Overnight Cinderella by Katherine Garbera Page A

her computer screen.
    â€œGot a free minute?” he asked. He looked tired but sexy with his collar unbuttoned and his tie loosened. His dark gray trousers and Italian loafers lent him an air of sophistication. She couldn’t believe he hadn’t grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth. But he hadn’t.
    The newly discovered information played in her mind. She resisted the temptation to confront him with it so she could comfort him—maybe even offer him much more than comfort. She should askhim out; he was never going to see her as anything other than a business partner unless she showed him more. But would he say yes?
    â€œI was on my way out. Want to go get dinner? We can talk about whatever you wanted.”
    â€œCami, that sounds like a date.”
    â€œIf it is, will you go?”
    She’d been on one date in her entire life. A double with her super-sexy sister. The evening had been a disaster and frankly she didn’t want to experience a similar torture with Duke. But Duke was different.
    â€œMaybe.”
    Cami felt the first tinges of embarrassment—what was she thinking? Oh, God. Maybe she’d misjudged him. “Maybe?”
    His eyes gleamed as he crossed the room. Leaning over the desk, he spoke in a voice a few decibels below normal. “Well, sweetheart, convince me.”
    She knew she should scoot back. He was too close. But she loved feeling his breath brush her cheek and seeing the irises in his gray eyes. “Convince you?”
    â€œMake me believe you want me,” he whispered. The darkness in his gaze made her heart ache.
    Trying to be contemplative when what she wanted was to jump up and grab him, she steepled her fingers over her chest. She didn’t want to appear too easy where he was concerned. Duke was a strong man. Any hint of weakness would be seized upon by him immediately.
    â€œI do want you…to eat dinner with me. I didn’t realize a simple invitation to share a meal would require this much thought.” Taking her courage in both hands, she brushed his cheek with her lips.
    â€œI don’t date often.”
    â€œThen come with me,” she said, her heart on the line.
    She traced the shape of his lips with her fingers. Surprised to see his pupils dilate when he asked, “Where?”
    â€œFratelli di Napoli.”
    â€œNo fair, I love Italian.” He leaned close enough to touch her lips with his.
    â€œI know.”
    â€œOkay,” he said on a sigh.
    A secret thrill spread through Cami. This is what she’d hoped would happen, what she’d been trying to figure out how to engineer.
    He stood and waited while she shut her office down for the night. As Cami grabbed her purse from under her desk, she glanced at the article she’d printed out on him.
    With his hand at the small of her back, he escorted her down the hall to the elevator. She liked that he treated her as if she were a lady, making her feel special. Just plain liked him, she realized.
    Duke had been hurt so many times he’d learned to shut off his emotions. He was never going to be able to love her unless she showed him how. Cami doubted she was woman enough to bring this strong man out of his inner darkness but, as they stood in the cold corridor of the office building with thelights of Atlanta bright through the plate glass, she knew she had to try.
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    Frattelli di Napoli had been nice, and Duke felt satisfyingly full from the lasagna he’d consumed. But the pleasant feeling invading his soul came from the woman sitting next to him. She’d invited him in for a nightcap and though his mind warned him to only involve himself with her in a red-hot affair, his soul craved the intimacy that Cami weaved so effortlessly around him.
    He wanted her as he’d wanted no other woman. Not even Rebecca. The thought disturbed him but not as much as the arousal he felt every time he saw Cami. She was sassy yet sweet. Innocent yet sexy.