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wondered.
    Once the lights went down, though, she was transfixed by the play.
    All in all, for Emily it was a wonderful evening. Far better than she’d anticipated and over far too soon.
    She settled into the leather seat of the limousine and sighed with pleasure. What would it be like to live like this all the time?
    It was still raining, but it made the warmth inside the car all the more sheltering. She almost wished she didn’t have to go home. But she did.
    They pulled up outside of her apartment building and Robert slid out of the car, offering her a hand out as Eliot held an enormous umbrella to keep the rain off them.
    “Thank you for a lovely evening,” Emily said and laughed lightly. “I felt like Cinderella for a night.”
    “You’re welcome,” Robert said, taking the umbrella from Eliot to walk her to her door. It was good to see her laugh again. “I enjoyed it.”
    He had. In fact, he was sorry it was over so soon, he’d enjoyed the evening far more than he’d expected. He was also far too aware that Emily was still on the rebound, still hurting from the rejection. He wouldn’t take advantage of that or her, however much he liked her company.
    “What about this?” Emily said, gesturing at the dress.
    “Keep it,” he said. “You’ll find another occasion to wear it.”
    He hoped she’d think of him when she did…and smile.
    “Good night, Emily,” he said, dropping a kiss on her forehead while wishing for more.
    Once he was sure she was safely inside, he walked back to the limo.
    *****
     
    Hidden by the concealment of the sheer curtains on her windows, her cat Gizmo in her arms, Emily watched him glance back once before sliding into the limousine. Eliot closed the door before taking the driver’s seat. The long black car pulled smoothly away from the curb.
    She sighed.
    Looking at her reflection in the window, Emily was still a little surprised at what she saw there. Herself, but better.
    Now she knew how Cinderella must have felt after that night at the ball. Except that this time the prince – and Emily smiled, knowing Robert would have been amused at the comparison – wouldn’t come looking for her. After all, with his looks and money he had his pick of women.
    It was too soon and she knew it…but she could wish.

 
    Chapter Five
     
    Pacing across his spacious living room, Robert fought restlessness. Sundays were difficult. The markets weren’t open in much of the world, and many of his contacts were enjoying their weekends. It wasn’t just that he was bored, although he was. Something – someone – else had gotten under his skin.
    Time had gotten away from him. There hadn’t been much left over for a personal life. He’d been busy. In the early days for every dollar he earned he tried to earn back a hundred, or at least ten. Hundreds had turned into thousands, thousands into hundreds of thousands. Expensive suits, expensive shoes, had become his uniform. He’d bought the cars, then one house and another, and then it became easier to have the limo so he could work on his way to his office rather than drive.
    He’d dated. Many of them had been beautiful women, models, actresses, wealthy women as caught up in their careers as he was. Nothing had clicked. He’d always been honest about that, had never led anyone on or played games. Sometimes the relationships had just faded, both too busy to maintain it. If he were honest he didn’t want a Robert Halloran clone in heels. Once or twice there had been tears and recriminations, the woman had become too attached – more to his money and lifestyle as to him to judge by some of what they said – and then it had gotten painful.
    Smiling, he remembered Emily asking him about the dress, her protest about the cost of the haircut. It really had been pocket change for him, nothing in comparison to the jewelry he’d showered on other women.
    Emily had the same values he had.
    The reality of the breakup would have hit her now. She’d