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The Cinderella Swap [MultiFormat]
by Linda Palmer
Category: Young Adult/Romance
Description: When high school sophomore Ren Montgomery rescues a shy teenaged girl from a bully, she has no idea that the girl's big brother, senior Dugan Donovan, is her secret crush. He not only thanks her in person, but drives her home, which should be the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Unfortunately Ren's mom, a juvie judge, greets Dugan by name, which is never a good thing since it means she first met him in court. Though Ren is ordered to forget the boy, she can't. Her secret psychic gift--a flash of color that reveals the soul--tells her that Dugan is as good on the inside as he looks on the outside. And while she's perfectly happy to have a secret boyfriend, Dugan will not cooperate. It's mutual need that finally brings them together. But will their "Cinderella Swap" remain strictly business?
eBook Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press, 2009
Books By Dames Release Date: September 2009
 
12 Reader Ratings:
Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: eReader (PDB) [188 KB], ePub (EPUB) [230 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [168 KB], Portable Document Format (PDF) [652 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [185 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [262 KB], Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [215 KB], hiebook (KML) [492 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [272 KB], iSilo (PDB) [152 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [194 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [270 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [270 KB]
Words: 56441
Reading time: 161-225 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Portable Document Format (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
My day went downhill from there, so by the time I got to D-Hall after last period, I wasn't in that good a mood. I perked up almost at once, however, when a senior I'd had my eye on walked in. I didn't really know him since sophomores and seniors didn't interact that much, but I'd admired him while guy-gazing at lunch with Hayley and knew his last name was Donovan.
We sat in alpha order, as usual, which put me in the middle of the room. About ten minutes into the hour, Coach Adams, teacher in charge, left us. Instantly, some guy in the front row started a spit wad war with some guys in back. I wasn't a bit surprised when I got caught in the crossfire. I was surprised, however, when a dry piece of paper, folded into a tiny white triangle, sailed over my shoulder and landed neatly in my lap.
Glancing back, I scanned the rows behind me for the culprit. But nobody paid me the least bit of attention except the Donovan dude, who stared steadily in my direction. I whipped my face to the front so I could examine the paper in my hand. Carefully unfolding it, I found an incredible pen and ink drawing of a single red rose. There was one word on it: Thanks.
That's all. Just 'thanks'.
For what? I wondered, now questioning if the note was even meant for me.
When Coach finally let us go at 4:30, I jumped up and headed straight for the door, my gaze on the floor and my thoughts already on my mom, who would not be happy about the whole detention thing. I silently began practicing my confession.
"Montgomery."
I stopped, but not quickly enough to keep the heavy books I held from ramming into the taut midriff of none other than Donovan, the new star of my dreams.
"S-sorry," I stammered, automatically smoothing his black T-shirt back in place. His belly felt rock hard beneath my fingers. I jerked my hand away. My face began to burn, which meant it matched my red shirt. I took a hasty step backward, careful to avoid any accidental skin-to-skin contact.
I did not want to know his color.
And that, of course, was the bad thing about flashing, a psychic gift I'd had since birth, but only finely tuned in the past six years. Sometimes I didn't want to see into the souls of people I met. Trust me that it was really disconcerting when, say, your school counselor's soul-shade flashed pale yellow, a color that meant he was a liar and a cheat.
"Did you get my note?"
So it was meant for me. "Well, I got it, all right, but I didn't get it," I admitted, a totally lame answer that earned me his short laugh and a half grin.
"I heard you saved my sister this morning. I just wanted to thank you."
"Oh," I murmured, still clueless, then it hit me. "Ohhh! That was your sister?"
"Stepsister, actually. Payton Long. Eighth grader."
My heart now melted. What a big brother. So unlike mine, who'd escaped to college last year, leaving me to deal with our parents alone. "It was the least I could do. I mean, Trey is such a jerk."
"Friend of yours, then?"
"No," I said, quickly shaking my head. "I just know him is all."
"Good, because I'd hate to hurt one of your friends."
"You're going to hurt him?" He looked like he could ... as in easily and seriously.
"Thinking about it."
"Don't do that," I blurted, adding, "I mean, I already did. Enough, anyway. I'm sure he got the point." Could I have babbled any worse? "I think he'll leave her alone from now on. I told him I'd be watching."
Donovan's half-grin stretched into a full-fledged smile. "And you're such a threat." His gaze swept me, which took a nanosecond.
"I am, actually," I said, squaring my shoulders and standing as straight as possible. I suddenly wished I'd worn my boots with the three-inch heels, which would put me at five-foot-four.
He just smiled a little wider, as if he didn't believe me or something. "Is Payton the reason you're stuck in here?"
"No, Trey is. I mean, he started the whole thing."
He nodded at the truth of that. "What did he say to her, anyway? She wouldn't tell me."
"Actually, I didn't hear. I just saw that she was near tears, and he looked very, very guilty."
Donovan sort of chuckled and didn't say anything else for a couple of seconds. "Can I give you a lift home?"
Whoa! Was the god of D-hall asking me out?
But of course not. He was, however, offering me a ride ... which could be an excellent first step. My spirits soared to the ceiling.
"Yeah, sure. Thanks," I told him. I mean, what else was I going to say? No thanks?
As if.
"Is that your jacket?"
I realized he looked at the seat I'd just vacated and my denim jacket, which lay right where I'd left it.
"Yeah." I turned, but he beat me there and scooped it up. Then he took my books from me as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do.
"Do you need to stop by your locker?"
"Do you mind?"
He shook his head.
Trying to act as if senior boys with stonewash-blue eyes and wide shoulders walked me to my locker on a daily basis, I led the way, or tried to. In fact, Donovan beat me there by a few steps, which could only mean he already knew where it was. That rattled me so badly I couldn't remember my combination, much less what other semester tests I needed to study for. I stared blankly at the lock in my hand.
"On second thought," I said, abruptly releasing it. "I've got everything I need."
"Sweet. Let's get out of here."
I followed Donovan down the hall to the exit, my gaze glued to the back pockets of his jeans. I had to glance away so I could breathe, which made me run smack into him again when he stopped to let me go out the door first.
He looked at me kind of funny.
"Sorry," I mumbled, slipping past him. At this rate, I'd never get him for a boyfriend, which was now a life goal. "My name's Ren, by the way."
"Wren like the bird?"
"No, R-e-n. Short for Serena."
"Ah. I'm Dugan."
Dugan. I sighed softly as I followed him into the student parking lot. What a perfect name. To go on a perfect boy. Who drove a perfect--
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