Twelve business owners had been transformed into Hollywood starlets as Christmas went glamour for a packed charity runway event. Cindy Wright, makeup artist and stylist, did not belong on that runway, and yet she was there, in front of a crowd and cameras.

After a starlet had broken her foot, Cindy had been declared 'Audrey Hepburn' for the night, her blond hair tucked beneath a wig. In a silver sheath dress, the safety of her private world ripped from her grip, cameras and people everywhere, Cindy began her strut.

With each step, Cindy felt more confident. She posed at the end of the runway, confidence growing. Until she looked down and saw "him."

In a flash, Cindy was seventeen again. Too short, too plain, too clumsy and too shy for a guy like Chance Reeves to ever ask her out. But there he was. Five years later, they were both grown up now, and if he had been cute back then, he was the definition of hot now.

Chance used to tease her mercilessly about being a drama club geek. Cindy hadn't been a star, just the make-up girl. She'd made that hobby into a successful career, but she wasn't used to being up front, all eyes on her. And she didn't like it.

Especially the way Chance was focusing on her, as if he was a starving man looking at a tasty morsel. What was he doing here?

Then Cindy suddenly realized that Chance didn't recognize her at all, strutting along in her sexy couture and her Hepburn wig. This was her moment. She didn't have to be herself. She relaxed, smiling at him with what she hoped was pure sex as she walked by.

Chance couldn't take his eyes off the starlet on the runway -- she put the rest of the beauties to shame. That smile did him in. He was used to getting what he wanted, and he wanted the Audrey Hepburn starlet alone, and preferably out of that expensive dress.

Heat sizzled as she came closer, but then her lovely mouth formed an "O" and everyone gasped as she pitched forward, falling toward him.

Chance caught her neatly and grinned down into her shocked face. She felt good in his arms, all warm and soft and feminine. He'd wanted her when she'd been confidently strutting her stuff, but her clumsy tumble into his arms made him want her even more.

"Hello," he said, still holding her firmly. Her breath came in short, distressed gasps and a slow blush climbed into her pretty face.

He watched as she struggled to compose herself, aware that everyone in the room was watching them. His arms tightened around her.

"Hello, yourself," she said, giving him a flirtatious smile. "Something tells me you're no stranger to having women fall into your arms."

He did have women falling in his arms, but he'd never had one he wanted as much as the one he held now. She was alluring and sexy as hell. There was something almost familiar about her, something he should recognize. Just as he was about to ask, she climbed out of his arms. Chance reluctantly let her go.

They weren't alone. A fact made more annoying from the flash bulbs going off and the shouts of concern. All he wanted to do was pull her curvy body into his arms again and kiss her.

Would her full, plump lips taste as decadent as they looked? Would kissing her ease the ache that had grown in his chest since he first touched her silken skin?

He had to know. At all costs.

Cindy blinked into the intense stare Chance had her locked in that bordered on hot. Hot? She'd just made a fool of herself.

Security rushed toward Cindy. She whirled toward the stage to get back on it and way from Chance with some semblance of dignity.

Right. Dignity.

Cindy's gaze lifted to the high stage. Suddenly, Chance's hands were on her waist. "You owe me a dance," he whispered.

There was no mistaking the way Chance's hands lingered on her waist or the seductive hum of his words by her ear. Chance was hitting on her!

It's not how you fall but how you get up and suddenly Cindy was on stage, recovering to applause and an invitation. For Audrey that was.

Taking a dramatic bow, she worked the crowd and finished her runway walk with style and grace. Chance was mesmerized.

A hot body, poise, and a sense of humor, too? He had to find her, and pushed his way through the crowd, heading back stage.

The heat of the crowd intensified the scent of her perfume that still clung to him, and he searched the busy backstage, but found nothing.

Then he saw her, walking away, toward the dressing rooms. She looked over her shoulder, made eye contact, but then kept moving.

Chance smiled. He didn't mind a good chase, and when he caught her, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.

Chance waited by the exit next to the champagne fountain until she came out. She was blonde now, but he still recognized those curves.

She looked around cautiously, nibbling on her lip, then made her way through the crowd.

Just as she reached the table, he stepped forward. Chance smiled at the shocked caution in her big blue eyes and wondered at the tugging sense of familiarity. Then he shrugged it off.

"A glass of champagne?" he offered, handing her a flute. "It's not every day I have a beautiful woman fall at my feet... so to speak."

"I didn't..." her words trailed off as she saw the red rose bud he held out. He used her surprise to brush a kiss over those delicious lips.

She tasted delicious and smelled incredible. Chance wanted nothing more than to pull her close and kiss her more deeply.

He pulled back. For a moment, her blue eyes expressed dismay and embarrassment. Hot color flooded her cheeks and she stared at him in bemusement. Her dazed expression brought all the memories rushing back.

A pretty girl, prone to excruciating shyness. How he'd loved to tease her. What was her name? Cindy, he thought.

He'd really liked her, but she'd made a point of avoiding him. Well, she couldn't avoid him now.

Would she remember him? He hoped so. "I used to call you a drama geek," he said, smiling. "But I'd say you've turned into a starlet."

As Cindy looked into his rich mocha eyes, she knew she had two choices. One, crawl back into her shell and return to 'Drama Geek Girl.' Or two, finally take a 'Chance'.

His dark smoldering glance moved over her face with heated interest as he awaited her response. There was something about the warm heat in his eyes that bolstered her confidence and had her feeling brave.

Bold. Empowered.

Undeniably, she wanted him. So what was she going to do about it? Did she really need the wig and dress to play the part?

Harnessing her new found bravado, she stepped into the the role of starlet, and murmured, "I bet you'll never guess what I called you?"

Chance hung on Cindy's words."What did you call me?" He'd spent spent five years as a Nascar driver before a tragedy had sent him running. Since he'd opened a chain of auto parts stores. In those Nascar years he'd had his share of women, most after money and fame. He'd grown callus and uninterested anything but sex.

But Cindy reminded him of a time when life was simpler. He was enjoying the flirtation. He took a step closer to her, ready to ease her on the dance floor where he could hold her close, and feel her warm body next to his.

"So. What did you call me, Cindy?"

Her eyes twinkled. "Sure you want to know?"

He nodded.

"Sexy and...stuck up." She smiled and darted away.

A sexual thrill tingled low in Cindy's belly as she saw Chance in hot pursuit. She didn't make it ten steps before he caught her arm.

"Stuck up?" he asked with a grin that made her insides melt.

"Just a little," she amended breathlessly as she stared up into his dark eyes.

"You realize that it's not ego but confidence," he teased, trailing one finger up, then down her arm in a way that made her insides tremble.

"It was stuck up," she shot back.

"No. It was well-deserved," he argued. "And sweetie, I promise I deserve every accolade I've ever gotten."

She narrowed her eyes, trying to look aloof and sexy, despite the sexual curiosity burning low in her belly. "Every one?"

"Every single one."

Loving the look of cautious amusement in her big blue eyes, Chance gave in to the driving need for a taste and leaned in to nuzzle her neck. He wrapped his arm around her silky smooth shoulder.

Her sudden stiffness told him that she wasn't quite as sophisticated as she looked. "Let's dance."

He needed to hold her and he could tell from the sweet innocence in her eyes that she wasn't going to leave with him. Yet.

Pulling her onto the dance floor, he shifted and pulled her close His body grew hard at the feel of her, so soft and curvy, against him.

"Is this one of your patented moves?" she asked.

He grinned. God, she was spunky. "No, this was."

He took her mouth in a slick, wet kiss.

She resisted for a second, then melted against him, kissing him back so sweetly that for a moment, Chance forgot where they were.

Her hands slid upward, over his shoulders to his neck, and she threaded her fingers through his hair as she pressed against him.

"Mmm," she murmured teasingly against his lips. "You kiss almost as well as you dance. I'd say you really have earned those accolades."

Chance smiled but didn't answer, enjoying the gentle sway of her body against his, and how they moved together in perfect harmony.

Her voice was low and seductive. "So, what else do you excel at?"

Chance pulled back and studied her face. "Why don't I show you?" he asked.

"What did you have in mind?"she asked playfully. His hand slid seductively over her hip.

"Why don't we get out of here and I'll show you?" Cindy went chilly inside at the proposition. The flirtation had been fun until now. She had no desire to be just another conquest.

Cindy leaned close to Chance, her palm absorbing the heat of his chest as she pressed to her toes and brought her lips to his ear. "I'll hold onto the fantasy," she whispered. "The morning after is always so much better that way."

She quickly slipped into the crowd. Chance stood there in the middle of the dance floor in shock for about two seconds. Deep down, he knew one thing. Cindy couldn't get away.

Cindy almost turned around and went back to him -- was she nuts? Walking away from the man who could make her fantasies real?

She paused, thinking about how good his touch felt, and looked back. Her heart dropped. He was gone.

So maybe she'd made the right decision.

Biting back regret, she pushed her way toward the door, unsure who she was more angry at for leaving, herself or Chance.

Out in the lot, she saw him leaning against the side of her car. Her heart slammed in her chest as she knew she wasn't going home alone.

"Did you think I'd to let you walk out of my life so easily?" he said.

No more games, she thought, and said, "I was hoping you wouldn't."

Chance leaned against the car, his body sagging in relief. He hadn't realized how desperately he'd hoped she'd agree. He'd never felt this way before. The hot, clawing sexual need was familiar, sure. But these sweet, aching emotions? Only for Cindy.

She stopped inches away. He wanted her like crazy. But he wanted more. Which meant getting to know her much better before he got her naked.

Before he could put that gallant thought into action, she stepped closer. Her hands slid done his chest, settling temptingly at his belt.

"Wait," he said quickly. "I'd love to act out a few fantasies. But I don't want to be just a fantasy. I want us to be more. To be real."

"I'd like that," she said softly. She pulled his shirt free from the waistband and daringly slid her hands beneath, stroking his hot skin. "I fantasized about you for years," she murmured, loving how his breath hitched, "but I want more, too. I want the real you. Now. Tonight."

"Baby," he groaned, "I'm trying to do the right thing here."

Standing on tiptoe, Cindy pressed her mouth to his. "Then kiss me."

Chance cupped her face in his hands and searched her eyes. "You're sure?"

Cindy nodded and slid her hands to his back, urging him closer. He bent his head and captured her lips in a kiss that seared her all the way down to her toes, and nothing had ever felt so real, so right.

He tasted her slowly, exploring her mouth, and her heart raced in her chest. He was what she wanted--the man she'd craved for years.

But Chance lifted his head and stared at her with glittering eyes. "One night of sex won't do for me. Not anymore. With you, I want--"

"What? What do you want?" Cindy whispered, need and fear twisting her belly.

"I want to know everything that's happened to the girl I used to watch...I want to know the woman she's become." His lips kicked up into a sexy grin. "Then I want her in bed with me, for a long, long time."

"Let's go find someplace to share a bottle of wine and talk," Chance suggested, amazed at his own restraint. But for once in his life Chance wanted to slow down, to make every second count. He wanted to do this thing with Cindy right. But Cindy wasn't responding. She was just staring up at him. An unfamiliar feeling of fear clawed at him. Fear she didn't want what he did. Urgency expanded in Chance's chest as he melded her close. "Say yes, Cindy." Cindy couldn't believe this was happening. She melted into him. Staring into Chances eyes, Cindy felt something special happening. Fear and excitement mingled together. Her arms wrapped his neck. If ever there was a time to take a risk, it was on an enchanted holiday night. "Yes Chance." A slow smile touched her lips. "But... ...how about we drink that wine at my place?" He smiled and kissed her.And Cindy was pretty sure she was about to get the best present ever.