The Reluctant Cinderella Read Online Free PDF

salad was wonderful. She chewed and swallowed, thinking about Carly, feeling just a little bit guilty about the way things were going here. This was a business lunch, and nothing more. But somehow, it was a business lunch that felt way too much like a date.
    They both concentrated on the fabulous food for a moment or two, in a shared silence that was surprisingly companionable. Megan sipped from her water glass and decided a change of subject—away from the personal and more toward the professional—was in order.
    She suggested, “We haven’t set a date and time for our next meeting.”
    He sent her a look, one that heated her midsection and curled her toes in her best pair of shoes. “We aren’t finished with this one yet.”
    She toasted him with her wineglass. “I like to plan ahead.” And she took another sip, though she knew she shouldn’t. She was on her second glass and the world was looking a little bit soft around the edges. Plus she was smiling way too much. That always happened when she drank more than one glass of anything with alcohol in it. She became a smiling fool.
    Greg took a sip, too. “Okay. Tell me what you’ve got in mind.”
    Firmly, she set down her glass. “A formal presentation. With my entire team there—and anyone from Banning’s who you think should be in on the final decision.”
    â€œThat sounds like the next step to me.”
    â€œI’d love it if you and your people would come up to Poughkeepsie for the presentation.”
    â€œYou want it on your turf.”
    â€œI do.” She was grinning again. Much too widely. But somehow, she couldn’t—or wouldn’t—make herself stop. “Would that work for you?”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œA week from today. Say, 10:00 a.m.?”
    â€œThat’s quick.”
    â€œWe’re not only good, we’re efficient.”
    â€œI like efficiency.” His eyes said there were otherthings he liked, things that had nothing to do with updating Banning’s brand.
    She remembered her objective. “So…?”
    He nodded. “Next Monday at ten in your offices. That should work. I’ll need to check with the others, confirm that they can make it.”
    â€œI’ll have my assistant call your assistant, just to firm things up.”
    Those dark eyes gleamed. “You mean to make certain the date and time get on my calendar.”
    She shrugged. Eloquently. “Well. There’s that, too.”
    â€œI won’t forget. Not this time. How could I? After all, it’s an appointment with you.”
    An appointment with you….
    His tone was personal. And so was that gleam in his eyes. Megan knew she should say something, should make it clear right then and there that, for Carly’s sake, she could never allow anything personal to go on between them. At the very least, she should sit up straight, stop leaning toward him across the table, stop smiling into those beautiful eyes of his.
    But she said nothing. And she went on smiling, went on leaning eagerly toward him, went on wishing with every fiber of her being that he wasn’t Carly Alderson’s ex.

Chapter Three
    G reg wanted to stay in that restaurant forever, to sit across from Megan and stare into those clear green eyes, to listen to that slightly husky voice of hers and try to make her laugh. She had the best damn laugh, free and full-throated.
    But after she refused dessert and finished her coffee, well, he could see that she thought it was time to go. He called Jerry and paid the bill and they went out into the glaring brightness of the afternoon.
    â€œTake the limo,” Greg said.
    She looked adorably bewildered, those round, soft cheeks slightly flushed, and confusion in her eyes.“But there’s no point. I can catch the train right here at—”
    â€œYou’re not taking the train. Jerry will take you home to Rosewood—or on up to