The Cinderella Princess Read Free Page A

shooting daggers. She was firing RPGs.
    “Addie is my assistant. She’s also Nick Cahill’s wife. Unless you’d prefer to be known as Princess Lucy in the future, you’d better watch yourself around her. If you’re not wearing anything under the sheet, put on the robe before Nick arrives.”
    Luc was naked. The bodyguard with hawk-like vision had never made him feel safer or more imprisoned at the same time. No doubt the man would be overprotective of his wife.
    “I’ll refill your water.” Addie picked up the glass and walked away.
    Luc would put on the robe with her out of the room. He also wanted to see how Miss Prim-and-Proper Professional handled the unexpected. Maybe he could get her to loosen up and smile. “I’ll put on the robe now.”
    He moved the robe to the side and threw back the sheet.
    Her eyes widened. Her lips parted. Her gaze lingered longer on his naked body than he expected.
    Interesting. He’d thought she would gasp, turn around, act upset. Not…look at him.
    She blinked, raised her gaze to meet his. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I’m not impressed.”
    “Perhaps not, but you are blushing.”
    Her hand flew to her cheek. “I’m not.”
    Luc liked that she hadn’t been sure and checked. Not one hundred percent in control. He wondered how else he could get her to react. “Only a touch of pink.”
    She pressed her lips together. “Put on the robe.”
    The woman ground out each word. Not one hundred percent professional. Perhaps attracted, in spite of her words.
    Mission accomplished. He sat.
    The room tilted, spun. He clutched the bottom sheet. Didn’t help. His stomach flipped upside down.
    “You’re turning green,” she said. “Here’s a trash can.”
    Luc closed his eyes. That helped. Sort of. He felt as if he were spinning.
    “It’s going to be okay.” Her tone was compassionate and warm, not businesslike. Could she have developed a heart in the last fifteen seconds? What was her name? Em…?
    “I can do this.” Keeping his eyes closed, he tugged on the robe. The terry cloth fabric felt like sandpaper against his skin. His fingers fumbled with the belt. He sucked in a breath. Wished his stomach would stop churning like a whirlpool. “I need a shower.”
    That would make him feel better.
    Luc swung his legs over the edge of the bed, then stood.
    The room tilted to his left. He reached out, grabbed hold of Em-something and tumbled to the bed, landing on top of her.
    His chest pressed against her soft breasts. His face was inches from hers. Her green eyes widened. Her lips, soft and pink, parted.
    Forget about a hangover. Heat rushed through him. The urge to kiss her was strong. Such nice lips. Add a little color…
    She pushed against his chest. “What the hell? I’m not some princess-wannabe turned on by Alvernia’s version of Adonis.”
    Luc considered her words. There was enough of a compliment in them to make him hesitate. “Adonis? Like what you see?”
    She cringed. “No.”
    The one word spoke volumes.
    Luc rolled to the side, then sat on the edge of the bed. The room kept spinning. Putting his head between his knees might be prudent. He stared at the carpet.
    She moved away from him. “You’re still wasted.”
    No, he was naked and reliant on a woman he’d only met with a name he couldn’t remember. Said woman also turned him on, even with his head about to implode. Strange. The assistant was more his type, but this one intrigued him.
    “I’m hungover. Not drunk,” Luc announced in the royal voice he’d perfected over the years. She’d surprised him. His turn to see what else she could handle. “I’m going to need your help taking a shower.”

Chapter Two
    ‡
    H elp him shower? No way. Emily needed to settle her sprinting pulse and stop her body from buzzing with awareness over this blue-blooded player who didn’t mind exposing himself to, well, her.
    His mussed, I’m-too-sexy wavy brown hair brushed his shoulders. Pale skin