Dream Date With the Millionaire (6 page)

Bryce refilled their glasses.

If only she could tell him the truth about working for Hookamate.com and what her job required her to do.

But she couldn’t.

She couldn’t risk losing her job.

Dani’s family counted on her financial support. Her youngest sister’s fall tuition would be due soon as well as her mother’s health insurance premium. Nothing had changed since lack of money six months ago had forced Dani to take the position at Hookamate.com.

But the least she could give Bryce was her gratitude.

“Tonight has been wonderful,” Dani said. “Thanks for going to so much trouble.”

“It wasn’t any trouble.”

A comfortable silence descended as they finished their dinner. A breeze rustled the leaves of nearby trees. An older couple strolled hand in hand along the path. They glanced her way and smiled.

Dani wondered if they thought she and Bryce were a romantic couple or if they could tell this was the first dinner they’d shared together. Probably the only dinner they’d ever share. She sipped her wine.

As Bryce put things back into the bag, three white limousines pulled up to the curb. The doors opened and laughter filled the air. Members of a wedding party piled out of the cars. Eight, nine…They kept coming. Bridesmaids dressed in lavender full-length gowns and groomsmen in black tuxedos with tails. Fourteen in total. Not counting the bride and groom.

Dani stared in disbelief. “That’s a huge wedding party.”

“Either they come from a big family or have money to burn.”

“Or both.”

The bride’s gown was a billowy confection of tulle and silk. Three of the bridesmaids held up the dress to keep the hem from touching the floor. Dani thought about Marissa and Grace.

“They should get some nice photos with this lighting,” Dani said. The sun shone high in the sky, even though it had to be past eight by now.

She removed her cell phone from her bag and snapped a picture of the wedding party as they posed for the photographer.

“You know,” Bryce said, “a guy could get the wrong idea of his date snapping pictures of wedding parties.”

“Nothing nefarious. I’m not a wedding junkie or a bride wannabe,” she admitted. “The photo is for my two online friends Grace and Marissa. We met in the newcomers chat on Blinddatebrides.com and have stayed in touch ever since.”

“They are the ones you mentioned before.”

She was pleased he remembered. “Yes. I’ve been trying to talk them into coming to visit me, but they are so busy with
their own lives—and now loves—I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon. Maybe this picture will whet their appetite for a personal tour of San Francisco.”

“My sister plans to have wedding pictures taken here.”

Dani wasn’t surprised. This place was popular with bridal parties for a reason. “Wedding photos here would be lovely.”

“Agree, but the logistics are turning into a nightmare and causing arguments between my mother and sister, even though the wedding isn’t until next year.” He sipped his wine. “Caitlin wants to have photos taken before the ceremony so the wedding party can go to the reception without delay, but my mother says it’s bad luck for a groom to see the bride before the wedding so they must do the pictures afterward.”

Dani knew nothing about wedding planning except for what she’d picked up from Marissa and Grace. “Couldn’t they do pictures the day before?”

“My mother doesn’t think Mark should see Caitlin in her wedding gown. Period.”

“Google it.”

“Excuse me?” Bryce asked.

“Find out in what percentage of divorces did the groom see the bride before the wedding ceremony. That will either prove your sister’s point or your mother’s and they won’t have to argue anymore.”

“That’s…brilliant.”

“More like common sense, but thanks. It’s not often I’m called brilliant.”

“Then you’re hanging with the wrong crowd.”

Being with Bryce was so easy. Conversation flowed as easily as the wine. Being quiet didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable. He felt like an old friend, not a stranger she’d met only a few days ago online.

As he packed away the food, she handed him her plate.

“Relax,” he said. “I’ve got it.”

Dani couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so…pampered. She watched a row of turtles, a mother and her babies, swim across the lake. Bryce definitely knew what he was doing. But he didn’t act like a player. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder if he took every woman he went out with here. “Do you take all your dates on picnics?”

Not exactly subtle, but she wanted to know the answer.

“I don’t,” he admitted. “The last one was…maybe four years ago. But a woman who wears a bandana seemed like the type who might enjoy a picnic.”

He sounded genuine. Dani wanted to believe him. Just because she wasn’t being truthful didn’t mean he was dishonest. “I do like picnics, though I haven’t been on a real one like this since college. The other times were just brown bagging it and sitting on the grass.”

“Then it was time for both of us to do this the right way.”

Hair fell over Bryce’s eyes as he finished cleaning up. Dani longed to push the strands back into place, to touch his face, to kiss him.

Maybe it was time. And not only for a picnic.

She smiled. “Are you ready for dessert?”

“These are sinfully good.”

“Not sinful.” Dani’s smile reached her eyes, raising Bryce’s temperature a degree or two. “Criminal, maybe.”

No way could a woman who looked as hot as Dani did tonight and cooked delicious candies be a spy. Bryce picked up another one of her homemade bonbons. “I need more evidence before I can make a final verdict.”

Lying on the blanket and resting on his elbows, he bit through the bittersweet chocolate covering to the softer Tiramisu inside. The flavors exploded in his mouth.

Sweet, moist, rich.

Like the cook herself? Bryce wouldn’t mind finding out.

She watched him. “What’s the verdict?”

“The calories are criminal, but worth it.”

Dani beamed.

Bryce liked how a simple comment or compliment pleased her so much. She wasn’t like other women he’d dated, who wanted to eat at the newest restaurants and go to the hippest clubs. Dani seemed content to be with him, no matter where that might be—a park, sidewalk, café. And when he was with her everything cluttering his brain seemed to magically disappear.

He wasn’t in the market for a girlfriend, but he could get used to this. Her.

As she picked up a bonbon, her hair shifted forward. With a flip of her head, she sent the hair back behind her shoulder. The movement was subtle yet sexy, especially with the slight bounce of her breasts.

He reached for his wineglass.

“I haven’t made bonbons in a while,” Dani said. “I forgot how good they are.”

She raised the white chocolate-covered candy to her mouth. Her pink lips parted, then closed around the bonbon.

Heat rushed through Bryce’s veins. He jerked his gaze away from her and focused on the lake. He’d rather stare at her full lips or sensuous curves, but he didn’t want her to compare him to the other men she’d dated. Guys like that jerk from the other night or the ones who didn’t remember her eyes were a spectacular shade of blue.

“My compliments to the chef.”

She bowed her head.

He picked up another. “Bet you have to know how to boil water to make these.”

“That skill might come in handy, but it’s not necessary,” she explained. “They are easy to make unless you mind getting dirty. By the time you’re finished, your fingers will be covered in chocolate sauce.”

Bryce grinned. “I don’t mind dirty, especially if chocolate is involved.”

“If you’re interested in learning how to make them, I’ll show you.”

“Sure.” Dani and chocolate together. That was a no-brainer combination. “But I’ll warn you now, I’m not much of a cook. I grill but that’s the extent of my cooking talent. It’s kind of a family joke.”

“So you weren’t kidding about boiling water?”

“I can do a little more that that, but I avoid recipes requiring oil and frying.”

“Were flames involved?” Dani asked.

“Fire, smoke, a call to 9-1-1,” he admitted.

Her eyes widened. “What happened?”

He gave a half-shrug, still embarrassed after all these years. “I tried to make French fries one day when the cook was sick. Unfortunately, I made two critical errors. I took the telephone to my mother, who was in another room, while frying. I also left the bag of potatoes sitting on the counter right next to the gas stove top.”

“Uh-oh.”

“The fire investigator wasn’t sure which caught fire first, the oil or the plastic. By the time I returned to the kitchen, both were fully engaged in flames and the room covered in thick smoke. My mother and sister ran in while I was trying to put out the fire. I kept trying to remember what I’d learned about fires. One phrase kept running through my mind so I yelled it, ‘Stop, drop and roll.’ My mother dragged us outside and called 9-1-1. I wanted to go back in and use the fire extinguisher, but she wouldn’t let me. She said kitchens could be replaced. Children couldn’t. So I stayed outside, watching the flames grow and the smoke billow out.”

“What happened to the house?” Dani asked.

“The kitchen had to be gutted and redone. The rest of the
house had some smoke damage, but was okay.” He smiled. “As soon as the damage was repaired, my mother had our cook fill the freezer with bags of frozen French fries. Sometimes, my mother still brings me a bag when she comes over.”

“That’s cute.”

“Try embarrassing.”

“That, too.” She smiled. “But now that I know about your cooking abilities, do you mind if we make the bonbons at your place? Just in case there’s another fire. I don’t have renter’s insurance at my apartment.”

Dani winked.

“Very funny. And smart.” Bryce laughed. “I don’t mind at all.”

He’d be willing to give a soufflé or a crème brûlée a try if it meant spending more time with Dani. He hadn’t enjoyed being with a woman this much in years. Yes, he dated, but only casually. He didn’t have time for anything more. Besides, finding a woman intriguing enough to put his work second probably wasn’t going to happen.

“So where do you live?” she asked.

“Not too far away.”

Bryce saw the expectant look in her eyes, but he preferred keeping his personal life private and didn’t open up to just anyone. Except…he realized he hadn’t been as guarded with Dani for some reason. Still, he wasn’t ready to tell her his house in one of the more “exclusive” neighborhoods in San Francisco had been a gift. Each Delaney received a house when they graduated college. A family tradition.

He’d thought about donating the house to charity, but practicality had overcome his objections. So he’d taken the house and rented it, donating the profits to a local charity, until he’d tired of apartment living this spring and decided to move in himself. “I used to live in Cow Hollow, but recently moved to Presidio Heights.”

If the neighborhood surprised her, Dani didn’t show it, but
she glanced at the row of elegant, pristine houses on the opposite side of the street. Mentally comparing the Marina to Presidio Heights, he wondered.

“That’s a lovely neighborhood,” she said. “There’s a great consignment shop on Sacramento and I love that old theater, too. Not that I get to too many movies these days.”

“What about you? Where do you live?”

“Inner Sunset,” she said. “Not as trendy as around here, but there are some great places to eat and it’s easy to get where I need to go taking public transportation.”

“Except when you run into a band of menacing mimes.”

Her smile lit up her face. “Except then.”

She had a pretty smile. Pretty face. Pretty everything.

“Before I forget.” She reached into her large bag and pulled out his jacket, neatly rolled. “Thanks for letting me borrow your coat the other night and saving me from a cold walk home from the bus stop.”

“Anytime.” Bryce glanced at the sun, sinking toward the horizon. Soon it would be dark and the temperature cooler. Almost time to say goodbye. Or maybe not.

“It’s not that late. How does seeing a movie tonight sound?” he asked. “I can use my BlackBerry to see what’s playing.”

Her brows drew together, making it appear as if she were considering the offer. Good. That was better than a straight-out no.

“Okay.” She placed the remaining candies into a yellow insulated lunch box. “We can sneak what’s left of the bonbons into the theater and finish them off during the movie.”

“Bringing outside food in is usually against theater rules.”

“Do you always follow the rules?” she asked.

“I don’t suppose you do,” he countered.

“Not always.”

He appreciated honesty, but her answer only brought the suspicions he’d pushed to the back of his mind front and
center. Instead of trying to flush out the truth, he’d spent the evening flirting and having fun.

What was going on?

Bryce never lost sight of where he was going, what he was supposed to be doing. He had never allowed his personal life to interfere with work.

Until now.

The line between investigating her and dating her was blurring to the point of being unrecognizable. He’d never met a woman who made him want to forget everything except her.

Bryce had no idea if Dani was being honest with him or not. Yet he hadn’t cared. Being around her made him feel good. He liked feeling that way. Still, he couldn’t forget he didn’t have time for a girlfriend. He didn’t want to lead Dani on. Though she might be the one leading him on.

Face it. Something out of the ordinary was going on. Here she was, dressed nicely and showing off her real looks like tonight was a real date. Not one where she’d dressed down, acting suspicious, like on their first meeting. Why the difference? Maybe it was time to say goodbye.

“If you’re tired or would rather not go…” he offered.

“I want to go, but on one condition.”

A condition would give him an out. A way to get some much-needed distance from her. He interacted daily with women at work, but not with this kind of relaxed interaction and flirting going on.