Elizabeth August - Cinderella Story Part 2

36 Hours Serial

As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty-six hours will change the town and its residents forever….

Cinderella Story Part 2

Nina Lindstrom and Alex Bennett are from two different worlds. But since that stormy night at the lodge, a business arrangement has brought the waitress and the millionaire together. Alex’s grandfather think’s they’re engaged—a little fantasy Nina’s willing to indulge while Alex pays Tommy’s hospital bills.

When Alex has another proposal for Nina, it seems to be business as usual for him. His offer could make life so much easier for the widow and her son. But it’s not so easy for Nina to separate her head and her heart.

The story concludes in Cinderella Story Part 3.

Dear Reader,

In the town of Grand Springs, Colorado, a devastating summer storm sets off a string of events that changes the lives of the residents forever….

Welcome to Mills & Boon exciting new digital serial, 36 Hours! In this thirty-six part serial share the stories of the residents of Grand Springs, Colorado, in the wake of a deadly storm.

With the power knocked out and mudslides washing over the roads, the town is plunged into darkness and the residents are forced to face their biggest fears—and find love against all odds.

Each week features a new story written by a variety of bestselling authors like Susan Mallery and Sharon Sala. The stories are published in three segments, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the first segment of every three-part book is free, so you can get caught up in the mystery and drama of Grand Springs. And you can get to know a new set of characters every week. You can read just one, but as the lives and stories of each intertwine in surprising ways, you’ll want to read them all!

Join Mills & Boon E every week as we bring you excitement, mystery, fun and romance in 36 Hours!

Happy reading!

About the Author

Elizabeth August lives on the eastern shore of Maryland with her husband. She is a cancer survivor and very grateful that she has been here to watch their three sons mature and marry. She is especially grateful for her five grandsons, who constantly keep her entertained. Elizabeth and her husband play Duplicate Bridge, and she is fond of playing poker, primarily Texas Hold’em. She has written many novels under the pseudonyms of Betsy Page, Elizabeth Douglas and Elizabeth August.

Elizabeth August

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

The storm that hit Grand Springs, Colorado, without warning left massive destruction in its path. But not all was ruined. An amazing thing happened during that blackout: Nina met Alex. The waitress and the millionaire. Sounds like a fairy tale. And when he shows up as her knight in shining armor to pay for her son’s surgery, it’s all too good to be true. So what if she has to pretend to be his fiancée for a little while to fool his dying grandfather. No big deal, right? She should just enjoy it while it lasts. A romantic tryst. No strings attached. But when it ends, as all things must, how will she explain Alex’s departure to her children while her own heart is breaking?

Nina Lindstrom sat beside her son’s hospital bed, holding his hand while he slept. Just checking in had been traumatic for the six-year-old.

Standing on the other side of the bed, Alex Bennett looked down at the boy’s pale face. “I wish there had been some way I could have eased his fear when they took the sample of his blood.”

Nina had noticed Alex’s discomfort but had thought he simply didn’t like needles. Now she realized that he was honestly concerned about Tommy.

“No matter how much we want to, we can’t protect children from all of life’s pains,” she said, repeating what she told herself every time one of her kids suffered from a cut or bruise or an unkind comment from a playmate.

Alex shrugged. “Maybe it’s just as well. It’s the struggles that make us strong.”

“And discover who we are,” she added, more to herself than to him.

Alex studied her with interest. “You sound as if you only recently made that discovery.”

Nina leaned back in her chair and met his gaze. “I didn’t realize it until after Tom’s death. Before that, I was like a shadow of a person. Growing up, I was my father’s little girl. Both my mother and I allowed him to make our decisions for us…we made little ones, but he always made the important ones. After he died, I turned to Tom and let him take care of me.” She frowned introspectively. “I’m not being critical of my father or Tom. The truth is, I liked being taken care of. But it kept me from maturing. Then suddenly, overnight, I had to become an adult, responsible for three other lives.”

“I’d say you’ve done a very good job.”

Her gaze returned to Tommy and her chin trembled. “Sometimes I get really scared that I will fail them.”

“As long as you do your best, you can’t fault yourself.”

“That’s easier said than done.” The tears she’d been holding back welled in her eyes. “I see him lying here like this and wonder if I couldn’t have gotten him help sooner. I took him to the doctor, but maybe I should have insisted he run more tests.”

Alex disliked seeing her suffer. “From what I gather, both you and the doctor acted prudently.”

“I know.” Nina sighed shakily. “But self-doubt can be an insidious thing. I wish I could be more rocklike. Tommy needs me to be strong.”

A surge of protectiveness washed through Alex. “Sometimes even a rock needs a friend to lean on.”

Nina’s gaze rested on his broad shoulders. “Is that an offer?”

“Yes.”

She was tempted. But she reminded herself that as soon as their arrangement was completed, he would be gone like a sand castle at high tide. She was just pretending to be his fiancée for his dying grandfather. It wasn’t real. But it was real that in exchange for the deception, Alex was paying for Tommy’s hospital costs. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

He scowled with impatience at her stubborn independence. “I’m only offering friendship. I’m not trying to take your late husband’s place.”

She scowled back with equal impatience. “I didn’t think you were. But friends are people who, even if you don’t see them for years, are always at the back of your mind. They’re people you think about and wonder how they’re doing. You can pick up the phone and call them just to chat and they’re happy to hear your voice. That doesn’t describe our arrangement. You hired me to do a job. When it’s done we’ll go our separate ways. I doubt you’ll be popping in for dinner or be pleased to have an evening interrupted by a call from me. So I figure it wouldn’t be smart for me to begin to think of you as a friend.”

“You have a point,” he conceded.

Nina again leaned back and closed her eyes.

Alex frowned at the exhaustion etched into her features. “This is a private room. I had them wheel in a spare bed so that you could rest comfortably. Why don’t you lie down for a while. I’ll keep an eye on Tommy.”

Surprised that he intended to remain, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. “I don’t expect you to baby-sit me and my son.”

Alex hadn’t intended to do that, either. He’d planned to get them settled, then go back to his grandfather’s home and make a few business calls. Instead, he was reluctant to leave them on their own. “My grandfather would expect me to remain with you and Tommy.”