Page 16 of Seducing Cinderella

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the restaurant and the hostess escorted them back to the rented-out room where the shower was being held. Lucie placed her gift for Lizzie on the designated table by the door and then nervously scanned the sea of people.

“Stop fidgeting,” Reid said in her ear. His hand at her lower back helped to ease her, but not by much.

“I’m not fidgeting.”

“Yes, you are.”

He was right. She was practically hyperventilating, which was likely to come next. She couldn’t seem to stop. Why did she feel like she was stepping into the lion’s den? These were people she’d known and been comfortable with for years. But what if they didn’t like her new look? Or what if they thought poorly of her for changing her appearance?

She barely managed to keep her startled squeak contained in her chest when Reid yanked her out of the room. “Hey!”

“Shh,” he ordered as he dragged her down a hall, turned a corner, and then sandwiched her between his large body and the wall. “You’re freaking yourself out for no reason, so I’m going to teach you a trick I use before a fight.”

“Reid, I hardly think—”

“No thinking. Visualizing. Before I step into the cage, I visualize every punch, every kick, every takedown. I know my opponent well from studying his previous fights. I anticipate how he’ll react to my attacks, so I’ll be ready for any situation. That’s exactly what I want you to do right now.”

She knew she must be looking at him like he was crazy, because that’s exactly what she was thinking. How could this technique help her talk to Stephen? If she needed to anticipate the guy’s punches, there was a bigger problem than wanting a date.

“Close your eyes.” Seeing his determined look—and in all honesty desperate to try anything to get rid of her nerves—she obeyed. “I want you to picture yourself walking into that room, your head held high, and your confidence even higher. Youknowyou look fucking hot. This dress fits your body like it was designed for you. The heels make your legs look impossibly long and every guy in that room will be picturing them wrapped around his waist.”

She was slightly cold with the A/C blasting from the vent above them, but when he placed his hand on her waist, any chills disappeared from the heat of his touch. He stepped into her body, her breasts lightly grazing his hard chest with every breath she took. Her eyes remained closed, but the magnitude of his presence was palpable. Focusing was definitely no longer an issue. She was wired into him now, brain and body, whether she wanted to be or not.

“Pretend I’m him. I can’t keep my eyes off you from the moment you walk in. I’m wondering how I could’ve been so blind not to have noticed how truly gorgeous you are.”

Reid’s hand slowly slid up her side until his thumb was millimeters away from her breast. She told herself she shouldn’t feel disappointed when he moved it around to her back, managing to avoid anything inappropriate. His voice, pitched low and near her ear, rolled over her skin causing the tiny hairs at the back of her neck to stand on end. “I start with simple chitchat, shoptalk, but the entire time you’re talking, I’m staring at your lips and imagining what they’ll taste like.”

“You are?” she asked on a breathy whisper.

“Fuck yeah, I am.” His free hand came up to frame her face, and he nudged her cheek with his nose until her head angled to the side. “You’re sexy as hell, Lucie, and I want to unwrap you to get to the decadent prize inside. I want to learn your likes, your dislikes—to know your fears and your dreams—and I vow to peel back each beautiful layer until I discover everything about you.”

Lucie’s heart was pounding so hard she was sure the hostess could hear it in the front of the restaurant. She wanted to be known like that—physically, emotionally—desperately.

“Yes,” she said. “I want that.”

“Thentakewhat you want.” His voice was little more than a rasp at her ear. It sounded strained and on edge. “Make it happen.”

She was so wrapped up in the image in her mind, she didn’t notice Reid had stepped back from her until the feeling of bereftness came over her. Letting her eyes flutter open, she focused on Reid standing in front of her. His hands shoved into his front pockets and the stiff look on his face didn’t match the sultry emotions he’d just poured over her.

“All you have to do is remember everything I’ve just told you, and walk through that door.” Before she could ask him if everything was all right, he jerked his head in the direction of the banquet room. “Go on. It’s time to make your entrance, Cinderella.”

The idea of walking into a room with all eyes on her no longer sent her into a panic. He was right. She might not be celebrity beautiful, but she felt one hundred percent more confident about her appearance than she had a week ago. There was no reason she shouldn’t find some strength in that. Stretching up on her tiptoes, Lucie placed a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Reid.”

One side of his mouth quirked up. “Anytime, sweetheart.”

With her newfound conviction and brand-new look, Lucie pushed her shoulders back and strode down the hall.

…

Reid dragged his hands down his face as soon as Lucie turned the corner. What he wouldn’t give for a sweaty gym and a tough sparring partner to beat him senseless right now. The visualization technique was something that could be applied in any situation, so he knew it could work for her. What he hadn’t known was how it would work himover.

He couldn’t even say for sure who he’d been speaking as that whole time. At some point it felt like he’d slipped out of character. He hadn’t been picturing Dr. Dipwad staring at her lips and kissing her. He’d been picturing himself.

“I need a drink,” he mumbled, making his way to the room. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he spotted Lucie. Like she was the North his gaze would always point to. The simple, pale blue shift dress she wore was understated but sexy. He kept eyes on her as he crossed to the table with punch and premade cocktails. Grabbing one of the drinks, he watched her ass as it moved under the thin material with every step she took. His gaze drifted lower to wander over the curves of her smooth legs.Damn, she’s something else.

He raised the glass then stopped. If he had to guess based on the shower’s signature drink, Lizzie was due to have a girl. It looked like a weird version of a Shirley Temple, bright pink with cherries stabbed on an open plastic diaper pin straddling the rim of the glass.

“It’s emasculating, isn’t it?”

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