The Cinderella Arrangement by Vanessa Waltz Read Free Book Online Page B

walked me all the way to the cars outside where dozens of people were getting ready to leave the winery. He gave a small wave to some of them, who waved back and did a double take. I could almost hear their thoughts: Who’s that girl with Mr. Pardini?
    “My co-workers are still here. Perfect.”
    His palm slid from my shoulder to grasp my hand. The path of his touch blazed such a trail, my desire for him flared up like a torch. I squeezed him, stunned by my body's response to him.
    I tensed inside his hand as Luke made a beeline straight for two older men in suits standing near the curb. Oh, no.
    “Mr. Blackwell, Mr. Brown. I hope you enjoyed today.”
    The portly Mr. Blackwell smacked his purple lips. “Oh, it was wonderful!”
    “Yes, quite,” Brown agreed. “And who is the lovely young lady?”
    Luke’s admiring grin flashed toward me. “This is Jessica, my girlfriend.”
    My cheeks probably looked as though they were on fire.
    This is Jessica, my girlfriend.
    Hopefully they would think I was cold. Their rosy, smiling faces nodded at me as I shook their hands.
    “I’ssa pleasure.”
    “Nice to meet you.”
    “Are you ready to return to London?"
    Mr. Blackwell’s face fell as he addressed me. “Am I ready to return to forecasts of endless, freezing rain? You Californians are spoiled rotten.”
    “Jessica will accompany us to London. She’s never been outside the country.”
    I never told him that, but he guessed right. He smiled at me and I hugged my “boyfriend’s” chest, beaming.
    The two men looked shocked. “Is that so?”
    “Yes, I’m very excited.” That wasn’t a lie; I couldn’t wait to go. It would be a blast and looking up things to do on TripAdvisor was the first thing I would do when I got home.
    Luke glanced at the town car pulling up. “Well, Jessica’s ride is here. I will see you both next week.”
    Completely out of my element, I was eager to leave the company of the two men. They acted fine, but it was nerve wracking to be around them. What if I said something wrong? “It was nice meeting you both.”
    Both men smiled as we walked away from them. Luke ducked his head close to mine.
    “They’re old friends of my father.”
    Ah, so that’s why he dragged me over to them. Would they report my presence to Mr. Pardini?
    We stopped in front of the town car and the driver got out to open the passenger door.
    “I’ll see you next week.”
    I felt a jolt of anxiety as I turned in his arm to tell him goodbye.
    If I’m really his girlfriend, I should probably kiss him.
    Blackwell and Brown peered at us. Luke’s gentle hands pulled me closer until I could see the golden flecks circling his pupils. My heart beat so furiously against my ribcage I knew Luke could feel it pounding against his chest. Then his lips crashed against mine and I felt myself soaring.
    Holy shit. I felt nothing like it. So much heat, everywhere. I kissed him back eagerly, lost in the feeling of his lips and his hands wrapped around my waist. When he pulled away, I was surprised to see a smoldering look on his face.
    Overwhelmed, I stepped back as he tried to give me that loving smile men always reserved for their girlfriends. The lack of warmth behind his effort punched my gut.
    “Bye,” I croaked.
    I ducked into the vehicle and the driver closed the door. As the car rolled away, his expression dropped into a look of bored indifference.
    My heart wrenched.
    He almost made me believe that it was real.

5
    “ I still can’t believe you’re going to London before I am.”
    Natalie watched me pack for my trip to Europe with a look of mingled jealousy and disbelief.
    “Me too.”
    When I got home from the winery, I couldn’t take holding it all back, and wound up telling Natalie everything. I made her swear a hundred oaths not to divulge anything to anyone ever on pain of death. She would find out soon because Luke made it clear the tabloids would print pictures of us together.
    Sure enough, I found a