Cinderella Busted (The Cinderella Romances Book 1) Read online

  Rhett Buchanan certainly didn’t fit her impression of a corporate CEO, powerfully built and handsome enough she had gone completely tongue-tied back in the office. She could get lost in those amazing green eyes. And that slow, sexy smile he’d given her had made her toes curl.

  Yikes!

  “You’re smiling,” he said. “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing. I’m just enjoying a pretty day.”

  She would do much better out here in the nursery with plant material to talk about rather than forcing conversation in the office. For the first time in her life, she wished she had spent more time flirting with boys in high school like all the other girls. Instead, she had studied her heart out to get good grades and make Hank proud since she was all he had.

  Buchanan pulled the cart up at the laydown yard, but there was no sign of Tammy’s fiery-red curls among the rows of trees. An errant customer had probably waylaid her somewhere in the nursery.

  Lily and Buchanan got out and ambled over to the first row of trees, a dozen dwarf magnolias. The containers were well-chosen, some of their best product. Hands on his hips, he gazed at the trees and back at her, then raised his brows in question.

  “They’re perfectly matched, disease-free,” she said.

  “I thought so, too.” He winked.

  She felt her neck flush, and her gaze strayed to the dusting of dark hair on his tanned forearms. “Where are you going to use all this stock?”

  “A new condominium and shopping district in Boca. These trees are for Phase I, and I suspect Garrett will be ordering more.”

  “Garrett?”

  “He’s the vice-president of real estate development for our company, BDC. He’s also a frustrated landscape architect—that was his bachelor’s degree—but his subsequent MBA pushed him up the corporate ladder.”

  “You like him,” she said simply.

  His gaze sharpened. “I do. How did—”

  “The sound of your voice when you talk about him.”

  “Wow, beautiful and perceptive.”

  She felt her cheeks grow warm and glanced away.

  “Sorry,” he said softly, “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

  “You didn’t.”

  A dark brow went up.

  “Okay, maybe a little.”

  Actually a whole lot. Rhett Buchanan seemed so confident, so sure of himself. She was out of her league, and she knew it, but she still wanted to play for just a little while longer.

  “Garrett and I were fraternity brothers in college,” Rhett was saying. “Been together ever since.”

  “Ah, I see. So who likes the plants, you or Garrett?”

  “Mostly Garrett, but I do appreciate their value. He’s convinced me that installing—and more importantly, maintaining—specialty landscapes can double the exterior value of architectural designs.”

  “Good for him! He’s right.”

  “Another plant lover,” he said, grinning.

  “Of course I am.”

  “You’re gorgeous when you smile,” he said suddenly.

  Okay, that had nothing to do with inspecting trees. Was Mr. Buchanan flirting with her? He’d complimented her twice in five minutes. She jerked her gaze away. She was heating up—all over.

  “I’ve embarrassed you again.”

  “You didn’t,” she assured him, lying through her teeth. “You just took me by surprise is all.”

  “I would think you hear that a lot,” he said softly.

  “Oh. No. I don’t.”

  He stepped closer, and she feared her cheeks and neck would turn bright pink. She quickly moved toward the next row of trees. The first six containers were perfectly manicured weeping mulberry trees. This Garrett guy sure knew his plant material. She guessed he had selected their best specimens.

  “What do you think?” she asked, gesturing toward the mulberries and staring straight ahead. Safer that way.

  “Gorgeous, like I said.”

  She glanced back.

  He wasn’t looking at the mulberries. He was staring at her. Her cheeks just had to be pink. Lord knew they felt hot enough.

  “You’re supposed to be inspecting trees,” she scolded with a smile.

  He laughed. “Oh yeah, that’s right.”

  By the time they made it through the third row of containers populated with an assortment of Helliconia and Callistemon, she grew more comfortable and even tried flirting back. They laughed and joked about the perfect places to plant the gnarly and exceedingly crooked Corylus, and Lily had the time of her life. Until the bottom dropped out about halfway down the fourth row at the gray Bismarchia palms.

  “Do you buy a lot of plants here?” Buchanan suddenly asked.

  Her head snapped up from examining a bent gray frond. She swallowed. “Buy?”

  “You must be one of the nursery’s best customers as well as you know the stock and know your way around here.” He gave her that slow, sexy smile again. “Are you buying landscaping for business or pleasure?”

  Oh good grief! He thinks I’m a customer.

  But why wouldn’t he? Today, she was dressed like one. Surely, he could tell from their conversation she worked here at the nursery.

  Or not.

  He waited for a response. So that was why he had asked her to help him! She grinned. She couldn’t help it. She felt like Cinderella masquerading as a princess at the ball. Maybe she could just avoid answering his question altogether.

  She guided him to the end of the aisle, made the turn to the fifth row of trees, and aimed their steps toward a cluster of Monterrey pines.

  Buchanan put a hand out to stop her. “I hope you’ll let me take you to dinner to thank you for helping me, Lily.”

  His eyes, now a dark emerald green, locked on hers, and she felt her heart lurch. This could not be happening. Drop-dead gorgeous guys like Buchanan didn’t ask Lily Foster out. She hadn’t had a date in six months, which really wasn’t all that surprising considering she didn’t frequent singles bars and clubs.

  Ever.

  Tucked away at Bloom & Grow, she worked ten hours a day with few, if any, days off, and when she looked out her window at night, she could still see her workplace. She had no social life.

  Buchanan looked worried. She’d waited too long to answer him. “Mr. Buchanan, I—”

  “Call me Rhett, please,” he said quickly and reached for her hand.

  The physical connection was so swift and startling she felt an electric shock, and a faint tremble worked at her spine.

  “I want to see you again,” he said softly. “Tonight. If I can’t talk you into dinner, how about a cocktail party? Island crowd? You’ll have fun. I promise.”

  She feared she swayed slightly, but he gave no indication. He merely continued his mesmerizing stare. She knew she hadn’t gasped at his invitation because she couldn’t breathe. His stare felt like a tender caress, and she prayed it would last a while longer.

  An Island party? Her?

  She had never been invited to a Jupiter Island party in her life.

  “All right,” she whispered, so softly she almost couldn’t hear the words.

  He heard. He grinned.

  “There you are!” Tammy rounded the end of the row of pines and caught sight of her.

  A panicky chill hit Lily. Had Rhett only invited her because he assumed she was part of the Jupiter Island social set? A social equal perhaps? Would there be take-backs or do-overs if he found out she worked here at the nursery?

  “Good afternoon,” Tammy said to Rhett, flipping her luscious red curls back over her shoulder and extending her hand. “I’m Tammy Waynette, the sales manager of Bloom & Grow.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said and shook th
e proffered hand. “I’m Rhett Buchanan, but please call me Rhett.”

  Lily knew that come-hither gesture of Tammy’s and watched her eyes light up—that predatory glint Tammy got when she spotted a handsome man. Lily felt a stab of unfamiliar irritation. Like iron flecks to a magnet, men naturally cycled to Tammy, with her gorgeous head of fiery-red hair and emerald-green eyes, and Lily usually enjoyed watching the show. But not today, and not with Rhett Buchanan.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Tammy apologized. “Everybody wants plants before the weekend, and we had an unexpected order to pull.”

  “No problem,” he said.

  “So has Lily been showing you your trees?” Tammy asked and flashed Lily her patent I’ll-take-it-from-here look.

  “Yes, she’s very knowledgeable,” Rhett said and slanted Lily a smile.

  “Well, of course she is,” Tammy agreed, “she’s our—”

  “—best customer!” Lily blurted. “Actually, Tammy thinks I’m her most frequent customer since I don’t buy stock every time I visit.” She gave Rhett a sheepish smile. “I like to look.”

  Tammy’s eyes visibly widened.

  “Rhett and I ran into each other in the office while I shopped from your interiors brochure,” Lily quickly added. “I volunteered to show him where the laydown yard was since I’ve been here so many times.”

  Rhett turned back to Tammy. “She’s been a big help.”

  Tammy’s expression had gone incredulous. Lily shook her head and mouthed, I’ll explain later.

  “Okaayy,” Tammy said slowly.

  “I was just getting Rhett started with his inspection, and I’ll leave him in your capable hands now,” Lily said and followed with a just-go-along-with-this look.

  “Surely, you’re not leaving,” Rhett said quickly. “Please stay and walk with us. Besides, I need to get your phone number.”

  Tammy’s eyebrows went straight up.

  Rhett pulled a pen and a small note pad from his shirt pocket and handed them to Lily. She scribbled Lily next to her cell phone number on the top page and handed the pad back. She could swear her hands trembled, but Rhett didn’t seem to notice.

  Tammy sure did. Her brows stayed sky-high. Lily just smiled and gave Tammy a chagrined shrug when Rhett turned away. She tagged along behind the two, but Rhett reached for her hand and tugged her forward to walk alongside him. Lily’s heart sang.

  While Tammy chattered her way through the rest of the inspection, Rhett stole furtive glances in Lily’s direction. Each time he did, she got a delicious butterflies-in-the-stomach sensation.

  Please, dear Lord, don’t let any of the nursery people come along and ask me for something.

  Probably no one recognized her in the yellow sundress, but she tempted fate out here in broad daylight, and she needed to make a quick exit. As Tammy finished the final row of stock, the threesome walked toward the golf cart.

  “You two take the golf cart,” Tammy said smugly and stared right at Lily. “My truck’s back here. I’ll meet you up at the office.”

  Rhett drove the cart as before, and when they neared the office, Lily inwardly groaned at the sight of her red Toyota Tundra truck parked out front. Her jig was up. No self-respecting socialite drove a truck. If she climbed in that truck, Rhett would know she had deceived him, and a socialite wouldn’t hang around the nursery all day either.

  As though in answer to a prayer, Rob Shaw pulled up in his sleek black Porsche. Lily hopped out and streaked for the Porsche.

  “Thank you so much for bringing my car up for me, Rob. I forgot I left it at the Bonsai greenhouse,” she said loudly enough for Rhett to hear, then whispered, “If you love me, Rob, you’ll lend me your car for ten minutes and play along. Let me be Cinderella for just a little longer. Please?”

  Rob gaped at her just like Tammy had out at the laydown yard, but he unfolded his tall frame from the sports car and silently handed over the keys as Rhett walked up. The two men stood eye to eye.

  Rhett extended a hand first. “Rhett Buchanan, tree buyer.”

  Rob shook his hand. “Rob Shaw, tree grower.”

  Rhett laughed and turned to Lily. “I need directions to your house before you go.”

  “I’ll meet you,” she blurted. “I have a late afternoon meeting that may run long.”

  He looked dubious. “Sure.” He got his pad and pen back out and wrote down an address and a phone number, then handed the slip of paper to Lily. “The address is on the island, easy to find. That’s my cell number. Call when you’re close, and I’ll come outside and meet you.”

  Lily’s knees wobbled, and she locked them tight. She had actually gotten away with this masquerade. “Great,” she said.

  “The party starts at seven.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you then.”

  He didn’t move, and she realized he was waiting for her to get in the Porsche, so he could close the door. The door on Rob’s Porsche. Rob’s Porsche with a stick shift.

  Oh good grief.

  As gracefully as she could, she twisted her legs and sandals into the low-slung vehicle.

  “Nice to have met you, Lily. Very nice.” Rhett winked, then closed the door.

  One little wink made her heart race. She gulped, nodded, and cranked the powerful engine. She waited a few seconds in the hope Rhett would walk back inside, but he didn’t move. She positioned one sandal on the clutch pedal and the other sandal on the gas pedal, and with three inches of cork heels on her espadrilles, she couldn’t feel either pedal. Shoving the gearshift in reverse, she eased up on the clutch, gave some gas, and bucked the sleek sports car into a stall.

  Okay, sorry for fibbing, Lord. Now please help me!

  She kept her eyes on the dashboard, recranked the engine, and tried again—with another brief prayer to keep Rob from strangling her later. Three hard jerks and she managed to back the Porsche out. Lily finally glanced at Rhett and knew for a fact her cheeks and neck had a lighthouse-bright flush.

  She buzzed down the window. “I just got the car, and I’m still getting used to a stick.”

  He grinned. “I figured.”

  She pulled out of the front entrance, drove around the north end of the property to the shipping entrance, and turned in, then veered to the driveway at her cottage where Rob appeared moments later.

  “Figured you’d end up here,” he said and crossed his arms over his chest. “Start talking, Cinderella. And when you’re done, I’m giving you pumpkin-coach-driving lessons.”

  Chapter 2

  Rhett noticed that Garrett Tucker eyed him warily when he strode into his office.

  “You’re smiling.”

  “Why shouldn’t I be?” Rhett dropped his briefcase on his desk and gathered up some files. “Are the lawyers here?”

  Rhett kept a handpicked team of real estate attorneys on retainer for BDC. He needed them with his worldwide development projects, and the legal-team leader was Carstairs Whittenhurst, III, summa cum laude Harvard law. Rhett considered the lean, weasel-faced attorney to be arrogant, obnoxious, argumentative, and the sharpest attorney he had ever met. The last attribute was the only reason Carstairs still shadowed the halls of BDC’s worldwide headquarters in Palm Beach. Rhett deplored any necessary meetings with the man. He set Rhett’s teeth on edge the minute he opened his mouth.

  “Of course they’re here, and Whittenhurst is antsy. The meeting started at four, and it’s ten after. You’re never late, so tell me why you’re late and smiling.” Garrett frowned.

  “I had a great afternoon.”

  “Before or after you went to Bloom & Grow? You did go to the nursery, right?”

  “I did.”

  “So where did the great part occur? Before or after the nursery? Because you sure were mad about doing the inspection.”

  �
�At.” Rhett shoved two briefs in a manila folder.

  “Huh?”

  “At the nursery. I met an incredible woman there. She took my breath away.” Blond hair and sapphire-blue eyes flashed in his line of vision, then faded.

  Garrett gaped at him. “You mean Tammy?”

  “The sales manager? No, not her. I met a customer in a sexy yellow sundress.”

  “Women don’t take Rhett Buchanan’s breath away,” Garrett argued. “You’ve got that backwards.”

  Rhett shook his head. “No, I don’t. It took some work, but I got her to agree to go out with me tonight.”

  “Some work? This is like a nightmare. You’re my idol. You can have any woman you want, and you’re telling me you had to work at it like the rest of us do? You’re bursting my bubble.” Garrett dodged the wadded up paper Rhett threw at him.

  “Cut it out. I’m serious.”

  Garrett grinned deviously. “So am I, and you have to reschedule your date. We have to go to Delia’s cocktail party tonight, or did you forget? She invited Horning to her party, and we get to schmooze him for backing on the San Antonio project. Remember Horning Oil?”

  “I remember, and I’m taking Lily to the party.”

  “What?” Garrett stared incredulously.

  “You heard me.” Rhett tucked two folders in his leather folio.

  “Have you lost your mind?”

  “Nope.”

  Garrett took two strides forward. “We’re talking about Delia Armstead, your on-again, off-again girlfriend-slash-fiancée.”

  Rhett glared. “I never asked—”

  “No, but she thinks you will,” Garrett interrupted. “The woman turns into a barracuda when you get within five feet of another woman. Delia will eat this Lily alive.”

  “I don’t intend to leave Lily’s side.” He tucked the leather folio under his arm. “Let’s go. The lawyers await.”

  “Don’t do it, Rhett. Take the girl out tomorrow.”