Manhattan Millionaire’s Cinderella

“Want something to eat?”

“Ummm,” she mouthed, glaring at him.

“Bad choice of words, huh?” He curved his mouth in a half grin, a gesture that had her breath looping aroundher ribs. “Some water?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Guess not.”

Heck, Cade didn’t know what to do with a tipsy woman in the confines of the aircraft cabin. He squinted at Nina, and her pallor had him wanting to gather her into his arms and stroke her, to smell her subtle scent that seemed to wrap around his heart and not let go. He chuckled at his foolish musing. Get a handle,Sloan.

She’d do for a bit of wedding night bliss to seal the deal with the backer…then he’d keep his distance, avoid complications until such time as he could reasonably unload her.

“Shouldn’t imbibe on booze on an empty stomach,” he bit out. She must have overdone it with the pre-flight cocktails while he dozed; something he rarely did, but on his own cruiser, he felt he could steal a few moments of shut-eye.

She opened her mouth to give him some sass but quickly shut it tight.

“You’ll feel better by the time we get to Larnaca.” He set his jaw, knowing full well he had to go through the farce and show up there with his bride before collecting the cash.

Someone had set him up to take the fall. The sharks that he put on the case had worked out that the tip-offs came from an undisclosed location in Europe. In the meantime, he had to stack his arsenal to ensure a victory.

Cade glanced her way, and then retreated.

It’d work for him…a combo deal; businessand pleasure.

He’d make sure of it.

He tossed her another look, and got booted somewhere in the vicinity of his heart for his trouble. Odd. Definitely odd. He waggled his shoulders and dismissed the feeling.

The one night with her should zip by without a hitch, and then he’d be off with Century Corp intact, pockets full and little Nina would be history.

“So, lie back and enjoy the ride Mrs…uh…Sloan,” he muttered, doing just that.

******

Nina had endured the remainder of the flight, and had actually snoozed for a couple of hours while they flew over the Atlantic Ocean.

Then before she realized it, they were descending over the Mediterranean and toward the seaside Larnaca International Airport on the island of Cyprus. The jolt of the jet’s wheels on the landing strip jostled her awake, and by the time she reoriented herself, they were disembarking.

A blast of heat had smacked her face, and she stepped back, bumping into her husband’s iron-hard chest. He took her elbow to guide her down the stairs, and shivers shot up her arm. She faltered in her step, and the strap of her sandal snapped loose.

“Steady there.” He spanned her waist, his touch an electric charge to her nervous system, and lifted her over the last three steps of the aircraft’s ladder. Just before he set her on her feet, his temple brushed hers and she glanced up, so close, she could see the brown tint of his lashes, smell. He glanced down, and she tumbled into his golden-brown gaze.

She held her breath, her heart pounding.

He shuttered his eyes, and let her go. “Okay now?”

“Mmm.” She stepped onto the tarmac and mindless of the heat penetrating the soles of her shoes,gazed at the priceless view of ocean and sky. Salt tang in the air tickled her nose. A lone seagull squawked, and she lifted her head, the evening sun still bright enough to make her squint. She heard Cade’s intake of breath as he filled his lungs with sea air, then grew quiet. Just for a moment, she allowed herself to imagine this was real, that she and Cade—

The surf crashed upon the rocks, shattering her fantasy and the fragile connection between them.

“Come on.” He grabbed her wrist, dragging her through Customs, luggage claim and then to the limousine waiting outside the airport.

She’d managed the limo ride to Century Blue, one of his oceanfront properties in Ayia Napa, the playground of Western Europe, andthe elevator ascent to the penthouse bridal suite. But by the time the bellman deposited their luggage in the foyer, accepted the generous tip from Cade and made his exit, she was a frazzled heap of nerves.

She felt it, and for sure must look it, what with her cotton shift wrinkled, her sandal flopping and her mussed hair sticking to her temples.

She flung an arm across her eyes, trying to forget her lackluster appearance—hardly the look of a glowing bride. Digging her toes beneath the cushions, she gulped down the whimper vibrating in her throat.

When Cade had shut the door behind the bellman, she started to panic.

Would he pounce? Would she let him? After all, she made a bargain…a high-end deal with the mogul of Manhattan. A hysterical sound bubbled in her chest and burst from her mouth in a muffled sound.

The sun had turned the horizon into a blaze of color, and the Mediterranean Sea into liquid gold.

“Hungry?” Cade asked, just as his cell beeped.

Relief flooded through her when the cell call had cornered his attention.

Nina gave him a wan smile and a wave of her hand, but by then, he had stepped onto the balcony. That suited her fine, giving her some breathing space to rest up and regroup. She wobbled on her feet and eyed the bed before her gaze skittered to him now in earnest conversation. She opted for the couch. Tossing her purse on one end, she kicked off her sandals and collapsed on the cushions.

A sea breeze sailed towards her from the half open balcony doors.

It was balmy, sensual and soothing.

“You can use the bathroom first,” Cade mouthed over the cell’s mouthpiece.

She shook her head. A big mistake. The vibrations shot to her toes and back up to her belly, making her stomach heave. She closed her eyes.

She heard him pacing, his words floating to her on the evening breeze and disintegrating her thoughts.

“I got her.”A muted chuckle. “By nightfall, she’ll be docked, tied and ready to ride—”

A pause.

“She’s not for sale yet.”

In the background, waves pounded the beach, a crescendo of sound in a second of stillness.

“I’ve got dibs on her maiden voyage—”

From the courtyard down below, the Bouzouki musicians tuned up for the evening entertainment, and mouthwatering aromas of souvlaki cooked over an open grill wafted to her. She grabbed her middle; she for one would not be dining under the stars tonight.

The distraction eclipsed his words and she crinkled her brow, trying to make sense of what she heard.

“A costly investment, I’ll be paying—”

Her eyes flew open wide. Me?