Page 20 of Secret Cinderella
Her stomach was in knots over his revelation tonight. When Patricia had driven to the mansion in her new car, Charlotte's shoulders had been tight as she'd searched for Jack in the crowd.
Morgan money meant his world could be extraordinary and Charlotte’s small life in a store didn’t matter to people like him or his famous family.
Despite being escorted in like an important VIP, when she'd heard that Jack was a Morgan, she’d been a wreck. It felt like she’d been punched in the face hard enough to be knocked her off her feet when Axel Morgan had made his announcement. Worse of all, she’d been on the sidelines, not in his circle.
Her heart pattered as they stood on the balcony together.
Jack smelled so good. A new cologne, but also it was just his essence. His brown hair was now styled but that goofy grin of his that always put her at ease and made everything okay flashed at her. His muscled body in the black tux looked way classier than his suit he'd borrowed for prom.
Her hands were in fists and she prayed that he would fix this huge gulf between them. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Had he wanted to be in an estate protected by security where she couldn’t just walk out the door? Was that a horrible thought? She wasn’t sure of anything right now as Jack clasped her fingers and a spark rushed through her as he asked, “That I was a Morgan?”
Bingo. She held still and wished there was a way past this as it felt like he’d tricked her and she didn’t like it. “Yeah, we’ve talked every day of our lives for the past ten years.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and stepped away. It was hard to believe that he’d lied. “You were there for me when my father died and not once did you mention your own father.”
His blue eyes seemed softer in the moonlight with a party underneath them like the lights of the sky were below instead of above them. “We left him when I was six. I don’t remember much about my father except my mother said we should never talk about him and it was better we forgot all about him.”
She inched near him again and his skin was so close to her that it electrified her. “So?”
He glanced over the balcony to the party as he said, “My mother said he could destroy our family and rip us all apart. He seemed like a monster and I was loyal to my mom so I just avoided talking about him.”
“Your mother is awesome.” Patricia O’Conner ran her house in a way she’d wish to one day, so Charlotte reached for his fingers. “Your family has always been so close.”
The balcony door opened and she stared into Linda’s blue eyes with hints of red. Linda kissing Jack just minutes ago brought on a trail of ice that raced up her spine and into her bones. Charlotte closed the door, keeping Linda in the hall, and Jack checked to ensure the door was locked. He said, “Because my mom chose for us to be only hers and not take a dime of my father’s money.”
Sounded fair. She’d have done the same in an abusive situation and her spine relaxed, but her heart still ticked a little different. Maybe it was because she was here now, with Jack, dressed for a party rather than work. They both had been changed by the truth. “I admire her even more than I already did.”
He massaged his scalp and asked, “Yeah?”
Wait. Was he nervous? She placed her hand on his chest, which she’d done countless times, but now her lips tingled and she wished… for a kiss. “She raised you, your brothers, your sister, all alone and ensured you knew you were loved.” She’d only kissed Jack once and that was when they’d both had braces and they’d been stuck for what felt like hours untangling the bands. Neither of them had braces now. How would he kiss? “My stepmother couldn’t accept me. Love me. But this doesn’t answer my question.”
His gaze narrowed and her body reacted with goosebumps of desire. He knew how to push all her buttons. “I think it does.”
She stood on her tiptoes to be closer to him. “I thought we were best friends and that we trusted each other with all our secrets. Now I see you had a big one.”
He held her sides like he’d stop her from falling over which was good. She wasn’t a ballerina but she ached to be closer to him when he said, “My birth father wasn’t important in my life and I never thought about him, to be honest. It wasn’t a lie…he wasn’t part of my story until my siblings discovered us, and wanted to include us in the family because of a will.”
Her lips puckered for his kiss, and she wanted to forget this whole conversation. What a strange reaction. Her mouth never tasted his before and wanting now didn’t change anything. Tingles of anticipation fired up her chest but he let her go and she went back on her heels.
Someone knocked at the glass door. “I guess I understand.”
He pointed toward the way out but stopped and said, “There is something you need to know.”
She batted her eyes. “What, Jack?”
Someone knocked on the door again.
He ignored it and took both of her hands. “Charlotte, when you told me about Antonio and how you’d reacted after you met him… I was jealous.”
Like she’d been a few minutes ago? Her hair stood on end but she swallowed as her inner temperature grew. “But why? I’m like a sister to you.”
His face flushed red and he squeezed her fingers. “How I think of you is nothing like how I think of Lucy. Charlotte, you’re the only girl in my heart.”
More knocks shook the door. She let out a breath and said, “I… I never thought about us… romantically.”
His nostrils flared like she’d insulted him. “Do you hate the idea?”
He almost let her go but she held him firm despite how someone rattled the doorknob. “No. No, that’s too strong, but I’d like for you to dance with me now.” She wanted to be in his embrace.
