Page 43 of Secret Cinderella
The Morgans had jets and that would be faster than taking a bus or driving. He could be at the station when she arrived.
Another couple joined them and the dark-haired man with a French accent said, “Ja-ckh is coming to Miami?”
They all stood and Elizabeth explained, “It seems there was a misunderstanding and his fiancée is halfway there.” She linked her arm with his and gestured to the brunette who’d joined them. She murmured quietly, “Natalie makes all her dates with Galen sound hilarious. I’m sure they can help you plan an evening to win Charlotte back.”
So his plan was: fly to Miami, win back Charlotte’s trust, and somehow get his life back on track.
His mother and sister wished him goodbye fast as he explained his plan to them. His mother said she’d pack for him.
If Charlotte loved him, she’d want him there.
If she didn’t, he’d be heading toward a full breakdown. He had to try. He told his new sister, “Thanks for the ride.” In the lobby of the hotel his ex and Charlotte’s stepsister had their heads together. If he didn’t deal with them, they’d continue to show up like a bad penny. Jack held up his finger and untwined his arm from his half- sister’s. “I’ll meet you back here in five minutes.”
Jack strode across the lobby, interrupting the two women he never wanted to see again to stop any future meddling.
Donna, who had once dazzled him with her beauty, now just seemed plain compared to Charlotte, said, “Jack, we wanted to talk to you.”
Two birds with one stone at least. Jack nodded at them both. “Linda and Donna, together, again.”
Linda pressed her hand against his chest. “We are together to make sure that you understood.Donnais the one that wants you, not me.”
Donna nodded and gazed up at him like she saw stars. “It’s true, Jack. I still love you.”
Except he wasn’t a star. He wasn’t for either of these women and he clung to the idea of working it out with Charlotte. “Still isn’t true. Both of you need to stay away from now on. I’m not interested in getting back together or being with anyone other than my fiancée.”
“Mickey said Charlotte left,” Linda said. “It’s okay to seek out someone else while you get back on your feet.”
He wouldn’t be better off with either of these women. Jack glanced at his siblings who were checking out of the hotel. “She’ll be back and I’ll be fine. I hope you each find the guy that’s meant for you.”
He stepped away to leave but Donna said, “You’re wasting your life with Charlotte.”
There the true Donna was—the same woman who’d broken up with him, saying he’d regret it…but he hadn’t. “Even if that’s true, it’s mine to decide.”
Then he joined his half-siblings who didn’t ask a word about what had just happened. He checked out with them and said, “I’m ready now.”
A few minutes later he was in a limo and on his way to the airport. Now he needed to find the words to tell Charlotte he missed her and how he still wanted her to marry him, because she was worthy of love and happiness.
Or…he was heading to disaster as a hopeless romantic who’d lost the one woman he loved. But there was only one way to find out.
Chapter 17
The direct bus to Miami was mostly lights-out for the few hours during the night. Charlotte sat in her seat and stared out the window, unable to sleep.
Jack would have made the ride tolerable, but he was out of her life now.
And he’d never be on a cheap bus again.
While she’d slept in the back room of her father’s store a few times when things were busy or she wanted a break from Nancy, she’d had the key in her pocket and felt safe. She hadn’t been surrounded by strangers whispering about how expensive drugs were, and where to get a hit.
Jack had taken an overnight bus a few years back when he’d toured colleges—she hadn’t realized how worried she should have been.
Her hair stood on end and she didn’t dare move or breathe wrong to draw attention to herself, or that she was still awake.
At seven, the bus stopped at a gas station and they filed out to use the facilities or buy snacks. The sun being out erased the fear of the night and calmed some of her nerves. She could handle today. Make a plan for what she’d do once she reached Miami. In the store, she grabbed a small water that was overpriced but she figured she’d use it for the rest of the trip and fill it up when she could until they arrived.
Upon boarding, a woman only a few years older than herself pointed to the empty seat beside Charlotte and asked, “You seem like a normal person, mind if I sit here?”
Charlotte peered into a pair of dark brown eyes that had shades of gold in them and hoped she was making the right choice when she scooted toward the window. “It’s fine. I’m Charlotte.”
