Free Small-Town Cinderella (The Pirelli Brothers) by Stacy Connelly Page B

gone to every high school dance, run for class office and had been nominated for homecoming king. He’d never been short on friends or girlfriends, and she assumed his years at college had been the same way.
    He’d had his fun. He’d done all the things he wanted to do, including opening and running a successful business in his hometown. No matter what he said to the contrary, it only made sense that he would soon be looking toward the future—a wife, a family, a dog...
    One down, Debbie thought as she reached out to stroke one of Rain’s silky ears, two to go.
    She was looking for fun and freedom, not extra responsibility, even if that only meant taking care of a dog. She’d accused the puppy of being a lot of work when, really, what she’d been thinking was how the little thing was such a huge commitment. A commitment Drew was clearly willing to make.
    So staying friends was obviously the logical choice, even though her heart ached a little at the thought of Drew Pirelli never kissing her again. “No hard feelings, Rain. I know sometimes it can be really tough to do the right thing.”
    “Can I make you breakfast as part of that apology?” Drew offered. “Or do you need to get to the bakery?”
    “I wasn’t sure how late I’d be out last night, so I asked Kayla Walker to open up this morning.”
    “So...breakfast?”
    “Do you even know how to cook?” Debbie asked as she followed him back into the kitchen. Vanessa Pirelli, Drew’s mother, was known for her skill in the kitchen, but Debbie wasn’t aware if the woman had passed those talents on to her son.
    His expression was somewhat wry as he set Rain down on the kitchen floor where she scurried away, hopefully going off in search of a teething-approved dog toy. “I think I can manage frying an egg and working a toaster.”
    “Right. Okay, buster, move aside, and I’ll show you how it’s done.”
    “Really?”
    “You think I only know how to bake?” Baking was her profession, but cooking— Cooking was her passion, one she so rarely indulged because she’d never enjoyed fixing an extravagant meal with no one to share it with.
    Debbie wasn’t sure what to make of Drew’s expression as he stepped closer. He smelled like the outdoors—woodsy with a hint of ocean mist that rolled in every morning with the tide. Her pulse picked up its pace at the look in his dark eyes. A look that last night she’d thought meant he wanted to kiss her again. But that had been four glasses of wine talking, and this morning she had no excuse.
    “I think,” he murmured, “that you can do anything you want.”
    Her heart stumbled in her chest, and she turned toward the stove before Drew could read by the longing in her expression that what she really wanted to do was...well, Drew .

Chapter Five
    D rew stared with a critical eye at the bare-bones structure in front of him. The early-morning chill formed a cloud as he exhaled a satisfied breath, and he took a drink from the steaming cup of coffee warming his hands. The framed house barely hinted at the layout and the details to come, but he could already see the finished product in his mind’s eye. After all, he’d been designing and redesigning the plans for years.
    He could picture the large foyer opening into the great room. A stone fireplace and rough-hewn mantel would be the room’s centerpiece. And okay, yeah, a flat-screen TV, too. The oversize arcadia doors would offer a view to the mountains and pines beyond the property and lead the way to a redwood deck. Maybe he’d add an outdoor kitchen and built-in grill. A hot tub, too, while he was at it.
    With the open floor plan, the flow led into the kitchen. A huge island took center stage with white cabinets and stainless-steel appliances all around. Smooth-as-glass black granite countertops would be a cool contrast to the warmth and character of the multicolored flagstone slate on the floors.
    The rest of the house was dedicated to bedrooms—four of them.