Page 104 of The Cinderella Arrangement

“Because if we keep going, I will fuck you.”

“So?”

He gave me a half-frustrated, half-smoldering look. “I don’t want to be a one-night stand.”

“What are you talking about?”

His fingers weaved through my hair and pulled slightly. “And when I’m with someone, I want them to be thinking of me and only me.”

I was lost.

“You’re not over your ex yet. I like you, Natalie. I like you more than you realize, but I want a real chance with you.”

Something hot shot up my legs when he said that. I looked at his heavy-lidded eyes, his slightly flushed, hollow cheeks and the downy black hair and I couldn’t understand why the hell he thought I pined over Ben while I was in bed with him.

“That’s a really sweet thing to say.”

His smile widened. “I know. Now, kiss me.”

I sank to my elbows and grabbed his hair, kissing him harder than I’d kissed anyone in my life. His mouth was soft against mine, barely able to keep up. I played with his ears, running my fingers over them because I knew that it would drive him crazy. He suddenly got up on his elbows and flipped me onto my back. Will groaned as he sat back, admiring the view of my body. His erection dug into my hip and I felt a leap of excitement.Looking disgusted with himself, Will got off my legs and turned away from me.

“Okay,” I said to his back. “We can wait.”

He turned around, his eyebrows lifted. “Okay?” He sounded disappointed.

I leaned over and pecked his mouth, trying not to smile at his floored expression.

“Good night.”

Smirking, I turned around in the bed. I could feel his confusion, but I knew what I was doing. I wanted him chasing me again—I wanted his hands running up my hips when we were out in public.

“Tease.”

The bed bounced as he left to go to the bathroom. I smiled to myself.

7

So how is he? Is he behaving?

Sort of. I’m having the time of my life! How’s Luke?

Her next message was troubling: Not so good. Can’t tell you on text.

I frowned to myself and glanced at Will, who was passed out on the train we were taking to Monterosso al Mare, Italy. His cat slept on his lap.

She must have been referringto the lawsuit with Will’s father. I chewed my lip, feeling bad for Luke, but what could I do about it?

I told Will about the lawsuit and he will see his father in Chicago.

She texted back: Really? Wow.

William reacted with anger and disappointment toward his father whenever I mentioned the lawsuit. He might not be a friend to Luke, but he did not approve of his father’s actions. I could tell that he was itching to go back to Chicago.

I returned to the sketch on my tablet. Over the last week, I sent dozens of designs to the marketing department and the feedback so far was positive. Though, who knew if any of them would be used. I had a vague understanding of where we were going, only that it was on the Italian Riviera. Occasionally, the train would leave a tunnel and I would glimpse a deep, blue ocean crashing on a green coast, and my heart soared.

We left the damp isles of the UK and took a plane to Èze, France, a gorgeous, coastal town with breathtaking views. Will assured me that the next stop would be even more spectacular: Cinque Terre. It meant “five lands.”It didn’t really matter whether this job amounted to anything. I was having an incredible time with Will exploring all these places.

“Wow,” I said when we disembarked the train.

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