The Reluctant Cinderella by Christine Rimmer Read Free Book Online

perfectly acceptable—in fact, a nice lunch is a good way to get to know the people you’re working with. It doesn’t have to be a man-woman thing.”
    Angela looked at her long and hard. Then she nodded. “Right. It doesn’t have to be. But this is.”
    Megan lowered her head and groaned. “Why is this happening?”
    Angela waited until she raised her eyes again. “You really like him. I mean, you really, really like him.”
    â€œWhy are we talking about this?”
    â€œBecause you need to talk about it.”
    â€œNo. I don’t.”
    â€œYes, you do—and you said he didn’t ask you out?”
    â€œHe didn’t. I don’t believe he will. I believe he’s going to think it over, the way I’ve been thinking it over, and decide that it’s a terrible idea for him and me to ever…get together.”
    Angela frowned. “Wait.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWell, what did he do to let you know he was interested? I mean, if taking you to lunch doesn’t count. If he didn’t say anything or do anything, if he didn’t come on to you…”
    â€œOh, please. You know how it is, the little thingsa guy does, the…electricity in the air, when there’s attraction.”
    Angela made a face. “I’m a single mom with almost no free time. I wouldn’t know a date if it fell on me. I work for a pediatric dentist who, as I just pointed out, is sixty and very married to his wife of forty years. Let’s just say I’ve forgotten, okay? Refresh my memory.”
    â€œArrgh.”
    â€œCome on. Fill me in.”
    â€œHe…um, well, in the restaurant, he put his hand over mine when I told him about how my birth parents died—and then he didn’t take it away. I had to kind of slide my own hand out from under it. And earlier…that first moment when I walked in his office. Oh, Ange.” Megan put her hand against her fast-beating heart. “You should have seen his face. Shocked. Amazed. Awestruck. Thrilled. Excited. All of the above. And I felt the same way. But I covered it. Pretty well, I think. I was the soul of professionalism.”
    â€œOh, I know you were.”
    â€œâ€¦Until those last few moments outside the restaurant, before he sent me home in the limo.”
    â€œHe gave you his limo—to come all the way to Rosewood from Manhattan?”
    â€œFarther. To Poughkeepsie. I went on up to the office. I tried to give the driver a big tip, but he only shook his head and said that Mr. Banning had already taken care of it.”
    Angela’s eyes were saucer-wide. “Well, okay. I’m convinced. I mean, his limo… ”
    â€œExactly.”
    â€œSo what happened? On the sidewalk, before the limo?”
    â€œOh, I don’t know.” Megan’s cheeks were flaming. She pressed her hands to them to cool them a little. “It was just…I just knew he was going to kiss me. And oh, did I ever want him to do that. He grabbed my hand again. And, same as in the restaurant, he didn’t let go. I considered just, you know, kind of throwing myself against him. But I controlled myself. Thank God for that.”
    â€œAnd you’ll see him again next Monday?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAnd if he asks you out then…?”
    â€œHe won’t.”
    â€œGo with me here. What if he does?”
    â€œWell, I’ll have to say no, of course.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œOh, come on. You know why. Because it wouldn’t be fair to Carly. Because it would be so cruel.”
    â€œMegan. The fact is, Carly and Greg are divorced. Not separated. Not getting a divorce. They are no longer married and they aren’t together in any way. They’re through.”
    â€œBut Carly hopes—”
    â€œIt’s not your fault what Carly hopes. Greg hasn’t been on Danbury Way since she threw him out of Tara.” The rest of the houses on the