Saving Cinderella! by Myrna Mackenzie Page A

Wyatt never tried to give her what she wanted, because right now she wanted him to move closer.
    As if he had read her mind, he did just that. “I’ll meet you here at five,” he said.
    “I’ll count on that.”
    He raised one eyebrow.
    “I really might need some serious help. I don’t even want to explain to you how this whole tour idea came about.”
    “Then I won’t ask. But I will be there.”
    Alex felt like a moth trying to stay away from the seductive flame and knowing that she was losing the battle. She was going to be spending more time with Wyatt when only minutes ago she had determined to keep her distance.
    And yet five o’clock suddenly seemed too far away. She was starting to show definite signs of “Wyatt fascination.”
    Randy would tell her that he’d told her so if she gave in. He might even actually win some money in the betting pool.
    No, he won’t , Alex thought. She might be fascinated by Wyatt, but that was as far as this woman was going to go. She’d walked into heartbreak before, but there had been justification then. This time there was absolutely none. It would be like taking a knife and intentionally stabbing herself. She just couldn’t do it.
    Just to make sure she remembered that, Alex grabbed a calendar from her drawer. Belinda had called to confirm that two months would be enough maternity leave. And with three days already gone, that left only fifty-seven.
    Alex crossed a day off and wrote “57” on today’s date.
    There—she was back in charge of herself. But when the clock struck five, butterflies began an intense dance in her stomach. She turned to see Wyatt walking toward her.
    I am totally betting against myself , she thought.
     
    Wyatt was enjoying himself more than was wise. Alex had made a full confession about how the tour idea had been born. And now she was being completely charming with the guests.
    “This is the Blue Ballroom,” she said with a sweep of one arm. “It’s named, I assume, for obvious reasons.” She looked at Wyatt, a “hmm” expression in her eyes. “Maybe you could hire someone to choose a more imaginative name. Or have a contest to rename the room, with tickets to a local show as a prize.”
    “Oh, that would be fun! I have some great romantic ideas. Something to do with hearts or beating hearts or blues in the night,” a woman said, followed by several other people agreeing.
    And suddenly, McKendrick’s was running a “Rename the Blue Ballroom” contest.
    “I love your enthusiasm,” Alex said, “and since this is a ballroom, well…if anyone feels like dancing, we’ll stop here for a song or two. Pete, can you hit the music and the lights, please?” she called out to the custodian. Suddenly the crystalline chandeliers descended from the ceiling, their lights set to a perfect glow. Alex reached for Wyatt’s hand as a low, sultry tune began to stream from the speakers. “I’m sorry, but we have to be the ones to start,” she whispered.
    He nodded. “Not a problem.” Although, in fact, it was.
    Touching Alex was like juggling flaming swords. Sooner or later a man was bound to set the curtains on fire and start something he couldn’t stop. That wasn’t allowed, but…what could he do? She had clearly gotten into this tour without thinking, and now she was improvising and treading water. Only someone with no heart at all would desert her now. He, it seemed, still had a heart…or something that vaguely resembled one. It had withered because he chose not to use it. With good reason, he reminded himself. Still, he would dance with her.
    “How did this happen? The speakers and the music?” he asked, trying to keep his mind on the situation and off the woman.
    She looked down at their joined hands as if she hadn’t realized that she had taken his hand and was regretting the intimate connection. “I threw myself on Pete’s mercy. I had to do something to give the tour a little oomph,” she said. “Even if this whole event