Read Cinderella Substitute Online
Authors: Nell Dixon
Cinderella Substitute (20 page)
- Instinctively, she crossed to his side to sit on the edge of
- "Nate, wake up. It's a bad dream, wake up."
- At first she thought he couldn't hear her, that he had gone
- "Jenni?" He looked up at her as if he thought she might vani
- "I'm here," she whispered, stroking the wild curls from his
- His skin felt damp with sweat under her fingers. His hand cl
- "Don't leave me."
- She caressed his cheek, watching with relief as his eyes clo
- * * * *
- The early morning sound of the seagulls wheeling and screami
- She listened, hoping Nate might be downstairs, but the house
- The sitting room and the kitchen were empty, although the fi
- Jenni looked out of the kitchen window, wondering how far th
- A chill ran down her spine as she watched them draw nearer,
- CHAPTER TEN
- Nate wasn't sure how far he'd walked. It had been one of the
- He reached the top of the cliff and began to walk back towar
- * * * *
- Jenni busied herself filling the teapot. She didn't want Nat
- "I've just made some tea, would you like a cup?" Her courage
- "We have to go back." His words took her by surprise.
- "Back?" she echoed.
- "Sit down, Jenni." He pulled out one of the kitchen chairs f
- "What's the matter? What's happened?"
- Nate took the teapot from her and sat down on the chair oppo
- The blood drained from Jenni's body as the implications of h
- "She's in hospital. The police found her this morning, wande
- Tears sprang unchecked into Jenni's eyes. "What happened?" S
- "They wouldn't tell me much because I'm not family. They sai
- Dazed, she tried to take it all in. "Is she hurt?"
- Nate shook his head. "No, mild hypothermia and shock they sa
- "How did they know where to find us?" she asked.
- "Tracey told them where you worked. They traced us from ther
- "Oh." Jenni realized he still held her hands. The warmth of
- "I'm very sorry, Jenni." He squeezed her hands.
- All the while she cleaned and packed, his words kept going r
- On the drive home, she wanted to ask him what he'd meant, bu
- By the time they pulled into the hospital car park, Jenni's
- "Mr. Mayer, Miss Blake, I'm glad you were able to come home
- She led the way to a small side room. When they had been sea
- "Your mother was found in a distressed state, Miss Blake, by
- Nate leaned forward. "I don't know if you're aware of the ci
- "I was given up for adoption. I only traced my mother recent
- "Are you aware of her home circumstances?" she asked.
- Nate told her everything they knew, including the findings o
- "Was my mother attacked?" Jenni blurted the question. She fe
- The police officer shook her head. "Not exactly. When the be
- "What happened?" Jenni couldn't take her eyes from the young
- "When she thought it was safe, she went back inside. She fou
- Nate swore softly under his breath. Jenni gasped with horror
- "Your mother was in a state of shock when she was found. She
- Jenni wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
- "I'd like to see her."
- Nate glanced at her. "Are you sure, Jen?" His voice sounded
- Jenni nodded. "She needs me, and I want to see her, talk to
- The policewoman stood up.
- "Do you want me to come with you?" Nate offered.
- She looked at his face, seeing his tired eyes and the days'
- "Go home, Nate. You've done enough already." She knew he mus
- At first, she thought he wasn't going to agree, but somethin
- * * * *
- The bullets of warm water pelting his skin might have been c
- An hour later, his mind still filled with thoughts of Jenni,
- She opened the door. As he stood in front of her, his heart
- "Tracey needed some rest, so I came home. I just got in." Je
- "I brought your bag." He indicated her overnight bag, which
- "Jenni, are you alright?" He had never seen her look so unha
- "I'm fine. I just need a little time to take everything in.
- Disappointment clawed at him. "Take as much time as you need
- "I'm sure I'll have things sorted out by then. I'll meet you
- "Jenni, promise me if you need anything, anything at all, yo
- She gave him a weak smile. "I promise. Thanks for everything
- * * * *
- Jenni leaned on the back of the closed door. A single tear t
- The rest of the week passed quickly as she helped Tracey sor
- Nate rang her every night after she had returned from the ho
- Saturday morning dawned as one of the bright, crisp, clear w
- She had started on her way back to the flat when she spotted
- "I suppose there's no harm in trying it on," she mused to he
- * * * *
- She had felt a little guilty at going to the party and wonde
- "Go to your party and enjoy yourself. We've plenty of time t
- Jenni had been surprised at her mother's statement.
- "From everything you've told me, Jenni, you were a good and
- Jenni swallowed hard at the sadness on Tracey's face.
- "I was so young, just seventeen and your father was the same
- Jenni cried with her, tears coursing down her cheeks as all
- "I tried to manage, but after a while I knew I wasn't being
- She sighed. "I tried to choose the best for you, Jenni. I al
- For the first time in her life Jenni felt as if she knew who
- * * * *
- Jenni took a taxi to the Langstone just after lunch. The hot
- Jenni checked all the presents on the list and ensured Nate'
- Reception phoned Jenni's room just as she stepped out of the
- "How am I going to do this?" she whispered to herself as she
- * * * *
- Nate wasn't looking forward to the evening ahead. Lots of pe
- "I should have hired a Santa." Even as the words passed his
- The only good thing was that he would have a chance to talk
- * * * *
- Jenni added the finishing touches to her hair and stepped ba
- She jumped when a short, peremptory knock rattled her door.
- His dark blue eyes traveled the length of her body from the
- "I, er, thought we might have a drink together before everyo
- "In that case, I'd be honored to escort you to the bar." He
- A lone barman polished the glasses ready for the champagne,
- "It's so pretty out there. Like a little bit of magic." She
- "It's very pretty in here too, Jenni. You look very pretty."
- She felt a rush of heat at the suggestion in his voice. "Nat
- "Best for whom, Jenni?" The anger in his voice startled her.
- "It wouldn't work, Nate. We wouldn't work." Jenni tried to s
- "I see."Nate's voice sounded clipped and icy. "You've obviou
- How could she explain her feelings? Nate didn't love her, he
- She took a deep breath.
- "Jenni! Are we too early?"
- She turned to see a group of girls from the administration o
- "We'll continue this conversation later, Jenni."
- "I think we've said all there is to say, Nate."
- As she walked across to meet the giggling secretaries, she f
- * * * *
- Nate watched Jenni walk away from him to meet the admin girl
- The party soon got into full swing. Everyone appeared to be
- Time and again, he caught up with her talking in some group,
- Nate checked himself from rushing to her side. Perhaps she p
- "I think it's time the hostess danced with the host, don't y
- Jenni flushed a delicate pink color. He thought she might be
- "If you two don't mind, I'll just go get a drink." The accou
- "What was that about? I can take care of myself." she asked,
- "I know, but I think it's time you and I danced together bef
- She viewed him with suspicion. "Maybe I don't feel like danc
- "Well, I do. Everyone expects it." He willed her to accept.
- Her beautiful eyes flashed fire. "That's blackmail."
- She took his hand and he led her onto the crowded dance floo
- "Relax, Jenni, it's just a dance." He heard the indignant hi
- "Why are you doing this, Nate?" she murmured against his ear
- "We need to talk. About you and me." He surprised himself by
- "Time for you to be Santa." She hadn't given him any indicat
- "Promise me we'll talk."
- He noticed her swallow as if nerves had made her throat as d
- "Alright, but you'd better go and change." Nate nodded. If J
- * * * *
- Jenni watched him go with a troubled heart. What had she let
- At last it had ended. The last of the guests had gone. Jenni
- Jenni didn't want to talk to him. She felt sure she knew alr
- "I've ordered coffee for us." Nate came over to where Jenni
- "I'm so tired, Nate. I think I'd just like to go to bed." Je
- He raked his hand irritably through his hair. "We need to so
- "There's nothing to say, Nate." To her dismay, she burst int
- He sank down beside her on the couch. "We can't turn back th
- "I..." Her voice failed her and she shrugged lost in misery.
- She watched the color drain from his face, leaving him pale
- "That's not true, Jenni. After the time we've spent together
- "You know he doesn't." She felt astonished that he could sti
- "Then what else do I have to do to convince you, Jenni?" His
- She was desperate to believe him but how could she? "No, you
- "Cerys is my past, Jenni. You taught me that." He rubbed his
- "I'm not right for you, Nate. You need someone like Jo March
- He rounded on her, "Are you listening to anything I'm saying
- Jenni stared at him, struggling to accept what he had just t
- "If you don't feel the same way then say so, Jenni. I know I
- The anguished note in his voice betrayed the depth of his fe
- "Oh, Nate." She slipped her arms around his neck. She though
- "I love you, Jennifer Blake." He slipped from the edge of th
- She leaned forward and kissed him tenderly on the lips. A fi
- "Of course, there is one thing," she added.
- A shadow passed over his face, "What's that?"
- "Well, I will have to make sure it's you inside that suit. I
- His eyes sparked at her words, "If you marry me, Jenni, I pr
- "You're the only one I want, Nate. Now and for the rest of o
- Coming Soon
- from
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- Janie Powell is a woman on the run. Leaving an abusive ex-fi
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- Available June 2006
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