Halloween Cinderella

By Jenessa Beyer

Sophie
It's time for me to get over my crush on Austin. We're just study-buddies and maybe friends, and I have to accept that it will never be more.

I'm not brave enough to try to find someone on my own. But Halloween is a great time to pretend to be someone else. And that's what I intend to do.

Until Austin steps forward and asks me to dance...

Austin
Sophie's become my addiction. My temptation. I know she deserves better than a guy like me, so I've always kept my distance. But when I see her in that sexy Halloween costume, I can't hold back any longer.

I take her home with me. She's convinced that I can't see through her disguise, and when I wake up the next morning alone, with only a single feather from her mask on my pillow, I can't let things go.

Sophie's mine. And now it's time to show her...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jenessa Beyer
• Release date: Sep 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215804704

Jenessa Beyer

Jenessa Beyer has been fascinated by romance since she was a young girl. As she grew up, so did her tastes, and now she loves—and writes—hot stories full of instant attraction and desire.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

(SOPHIE)

Istretched my arms over my head. My shoulders and my back cracked and popped, announcing I had spent far too long in the same position. The nearby mattress tempted me, and I rose from the desk to flop back onto it.

Hey!

I wriggled, trying to get comfortable on the unfamiliar bed and squished-flat pillows. And to ignore the faint scent that filled my nostrils. The pillows smelled like him, and a quivering jolt of need sparked between my legs. I struggled to hide my response and looked up at the bed’s owner as if nothing had happened.

Austin Boyd, star of far too many of my late-night fantasies. What? I kept my voice as casual as possible. I can’t be the first girl you’ve had on here.

But the first one he would never see in that way.

At the very least, he considered me a study-buddy. At the best? I was his friend.

And should have found it easier to tease him about certain things, but even though I didn’t do a very good job of it, the faintest hint of pink appeared on his cheeks. Actually, you are.

Really? His reputation with the women was nearly legendary around campus, and I’d seen some proof that it wasn’t an exaggeration. I find that hard to believe.

I usually go to their place and never bring anyone here.

Why not?

I can’t leave if they’re at my place and I never like to spend the entire night. Too risky and raises too many expectations.

I heard him mention his ‘rules’ for women before, yet it still hit me like a punch in the gut.

It shouldn’t matter.

He didn’t see me as a woman.

Never had and never would. I was nothing like those who occasionally walked around campus with him. Tall and beautiful and confident. They always made the kind of pairing that turned heads.

They never lasted long. I was the only one…

No. I held in a sigh. With everything I knew about Austin, I should not want him to notice me like that. He was trouble with a capitol ‘T’ when it came to relationships. At least as his friend, or study-buddy, I didn’t have to worry about losing him.

Though it was also a bit of a torment, being with him like this.

I had dwelled on those things far too many times. To distract myself, I glanced around his room, even though I studied with him here three times a week and knew it well.

It was surprisingly devoid of any personal touches, considering he had lived in this apartment for almost two years. That always surprised me, every time I noticed it. I asked him about the lack of family photos once, but he changed the subject so fast, I nearly got whiplash.

I never pressed him further. His response reminded me of one of my roommates, Brianna, who also had some family issues she didn’t like to speak about. I suspected that for her, it was too painful.

But for Austin?

He never shared enough for me to be certain.

A bright yellow envelope sitting on his desk caught my attention. Weird that I hadn’t noticed it before. The color too striking to blend in with anything.

Half-sticking out of the open end of the envelope was a card. In the shape of a puppy wearing a party hat. I made out the top of the word ‘happy’ and gestured toward it. Someone’s birthday?

Mine. In a couple of days. He grabbed the card and shoved it between the pages of one textbook, but not before I glimpsed the writing on the envelope. It was from a woman.

A woman who knew him well enough to send a birthday card. My stomach twisted. Jealousy made for a sour taste in my mouth, no matter how I told myself I didn’t have the right. He wouldn’t rush to stash it away if it came from family. You’re a Halloween baby?

Some might say it’s appropriate. Or explains a lot.

I tilted my head to one side and stared at him. Is that right?

He had the oddest expression on his face. Unreadable. Speaking of Halloween, are you going to the big party this weekend?

That was the last question I expected from Austin. I’m considering it.

I had done more than that. Had a costume and a plan to be someone else for one night.

It was my roommate Layla’s idea. She knew about my hopeless crush.

And thought that I needed to get over him the best way she knew how.

With another guy. Preferably by getting under that guy as soon as possible.

In my normal clothing, I would never be bold enough to go after anything like that. But with the mask and costume, I might be able to pretend enough to pull it off.

Not that I expected it to be easy.

What are you dressing up as?

Heat rushed into my face. Can’t tell you.

Why not?

Definitely couldn’t tell him the truth. I turned his other question back on him. "What are you dressing up as?"

Myself. He pulled his features into a grimace and curled his hands into claws. Isn’t that scary enough?

I laughed. Maybe.

Only maybe? He growled and stalked toward the bed. Stiff-legged with his arms stretched out in front of