Free A Ring for Cinderella by Judy Christenberry Page A

escape impossible. She took the lid off the cardboard box only to discover an elegant box inside. When she opened it, the gleaming diamonds of a tennis bracelet sparkled.
    She immediately shut the lid and thrust it back at Zach. “No, I can’t accept this.”
    “Susan, Gramp will have expected me to give you
     a wedding present. If I don’t, he’ll know we’re not serious about the marriage.” He handed it to her again.
    “So—so this is a prop? And when it’s over I give it back to you?”
    His gaze shifted away from her. “Sure. That’s fine. But you need to wear it to the hospital tonight”
    “Okay, you keep it until we get to the hospital. I’ll put it on then.”
    “Don’t you want to wear it to your sister’s tonight?”
    “No! They know the marriage isn’t real. It would look bad for me to be wearing diamonds that—no. I don’t want to wear the bracelet until I have to.”
     
    Zach went back to the hotel to shower and change for their evening, irritation filling him. He’d given women diamonds before, in particular, his wife. Every time, the women had shown a lot of enthusiasm... and gratitude...for his gift.
    They’d never been shoved back at him.
    And the commotion he’d created because he’d bought a few articles of clothing for the boys was absurd. He’d understood a little better Susan’s reaction, however, as he’d listened to Rosa. And felt a little less justified. Rosa had told him she had two other children, smaller than Manuel, who had received nothing. That bothered Zach. But he couldn’t offer money to Rosa. That would be crass.
    Susan and her family and friends were definitely
     new experiences for him. But it was because of her that he was in this situation.
    When he arrived back at the apartment, Paul and Susan were ready. Paul was wearing one of his new shirts, jeans and cowboy boots. Susan had changed into the powder blue knit outfit she’d worn the first day he’d met her.
    She looked beautiful, as always.
    The tennis bracelet and wedding ring would add a touch of sparkle, but, of course, she was wearing neither. Irritation filled him.
    “Can’t you at least wear your wedding ring to your sister’s?” he asked as he started the car.
    She hesitated, than opened her purse and took out the ring, putting it on her finger. “I’m afraid it might slide off.”
    Paul spoke from the back seat. “Will Ginny and James be there tonight, too, Susan?”
    “More family?” Zach demanded, irritated all over again that these people insisted on meeting him. As if the wedding were real.
    “Yes, Paul. Those are the names of Maggie and Josh’s children,” Susan added for Zach’s benefit. “Nate is Kate and Will’s little boy.”
    The short drive was silent after that exchange. Until they pulled into Kate and Will’s driveway.
    “Nice place. What does the man do for a living?”
    “He owns Hardison Enterprises. And Josh has his own security firm. They live near here.”
    Zach bit his tongue, but he wanted to know why
     Susan was living in such a poor section of town when her relatives were obviously loaded.
    After they’d entered the house and introductions were made all around, Susan joined the other women in the kitchen, Paul went upstairs to play with his cousins and Zach found himself sitting in the den with the two husbands.
    After generalities were exchanged, he asked the question that had been bothering him. “I hope you’ll excuse the impertinence of the question, but if you two are doing so well, why is Susan living in that apartment? Don’t you know that’s not a safe neighborhood?”
    He wasn’t sure what reaction he’d expected, though both men had seemed decent enough, but laughter wasn’t it.
    Will Hardison turned to his brother-in-law, Josh, as he chuckled. “It’s clear he doesn’t know Susan very well.”
    Josh agreed. “You’re right. If he did, he wouldn’t ask that question.”
    “Why wouldn’t I?”
    “Before either of us knew the