The Cinderella Obsession (13 page)

Somehow he worked a spell of magic around her in true fairy tale fashion and she could almost believe there’d be a happily-ever-after.

Until the stroke of midnight.

"Nick, I’m sorry to interrupt you two love birds but it’s time for the presentation."

Vanessa looked up to see Suzanne standing beside Nick. "Presentation?" Vanessa asked.

Nick pulled away from her reluctantly, stroking her cheek before he broke contact entirely, sighing. "Yes, the business part of this evening, I’m afraid. It’ll only take a few minutes, I promise. Wait here for me, all right?"

She nodded. He brushed a quick kiss along her cheekbone and strode away. As he withdrew, his warmth became a sweet memory leaving her skin pebbling in protest. She watched him with a half smile on her face. She’d never had such a wonderful evening in her life.

What would happen when they left tonight? Would he invite her back to his place? Would she spend the night in the warmth of his arms, making love until dawn? It might not last forever, but why not grab all the happiness she could in the time they did have together?

Nick approached the dais where a silver-haired woman in a royal blue gown stood waiting for him.

Suzanne sat beside Vanessa. "You must be very proud of him. With the work you do with charities, I’m sure you must feel he’s a kindred spirit."

Vanessa knew she could never carry off the scam of pretending she knew what was going on without giving herself away, so she simply nodded, her smile bright, and showed great interest in the speeches taking place at the front of the empty dance floor.

The chairperson’s announcement that the proceeds of the evening totaled over eight hundred thousand dollars triggered polite applause around the room. She went on to joke that this made things easier on Nicholas Powers’ bank book, because last year he had promised to ensure that the final total this year reached one million dollars by donating a check for the difference.

Nick smiled and took the microphone, then talked about the wonderful work the committee had done in organizing the affair and how the money would be put to good use building a cancer research facility at the hospital. Vanessa couldn’t concentrate on his exact words because she was totally bowled over by the amount of money he had pledged.

Two hundred thousand dollars.

The number kept fluttering through her mind like an errant butterfly. What did she possibly have in common with a man who could pull out his check book and write a check for over two hundred thousand dollars? She thought of all the work she and the other volunteers had done to organize a huge craft sale to raise funds for the Humane Society. They’d been thrilled when they’d raised twenty-three hundred dollars, yet here Nick marched up to this woman and handed over almost a hundred times that amount without blinking an eye. Pushing aside the pang of jealousy at how easily the organization had benefited, she concentrated on the fact that Nick was a wonderfully generous man to give so much to a worthy cause

"That Powers sure likes to show off," a masculine voice behind her muttered to his companion. "He couldn’t care what charity he’s giving to as long as it gives him some free publicity."

Could it be true? Had Nick donated the money in the hopes of boosting his business rather than in the true spirit of giving?

Vanessa peered sideways at Suzanne. Engrossed in the speeches, she showed no indication of having heard the man. She glanced at Vanessa and smiled.

"Nick is wonderful, isn’t he? He loves to help people. If he sees someone in need, he tries to help out. You know, he told me about this woman that works for him--she’d been out of work for a while and he felt sorry for her--so he told me he wanted to do something special for her. He knew she wouldn’t accept charity, so he was trying to figure out how to give her a nice evening out. He thought he might arrange for her to win a dinner for two as a door prize at a company event so she wouldn’t feel awkward. Isn’t that sweet?"

Ice water trickled through Vanessa’s spinal cord. Is that what this evening had been all about? Did Nick see her as a charity case? She thought of all the time and money he’d spent picking out a dress for her and what this evening must have cost, but that would amount to nothing compared to the two hundred thousand dollars he’d just given away without a second thought.

Nick saw her watching him and winked. He gave her a heated look that promised he’d be back soon, determined to pick up where he’d left off. Her cheeks burned as she remembered the liberties she’d allowed in his arms. Is that why he’d decided to go with the personal touch rather than arranging for her to win a dinner? Because he thought he could get a very personal thank you from her in return?

She remembered what he’d said the night he’d asked her out.

Anything this white hot has to burn itself out. But it’ll be one hell of flame.

He clearly expected to take her to bed. And he didn’t expect to hang around for long afterward. In her bed, or her life.

Nick shook hands with the chairperson and strode back to the table.

"Thanks for keeping Vanessa company, Suzanne." Nick’s tone, although sincere, made it clear he’d like to be alone with Vanessa.

"No problem, Nick." Suzanne stood up. "Will I see you two at the Goldberg’s party next month?"

"I’m not sure," Nick answered. "I may be out of town."

Or have another date, by then.

"Oh, that’s too bad." She turned to Vanessa. "It’s the event of the year. You really must talk him into bringing you." She took Vanessa’s hand. "It was so nice meeting you. I do hope I’ll see you again soon."

I doubt it
, Vanessa thought, but shook her hand and mumbled something polite.

Nick sat down beside her and slid his arm around her waist. She couldn’t help the slight stiffening of her spine.

"Vanessa? What is it?"

"Nothing," she lied. Lifting her drink, she swirled the glass in a circle and listened to the delicate tinkle of ice.

"Good." He leaned over and kissed her shoulder lightly and she flinched away.

She plunked her glass on the table. "I’d really like to go home now, Nick. I’m tired."

"Of course, if that’s what you’d like."

She heard the uncertainty in his voice and was thankful he didn’t question her. He escorted her to the coat check to retrieve her cape. The cool satin lining caressed her skin as he draped it over her shoulders, a mild distraction from her tormented thoughts. She pulled the cape close to her, feeling the plush velvet under her hands, comforting in its softness. Soon they were in the back of his limousine, gliding through the city streets.

"Vanessa, did Suzanne say something to upset you?"

"No, of course not. She was very pleasant."

"Then what is it? Everything was going so well, but now you won’t even sit beside me."

She had contrived to sit on the seat facing him, moving as soon as he sat down next to her, feigning interest in his selection of music tapes.

She glared at him, unable to hide her roiling emotions any longer. "What do you mean by going well, Nick? Do you mean because I let you hold me … kiss me? Because I got carried away in the magic of the evening and you thought that maybe … that when you got me home, I’d…?" Her courage failed her under his intensely darkening stare. She turned her head to gaze out at the city lights.

"Is that what you think?" he growled. "That I only want to get you into bed?"

"You keep saying how attracted you are to me, how much you want me," she replied weakly, feeling slightly nauseous.

"That’s absolutely true. I am attracted to you--and we both know it’s mutual--but why are you trying to make it sound like something cheap?"

"No, I realize I haven’t been cheap. You’ve dropped a bundle on me, haven’t you?"

"Damn it, Vanessa--"

She heard his seat belt unbuckle just as the car door swung open, startling them both. Neither had noticed the car stop in front of Vanessa’s building. The driver, clearly aware of the tension emanating from his passengers, stepped back uncertainly. Vanessa snapped open her belt and tried to dart from the car. Nick grabbed her arm, preventing her escape.

"Fleeing again, Vanessa?" The glitter of anger crystallizing in his eyes held her frozen. She felt like a rabbit trapped by a fox, with no way to run and nowhere to hide. His finger trailed across her collarbone and lifted the weight of jewels from her skin.

The emerald!
She’d forgotten.

"Don’t you think you should return this first?" he taunted.

She flung her hands to the back of her neck and worked fervently at the clasp, anger mixed with desperation making her clumsy.

"Here, let me," he said, tugging her hands from the necklace. "You’ll break it."

She suffered the invasion of his hands on her nape, refusing to let the touch of his fingers work any more magic. The not-so-subtle reminder of his wealth, and her lack of it, had been enough to quell all the longing he stirred within her. As soon as the necklace slid from her neck, she tugged off the earrings and tossed them onto the seat beside her.

She leaped from the car and raced to the front door. Quickly finding her keys in the small evening bag, she jabbed them into the lock, snatched open the door, then fled to her apartment without a backward glance.

* * * *

Nick watched her go, torn as to whether to follow or not. She was angry--and he was furious--so it didn’t seem like a good idea.

Damn the woman! What had triggered her accusations? He’d kept his eye on her the whole time he’d been involved in the presentations. If Erika had joined her, he might have expected some trouble, but Suzanne would never say anything to cause Vanessa distress. So what had turned things around?

"Home, James." Nick sighed wearily, leaning back in his seat. He felt the tension knot his shoulders. He turned them in circles trying to loosen the muscles, deciding he’d jump in the spa when he got home. That should do the trick. It wouldn’t ease the other tension in his body, however. The tightness caused by being close to Vanessa, by wanting her so badly he would be willing to give her anything.

Except forever.

He shoved the random thought aside.

So much for his brilliant plan. He had hoped if he gave her a fairy-tale evening, he might coax her into confessing she was his fairy-tale enchantress.

Damn. He wanted her to admit she was Cinderella.

But it was more than that.

He’d struggled hard with the decision to ask her on the date. After talking to Rachel, he’d made up his mind to ask someone else, but thoughts of Vanessa--his Cinderella--danced through his thoughts constantly and he’d finally given in to his desire to be with her and to give her things she’d never had before. He’d wanted to make some small part of her fantasy come true.

And the evening had gone so well, until the end. Damn it, he’d done everything he could to impress her. To make her happy. To treat her special.

Sure, he wanted to get her into bed. Every time he thought of her, his body reminded him how much. Tonight, in that sexy green dress, he could barely contain himself. But there was more to it than that. Maybe their relationship couldn’t last forever, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy it while it did last. After all, not every dating couple wound up married. Surely she understood that. He couldn’t promise her forever, but … but….

He raked his hand through his hair. What was he prepared to promise her? A wonderful few weeks? Lots of fun and glamorous parties? Pampering and, hopefully, the best lovemaking she’d ever experienced?

Damn it. What was wrong with that?

The answer hit him sharply between the ribs. Just as Rachel had warned him, Vanessa wanted a fairy-tale-come-true. He’d been fooling himself when he thought he could make her happy by treating her like Cinderella at the ball when what she really wanted was happily-ever-after with Prince Charming. However much he wanted to please her, he couldn’t provide her with that dream. She wasn’t the right woman for him.

Was she?

He wanted an aggressive career woman. Didn’t he?

He wanted a woman who knew what she wanted and went after it. But Vanessa did that, didn’t she? She’d always loved the Cinderella fantasy and when the opportunity arose, she’d grabbed it.

His certainty of what he wanted out of life, out of marriage, didn’t seem so solid right now.

Remembering his conversation with Amy, he wondered if she was right about him not really knowing what he wanted. Amy fit the description of his ideal woman perfectly, but he’d never been inclined to marry her. And what about the other women he’d dated? They all matched what he thought he wanted--but something had always been lacking. What?

Well, he wanted to have a strong attraction between them. Vanessa fit the bill there. He’d never been drawn to a woman the way he had been to her, even when he didn’t recognize her as the same woman. He knew instinctively that what Vanessa and he would experience together would go beyond anything he had ever hoped for--but that didn’t mean they’d be compatible for a lifetime together.

He wanted someone warm and giving. Vanessa fit. He wanted someone fun to be with. Vanessa fit.