Her Prince Charming: An Inspirational Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

women found me attractive. They’d been after me since I hit my first growth spurt at fourteen. As I’d grown older, and more visibly successful, it got harder to tell what they wanted more, me or what was in my bank account.
    Not Sara. Unless she was an exceptional actress, news of my wealth and position had only made her more nervous.
    As did the instant spark of attraction between us. She didn’t have to tell me she wouldn’t sleep with me. I’d already figured out that she wouldn’t have sex outside a serious relationship. Maybe not even before marriage.
    The thought should have had me running. I wasn’t as bad as the media painted me, but I was used to a fairly regular sex life. I didn’t think I’d ever had a girlfriend who didn’t end up in my bed.
    The idea of going without sex should have sent me running for the hills. There were other women who could improve my reputation. Who wouldn’t worry about lying, who would expect me to shower them with gifts.
    But Sara was the only one with whom it wouldn’t be a lie. She was beautiful, intelligent, caring, and sweet. I really did want to get to know her better.
    She’d have to get used to the issue of presents. I was a man who liked to give. I gave to my family, to my employees, to the community, to the church. And I wanted to give to her.
    Taking in the sight of her in her practical low heels and conservative navy dress with matching purse, I wanted to bring her to Elizabeth, my personal shopper, and have her fitted out.
    There was nothing wrong with Sara’s clothes, except that they betrayed that she wasn’t comfortable with her curvy figure and tried to hide it. And the quality was okay, but she deserved better. I went to Elizabeth myself because I never had time to shop and she knew my style. But she’d be getting to know Sara’s.
    Sara must have seen something in me worth her time. She certainly wasn’t doing this for my money or influence. Yes, she did need a date for her sister’s wedding. But, I was confident enough to think it was more than that, that she’d felt the same thing for me that I did for her.
    A connection. I’d dated a lot of women. But never one this sweet. This innocent. Sara was a revelation. One I was finding I wanted by my side more than I’d expected.

Chapter Seven
Sara
    I found myself leaning into James as we approached my mother, sisters, and Tim, my future brother in law. Three (bleached) blond heads turned in our direction at Tim’s nudge. Then three jaws dropped.
    I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get some well-deserved satisfaction out of that. The three of them had always been peas in a pod–outgoing, pretty, popular, and skinny.
    A constant stream of boyfriends rang our doorbell when I was in high school, all for Cathie, Christie and my mom. Only a few for me, and those never lasted long. Not once one of my vivacious sisters decided to steal him away.
    My sisters didn’t actually like my dates; they just thought it was funny to see how quickly they’d dump me for the promise of a popular girl guaranteed to put out.
    I was the only female in my house who’d gone to college to get an education. While I’d graduated with a degree in business and accounting, then gone for my CPA, Christie and Cathie had been trying to figure out the best way to get an engagement ring before junior year.
    Now, only a few years after they would have graduated, they both had a marriage and a divorce on their résumés. There was no actual employment unless you count the arduous task of interviewing housekeepers and divorce lawyers.
    We were here at the Drake Gardens so Christie could rope Tim and make him her latest sucker. I didn’t feel sorry for him. He was handsome, successful, and a complete jerk.
    James’s hand on my arm pulled me closer as we stopped before my family. Before they could speak, he said,
    “I apologize for our lateness, it was my fault. I’m James Drake.” He held out his hand to my mother, who took it,