Happily Ever After: (A Cinder & Ella Novel) Read online

  He pulled into my Dad’s small lane and parked in front of the gate to my house, but he didn’t open his window to punch in the security code. Instead, he turned in his seat to face me. “Hear me out.”

  “Hear you out? Brian, you just asked me to move in with you. We’ve been together for a week.”

  “I’ve been in love with you for three years, Ella. We’re more than a one-week-old couple.”

  I opened my mouth to argue but couldn’t find any words. I had to settle for frowning. “No. I can’t. That’s crazy.”

  Brian shook his head. “It’s more than just that I want you there. If you’re really going to move out of your dad’s house, then you should at least consider coming to live at my place. If you aren’t ready for it to be a live-together situation, it could be a roommate thing instead. You could have your own room, your own bathroom. You could even label your own food if you wanted, and I’d only steal it when you annoyed me.”

  I laughed despite myself, but wariness quickly crept in. He was being awfully insistent. “Why?” When he hesitated, I knew my suspicions were founded. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  He sighed. “I’m worried about you living at Vivian’s.”

  I laughed. “What on earth for?” The notion was ridiculous. “Vivian and her dads love me. They’re excited to have me come. I’ll be much better off there than I am at my dad’s house.”

  Brian cut me a serious look. “It’s not Vivian’s family I’m worried about. It’s the security at her apartment.”

  Vivian lived in a typical LA-style apartment complex in West Hollywood. It was built back in the sixties and modeled after a two-story motel. There were only eight units in the complex—four downstairs and four up. Each of them had front doors that opened to the outside. The complex didn’t even have parking, much less a gate.

  I frowned. “Her apartment building doesn’t have any security. Unless you count the dead bolt on her front door.”

  Brian’s grim face seemed to say, That’s exactly my point.

  I smiled when I realized what he was worried about. “It’s not a bad neighborhood. Maybe it’s not the Hollywood Hills, but Glen and Steffan assured my dad it’s completely safe. They’ve never had a problem. Vivian said it’s a great neighborhood, and she loves her neighbors.”

  Brian sighed. “I’m sure it’s a great place for Vivian and her dads, Ella, but you’re different now.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Brian rubbed his hand over his face and then reached to take mine. He brought it to his lips, forcing a pained smile at me. “I told you dating me comes at a cost. It won’t take long for the media to realize you’ve moved, and it’ll take even less time for them to figure out where you’ve moved to. You’ll have no privacy at Vivian’s. You’ll be stalked all the time by everyone from paparazzi, to fans, to tourists.”

  “Oh come on, the novelty of us will wear off soon. It won’t be that bad.”

  Brian laced our fingers together and let our hands fall to his lap, but he didn’t return my smile. “You don’t understand. Celebrity hype like mine doesn’t wear off. I’ve had trouble this past year with obsessed fans. A lot of trouble. I’ve had to get a few restraining orders. I’ve had a number of people try to break into my home. That’s why I moved to the place I’m at now. The security is state-of-the-art.”

  “Whoa. You seriously had people break in?”

  Brian’s face was grave. “My level of fame is intense, Ella. Fans don’t see celebrities as real people. They won’t respect your privacy or your personal boundaries. I don’t want you to have to deal with that on your own.”

  I began to think twice about staying at Vivian’s. Sinking back in my seat, I stared out the windshield at the gate to my father’s house. I’d always considered gated homes pretentious, a way for rich people to feel self-important. I never considered some of them might need the security. Or privacy.

  But move in with Brian? That was a huge commitment. Yeah, he said we could live like roommates, but could we really? I wasn’t so sure. And I just wasn’t ready for a live-in relationship. Not even close.

  “I see what you’re saying, and it’s really thoughtful of you. Thank you for being so concerned about me, but I don’t think moving in with you is necessary.”

  When Brian frowned, I kept talking so that he couldn’t argue with me. “Things are just crazy right now because we created huge drama with the whole Cinderella thing. I’m sure it’ll die down soon. We’ll be old news by New Year’s.”

  Brian searched my face. I detected disappointment in his gaze and tried not to let that sway me. I couldn’t accept his offer. Not if my current amount of anxiety was anything to go by. I tried to hide how panicked I was. I loved him, but the thought of moving in with him terrified me. It was also insanely appealing. And maybe that was what was so scary. It was too much, too fast.

  Giving up for the moment, Brian finally rolled down his window to punch in the security code to my gate. As he pressed the buttons, a bright flash went off, and a dark figure jumped out from behind the trees.

  Brian, of course, said nothing to the guy. He’d always encouraged me to do the same, but I wasn’t very good at it. “Seriously?” I asked, leaning around Brian to scowl at the man. He continued to click away, blinding me with his flash. “You don’t have anything better to do than stalk my house at one in the morning, hoping to get a picture of us?”

  “Ella, don’t bother.” Brian sounded tired, and I knew it wasn’t because of the late hour.

  I couldn’t see the man outside, but I could picture his smarmy smile as he laughed and said, “Are you kidding? Brian Oliver having to get his girlfriend home before curfew? That’s front-page news. You’re gonna earn me some serious cash tonight, sweetheart.”

  The guy’s condescension irritated me so much I was tempted to jump out of the car and smash his camera. “It’s a self-imposed curfew, thank you very much.”

  “Ella…”

  “My father worries about me, so while I’m still living under his roof, I make sure to be home at a reasonable hour.”

  “Ella…”

  “I’m not a child.”

  Okay, so maybe the guy’s comment stung because it hit a little too close to home. I may have been granted all of my legal rights as an adult now, but I hated that I’d lost them for a year. And I hated even more that the world knew it.

  The first night Brian brought me home after the premiere of The Druid Prince, a couple of extra-crafty paparazzi managed to follow us back to my house, and my identity had been discovered. It had only taken hours after that for the papers to report all about my accident, my disabilities, the loss of my mother, and my unstable mental health. The custody thing with my father because of my attempted suicide had come out, too.

  Brian rolled up his window and pulled through the gate, watching his rearview to make sure the paparazzi stayed off the property. Once his window was shut, I slammed my head back against my headrest and groaned. “That guy was being a jerk on purpose, trying to get a rise out of us. I hate that it worked.”

  Brian squeezed my hand. “Learning to ignore them takes practice.”

  “I know. It’s just embarrassing. I mean, the guy’s right. I’m coming home by curfew.”

  “True. But you were right, too. You’re doing it out of respect for your father, which I think is beyond admirable.”

  “Yeah, well, I doubt that bit of information is going to make it into his headline.”

  “Who cares about his headline? You know the truth. I know the truth. Your dad knows the truth.”

  I huffed in frustration, trying to let my anger go. Nothing was injured but my pride, and that only hurt if I let it. “You’re right. Sorry. I’ll get used to it.”

  Brian gave me an apologetic smile. “Have I told you how grateful I am that you’re willing to deal with this for me?”

  I gave him a wry smile. “Like you gave me much of a choice? Do you know what would have happened if Brian Oliv
er’s personal Cinderella didn’t show up to claim the glass slipper, or in our case a pair of gloves and an autographed book?”

  “It was definitely an underhanded move.” He chuckled. “I don’t feel bad. Living without you was unacceptable, so I had to guarantee myself victory.”

  I snorted, and after checking to make sure the gate was all the way closed behind us, opened my car door. Brian jumped out of the car and rounded it to help me stand. I waved him away. “It’s okay. I got it.”

  “Ella—”

  “Call me vain, but my ego is already bruised enough for the night. Let me at least stand up on my own.”

  He backed up, not offended that I was grumbling at his offer of assistance. He knew me too well. He smiled at me and shook his head as I slowly pulled myself from the car. “Stubborn woman.”

  “It’s a good thing, too, otherwise you’d be helping me into my wheelchair right now.”

  “I know.” Brian shut the car for me like a gentleman and walked me to the front door. “I love that you push yourself to get stronger. But it also hurts my male ego when you won’t let me rescue my damsel in distress.”

  He was teasing, but my heart still melted a little. “You’ve already rescued me plenty,” I said as we reached the front porch. “You’re my knight in shining armor. Literally, Prince Cinder.”

  Brian’s grin turned goofy, and he stepped back to give me a courtly bow. I had no doubt it was authentic—something he’d learned in preparation for his role as the cherished Druid Prince. “M’lady,” he mumbled as he bent at the waist and dropped his lips to my hand. “Fair Priestess, I bid thee good night.”

  I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped me. I loved it when his inner fantasy geek came to the surface. It was so utterly dorky, but he was my dork. I curtseyed as best as my body would allow. “And to you as well, Your Highness.”

  Brian let go of my hand and snaked his arm around my waist, pulling me tight against him. “Screw the Old World manners. If you refuse to come live with me, then I need a real kiss to get me through the separation.”

  Laughing, I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Who am I to deny a prince?”

  “As the powerful mystic priestess, you’re the only one allowed to deny me anything, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I tend to get cranky when I don’t get what I want.”

  “Mmm. That’s because you’re a celebrity. You’re a very spoiled lot, you know.”

  Brian chuckled, pulling me just a little bit tighter to him. His hands started to glide up and down my back, as if he were attempting to memorize the feel of me before he had to let go. “Yes,” he agreed shamelessly. “Very spoiled, indeed. And self-centered. And needy. I’m afraid I’m going to be an extremely high-maintenance boyfriend. Are you sure you’re up for the task?”

  I pretended to think about it. “It’ll be difficult, but you do drive a Ferrari, so…”

  “Ah. So it’s the car you really love me for.”

  Grinning, I glanced behind us at the fine Italian automobile Brian referred to as his Precious. It was ostentatious, but I couldn’t deny it was fun to ride in. “It’s definitely the car.”

  “And the truth finally comes out.” Brian shook his head, and then his gaze landed on mine with a new look that was hard to label. “Say it again for me.”

  I understood the look now. It was love. Pure and simple. The man standing in front of me, holding me in his arms, was head over heels in love with me. How in the world did I ever get so lucky?

  I tried to suppress a smile as I rolled my eyes, but I was only half successful, and I couldn’t deny his request. “Car,” I said, throwing a little extra H into the word, exaggerating my Boston accent.

  Brian’s face lit up with delight. “You are so cute.”

  I was in the middle of rolling my eyes again when Brian finally captured my mouth with his. I forgot about everything the moment we connected. My only thoughts became of him. I would never get tired of the feel of his lips, the minty taste of his mouth, or the way he made me tingle all over from head to toe and left me lightheaded because he took my breath away. He could light a fire inside me with a single touch and make me weak in the knees with just one look. Kissing him was magical.

  I must have had some of the same effect on him, because when he finally released me, he was panting, and his eyes looked feverish.

  “Think that’ll get you through the night?” I teased.

  Brian sucked in a long breath and licked his lips before answering. He looked as if he was considering dragging me back to his car and keeping me forever. If he’d tried it, I’m not sure I’d have stopped him. But he remained a gentleman and took a small step back. “Don’t be surprised if I show up at sunrise.”

  “Don’t you dare. This Cinderella needs lots of beauty sleep.”

  “Fine. After your test.” Brian sighed and leaned in for one more kiss. This one was soft and quick. A chaste good-bye kiss. The perfect farewell. “Goodnight, Ella. I love you.”

  I quietly opened the front door and turned back to Brian with a smile. “I love you, too. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  Brian hopped down off my front porch and slowly started walking backward to his car. “I miss you already.”

  “Good-bye, you dork.”

  Brian

  Ella’s parting kiss had been incredible, but it hadn’t helped me walk away from her last night. And it definitely hadn’t helped me sleep. I lay awake forever, and when I finally did pass out, I dreamed. I dreamed vivid, sexy dreams all night. They were so hot and so detailed that when I woke the next morning to the smell of fresh coffee being waved in my face, I thought maybe the dreams were real and that taking Ella home had been the dream. I rolled toward the waiting cup with a low moan of pleasure. “You made me coffee? You are seriously the perfect woman.”

  “I didn’t make it, and I’m actually quite far from being perfect or a woman, but I’ll still take the compliment.”

  Fantasy dead, I pulled my eyes open and groaned. “Scotty?”

  My personal assistant leaned over my bed, flashing me a bright smile as he held out a warm paper cup from my favorite coffee house. “Morning, boss.”

  Accepting my defeat—because though I didn’t have a clue why Scott was here, I knew he would not be letting me stay in bed—I sat up and rubbed the sleep off my face before accepting my coffee. “What time is it?”

  “Not early enough to warrant a lecture from you.”

  “Meaning…?”

  “Almost nine.”

  I groaned again, eliciting a chuckle from Scott. “Rough night?” he asked.

  I sipped my coffee, unsure how to answer as I remembered all of my sexy dreams. They’d left me frustrated, but they hadn’t exactly been unpleasant. “Depends on how you look at it.”

  Scott quirked a curious brow. The twenty-six-year-old Christian virgin was so innocent he probably didn’t want the details, but I couldn’t resist at least giving him the right idea. He was too fun to tease. “Let’s just say being together with Ella and having to take her home every night is causing some seriously hard, painful, and blue complications that have been affecting my sleep and making me extra uncomfortable first thing in the mornings.”

  “Oh.” Scott’s cheeks turned pink, and his eyes popped open so wide I forgave him for waking me up. He tried to cover his shock and act like he was used to this kind of conversation by clearing his throat and shrugging. “So…you and Ella haven’t…gone there yet?”

  Damn, he was fun. I rose to my feet with a laugh and clapped him on the shoulder. “I wish, buddy. Ella’s as pure as you.”

  Scott chuckled good-naturedly. I ribbed him a lot about his goody-goody moral ways, but he knew I was teasing. I actually really respected him. Not only must his way of living be extremely hard to uphold, but he was also just such a good guy—trustworthy, hardworking, loyal. The best personal assistant I’d ever had.

  “We need to find you a woman, Scotty. A good one like mine, who has a thing for Boy Scouts.�
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  “No, what you need to do is get dressed quickly. I’ve got family coming into town today. I have to go to the airport in an hour, so I can’t stay long.”

  I glanced down at my bare chest and pajama pants with a smirk. “So no showering first this time?”

  “You’re not sweating out two days’ worth of booze this time, so that won’t be necessary.” Scott laughed as he headed out of my room. “Hurry up, boss. Time’s a wastin’.”

  As he wandered down the hall, I called out after him. “You are way too cheerful in the mornings, Scotty!”

  It wasn’t until I threw on a T-shirt and followed Scott to the kitchen table that I thought to question his presence. I asked the million-dollar question as I popped a couple slices of seven-grain wheat bread into the toaster. “So what are you doing here? I swear I don’t have any meetings scheduled today that I’m forgetting about.”

  Scott glanced at me from behind the laptop he already had open on my kitchen table. “No, you don’t have any meetings scheduled yet. That’s the problem.”

  His reason for being here finally clicked, and my good mood vanished. “Forget it.”

  “Brian.” Scott leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face. “Your entire team is hounding me day and night.”

  “So don’t answer their calls. That’s what I’m doing.”

  A very rare look of annoyance flashed across Scott’s face. “I know you’re ignoring them. That’s why they’re calling me. I would like to enjoy my holiday, boss, so I’m not leaving until I have something to tell them. Preferably a scheduled meeting time.”

  I returned his look of irritation and reached for my toast. After tossing the hot bread onto a plate, I went for the bottle of raspberry jam in the fridge. Scott continued to pester me as I covered my toast with the jam. “You can’t avoid this. Hiding out like you’ve been doing all week isn’t going to make it go away.”

  Damn the man for having a point. This past week hiding out with Ella as if the world didn’t exist had been amazing. I’d known it would come to an end; I just wished it didn’t have to be so soon. Scott was right, though. The media frenzy wouldn’t go away until we addressed it.