her.
    The music had switched off sometime when Rae-Anne left. And it didn’t seem very festive in CJ’s apartment anymore. But it did feel wintry and cold. And he wondered how he was going to make things right. His father’s words rang in his ears. It’s our job to protect the women.
    Tad knew he’d done a poor job of that today. He lit a fire in the fireplace and put on a Bing Crosby Christmas CD.
    He didn’t like to hear CJ talk about herself like she wasn’t good enough for any man. He only hoped his long-ago comments weren’t to blame. What the hell had happened to her while they’d been apart?
    He wasn’t leaving until he had an answer. He pushed his way into the kitchen stopping when he saw CJ leaning against the counter with