Cinderella Story. Elizabeth August

Чтение книги онлайн.

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

       Before you start reading, why not sign up?

      Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

       SIGN ME UP!

      Or simply visit

      signup.millsandboon.co.uk

      Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

      Contents

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Chapter Thirteen

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

       Chapter Seventeen

       Chapter Eighteen

       About the Author

      Prologue

      Nina Lindstrom breathed a sigh of relief as she hung up the phone. Her children were safe and happily pretending they were camping out in their grandmother’s living room. When she’d learned that roads were closed, mudslides were careening down the mountain and the electricity was out all over town, due to the torrential rainstorm raging outside, they had been her number one concern. As usual, while she worked, Elizabeth, Pete and Tommy were being looked after by her mother-in-law, and Nina’s rational mind had assured her that they were being well cared for. Still, the mother in her had insisted on calling.

      “I’m collecting aprons,” Susan Smith, one of the owners of the Squaw Creek Lodge, announced, entering the kitchen. She set the lantern she was carrying on the center counter and looked around at the assembled servers. Frustration showed on her face. “This evening seems to be just one disaster after another. First we lose our electricity, and now the backup generator is refusing to work. Officially, the reception is canceled. However, the food has been paid for and there’s no place to store it. The bar is closed but the Howells have already bought the champagne and there’s plenty of soft drinks. The guests have been invited to stay and help themselves to what’s available. And you’ve been invited to do the same. If you want my advice, you’ll accept. The rain is still coming down hard and the lightning is dangerous. There’s lots of it and it’s touching down. I’ve also heard that some roads are blocked by mud slides.”

      “Some wedding,” one of the male waiters remarked as Nina unfastened the frilly white apron she was wearing and handed it to Susan. “First the bride bolts just before the ceremony begins, and now the electricity is gone. I’ll bet there are a few people here wishing they’d pulled the covers over their head and stayed in bed this morning.”

      “Me, for one,” one of the bartenders grumbled. “I’d figured on enough tips from this crowd to pay this month’s rent.”

      It did seem to be one of those days when plans went askew, Nina thought silently, leaving the kitchen. She’d been counting on the money from this moonlighting job to buy a few extras for her children. Now she’d only get pocket change for the time she’d been here setting up the buffet. She shrugged off her disappointment. Life had taught her never to count on anything happening the way she hoped it would. She was always happy when it did but had learned to roll with the punches when it didn’t. And compared to some of the punches she’d sustained, a few lost work hours were nothing.

      Glancing out the large plate-glass windows, she saw a flash of lightning come straight down. СКАЧАТЬ