Sassy Cinderella. Kara Lennox

held up a hand to halt her approach. “I can manage, thanks.” But, to his humiliation, he couldn’t. He was stuck in the recliner.

      Ignoring his objections, Sherry went to work levering him out of the chair, helping him balance on his good leg while he situated the crutches.

      “I’ve got it now, thanks.”

      But the infernal woman hovered over him as he limped toward his room. “It’s always hardest the first day on crutches,” she said. “You’ll get the hang of using them soon. Of course, you shouldn’t walk much at all these first few days.”

      “I don’t plan to—what in the name of all that’s holy is that thing?” Jonathan stopped at the doorway to his bedroom, staring at this monstrous flowered balloon-looking thing on his bed.

      “It’s an inflatable bed-chair,” Sherry said cheerfully, sliding into the room ahead of him. “It’s great for bolstering yourself up while confined to a bed. Because you don’t want to lie flat all the—”

      “I’m not confined to a bed,” he grated out. “I am not an invalid.”

      She plucked the offending object off the bed and shoved it aside. “I like to use it when I sit up reading at night,” she said, still cheerful despite his rebuff. “Now then, where do you keep your pajamas?”

      She started opening and closing the dresser drawers as if she had the perfect right.

      “I don’t wear pajamas.”

      “Oh. All right, then.” She pulled the covers back on his double bed. “Sit down, and I’ll help you—”

      “Damn it, woman,” he roared, “can’t you see I don’t want any help?”

      She stared at him a moment, then looked down at the floor. “Yes,” she said softly, “that’s been obvious since I got here. It’s also obvious to me that whether you want it or not you need some assistance.”

      “In case I haven’t made myself clear yet, let me try again. You are to confine yourself to cooking, cleaning and caring for my children. I can take care of myself.”

      She picked up the bed-chair and pulled its plug. It made an awful noise as she squeezed the air out of it. “If that’s what you wish.” She didn’t seem perturbed at all. “I’m only here to make things easier. If you need anything, call.”

      Jonathan could still smell her perfume after she left. Damn. He hadn’t meant to be so rude. He knew she was only trying to do the job she’d been hired for. But the sight of her in his bedroom had made him snap. Having a woman like her anywhere near his bed was asking for trouble.

      Besides, if she’d helped him undress, she’d have discovered exactly the effect she had on him. It would be highly embarrassing for Sherry to know she could turn him on just by walking across the room.

      He allowed himself a brief fantasy—Sherry undressing him, cool, detached, her elegant hands touching him with a nurse’s practical manner, those long nails lightly raking his skin. He let out an involuntary groan and hoped everyone in the house hadn’t heard.

      “I’M SORRY JONATHAN’S being such a bear,” Allison said as she helped Sherry in the kitchen. “He’s normally very nice, just reserved. But he’s not used to being so helpless.”

      “Can you blame him, after I just about poisoned the whole family?”

      “It was an honest mistake.”

      “Well, I’ll remember from now on. No spicy food for the Hardisons.” Sherry smiled, trying to get over the humiliation of ruining her very first meal here. “Listen, I know how some men are when they’re injured. They feel weak, powerless, and they compensate by bullying everybody that crosses their paths. I’m used to it. It doesn’t bother me.” Although it did, a little. It was always important to her to do a good job, but she also wanted her patients to like her. Jonathan, she suspected, couldn’t stand the sight of her.

      Well, she’d always enjoyed a challenge.

      “Maybe when the rest of us go, he’ll simmer down some,” Allison said.

      “You’re leaving now?” Sherry knew his whole family wouldn’t be spending the night, but she was a little nervous about assuming full responsibility, especially for the children.

      “Pete will be here one more night, but he and Sally are getting married tomorrow morning and taking off on their cruise.”

      “Does Jonathan expect to attend the wedding?” Sherry asked, concerned.

      “He’d like to, but Jeff said no way.”

      “What about the children?”

      “Yes. Pete will take them to the church, but if you could get them ready, that would be a big help.”

      “Okay.” Sherry thought for a moment. “Where’s the reception?”

      “We’re just having punch and cake at the church hall. It’ll be a very small wedding. Why?”

      “I don’t mean to interfere, but I was just thinking, what if they moved the reception here? Then we could include Jonathan in the celebration.”

      Allison’s eyes lit up. “That’s a terrific idea! Let’s run it past Pete and Sally and see what they think.”

      The older couple was enthusiastic about the suggestion. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself,” Sally said. “We haven’t invited that many guests, so space isn’t an issue, and I’ve always thought that church hall was ugly, anyway. I’ll just call Gussie and Reenie and tell them to bring the refreshments and decorations here. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

      “Who, me?” Sherry laughed. “I love a party, any kind of party.” She couldn’t wait to tell Jonathan the good news—if he didn’t throw something at her first.

      JONATHAN WAS rudely awakened the next morning by a blast of sunlight. He opened his bleary eyes to find Sherry in his room, whisking curtains open.

      “Good morning.” Whisk! Another curtain open. But the bright sun could hardly compete with the woman herself. Wearing black leggings and a hot-pink, clingy shirt, her outrageous mountain of blond curls piled carelessly atop her head, she was an erotic fantasy come to life.

      “Would you like breakfast in bed?” she asked cheerfully. “Or would you like to bathe and dress first and sit in your chair?”

      He was aghast at her audacity. “You…you can’t just barge in here without knocking!” he sputtered. “This isn’t a hospital, it’s my home, and my room.”

      He expected her to murmur an apology and slink away. But she didn’t. He was quickly learning to expect the unexpected where his nursemaid was concerned.

      “I did knock. You didn’t answer. I had to check on you. Once I saw you were breathing—”

      “You should have just left me in peace!”

      “But it’s late and you need to get up.”

      “Why, in God’s name? Do I have an appointment with the President?”

      She smiled, as if she had a secret. “You have a wedding reception to attend.”

      “Are you crazy? I can’t go to Pete’s wedding.”

      “You don’t have to. The wedding’s coming to you. Or at least, part of it. Pete and Sally have relocated the reception here, so you don’t have to miss out on everything.”

      Jonathan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “All those people are coming here?” Great, just what he needed, for the whole town to witness his infirmity. “Forget it. It’s not happening.”

      “You’re not pleased?”

      “I’m in no shape to entertain!”

      “You