Dream Date With the Millionaire (11 page)

“Of course, there’s always the Ritz-Carlton,” Maeve said. “What do you think, Dani?”

“Well, there’s always Lovejoy’s Tea Room in Noe Valley,” she said before he could put a stop to the nonsense. “It has more of a cozy, eclectic feel, but they have a high tea on the menu and the most delicious scones.”

Pride filled Bryce. Dani didn’t need his help at all.

“I’ve been to Lovejoy’s,” Maeve said. “It’s a charming teahouse.”

Caitlin nodded. “One of my sorority sisters had her baby shower there. It was so much fun. I can call for reservations.”

“Another time.” Bryce rubbed Dani’s shoulders. “We have plans for today.”

With the wind on her face, Dani hung off the side of the cable car later that day. She was enjoying Bryce’s “plans.” Who was she kidding? She couldn’t have cared what they did as long as they were together.

The driver clanged the bell. And, like the old song her mother used to sing, zing went her heartstrings.

For Bryce.

She couldn’t help herself. And that was…okay.

As she leaned farther away from the car, he tightened his hand around her waist.

Always the protector.

Dani didn’t mind today. She glanced back at him. “I can’t believe you were born in San Francisco and have never ridden a cable car. That’s downright criminal.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? I’ve never played tourist in my own town.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing.”

“I’m getting an idea.”

So was she. Dani grinned, looking up at the overcast sky. More rain might be predicted, but she didn’t care. The day was perfect, no matter what the forecast. The only thing missing—a rainbow.

The cable car stopped. Passengers disembarked. Bryce jumped off and extended his hand. Her fingers clasped his as he helped her down.

Pleasurable sensations of wanting tingled through her.

“Thank you for showing me San Francisco.” He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it. The beat of her heart quadrupled. “Fisherman’s wharf, North Beach, Chinatown—”

“And now Union Square,” she finished for him. “Though this is more your part of town so it’s your turn to show me around.”

Bryce took over as tour guide, leading her across Union Square. He stopped in front of a tall winged statue. “This is the goddess Victory. You and she have a lot in common.”

Dani raised a brow. “Trying to soften me up with compliments?”

“It’s either that or I’ll have to buy you some chocolate.”

“You’ve got me figured out pretty well.”

He smiled. “I’m working on it.”

And she knew he was. That pleased her.

The sounds of cars, trucks and buses on the four streets surrounding the square were loud, but Dani heard music. The haunting sounds of a lone violin filled the air. She looked around. A violinist stood on the corner. She smiled. That was one thing she loved about the city—the unexpected.

“There’s something I’ve been wondering,” Bryce said.

She focused her attention on him. “What?”

“How does an evening of mayhem with my crazy family and over two hundred of my mother’s most intimate acquaintances sound?”

“Is this a trick question?” she asked.

“No. My mother is throwing Caitlin and Mark an engagement party next Saturday. Would you like to go?”

A family event? Dani quivered with excitement. “Yes, I’d like that very much. Thanks.”

“Thank you.” Relief filled his eyes. “If you’d said no, I don’t think Caitlin would have forgiven me.”

“Then it’s a good thing I said yes.”

With a nod, he led her to a crosswalk in the city’s downtown shopping district. They stood on the corner waiting for the lights to change.

“You’ve got to promise me you won’t hold my family against me, though. The Delaneys are an odd cast of charac
ters. I come from a line of men who foresaw what land in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area would be worth someday. They bought as much as they could, whenever they could and held on to it. Thanks to their real estate acumen, my relatives now live off trust funds.”

“Not you.”

“I’ve never touched mine and my family can’t understand why,” he admitted. “I did accept my house. A graduation present from the family trust. But, like you, I want to make it on my own.”

Her respect for Bryce shot off the scale. “You really do understand what I want to do.”

“I told you we weren’t so different.”

She was beginning to think he was right. Dani smiled. “You did.”

“And, as I’ve said before, I admire your determination.”

His compliment sent a welcome shot of confidence flowing through her.

The light turned green. She stepped off the curb into the street. She jogged around a woman pushing a baby stroller and drinking from a Starbucks cup as they crossed the intersection.

Dani followed him through a white iron gate to a pedestrian-only narrow street dotted with umbrella-shaded tables.

“Maiden Lane used to be the red light district during the Barbary Coast era so I’m not sure where the ‘Maiden’ part came from,” Bryce said, as tourists in baseball caps and sunglasses snapped pictures. He clasped his hand with hers. “But the street has become more upscale since then.”

As she strolled with Bryce, Dani noticed the signs of the expensive boutiques and salons. Women dressed as if they were going to a fancy party and loaded down with shopping bags darted in and out of the shops. Even when Dani had earned more money at her last job, she hadn’t shopped here. “It’s nice.”

“This is nice.” Bryce rubbed her hand with his thumb. “I never thought I’d find someone I wanted to date using my own Web site.”

“Me, either,” she admitted. “I was pretty anti-dating.”

“And now?”

A man in a fluorescent orange warm-up suit walked a tiny black dog.

“Not so much.”

He smiled. “I’m happy we met, Dani Bennett.”

“Me, too.”

She noticed a pretty green dress displayed on a mannequin in the window of a boutique. She stopped to take a closer look. Now, that would be something to wear to the engagement party if she wanted to make a good impression.

“That’s a pretty dress.”

Dani nodded.

He pulled her over to the window. “Do you want to try it on?”

She shook her head. “New clothing isn’t in my budget right now.”

“You can still try the dress on,” he said.

She shot him a look.

He made a face. “Don’t tell me you’ve never window-shopped. Caitlin dragged me along on one of her arduous excursions and she said trying on clothes is half the fun, whether you buy them or not.”

“I don’t know.” She stepped back. “There’s no chance of me buying anything in there.”

Bryce pulled her to the door. “Come on.”

“I—”

“Trust me. It’ll be fun.”

Dani found herself inside an elegant boutique with pale green walls and gilded fixtures. Cheerful music from a string quartet played. The air smelled of flowers and money. All the women were dressed to the nines. She couldn’t tell who was
a customer or who worked there and felt out of place wearing her work clothes from yesterday. A tall, thin woman with long red hair walked toward them.

“Pick a few things to try on,” he encouraged.

Dani selected two dresses, neither of which had price tags attached.

Bryce handed her a third. “I want to see how the color looks on you.”

She shrugged. “Why not?”

“That’s the spirit.” He sat in a big overstuffed chair.

Gabrielle, the redhead, who looked more like a supermodel than a clothing salesperson, handed him a drink. “Fashion show time.”

In the dressing room, Dani found matching shoes, compliments of Gabrielle, to try on with each of the dresses and changed into the green dress from the window.

“Come out here so I can see,” Bryce called.

Dani studied herself in a full-length mirror. “It’s a little short.”

“I’d like to be the judge of that myself.”

“Oh, boy.” She wedged her feet into the coordinating shoes, heels higher than she normally wore, with more crystals than she could count, and teetered out of the dressing room. “Too short?”

“I was going to say just right.” He grinned like a kid turned loose in a Lego store. “No more hiding those long legs of yours, okay?”

“I usually wear pants.”

Bryce waved her off. “Try on the next dress.”

Dani squeezed into a red cocktail dress. The halter neck style really accentuated her breasts, making her look like a hooker who might have worked this street during the city’s bygone era. She gulped.

“Do you have it on?” Bryce asked.

“On is relative,” she admitted. “There isn’t much fabric.”

“Out—now,” he said, sounding impatient.

She jammed her feet into a pair of stilettos, afraid to look in the mirror, and carefully walked out of the dressing room so she wouldn’t topple over.

Bryce’s eyes widened. “Wow.”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit…skimpy?” she asked.

“You look hot, but I’m sure there’d be a fight or two if you wore that out in public. But the dress would be great for an intimate dinner for two at home.”

“I’d rather wear your sweats,” she admitted.

“Comfort over style.”

Dani smiled. “You know it.”

“Are you having fun yet?” Bryce asked.

She nodded.

Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. “Let’s see the next one.”

In the dressing room, she wiggled into the blue cocktail dress Bryce had selected. She stared at herself in the mirror, not recognizing her reflection.

She looked and felt like a princess. A warmth settled in the center of her chest. Was this how Marissa had felt when she’d finally found her wedding dress?

Dani slipped on the pair of silver slingback heels that actually fit and were reasonably comfortable for heels.

Feeling like the heroine from an animated movie, she pirouetted out of the dressing room.

“Stunning.” Bryce leaned forward, cradling his drink in his hands. “That’s my favorite.”

“Mine, too.” She touched the soft fabric with her fingertip. “But I’d better put on my own clothes in case someone wants to buy it.”

In the changing room, Dani stepped out of the shoes. The other two dresses and shoes had been removed from the changing room.

Gabrielle handed her a glass of sparkling mineral water with a slice of lime. “For you.”

The places where Dani shopped limited taking clothing into a dressing room to six items or fewer. The only thing the attendants handed customers were plastic numbers. She placed the drink on the small table in her dressing room. “Thanks.”

“May I please have your dress once you have it off so I can put it on the hanger?”

“Sure.” Dani closed the curtain and took off the dress. She reluctantly handed it through the slit in the drapes to a waiting Gabrielle.

“Thank you, Dani.”

“You’re welcome.”

This was like no window-shopping expedition she’d ever been on before. Even the dressing room was luxurious, with silk curtains, overstuffed benches and gilded mirrors.

Dani put on her own clothing and walked out to find an empty chair. She looked around the shop. Bryce stood by the door with a glossy bag in his hand.

Her heart fell. “You didn’t.”

“The blue dress was made for you.”

Dani started to speak, but noticed people staring at them. She exited the store. Bryce followed, carrying the bag.

“We were window-shopping, not buying,” she said.

“That’s before I saw you in the dress.”

She stopped in front of the store next door. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I don’t feel comfortable with you buying me clothing.”

“It’s a gift,” he said as if he’d bought her a latte at the corner coffee shop and not a designer cocktail dress and, guessing by the box in the bag, the shoes, too. “I’m sure you have something nice you could wear to the engagement party, but I wanted to do something special for you. Is that wrong?”

He looked so pleased with himself. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “It’s very sweet of you, but it’s important to me that I do things myself. Buy things myself.”

“Do you buy gifts for yourself?”

“No.”

“You don’t like gifts.”

Dani noticed it wasn’t a question. “I’m not really used to getting gifts.”

“It’s time for that to change.” Bryce hugged her. His soap and water scent made her heady. “Let’s start today.”

She loved being in his embrace, with his strong arms wrapped around her. He made her feel safe and secure, as if he’d never let anything happen to her. She’d never felt this way with anyone before. And she liked the feeling. A little too much.

Dani stepped back. “I’m—”

“Not trying to be difficult,” he finished for her. “Neither am I.”

Stalemate.

She didn’t know what to say or do. Her gaze strayed to the shopping bag. She looked away.

“You know, I took your advice and checked out some of those dating articles on the Web site you mentioned,” Bryce said. “Compromise is the key to a successful relationship.”

“Are we in a relationship?” she asked.

“You’ve worn my clothes, kissed me until I couldn’t see straight, spent the night at my house and charmed my family.” He smiled. “If we aren’t in a relationship, we’re pretty darn close.”

The air whooshed from her lungs. This was more than she’d hoped for. She stared up at him. The affection in his eyes matched how she felt about him.

“What do you say now?” Bryce asked.

This was the last thing she’d thought she wanted, but a wellspring of joy flowed through her, settling at the center of her chest. Dani looked back at the shopping bag. “I guess I’d better learn to compromise.”

To: “Englishcrumpet” “Kangagirl”

From: “Dani”

Subject: You won’t believe this!

I got your messages. Sorry I’ve missed our chats. I’ve been with Bryce. We’re back together and spending all our free time together this week!!! Dinners, movies. I even taught him how to make bonbons. It’s been incredible. He’s such an amazing person. I know it’s a little soon, but I think he might be the one. My one. Can you believe it? I’m attending his sister’s engagement party tonight. Cross your fingers I make a good impression on his family. I’m nervous about that. I’ll fill you in on all the details later. Hope all is well with you. Miss you! xoxox

-d

“I’
M ALMOST
ready.”

Saturday night, Bryce heard Dani’s panicky voice through the closed door to her walk-in closet. He didn’t mind waiting. Anything to make things easier on her. “No rush.”

To tell the truth, he was nervous, too, and dreading the evening ahead. All his extended family would be there. He felt like an outsider when the whole clan was together so he was
glad to be bringing Dani with him. She understood him better than his own family ever had.

“Is the press really going to be there?” she asked from behind the closet door.

“Yes. Delaney events usually bring out the society columnists, but since I founded Blinddatebrides.com because of my sister and now she’s met her future husband at the site, the engagement has become a human interest story.”

“It’s pretty unbelievable.”

No kidding. And he didn’t only mean Caitlin’s engagement.

Bryce hadn’t brought home a woman in almost five years. That had been his last “serious” relationship until its daytime talk show worthy breakup. He’d been dating casually—okay, sporadically—since then, but hadn’t wanted another relationship. Not until he’d met Dani. And now he kept thinking he might have found more than just a girlfriend on Blinddatebrides.com himself.

The door to the closet opened. Footsteps tapped on the hardwood floor. Dani’s heels.

Bryce turned.

Hot! Attraction hit fast and hard, sending his already warm blood into the red zone. “I didn’t think you could look more beautiful than you did at the store. I was wrong.”

Dani radiated beauty and warmth. He’d picked out the dress because the color matched her eyes. But the style accentuated pretty much every other part of her body. “You are totally captivating and very sexy.”

And his.

Dani spun around on the balls of the silver slingback shoes. The fabric of her dress wrapped around her hips and thighs. The asymmetric hem made her legs look even longer. She gave a slight curtsy. “Thank you.”

Her shy smile contrasted against her curvaceous body was a total turn-on. “If my father hits on you, I’m going to slug him.”

“Don’t worry, I’m too old for him.”

Bryce’s gaze lingered as he went from the top of her shiny blond hair to the V between her breasts to the curve of her hips to her delicate ankles and her hot-pink painted toenails. His heart rate kicked up a notch. No doubt other men’s would, too. A protective instinct kicked in. “A couple of extra years won’t matter in your case. But he’s not the only one I’m worried about.”

“Well…” Mischief gleamed in her eyes. “On the farm, parties never got going until a fight happened.”

He laughed. “The Delaney crowd is much too civilized for throwing actual punches. They resort to verbal barbs to one’s face and gossip behind one’s back instead.”

“Sounds like high school.”

“Pretty close.” The look of vulnerability flashing across her face brought him to her side in an instant. Bryce wrapped his arms around her. “But you won’t have to worry about a thing. I’ll be right there with you to make sure you feel safe and comfortable.”

Dani gazed up at him. “I figured you weren’t the kind of guy to desert me while he went off to socialize.”

“Never. I have everything I need right here.” He brushed his lips across the top of her hair. The scent of grapefruit filled his nostrils. “Is it totally sexist of me to say I’m going to like having the sexiest, most beautiful woman at the party on my arm?”

“Yes.” A seductive smile spread across her shimmering glossed lips. “But since I’ll be on the arm of the hottest man at the soirée, I’ll let it slide.

“Soirée?”

She shrugged. “When in Rome…”

“You’re going to fit in just fine, Miss Bennett.”

Dani fluttered her eyelashes. “Why, thank you, Mr. Delaney.”

He extended his arm, no longer dreading the evening ahead. “Shall we?”

Maeve Delaney-Stuart-Whitney-Roya-Mayer’s house reminded Dani of Pemberley, with its marble floors, crystal chandeliers and uniformed servants milling about with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Dani glanced around the mansion, trying to imagine Bryce, an active and inquisitive little boy, growing up among the valuable artwork and antiques.

Tried and failed.

Standing at the doorway to a balcony, she watched Bryce weave his way through the crowded room with two drinks in his hands. He looked suave and debonair in his tailored suit, white shirt and tie. He stood out from the others. It wasn’t his height or his looks, but his presence. He exuded power and, though he’d disagree with her, wealth. People followed him, trying to get his attention or catch his eye. Men who wanted his advice. Women who wanted him.

Dani didn’t blame them. She wanted him, too.

Bryce said a word to one, nodded to another and continued toward her, his steps never faltering and his gaze never leaving hers.

Outside on the patio, he handed her a Cosmopolitan. “Did the animals leave you alone while I was gone?”

“I had a couple of close calls, but I survived unscathed.”

A man with his tie askew yelled Bryce’s name from the doorway. Bryce acknowledged him with a wave, then lowered his hand. His fingertips stroked her arm, sending tingles shooting up and down from the point of contact. “What happened?”

“Nothing you need to worry about. It was more funny than awkward.”

“I just want to make sure you’re comfortable.”

“I’m better than comfortable.” She raised her glass. “I’m Cinderella at the ball with Prince Charming at my side.”

“At least you won’t have to worry about the clock striking midnight,” he teased. “Your dress and ride home have no expiration time.”

“Good to know.” She stared up into his concerned eyes. “What?”

“Please tell me what happened while I was gone.”

“It was nothing.”

Bryce raised a brow.

“If you really want to know, your cousin Simone asked me who did my breast augmentation because she thought they looked so natural.”

“She’s been redoing herself part by part,” he explained. “Breasts are next.”

“No wonder she seemed so disappointed to find out mine are real, but I appreciated the compliment.”

“You should.” He eyed her chest momentarily. “Anything else?”

“I bumped into your great-uncle Edward. Or he bumped into me.” Dani grinned. “I think he wanted to cop a feel.”

“He’s known for that.”

She took a sip of the pink-colored drink. The martini was strong. Better limit herself to two tonight. Especially since they’d already drank champagne during a toast to Caitlin and Mark. “See, it was nothing.”

“I’m not leaving you again,” Bryce said. “I told you I wouldn’t desert you.”

“I told you I wanted a drink, but didn’t feel like pushing my way through the crowd to the bar. It’s okay,” she said. “I’m doing fine. I was intimidated when we arrived, but everyone has been so welcoming, especially your mother. Things have
been much better than I imagined. And Caitlin and Mark are such a cute couple and so nice.”

“That’s because they, and the rest of my family, like you.”

Music played. She couldn’t tell if it was a live band or a DJ. “Good, because I like them.”

“Even my great-uncle Edward?” Bryce asked.

She nodded. “He’s funny. He told me if he were fifty years younger he’d give you a run for your money over me. Then he said if I wanted to fly to Las Vegas and marry him tonight he wouldn’t make me sign a prenup.”

“What did you tell him?” Bryce asked.

“I told him I couldn’t desert my date tonight, but if things didn’t work out with you, we could talk later.”

Bryce laughed. “No wonder he stopped me on my way back from the bar and asked my intentions toward you.”

“Oh, no.” She cringed. “I thought he knew I was kidding.”

“I’m sure he did, but hope springs eternal, especially when enchanting young women are involved,” Bryce said. “His words, not mine.”

Dani smiled.

“So is this the woman who Edward called dibs on?” A handsome man with black hair and green eyes approached. Dressed in a tuxedo, he looked like an older, bronzed version of Bryce. “Hello, son.”

Bryce’s eyes narrowed. He placed his hand on Dani’s lower back. “Father, this is Dani Bennett. Dani, my father, Peter.”

Peter kissed the top of her hand, holding on to it too long to be considered proper or polite. “Edward wasn’t kidding. You are stunning.”

The man looked at her as if she were the special of the day he could order off the menu, not his son’s date. “Thank you.”

A photographer asked them to pose. Dani stood between the two Delaney men, both of whom had an arm around her. The flash of the camera blinded her.

She blinked.

When the spots went away, she noticed Peter checking her out. Bryce might resemble Peter in looks, but that was where the similarities ended. His father exuded charm, but his tone and mannerisms came off as too smooth. Too practiced. Too superficial.

No wonder Peter Delaney went for younger woman. Any older female would see right through his gentlemanly façade to the player underneath. He seemed like the type of guy who would trade in wives along with his cars when their leases expired.

Dani appreciated Bryce’s protective, almost possessive hand on her, and inched closer.

“Don’t get all territorial on me, son,” Peter teased. “I promise not to steal this one away from you.”

This one? Dani thought.

“Not that you don’t have excellent taste. But your last girlfriend cost me a bundle.” Peter laughed. “Of course, she would have cost more if I’d married her.”

Ick.

“It’s not marriage that cost you, Father. It’s the divorces,” Bryce said dryly.

“What can I say? I’m a sucker for a beautiful woman. And so, apparently, are you.” Peter smiled again at Dani.

His words rankled. “Bryce is no sucker, Mr. Delaney. Not that I would ever try to sucker him in the first place.”

Peter’s eyes widened. “A woman with a sharp tongue who speaks her mind, eh?”

“Dani’s more than beautiful,” Bryce said. “She’s also smart.”

“Then you’ll need to watch yourself even more, son.” Peter appraised her from head to toe. “Those smart ones are dangerous.”

No doubt the history between these two involved more than your typical father/son issues. She wondered if Bryce had
gotten over what had happened or if that was why an attractive man like him was still single.

Sipping her drink, Dani stared at the two men.

An undercurrent charged the air.

“I’m not worried,” Bryce said finally.

“Maybe you should be.” Peter’s gaze bounced between her and Bryce. “Well, I’m off to find my fiancée. She’s probably gotten herself lost trying to find the restroom.”

“Same thing happened when she was here for one of Caitlin’s sleepovers in high school.” Bryce raised his glass. “Good luck.”

“You, too.” Peter turned his attention on Dani again. Her breasts, actually. “It was a pleasure meeting you. Catch you two later.”

He disappeared into the crowd.

“Sorry about that,” Bryce said.

“No worries.” She had questions, lots of them, but tonight was neither the time nor place to ask about something that had happened long before she’d entered the picture. “Let’s just enjoy the party.”

He kissed her cheek. “Come on.”

“Are we going to meet more people?”

“Nope.” Bryce held her hand and led her inside and through the throng of guests toward the door. “Cinderella should dance at the ball.”

She stopped. “You don’t like to dance.”

He grinned. “But you do.”

Later that night, Bryce stood with Dani at the door of her apartment. This was only the beginning for them. “Tonight was…”

“Magical,” she finished for him, then rose on tiptoe to kiss him on the lips.

Magical was right. Especially her kiss.

“Thank you so much for inviting me to the engagement
party and dancing with me,” she said, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. “I had the best time.”

“Uncle Edward and my father aside.”

“Uncle Edward was cute.”

“And harmless. My father, however, is the ultimate player,” Bryce explained. “He doesn’t respect women or treat them well, but he has enough money he’s willing to spend that some don’t mind.”

“Like your girlfriend?”

“Ex-girlfriend,” Bryce clarified. “She had her eyes on my father from the beginning and used me to get to him.”

“I’m sorry.” Dani reached up and caressed his face. “I hope you know I would never…”

“I trust you, Dani.”

He kissed her gently, soaking up the feel and taste of her. And then something changed. Something in him ignited, catching fire. He couldn’t get enough of her kiss—of her. With his hands in her hair, he backed her up against the door. She pressed against him. His lips moved over hers. Dani tugged at his shirt, impatient. She was with him all the way.

Bryce pulled back to look her in the eyes; her pupils expanded.

Her face flushed, she moistened her swollen lips. “I think we know where this is going.”

“I hope so.”

That shy smile of hers appeared. “I really like you, Bryce. I want to invite you in, but I don’t want to make any mistakes or do something we might regret later if we go too fast.”

Not what he wanted to hear, but so what? She was worth waiting for.

He took a deep breath. And another.

“You are a smart one.” Bryce looked into her eyes. His affection for Dani grew with each passing second. “We’ve got plenty of time ahead of us.”