Page 11 of Cinderella Is Faking It

“Right, she’s just writing you a recommendation letter out of the blue?” He laughed. “Please be serious.”

Again. That stung even though he wasn’t wrong. It was illogical for a random rich lady to write me a letter of recommendation. But the way he said those words. “I am serious. I helped her through a panic attack if you must know. She’s grateful.”

He threw his arms out and jerked them back when Fitzwilliam meowed because his hand had come too close to the sink. “Why didn’t you just say that?”

“Because her mental health is none of your business, and I really shouldn’t be sharing it.”

He furrowed his brows and shook his head. “It’s for work. I always tell you about the stuff I’m dealing with at work.”

“Well, maybe you should keep some of the residents’ medical issues to yourself. Maybe Mr. Peters wouldn’t be too happy knowing that you talk to me about his epileptic seizures.”

“Really? Now I’m not supposed to talk about work?”

“That’s not what I said,” I moaned and dropped onto the sofa because I was tired of this conversation. Was it so hard to go ‘It sucks that we have to cancel our dinner but thanks for the three alternative date nights you suggested for next week’or was I being overly sensitive? Did I owe him some huge explanation? Keeping Cordelia’s secret was already messing with my head.

“I’m sorry, babe.” Parker walked the five steps over to the sofa and knelt before me. “I shouldn’t have yelled.”

He hadn’t. He’d barely raised his voice. Instead of pointing that out, I cupped his beautiful, soft sunshine face in my hands and offered him a conciliatory smile. “I’m sorry that I have to cancel last minute.” Although three days in advance wasn’t really that short notice if you thought about it.

“I’m glad that you’re getting the recommendation. I want this job for you, baby.” He kissed my bare knee, looking up at me through those pretty dark brown lashes, and my stomach fluttered. He was so pretty.

“Thank you,” I breathed and leaned forward. “Kiss and makeup?”

He tilted his head to put a quick peck on the tip of my nose. Not the kiss I’d envisioned. “I think we should celebrate your recommendation, actually.” His next kiss landed on the inside of my thigh, and he hooked his hands around the back of my knees.

“Uh, Parker…” Oh for goodness’ sake. I’d told him I only ever wantedthatfor celebrations, important occasions, and the like. To keep it special or whatever. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.” He pulled my legs apart, which made my skirt ride up my thighs like a traitor. His mouth wandered up my leg and I tried to ignore the fact that he was trailing spit over my skin. Moist spots of saliva clinging to my leg. “Enjoy your victory, Del. Getting a personalized recommendation like that is a big deal.”

“We can celebrate together.” I smoothed his curls back from his face, trying to get his attention without outright yelling at him to stop raking his tongue all over me. It wasn’t his fault that I was messed up about this, but he sure would take it personal. They all did.

“Don’t worry.” He smiled up at me, his face so goddamn close to my panties. “That comes later.”

Oh. Great. I got to fake two orgasms tonight.

His head dropped between my legs, and I stared at the ceiling. Oral was the actual worst. Hence, the special occasion lie. At least sex felt good, and I got to hold him and kiss him. Oral was all fluids and weird sounds and not knowing how long I had to sigh and moan before I squeezed all the muscles between my legs and shouted ‘oh god yes’ a couple of times.

At least I’d mentally compiled my weekly shopping list by the time it was over, so I considered that a win for productive multitasking.

SIX

A few daysafter our phone call, Cordelia’s assistant forwarded me an internal Montgomery memo. Note to self: Fire Page once the Montgomery-Axent merger was through. Not very trustworthy. For now, however, she was very useful.

The memo was three paragraphs of empty phrases, before it got to the point: Cordelia would attend the grand reopening of the Montgomery Hotel in Boston, which had undergone major renovations over the last 9 months. It had closed when the old man was still in charge, and her cutting that big red bow would be the perfect photo op to symbolize the torch being passed on.

Del’s outfit that night was a whole business lesson in and of itself. She was clad in a sleeveless, fitted black jumpsuit. It had a high neckline and cinched around her waist. Despite her red lipstick and red pumps, she would have no trouble being taken seriously by any business partners in attendance tonight. But when she turned, the same jumpsuit allowed a look at the entire slope of her back, fastened around her neck and middle with thin straps, but baring every inch from her shoulders to her tailbone. The message was clear: it was a new, young era for the Montgomery - and she had it handled.

The message wasn’t quite as clear to my dick, because Del had those two little Venus dimples on her lower back, and my mind conjured up images of wrapping my hands around her hips from behind and running my thumbs into those grooves.

The entire second floor of the hotel was event spaces, from the ballroom with a view of the Public Garden, to smaller rooms that had been decked out as bars, photo op rooms, and whatnot. If I hadn’t been on a mission, I might have spent more time taking note of the event and the hundreds of attendees. But I wasn’t letting Blondie slip out of my grasp again.

When I found Del, she was chatting to a young server, pointing back and forth between her champagne flute filled with orange juice and another full one on the man’s tray that had her red lipstick marks on it. Micro-managing the wait staff? She spotted my approach when I was a few feet away and her shoulders straightened. “Thank you.” She dismissed the server with a touch to his arm.

“I believe this is yours,” I said by way of greeting, pulling her necklace from my pocket. The golden chain dangled from my finger, blue pearl swinging back and forth.

“Where did you find that? Never mind. Just: Thank you.” She sighed and gave me a small smile. “Hi. Familiar Face.”

“Hi Blondie.” I opened the clasp of the necklace. “May I?”

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