Free The Glass Slipper Project by Dara Girard Page A

arms. “His looks can be misinterpreted.”
    Mariella stood and checked her reflection. “You have nothing to worry about.” She held up a hand mirror and checked the back of her hair.
    The doorbell rang.
    “I’ll be down in a minute,” Mariella said.
    Isabella left the room then sent her sister a look of warning. “Don’t keep him waiting too long.”
    She smiled. “I’ll be worth the wait.”
    Isabella shook her head then went downstairs into the sitting room expecting to see Gabby and Daniella entertaining their guest. Instead, she saw Daniella slouched in the couch, her legs stretched out in front of her with her arms folded and her face in a pout.
    “Where is he?”
    “Gabby took him into the solarium,” Daniella grumbled. “She made me stay here.” She stood and whispered, “It seems she’s started her campaign early.”
    “Great. All we need is a tug of war.”
    Daniella flashed a sly grin. “Is there anything I can do? I can be very distracting.”
    “No, I’ll deal with it.”
    Daniella fell back onto the couch. “Nobody ever asks me for help.”
    Isabella left her sister to sulk, and went to the solarium. She heard their laughter before she saw them. They made an attractive couple framed in the picturesque window. It displayed the cool blue of the sky, the white of the snow on acres of land that stretched out to a cottage house in the distance. The house had a lot of property that was rarely used, she was sure the Carltons would find a use for it. She felt suddenly depressed, but quickly dismissed it. She took a step back to knock, but Alex turned and saw her before she could disappear behind the corner.
    “Spying on the children?” he said amused. “Don’t worry, we’re behaving ourselves. We won’t play doctor until later.”
    Isabella entered the room. “Mariella will be down soon.”
    “Alex was telling me about all the plans he has for the house,” Gabby said. “His knowledge of it is amazing. It was built in the 1870s. He can identify the authentic framework and tell what changes our parents made to it. He has wonderful ideas.”
    “I’m sure he does,” she said in a dry tone.
    “I’m ready!” Mariella announced from the top of the stairs.
    “You’d better go see her coming down,” Isabella said.
    Alex furrowed his brows. “Why?”
    “She won’t come down otherwise,” Gabby said.
    Isabella sent her a look. “No, it’s just better that you don’t keep her waiting.”
    He nodded, then turned to Gabby, his tone cordial. “It was nice talking to you. We should do it again.”
    She slowly lowered then raised her long lashes. “Soon I hope.”
    His tone deepened. “Yes, it will be very soon.”
    “Good.”
    They stared at each other.
    “I said I’m ready!” Mariella called again.
    Isabella bit her lip to keep from laughing when she saw a flash of annoyance cross his face. “Enjoy yourself, Lex,” she teased as he passed.
    He stopped in front of her, towering like a maple tree but he didn’t offer her shade or comfort, his powerful physique and dark brown gaze made her insides do somersaults. “Don’t worry. I plan to,” he said then left.
    Gabby rushed up to Isabella and grabbed her arm. “I think I know the way to his heart.”
    “Oh?” she said without much interest.
    “Aren’t you curious?”
    “How you gain his attention is your business, not mine.”
    Gabby ignored her. “It’s this house. He loves it. You should see the way his eyes come alive when he talks about it and his voice becomes softer. He really is a very handsome man.”
    “He could murder us in our beds and the first thing anyone would say is ‘Yes, he chopped them up and fed them to the pigeons, but he’s such a handsome man.’”
    “Don’t be disgusting. I only mentioned his looks because they seem to soften when he talks about the house and his family. Those are his two weak spots.”
    “I see.”
    Gabby shook her arm. “Aren’t you thrilled? I think I’ve figured out