Cinder: Fairy Tale Mates, #6

By Jessica Aspen

Curvy Cinderella meets a charming reluctant alpha.

Can he save her from a step mother who means murder?

 Cinder Vandeburg dreams getting away from her overbearing step mother and getting a real job—one that pays. When her step sisters are finalists in a teen modeling competition at a chic resort in the beautiful mountains of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, her step mother offers her an opportunity: prove herself a competent personal assistant and earn not only a stellar referral, but a bona-fide introduction to the movers and shakers of the modeling world. This is Cinder's chance at freedom but as usual, her step mother seems to find fault in everything she does—even when she sends her to seduce suspected modeling judge, Aiden Burdock.

 Aiden is no modeling judge. He's a tour guide with a pack of bachelor wolves depending on him to rustle up quality clients and keep their business afloat. But Aiden never wanted to be an alpha. He dreams of freedom and running wild in the hills. Having six…no seven…now eight wolves depending on him for leadership and jobs is more than he counted on when he fled pack expectations in Colorado. But his alpha tendencies can't be ignored and when he sees curvy Cinder being treated as the runt of the litter, he lies and says he's a judge to get her away from her malicious boss.

 Now Aiden is faced with how to tell Cinder he's just a working stiff, like her, and a wolf shifter to boot. As Aiden and Cinder's fairy godmother build up her self esteem and she starts falling in love with a man of secrets, Cinder's step mother is determined that someone she's in charge of will win the modeling competition. Even if it means she has to go all the way—and permanently eliminate the competition.

Lions and wolves and bears, oh my.

Discover why readers love the twisted tales of Jessica Aspen's Fairy Tale Mates.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abracadabra Publishing
• Release date: May 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9798201772789

Jessica Aspen

Jessica Aspen always wanted to be spirited away to a world inhabited by elves, were-wolves and sexy men who walk on the dark side of the knife. Luckily, she’s able to explore her fantasy side and delve into new worlds by writing spicy, paranormal romance, and twisting fairy tales. She loves indulging in dark chocolate, reading eclectic novels, and dreaming of ocean vacations, but instead spends most of her time, writing, walking the dog, and hiking in the Colorado Rockies.   To sign up for Jessica Aspen’s new release email and receive your FREE e-book please go to: https://jessicaaspen.com

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Chapter One

Masses of butterflies quivered in her belly as Cinder stared out of the back of the airport shuttle at the Excelsior Resort and Spa. This was it. Finally. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, vacation home to the stars and one of the most beautiful places on earth. And this Valentine’s Day Weekend the site of the largest teen modeling contest in the country. And she, Cinder Vanderburgh, would be here for every super stressful, super exciting moment of it, mixing and mingling with modeling’s elite. And maybe, just maybe, one of them would see how hard she worked and would hire her out from under her stepmother’s thumb.

This was her chance at freedom. Cinder Vanderburgh—PA to the stars. Even the sound of it made her shiver.

Cinder, where are you? They’re unloading the luggage. Vivianna was already outside of the van doing that thing she did—twirling her large diamond ring on her thin ring finger as if spinning it faster would make Cinder speed up and move to her stepmother’s frantic beat.

Coming! She climbed out of the backseat of the van, dragging purse, coat, and the straps of all three laptops that had been considered too important to pile in the rear of the van with the rest of the umpteen suitcases absolutely necessary for their one-week stay.

She pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose and stared up at the structure towering over the pines on the hillside. It’s huge.

The front of the lodge glittered with large sheets of glass set in a soaring A-frame of rough hewn logs nestled in the gentle slope of the valley and surrounded by careful beds of wildflowers, boulders, and pine trees. Cinder pulled fresh mountain air into her lungs and a thrill went through her. It was exactly like she’d dreamed of while trapped in Chicago’s regimented suburbs. There was so much space she wanted to drop everything and explore. First the grounds, and then, head into the mountains and see snow that had never been stepped on. Maybe catch a glimpse of some wild animals. Big horn sheep, moose. Maybe even a wildcat. Or a wolf. Her skin prickled with excitement at all the possibilities.

In the distance, framed against a perfect blue sky, individual cabins dotted the snowy hillside, each with its own landscaping and deck. Just like in the website and brochures she’d been dreaming over for weeks. The beautiful people were everywhere—walking on the curving paths, chatting on the wide deck near the fireplace, busily rushing to and fro across the pavement of the driveway custom designed to look like stone.

Isn’t it gorgeous? Her fifteen-year-old stepsister, Belinda, whirled around in front of the lodge, carefully bleached-blond locks spinning out behind her. I can’t believe we’re finalists in the biggest modeling competition of the year!

Of course you are, my pet. Vivianna pinched Belinda’s cheek. No one is as pretty as my two darlings.

Her other stepsister, Anatolia, piled her fur-lined vest into Cinder’s arms. Cinder, take this. And can you carry my purse? She added it to the laptop straps weighing down Cinder’s shoulder. It’s too heavy and I have to selfie. Anatolia pushed her younger sister out of the way and checked her look in her phone. Move over, Belinda. I want the lodge in the background, not you.

Cinder huffed out a breath in an attempt to get fur away from her face. Actually, Anatolia, I’m not sure I can carry your purse. She shifted the bag to her other arm, to rebalance the load.

Of course you can. You’re built like one of those stocky ponies, all fat belly and massive muscles. You can carry everything. Anatolia snapped her selfie, frowning at the result before fixing her sable locks and trying a different pose. Besides, it’s your job. Isn’t it?

Cinder swallowed down her protest. This was her shot to prove herself and she wasn’t going to give Vivianna an excuse to send her home the first day.

You’re so clever, darling. She is just like one of those ponies. Cinder, we’re going to check in. Vivianna’s voice sharpened. Now be a dear and bring the luggage, will you?

Without checking to see if Cinder was okay, Vivianna strode forward into the revolving doors. Anatolia, a long-legged copy of her mother in her two-hundred-dollar skinny jeans and brand-new boots, close behind. Belinda shot her an apologetic look, threw her own vest and purse on top of the pile in Cinder’s arms, and scurried after her mother and sister.

Cinder stared after them, her glasses sliding down her nose and her muscles straining at the ever-increasing weight in her arms. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

Would you like us to help you to your room?

She nodded and smiled at the porter, using her shoulder to push her glasses back up where they belonged. She counted bags and sighed. She’d have to tip, but it was worth it. There was no way she could manage two carts of luggage as well as everything else. The money Vivianna had grudgingly given her for expenses was quickly disappearing, and they’d only just gotten to the resort.

She moved her stepsisters’ purses to one shoulder and tried to access her own purse. Both vests toppled to the ground.

Crap. She struggled to bend down without dropping anything else and stretched out her fingers.

A masculine hand reached for the vests at exactly the same moment as she did, and she touched him. Skin to skin. Hand to hand. Electricity skated up her arm.

Here, let me help you. He was cover-model gorgeous. Black hair, a little too long and a little too carefree, and the most incredible bright blue eyes. And underneath the carefully pressed clothes lurked something of the wild she felt in the air.

She slowly straightened up.

He held up the vests and smiled. What’s your name?

I... She tried but nothing more came out of her mouth.

If she were to put him in a marketing ad she’d take him out of the exec’s pressed jeans and button-down under a casual jacket, and instead dress him in something rugged, laced-up boots and a plaid shirt. I— She still couldn’t make her mouth function correctly.

Cinder! Vivianna called from the front of the lodge. What are you doing? We’ve got our cabin and we’re ready to go.

I can see you’ve got some help. With his eyes never leaving hers he arranged the vests on top of her load and smiled. She blinked up at him, unable to move. No one had ever smiled at her like that—his eyes penetrating deep as if they saw her—the real her.

Cinder! Vivianna’s shrill voice broke the spell.

Finally something came out of her mouth. Coming. She gave him a quick smile. Thank you for your help.

No problem. I’ll see you later.

She followed Vivianna down the path to the reserved cabins out back.

Who was that? Vivianna hissed in her ear. He’s too good-looking to not be with the event. Is he one of the judges?

I don’t know.

"Well, of course you wouldn’t pick up on these things. Vivianna gave her an exasperated look. It takes an experienced business woman to do that."

Why did the magazine use mystery judges, Mom? Belinda asked.

I don’t know, darling, but we need to figure out who the judges are before the competition opens tomorrow night. She frowned at Cinder. In the meantime, I don’t want you offending any of them with your, um, look. She looked directly at Cinder’s second-hand jacket. Keep a low profile. You can do that, can’t you?

Cinder’s face burned. She nodded, and tried to shift the weight of the laptops. She understood. Since her father had died, leaving her with Vivianna and the steps, she didn’t think there had been a day when she hadn’t been reminded that she took after him. She was what Vivianna called big-boned, when what she really meant was fat. And Vivianna made sure  everyone knew that both of her daughters took after her and would be big successes, while Cinder would schlep and carry and bear the weight.

And be grateful. She couldn’t forget that. She had to be grateful for every opportunity Vivianna gave her. Living in Chicago, where rents were sky high and you only got a job through who you knew, she’d bit her tongue and put her head down. Vivianna had promised opportunity. And if she had to grin and bear her for a little while longer to get that opportunity, Cinder was going to do it. She’d do whatever it took.

She trailed after Vivianna and the chattering girls along the rustic stone paths leading through the snowy garden beds with their skeleton trees and artistic piles of rocks. She could do this. She could do an excellent job being Vivianna’s personal assistant. And if she did, her stepmother would have to give her a good reference. Then, she could move on to someone else, anyone else, and do a good job with that person. No, it wasn’t how she’d dreamed success would happen, but dreams were for children, and she’d lost her childhood years ago when her father had died and left her no one to depend on but Vivianna.

Before they turned the corner, she cast a look back at the front of the lodge. Her rescuer was gone. If she were going to use him in a marketing campaign, where would she put him? Out in the wild. Maybe on the top of one of the snowy mountain peaks. He could be the guy in a sports magazine ad, posing with a fishing reel and rod, rugged and too good-looking to be real.

Cinder! Quit daydreaming. You’re lagging behind.

Yes, Vivianna. She ran to catch up, the heavy purses banging her thighs.

Vivianna dropped back to meet her, behind the porters and her excited daughters trying to pick out which cabin was theirs. Cinder, I’m not sure you’re taking your job seriously. Do I need to send you home and hire someone else?

Cinder choked back her response. No one else would work for what Vivianna was paying her. Room and board and the chance to visit Jackson Hole and stay at the Excelsior were the only things Cinder would be taking home from this job. And the reference. She couldn’t forget the reference.

No, Vivianna.

I hope not. This is the girls’ big shot. This contest will make or break their modeling careers. And it’s not just first prize we’re looking for. The modeling contract is huge for Anatolia, but we want Belinda to take second prize so that she’ll also be looked at seriously. Are you going to make it happen? Are you committed to the cause?

I’m in.

Good. Don’t make me regret this. Her stepmother strode back to where her daughters were taking more selfies in front of their private cabin.

Cinder resolutely tucked her chin down. She had to focus. No more dreaming. She wasn’t the boss, she was a PA. And she was going to be a damn good one and get that reference from Vivianna. And for the first time in her twenty-one years she’d finally be able to move out of her stepmother’s house and live on her own.

AIDEN BURDOCK RAN A finger around the too-tight collar of his carefully pressed button- down. I feel like a stuffed goose. He sipped his whiskey on the rocks, wishing he could down it and order