Page 31 of Cinderella and the Outback Billionaire

‘Okay, I’m over the helpful driving suggestions and my admiration for functioning air conditioning,’ she said as she turned the vehicle into an underground car park with a rolling security door that slid open at the press of his keychain. ‘You can keep the carriage, I’d like my old one back at midnight, please. Where are we?’

‘Hamilton. I live here when I’m in Brisbane. A lot of my tech guys live here too—it’s part of their wage package. There’s a shopping strip across the road with a couple of clothing boutiques, restaurants and a bar.’

‘Does that mean you own the whole woolshed apartment complex and the shopping strip too?’

His silence gave her a jolt. ‘Oh. Hell. You do. I can’t even—’ She owned so little. ‘We are so different.’

‘Not that different,’ he murmured. ‘I aim to prove it to you. Park near the lift.’

She did.

The step down from the cab of the vehicle really was a bit steep for her, but she wasn’t about to complain. Cinderella would have had a terrible time getting in and out of her carriage, would she not? In that gown?

She met up with Reid at the back of the vehicle but instead of leading her to the lift, he headed for the car-park entrance.

‘So, we’re heading for my place and takeaway and beer,’ he told her, ‘but there’s water involved, which I think you’ll like, and one of the boutiques across the road does swimwear and leisure wear. My shout for the swimwear and whatever you want to wear tonight. All part of the Cinderella deal. Payment, if you like, for holding my hand and tormenting me with your plant classification textbook.’

‘I was studying.’

‘I was barely conscious and unable to protest!’

Well, there was that. ‘Sorry. I was trying to take your mind—and mine—off our situation. Which was dire.’

He had such a rich, rumbling laugh. ‘Exactly. And you rose to the challenge magnificently, so whatever you want from the boutique is on me. Or you can swim naked. I wouldn’t object.’

Or she might not swim at all. A far more likely option to her way of thinking.

But she walked with him to the swimwear boutique with its skinny mannequins and beach towels in the window, and Ari just knew by looking at the shop’s high-end styling that the prices would be out of her reach. Who could afford hundreds of dollars for tiny brightly coloured bits of material, not to mention hundreds more for the various wraps and skirts that went with them? She headed for the specials rack. Reid headed for the counter and the smiling, sun-kissed woman behind it.

‘Reid Blake. Fancy seeing you here,’ the woman said, and her voice was warmly caressing but somehow not predatory.

‘Rita.’ He leaned against the counter. ‘This is Ari. I’ve hijacked her evening, and she now needs a swimsuit and loungewear.’

‘That I’m paying for, no matter what he says, so I’ll be over here by the specials rack,’ said Ari.

Reid sighed. ‘See what I’m dealing with here, Rita? Insubordination. Help me.’

Rita looked aghast as she floated towards the specials rack. ‘But Ari, darling, it’s been a long day with very few customers. My commission is begging you to let him pick up the tab. He never comes in here flashing his big black credit card. The bike shop, sure. The Thai restaurant next door, often. Here, never.’

‘Uh-huh.’ Ari didn’t believe a word of the woman’s patter. He was probably in here every other week.

‘Ari,’ the woman said quietly, with a brief glance towards Reid. ‘Not once.’

Ari didn’t know what to do with that information.

‘Reid, go order us some of those yummy little spring rolls from next door, while I open the champagne,’ commanded Rita. ‘Make yourself scarce. We’re busy.’

‘Rita’s my next-door neighbour.’ Reid fished a black plastic card from his wallet and set it on the counter with a snap. ‘Ari is Cinderella tonight. You are her fairy godmother. We’re going swimming later, and if you charge her for any of the clothes she selects I will double your rent.’ He tapped the card. ‘Got it?’

‘Loud and clear, Your Lordshipness,’ said Rita with a dismissive wave. ‘Leave us.’

He left with swagger that Rita admired, right up until the door closed behind him, and then the older woman snorted, and Ari couldn’t help but smile right along with her.

‘That man.’ Rita walked to the door and flipped a ‘Closed’ sign outwards. ‘He tries so hard to be a hard ass but it never sticks. He’s a country boy with a lot of money and a burning desire to improve the lives of everyone around him. But I am telling the truth that he’s never spent in here before. You must be special.’

‘No.’ Never special. ‘I’m just...someone from home. Where he grew up.’

‘Sounds special enough to me. One piece or two for swimwear?’

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