before my brother is even looked at. And—and I was thinking—why are you smiling?”
“Nothing,” he says, clearly trying to suppress a smirk. “Please, continue.”
What the hell is he laughing about? Unsettled, I keep talking. “Right. Well, I was hoping you would use your connections to help me out.”
He touches his chin, glancing at the ceiling. “I guess I could bring it to Liam’s attention.”
I sit up straight. “Would you do that?”
“It’s totally within my power to expedite the process. I think.”
Now he’s pretending to be unsure just to annoy me. Lovely. “You’re a damn prince, aren’t you?”
“I’m not sure I’m fond of your tone. You didn’t even say please.”
I stare at him. “Please help me free my brother.”
He looks at me, his face cracking with an evil grin. “No.”
“No? What do you mean, no?”
“I mean I don’t feel like doing it.”
Unbelievable. “You realize he’s in prison because you exiled us. All he was trying to do was visit his girlfriend.”
“Right. It’s my fault he decided to illegally enter the country he was just kicked out of.”
I stand up, shaking, and he rises from the chair. I storm out of the living room, but he snatches my wrist. He pulls me close enough so that I can’t look away from his playful gaze. It’s been a long time since I’ve had my personal space invaded like this, as though from a lover. Blood rushes to my very surface of my skin, and I’m not sure if it’s from anger or attraction.
Maybe a little of both.
“I may be willing to come to some sort of arrangement.”
“Like?”
“A life for a life.”
I jump as he trails a finger up my arm. “What does that mean?”
“You and the baby will come home with me. You’ll stay in my manor. You’ll be my wife.”
I take a step away from him, even though it does nothing to stop the blood pounding in my head. “No.”
“Emma is my daughter. She’s a princess. She belongs at home with her people.”
“Her people? You realize I’m one of those people, right? I grew up there.” I shake my head at his widening smile. “No, Tom. The answer is no.” He keeps smiling. “I’m not marrying you!”
“I think you’re going to change your mind pretty quickly.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I’m not leaving New York without my daughter. I’ll do whatever it takes to get you both back home.”
No. There’s no way I’m going to change my whole life just to—
Just to save your brother.
“It’s not happening. Ever.”
He smirks. “You’re forgetting that I always get what I want.”
“Not this time. You’re in America, remember? No one cares if you’re a prince here.”
God, why does he keep smiling?
“I know that.”
“Then how are you going to make me change my mind?”
A heavy silence follows my words, broken only by the ticking of the grandfather clock. It’s maddening to see how calm he is. I’m ready to explode, but he looks confident.
Like he’s already won.
“It doesn’t matter, love. I’m going to be in your life whether you stay or go.”
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BONUS chapters!
Keep reading for bonus chapters of another modern fairy tale full-length romance, The Cinderella Arrangement! Blurb below:
What if a billionaire paid you to be Cinderella?
Luke Pardini is many things: playboy, tabloid fodder, ridiculously attractive billionaire. He’s the Prince Charming every woman dreams of.
And he wants me to be his fake girlfriend.
I don't want a relationship, even a make-believe one, but I do need the money. Writing isn't paying the bills, and I hardly have time for a second job, let alone a romance. But he's offering me a dream-come true.
I'll get the fancy dresses, the formal dinners, the full Luke Pardini experience. I get to be Cinderella for a few weeks, then I'll trade in the shoes. No problem, right?
Except I don’t have to pretend when he touches me, but he’s made it clear I only get to play his girlfriend for a few weeks. When midnight strikes, our Cinderella Arrangement is over.
He promised the arrangement would be simple.
I promised I wouldn’t fall in love.
The Cinderella Arrangement
Published by Vanessa Waltz
2016 Vanessa Waltz
waltzbooksgmail
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One
Freezing mist greeted me as I exited the train and made my way through the station to the street. I clutched the resume I spent the morning scrambling to finish in my folder as I climbed into the shuttle bus that would