Royal Romance: Mr Right's Playbook (Bad Boy Romance, Billionaire Romance) (2 page)

He looked up at her when she stood by his little table, and if she wasn't mistaken his cheeks took on a bit of a flushed look. He seemed almost, embarrassed, awkward. It was a cute look, almost endearing. It made her smile more, though she didn't want to be too obvious about noticing.  

He ran his hand through his hair, a nervous gesture, it would seem. Cute. "A uh...," He cleared his throat, and finished more calmly, "An iced coffee, please. Mocha." 

She wrote it all down, feeling his gaze go back to her the instant she wasn't looking. If there was one thing she liked in a guy, it was honesty, and his genuine flustered reactions to her were enjoyable to say the least. 

"Alright," She smiled kindly at him, looking into his grey gaze as she spoke, "I'll be right back with that coffee, sir—" 

"—Daniel," He interjected suddenly, only to realize what he did and blush, looking away and mumbling, "I mean...My name is Daniel." 

Josie felt herself smile again, "Okay. Daniel, then. I'll be right back with your coffee." She looked at the other man at his table, trying to appear just as friendly to him as well, although he wasn't her type, "And for you, sir?" 

He flashed a wry grin at his friend, not even looking at her as he replied, "A latte for me, miss." 

Turning on her heel she made her way back to the kitchen to get their drinks, fighting giggling on the way back. Cute guys were the best. She couldn't wait to tell Laura he was back—and she couldn't wait to make him the best cup of iced coffee he had ever had. He had improved her mood dramatically, a fact that was obvious as she hurried her way over to the coffee machine. 

Laura, who was busy making Paninis and sandwiches for the lunch rush, rose a brow at her. 

"Alright, spill—who's the guy?" 

Josie laughed at the knowing look Laura gave her, rushing to prepare his drink as she replied, "Remember the one guy who came in, the dirty blonde?" 

"The one with a great butt? Hell yes I remember." 

Josie snorted a laugh, "Oh my god, Laura." 

"What?" The woman in question shrugged, "It was noticeable. Anyway, he's back?" 

"He sure is." Josie sighed, sounding smitten even to her own ears, "He's adorable, Laura. He's sitting out there with some other guy. His name is Daniel, apparently." 

Laura peered out through the little kitchen window so she could look at the seating area, letting out a low whistle once she spotted the two, "Oh boy. His friend is a hottie too. What's his name?" 

"Didn't catch it." 

Laura made a tsk-ing sound at her, "For shame, Josie." 

The woman shrugged in response, finishing the iced coffee and starting next on the latte, "I'll get it for you later."

Chapter 3

"You are a complete and utter failure. Are you positive you can run a country," Chris said with a shake of his head. 

Daniel glared at the other man. "It's any help with you sitting over there grinning at me the entire time. Why don't you just leave?" 

"And not be able to watch you continue to skid along down the street of failure? Nah. I think I'll stay and enjoy." 

It was definitely a bad idea to have brought the other man with him. Daniel was already nervous enough as it was. Now his so-called best friend was going to be constantly teasing him mercilessly as he built of the courage to go through with this plan. He only had to pretend to be something he wasn't. It wasn't that hard, right? Lucky for him, the cheapest item on the menu was his usual order. 

Except that's what was bothering him—the thought of acting like something he wasn't made him nervous, uneasy. It felt like he was deceiving her and he hadn't even lied yet. 

Chris rolled his eyes at the look Daniel wore, a smirk playing on the edges of his lips, "Just chill out man—she seems to like you enough. Just play it cool." 

Daniel let out a weary sigh, placing his head on his hands as he tried to settle his nerves. 

"Look alive, Danny. She's heading back with the bill," Chris chuckled, kicking him lightly under the table, "Play it cool, and ask her out while I go pay." 

Daniel instantly sat up straight, letting out a slow breath as he caught sight of the girl making her way back to them. 

"Okay," He muttered. 

Josie came to their table and place the small black book down. "Here's the bill. Is there anything else I can do you today?" She asked in her sweet, lithe voice.  

Without a word, Chris picked up the book and walked off, giving Daniel the privacy to ask Josie out. Mustering up his courage, Daniel began to speak quickly before she walked off. "Josie, this might seem a little forward, but I'm very interested in you and I was hoping you would allow me to take you out on a date tonight." 

She stared down at him looking slightly surprised. When she bit her lip Daniel just knew she was going to turn him down. Damn. He really should have went elsewhere for dating advice. Opening his mouth, he was about to assure her it was okay if she didn't want to go when she finally spoke. 

"I'd love that." 

Daniel blinked. She said yes. She was smiling. And she said yes. It took everything to in him not to ask her if she was positive. He didn't want her to suddenly change her mind. 

She pulled her notebook from her apron pocket and began to write on it. Then she tore off a sheet and handed it to him. "That's my number. I get off work at five, so just call me then." 

"I definitely will," Daniel said quickly, only to flush with embarrassment when he realized how eager he sounded, "I mean...uh....see you then." 

She smiled lightly at his words, placing her hand on his shoulder briefly as she replied, "See you later, Daniel." Before walking back toward the kitchen. If Daniel wasn't mistaken, there was a bit of a hop in her step. 

His heart was pounding in his chest as it registered just what he held in his hands, the slip of paper seeming unreal for a moment. He had really done it, he had gotten her number. She had even said yes to a date, which was incredible all on its own. Daniel instantly stood, walking swiftly over to the counter where Chris was flirting with the cashier taking their money, quickly pulling his friend away and out the door. 

"Hey, woah," Chris sputtered, twisting around to face him, "How did it go?" 

"She said yes," Daniel replied, beaming from ear to ear, "I have a date with her tonight." 

Chris let out a stage gasp, sounding completely over-dramatic as he exclaimed, "You actually did it! By god, my friend actually wrangled himself a date! A Christmas miracle." 

Daniel felt his cheeks heat up as he punch his friend in the arm who only continued to laugh. It wasn't like this was his first date, yet he still felt nervous about it. Trying to calm his racing heart, Daniel sighed as they reached his car.  

"I next step to the perfect man training is clothes," Chris reminded him as he got in the passenger side. "Go down to Twentieth Street. I'm going to make you the dame of the ball tonight." 

As he pulled into traffic, Daniel frowned. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing now?" He was already feeling out of place wearing such simple clothing, so used to the suits he wore to work every day.  

"That's just the boy-next-door outfit. Now we have to turn you into the mystery man. Every woman loves some mystery." 

Daniel nodded, deciding not to argue. He was glad that she said yes. 

Chris slapped him on the shoulder, grinning widely as he said in a low purr, "Don't worry man. Your old pal Chris has you covered." 

Daniel made a face of uncertainty, wrinkling his nose a little at the cat and cream grin his friend wore. It looked like he was up to no good—though he has amassed more love interests in the past year than Daniel had in his entire life. And although he was a player, all the girls fell for him in a matter of weeks. Daniel was lucky if he could even make it to a second date, so despite his excitement for the evening, this would be the first test to see if they can have a relationship. 

He just hoped he wouldn't screw it up. 

Chapter 4

Josie smoothed the small wrinkles in her dress with her palms, feeling a tad bit nervous as she stood outside the café. She had quickly gone home after work, picked out a cute lilac colored dress for her date with some strappy sandals. Simple, yet cute. Thank god she had splurged and bought the dress a few weeks ago. Daniel had called at five on the dot, asking when she wanted to meet and where. She figured the café was easiest, and they could walk to a nearby theater for a movie.  

She hadn't been on a date in a while. In fact, it was embarrassing when she considered how long since her last date—she swore off it for a while, determined to get working more and saving up some money. Her last boyfriend had been a bit of a jerk at times, a little selfish. That relationship hadn't lasted long, but whatever. She was instead focusing on the now, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Daniel. 

Speaking of him, he soon pulled up in a car with his friend, looking a little overly dressed. Josie giggled when he got out of the car, wearing a pair of slacks with a button up shirt and vest. He collected himself a little, waving once to his friend at the wheel, before walking up to her with a sheepish smile. 

"You look lovely," He said to her, hesitantly taking her hand and leaning over to kiss it. Josie instantly giggled again—he was being quite gentlemanly. 

"Thank you. So do you," She smiled, tipping her head to the side a little, "Though, we're only going to a movie. You look quite snazzy." 

He looked down at his attire, a bit of a dismayed look on his face before he scowled at his friend's car departing down the street. Josie felt herself smiling more, only ruefully now. She was willing to bet he had his friend pick out the outfit, though she wouldn't call him out on it since he was trying so hard. 

She came up and unbuttoned the vest, startling the poor man thoroughly as he stuttered, "Wh-what are you—" 

"Helping make you a little less formal," She giggled at his blush, helping him tug the vest off his shoulders and unbuttoning a couple of the buttons around his chest and collar, "There. You look a little more casual now." 

Daniel let out a heavy sigh, running his hand through his hair as he muttered, "At least I didn't wear the fedora along with it." 

She laughed, which luckily managed to make him smile a bit, "Wow you were really prepared to go all out," Josie said as she stuffed it into her oversized purse.  

He cleared his throat, adjusting his loosened shirt a little bit as he replied, "Alright. Let's head to the movies, shall we?" He held his arm out to her, trying to escort her like a proper gentleman. 

Cute. She gratefully accepted, allowing him to walk with her down the sidewalk, the sun starting to set a little in the late afternoon sky.  As they walked down the street, they made light conversation. During it Daniel had thrown in a few overly corny jokes, something Josie usually wouldn't laugh at, and yet giggles kept slipping out. And every time she laughed, he smiled this smile that could stop the world, it was so attractive and sexy and adorable and cute all at the same time. To top it off, he had freaking dimples.  

The movie put a hold on their conversation, but every once and a while, Daniel would lean close to her in the darken room to whisper something. Every time he did, she felt her heart quicken at the feeling of the warmth of his body radiating towards her. It was kind of ridiculous. It was only the first date and yet she wanted to jump his bones. And it didn't even seem like he was trying all that hard.  

Until he was. And when he was it was so obvious, though Josie tried hard not to laugh because she truly found it endearing. No guy had put in so much effort for a simple date and she appreciated it a lot. 

"Would you like to taste my ice cream?" He asked her, holding out the cone he just bought after they left the theater. 

Unable to resist, Josie lifted a brow and asked, "Which one?" 

Daniel's face instantly went red. "I—