Cinderella: Ninja Warrior Read Online Free PDF

his bright blue eyes. Moths fluttered in her belly, as if she had a light in there to which they were drawn.
    Mentally swatting the moths away, she squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “Excuse me, but I expect you came here with a purpose. Now that you’ve barged all the way in, would it be too much to ask what that purpose might be?”
    He tipped his head back, as if startled at her question, and she caught another glimpse of his handsome face. Her moths started up again.
    He removed his hat and bowed toward her. “My apologies, Miss. This is your home and I’m an intruder. Forgive me.”
    “Certainly.” Her cheeks burned. She hadn’t expected him to bow. Men bowed to her stepmother and stepsisters, but not to her. She was nobody.
    He straightened and the light struck his smooth cheeks, crisply angled jaw, and blond hair that—now released from under the hat—hung about his face like unruly golden corkscrews.
    She sucked in a sharp breath. The messenger, not much older than she, was far more handsome than any man who’d come to their home before. In fact, she hadn’t realized this particular combination of ruggedness and good looks was possible in a human being. But it wasn’t his looks that struck her most; it was his smile and the glint in his eyes as he studied her with what almost looked like admiration.
    An entirely new kind of fluttering started up in her belly.
    She swallowed hard before saying, “No, it was I who was rude.” It wasn’t his fault that she couldn’t open the door to her own house, and he’d borne the brunt of her frustration.
    His grin widened, revealing dimples on his cheeks. “Shall we put it behind us?”
    “Yes, please.” Relief flooded through her. “How may I help you?”
    He cleared his throat. “Other than yourself, how many unmarried young women reside here?”
    “I live here with my stepmother and two stepsisters, Agatha and Gwendolyn. Perhaps you have heard of them. They tell me that their beauty is renowned.” She swallowed the shame she felt for poking fun at her stepsisters, even if the messenger might not have sensed her sarcasm. They were pretty, sure, but it was boastful of them to constantly say so.
    “Renowned beauties, you say.” His eyes flashed mischief. “I’m afraid I’ve yet had the pleasure to make their acquaintance, but if they’re half as beautiful as you are charming, their beauty must be renowned indeed.” He stepped back, executed another half bow, and Cinderella’s stomach lurched.
    She steadied herself and grinned. At least he had a sense of humor.
    “Oh.” He clasped his hands together. “What a lovely smile.”
    His voice was soft and deep and reminded Cinderella of how she’d felt the one time she’d tasted chocolate. For a moment, she allowed herself to believe she was beautiful like her stepsisters. She wasn’t ugly, she knew that—just plain.
    Enough of this, she thought. He was teasing her and eventually her stepmother would expect her back upstairs; there was no sense risking another punishment. “Beyond false flattery,” she asked, “do you have a purpose for your visit?”
    His body stiffened, and she felt badly that she’d spoken so sharply.
    He reached into the leather satchel that was slung over his shoulder and handed her four envelopes. “The king and queen extend their invitation to you and your family and hope you’ll attend a ball given in the prince’s honor.”
    She accepted the envelopes, which were made of fine linen paper with gilded edges. Imagine, all that gold used simply to adorn letters.
    “Will you attend?” he asked, another smile spreading on his handsome face.
    Oh, thought Cinderella with a sense of urgency, he wanted a response now. Should she respond on everyone’s behalf? “I’m certain my stepsisters will attend.”
    His smile faded. “Not you?”
    Cinderella let out a short burst of laughter, then quickly covered her mouth with her hands.
    He looked almost hurt or offended.