Overnight Cinderella by Katherine Garbera Page A

she forgot she wasn’t bright and shining. She forgot she was the “smart” sister. She forgot Duke didn’t love her because the fierceness of his embrace said otherwise.
    â€œPlease,” she said, lifting her head.
    â€œOkay, the night of the Gala. After the event, we’ll leave together and you’ll share my bed.”
    â€œIt sounds kind of cold,” she said.
    â€œI thought you were a big girl.”
    â€œI am. But this isn’t easy for me.”
    â€œThat’s why I should let you go…but I can’t.”
    â€œWhat if…” Cami’s voice trailed off.
    â€œLeave the details to me,” Duke said. He wanted to be her dream lover if only for one night.
    â€œEvery detail?”
    â€œDown to the clothes you wear.”
    She thought about it. Every step she’d taken tonight had led her to this moment. She realized at once that love didn’t care who the object of that affection was. It only craved an outlet. She knew she had to make a decision and she knew in her heart her answer.
    â€œYes,” she said.
    Â 
    â€œDuke, got a minute?”
    Duke glanced up to see Max standing in the doorway. “Sure, what’s up?”
    â€œA situation has come to my attention.”
    The graveness of Max’s tone and the fact that he’d come to Duke’s office instead of beckoning him upstairs told Duke he wasn’t going to like whatever came next. He wondered if Max had found out he’d kissed Cami Jones a couple of times.
    He wondered if his boss and friend was now going to forbid him to see the woman who’d become important to him in ways he couldn’t define. He wondered if he’d tolerate that kind of censure.
    â€œHave a seat,” Duke said, gesturing to the leather visitor’s chair.
    Max settled himself slowly. He looked around the office and took stock of the new decorations. “This is homier than your office in Japan.”
    â€œI had a few tips on the decor. We have a situation?”
    â€œYes, I think Fielding in accounting may be embezzling.”
    Duke’s analytical mind jumped through hoops keeping up with Max. Though he wanted to take a minute to enjoy the fact that his relationship with Cami wasn’t public knowledge, he didn’t. They discussed Fielding and the men Duke would assign to the task of tracking funds and monitoring Fielding’s activities.
    Max wrapped up the conversation and stood.Pacing to the window, he held his hands loosely behind his back. Duke joined him, looking at the skyline of Atlanta.
    â€œIs there a company policy regarding fraternization?” Duke asked after a few minutes had passed in silence.
    â€œWhy?” Max didn’t take his eyes off the skyline.
    â€œI’m in a…” Duke didn’t know how to define what he had with Cami. Nuclear reaction maybe.
    â€œRelationship?” Max suggested, and Duke thought he heard a hint of amusement in his friend’s voice.
    The very term he’d been trying to avoid. He didn’t want to think about Cami in those terms because relationships were an area where he had little control. Emotion was the one region where his power was useless. “Yeah, I guess.”
    Max’s dark gaze bore into him. But the interest was friendly not censuring. Duke hadn’t really dated in the years he’d known Max. One-night stands, short-term affairs he had, but relationships— never.
    â€œWith whom?”
    â€œCami Jones.”
    Max’s wise eyes surveyed him. Then he nodded.
    â€œNo problem.”
    â€œI have to be honest here and tell you that even if there were a problem, I might not break it off.”
    â€œDo you two have plans for tonight?” Max asked.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI have tickets to the Braves game and can’t make it.”
    â€œI’ll take them,” Duke said. And Miss Jones, too.
    Though he was uncomfortable encouraging Cami to deepen her