Free Cinderella's Christmas Affair by Katherine Garbera Page A

that Pierce was a paraplegic and had lost the use of his legs during a fall on Mt. Hood, he still climbed. Pierce refused to let his disability change his life. Tad credited Pierce’s outlook and drive as the influence that had made him stop feeling sorry for himself and take charge of his life.
    Pierce used his massively strong arms and upper body to pull himself up the rock wall. It was incredibly hard to do—most climbers used their legs for balance and strength but Pierce had refused to give up the lifestyle he loved and had learned to climb without the use of his legs.
    It was time for the event to start and Tad had a feeling he would be stood up again. This time he wasn’t going to be gentlemanly about it. He was going to CJ’s house as soon as the event was over and he wouldn’t leave until she told him why she kept running away from him.
    The local media were here to cover the event and he and Pierce had both been interviewed earlier. They also had a tree-lighting ceremony that featured the state champion long distance runner from a local high school. The entire affair was innocent but then again so was riding in the elevator most of the time.
    “Ready, old man?” Pierce asked from the doorway.
    Tad was beginning to think it was past time to throw in the towel where CJ was concerned. “Yeah, I guess so.”
    “What are you waiting for?” Pierce asked.
    He grabbed his harness and climbing shoes and walked out of his office. “Not what. Who.”
    “Am I supposed to understand that?” Pierce kept pace in the wheelchair, pushing it with his muscled arms. The chair rolled past Tad and into the waiting elevator.
    “Nah.”
    “How’d the meeting go with the new advertising company?” Pierce asked. Pierce was in charge of product development and would be working closely with CJ and her team. He had just returned from a two week vacation in Montana where his family owned a large cattle ranch.
    “Good.”
    “I’m still not sure we made the right decision.”
    “You’ve seen the presentation boards. I know they’ll do a good job.”
    “If you say so.”
    “I do. You know I’m always right when it comes to these decisions.”
    “I know you think you are. Remember last year you said the Bears would go all the way.”
    “I remember you saying the same thing about the Falcons.”
    “Better not let this get out or we’ll look like we don’t know a thing about sports.”
    “I was right about opening this store.”
    “So you had one good idea,” Pierce said.
    His cell phone rang before he could respond. “Randolph.”
    “It’s CJ. I’m on my way to your store but traffic is heavy.”
    “I wasn’t sure you were coming.”
    “I said I would.”
    “You’ve changed your mind before.”
    “Not anymore.”
    “Promise?” he asked.
    “Promise,” she said, disconnecting the phone.
    Pierce watched Tad with a shrewd gaze. Tad didn’t want to talk about CJ with his friend. Pierce had said on more than one occasion that Tad had horrible taste in women. He didn’t want Pierce’s opinion on CJ.
    “Who was that?”
    That was the thing about working with your best friend. Pierce felt free to poke his nose into all of Tad’s business. “No one.”
    “The woman you were waiting for, right?” Pierce asked. He maneuvered the wheelchair around as they approached the ground floor.
    “Pierce, I don’t meddle in your personal life.”
    “Enough said. Ready to get your butt kicked by a handicapped man?”
    Pierce had won the past three years. And it wasn’t because Tad let him win. Pierce was a fierce competitor who’d honed his body into a winning machine. He spent a good portion of the year winning wheelchair road races. “You bet.”
    They entered the crowded showroom. “I’ll take the media while you set up the gear and lights.”
    “Gotcha.”
    “Need some help, compare? ”
    Tad glanced over his shoulder surprised to see Rae-Anne at the shop.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “Working,