How to Survive a Modern-Day Fairy Tale by Elle Cruz

Author:Elle Cruz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Women's Fiction;City Life Fiction;Multicultural Romances;Contemporary Romance;Women's Fiction;African American Romance;Entangled Publishing;BIPOC author;Amara;Single Title Romance;Stand Alone Romance;Elle Cruz;How to Survive a Modern Day Fairytale;Fairytale retelling;Modern Day Romance;Prince Charming;Filipino American;Asian
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2021-09-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Even when Nate and Francine were well into their dramatic reenactment, Claire still hadn’t recovered. She really shouldn’t have been so shocked. It was Nate’s M.O. He took every opportunity he had to surprise and excite her, even if it meant lying and telling her that he was delayed in coming home. Claire wanted to be upset at him, though, because it had really hurt when he said he wasn’t coming home tomorrow. But seeing him here now soothed the hurt away. It was especially helpful witnessing Nate read the part of a wicked rake attempting to seduce Francine with whispered promises of sensual fulfillment.

“I might have acted like the gentleman society expects me to be,” Nate said to Francine as he read from the open novel in his hand. “I nod in polite acknowledgment, and I maintain a respectable distance. But make no mistake. The very sight of you ignites my desire. Every time you’re near, I imagine how you’d feel in my arms. I fantasize about your soft, gorgeous curves beneath the whalebone and lace. I might be a gentleman on the outside, but I am mad with longing over you. The next time we’re alone together, make no mistake—I’ll be taking what belongs to me, and I’ll leave you begging for more.”

Francine drew in a ragged breath as the entire room erupted into applause.

“Lucky Francine,” Agnes complained.

Claire grinned. Nate played the role of the wicked rake quite well. But she’d been away from him for far too long, and her priority was latching on to him and never letting go. Their gazes met, and Claire made a beeline for him. Before she could take another step, three members of the DDD converged on her.

“Darling, I am so happy for you,” Roberta said, grasping Claire’s hand. “How long have you been dating him?”

“He is so handsome,” Agnes said. “You lucky girl, you.”

“Did you know he was going to come here?” Ruth asked. “You looked surprised.”

“Um…not long, thank you, and no, I had no idea he was coming,” Claire said politely as she cautiously sidestepped around them.

“How did you two meet?” Agnes asked. “My husband and I met at the beach. I was one of the first girls back then to be brave enough to wear a bikini. Howard was a police officer on patrol that day, and he was in love the moment he laid eyes on me. He made love to me a week later, which was absolutely scandalous back then. We celebrated our fifty-ninth wedding anniversary in January.”

“That’s remarkable,” Claire said. “Congratulations, Agnes. I’m so sorry, but I haven’t seen Nate in two weeks, and I need to talk to him. But I want to hear more about Howard later. Please excuse me.”

Claire broke away from the small gathering of women, but they ended up trailing after her as she approached Nate. She stopped a few feet away when she saw Francine and several other DDD members conversing with him. She started fidgeting impatiently as she waited for her moment to finally speak to Nate.

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