A Ring For Cinderella. Judy Christenberry

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СКАЧАТЬ his room. “I won’t have a good time.”

      “Sometimes, we don’t. But we do what we have to, right?” It was a lesson she’d learned long ago.

      “Yeah,” he agreed, resignation in his voice.

      “Go ahead and take your shower now, Paul, while I figure out what we’re going to eat for dinner. I’ll need the bathroom after we eat.”

      Some day they were going to have more than one bathroom. When Megan was home, she and her sister had to share the larger bedroom, leaving Paul the smaller room for himself. Her dream was to have a home where everyone had his or her own space.

      Megan had gone to the University of Nebraska early for orientation and to find a job. Although like Susan, Megan had gotten a scholarship for her tuition, she still intended to help Susan pay for her room and board.

      Which brought Susan’s thoughts back to this evening. As she opened a can of tuna to add to the casserole she was making, she justified her behavior in taking the money again.

      They were good reasons.

      And had nothing to do with the handsomeness of the cowboy. But she couldn’t deny his good looks affected her. Not that anything would come of it, of course. But he was a sexy man.

      And for an hour, she would be his fiancee.

      

      

      Zach went to his favorite store on the Plaza and bought everything he’d need to dress for the evening. Then he checked into a nearby hotel.

      It was difficult to think of practical matters after what the doctors had told him about his grandfather. The one person he loved more than anyone else on earth could die at any moment His grandfather had had a heart attack this morning. They’d flown him by helicopter to Kansas City and finally stabilized him, but it had been touch-and-go.

      Dear God, he loved that old man.

      And why wouldn’t he? Gramp had been there for him all his life, had become his only parent when his mom and dad had died in a car accident when he was eight.

      Gramp had given him hugs as well as a whack on his rear when he’d needed them. He’d taught Zach ranching and manners.

      He’d taught him to be a man.

      And Zach had failed him.

      The one thing Gramp had wanted was for Zach to marry. To provide sons to carry on the ranch traditions that had gone on for four generations. He’d tried. Five years ago, he’d married a beautiful woman, sure he’d found his own true love.

      He snorted in disgust That marriage hadn’t worked out. No marriage. No heirs.

      Which brought him back to Susan Greenwood.

      An hour later, he settled into the dining room of the hotel and ordered a steak with all the trimmings. He’d talked to the doctor before he’d come down to dinner and Gramp was holding his own, looking forward to Zach’s arrival that evening with his fiancée.

      Gramp was like a dog with one bone. He never left it alone. He wanted great-grandsons.

      Too bad making babies wasn’t part of the deal with Susan, he decided with a wry smile. The lady was one tasty morsel. But he’d had enough of women with cash-register hearts. He might enjoy a night spent with one every once in a while. Hell, he was a man. But he wasn’t about to give any of them legal or emotional control over him or anything that belonged to him.

      But Gramp’s happiness was important to him.

      That was why he was dressed in a sport coat, slacks, crisp white shirt and, worst of all, a tie. He hated those things. But tonight was important. If he’d come to the hospital in his jeans to introduce his fiancee, Gramp would be offended.

      After paying his bill, he settled his Stetson on his head and headed for the rental car. Since he’d traveled on the helicopter with Gramp to Kansas City, he didn’t have his pickup with him. Instead, he had to fit his big frame into a four-door sedan.

      He’d gotten directions from the concierge before leaving the hotel, just to be sure he had the right area of town. As he drove, the neighborhoods changed from the elegant to the barely habitable.

      Pulling up in front of an apartment building with peeling paint and a small patch of grass that hadn’t been mowed any too recently, he frowned. Had he made a mistake? Susan had looked high-class, though he now realized she’d worn no jewelry other than plain gold earrings.

      He got out of the car and locked the door. Checking the address once more, he headed for the stairs in the center of the building. When he found the apartment on the second floor, he rapped firmly.

      The door swung open, and he had to drop his gaze to look at the person who had opened the door. A little boy stared up at him.

      “Hello. I’m looking for Susan Greenwood.”

      “Okay. Susan?” the boy called. “He’s here.” Then he turned back around to stare up at Zach. “I’m ready.”

      That gave Zach pause. “Uh, okay. Where are you going?”

      “With you. But I don’t want to.”

      Chapter Two

      “Paul, that was ill-mannered. Apologize to Mr. Lowery, please,” Susan called as she entered the living room of their apartment.

      Then she looked at Zach Lowery.

      Gone was the scruffy outdoorsman in his tight jeans and Western shirt. In his place was a cleans-haven, expensively dressed man. Handsome as sin.

      She also realized she recognized him. His picture was in the society pages frequently. But he was usually dressed in a tux with a beautiful woman on his arm.

      All that remained of the. cowboy she’d met earlier today was his hat.

      “I’m sorry about Paul. but I couldn’t get a sitter. And I promise he’ll be well behaved.” She lifted her chin as she met his glare. Her arm stole around Paul’s thin shoulders, afraid the man would hurt her brother’s feelings.

      Zach Lowery looked down at Paul, and Susan was relieved to see his glare soften. “I’m sure he will be. Are you ready?”

      “Yes.” she agreed, releasing a sigh of relief. She picked up her purse. As Paul preceded her, she pulled the door closed behind her, making sure it was locked.

      “How long have you lived here?” Zach asked as they went down the stairs.

      She frowned. Why would he want to know that? She didn’t expect friendship from the man. In fact, she’d decided to keep anything personal out of their agreement. Then she wouldn’t feel quite so bad about taking his money.

      “About four years,” she finally said when she couldn’t think of a reason not to answer. This place had been all they could afford after her mother’s death, but she definitely wasn’t going to tell him that.

      “It’s СКАЧАТЬ