Dream Date With the Millionaire (7 page)

The switch in her from the other day bugged him. He didn’t get it. Was the change because of what had happened with Gymguy and she now knew she could trust Bryce? Or the elusive something else?

“What’s the condition?” Bryce asked.

“I pay for the movie.”

That wasn’t what he’d expected to hear. He stretched out his legs in front of him.

Having her pay for breakfast the other day had been an anomaly. Women, especially those who recognized the Delaney name, assumed he would pick up the tab and never offered to pay. Of course, Dani didn’t know his last name. “I’m the one who asked you out.”

“So?” She stared down her nose at him. “You picked up dinner. I get the movie. What’s the big deal?”

“Not a big deal.” He wasn’t old-fashioned or chauvinistic, but he had more money than he knew what to do with. Based on what she’d said so far, her taking the bus and shopping at a consignment shop, Bryce guessed she didn’t have a lot of money. He didn’t want her spending what little she had on him. Especially given the circumstances. Like it or not, he had to get to the bottom of what she was doing on his Web site. “But what if I want popcorn? And a soda?”

“No problem.” Amusement danced in her eyes. “Feel free to order a box of candy, too.”

After her bonbons? He better say no.

“Are you always so—?”

“Difficult?” she offered.

“Easy.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”

“Not easy as in sex. But in dating.” The way her eyes narrowed told Bryce he was digging his own grave here. “Easy as in making things more equal.”

She tilted her chin. “Why should one person have to foot the bill every time because past generations did it that way? Having things, especially finances, so lopsided doesn’t bode well if a couple ever wants to have an equal partnership in the future.”

“That’s smart thinking.”

“I wish I could take credit for it, but I found it on the Web site.”

“Web site?” he asked.

“Blinddatebrides.com. The site has good advice on how to have a successful relationship.”

Bryce’s team put up new content all the time, but he’d been so busy putting out fires and thinking about Dani this week he hadn’t read any of the new additions to the site. “Sounds like you’ve been studying up on the subject.”

“Not really, since I’m not in the market for a serious relationship.”

Ouch. He wasn’t looking for any kind of commitment, either, but the way she dismissed one with him so easily stung. Dani might not know who he was, but several women considered him a catch.

“My friend Marissa e-mailed me the link a couple of days ago.”

His suspicions shot up like a radio antenna.

Had Dani mentioned him to her online friends? Maybe they’d provided that link to help her plot how to snag a guy. That might explain why she was on the site and had started dating after so many months. And wanted to continue their date at the movies.

“Did the article say what to do if a man wouldn’t let you pay?” he asked.

“Drop him like a hot potato because a man like that probably has control issues,” she teased.

He didn’t consider himself a control freak. “Or an unlimited supply of money,” Bryce offered.

“Even the richest man in the world probably would like to be treated to a meal or movie sometime.” She stared up at him, her eyes full of warmth and anticipation. “So will you let me pay for the movie?”

The hopeful tone shot straight to his heart and doused some of his suspicions. Okay, maybe she wasn’t on a husband hunt. Dani might be self-reliant, tough and evasive, but at this moment she wore her emotions for the world to see. He liked seeing this side of her. “I’d be honored.”

She placed the yellow insulated lunch box into her bag. “The theater will never know they are here.”

But Bryce knew.

And that made him wonder…

What were the other rules that Dani didn’t mind breaking?

D
ANI
sat on her bed, placed her glass on the nightstand and caught up on the messages she’d missed.

Her friends cracked her up. They had been waiting for her to log on when she got home from her date and tell them all the details. She could imagine the silly grin on Marissa’s face, too.

Not that Dani minded. She’d been as curious about their dating lives. She remembered the first time Marissa wrote about her temporary boss Rick, even though she’d been dating men she’d met through Blinddatebrides.com at the time. And Dani would never forget Grace’s panic before her first date with Noah that her nineteen-year-old daughter Daisy had set up.

Funny how the three of them had grown closer since then, even though they’d never met in person, but Dani really wished they could. She couldn’t afford to go anywhere. So far neither Marissa, with her upcoming wedding, or Grace, with her pregnancy, had time to fly to San Francisco. Maybe someday.

Dani imagined her two friends, oceans away, with their gazes glued to their monitors, waiting for her to finish telling them about the date. She knew what they wanted to hear—details describing a romantic evening for two, complete with tender gazes and passionate kisses. Too bad nothing like that had happened.

As she stared at the “no” on her screen, regret and disappointment gnawed at her. She knew better than to have expec
tations for a not-a-real-date, but still…Dani wasn’t used to a guy not staring at her body or trying to steal a kiss. Especially when she wanted him to kiss her.

But Dani didn’t know if she should keep seeing him. Being honest with Bryce could jeopardize her job. She couldn’t afford to be without a paycheck or she would have quit. She’d already wasted over six months of her life at Hookamate.com.

Dani hoped so.

But, after hearing what Bryce had to say about where she worked, she wasn’t sure he’d understand anything she had to say. And that realization tied her insides up into a knotted jumble.

My job. My heart.

Dani wasn’t sure which she wanted to keep safer. Both
were at stake and that scared her. Maybe it would be better if she never saw Bryce again.

She thought about his green eyes and his beautiful smile that warmed her heart.

Maybe not.

On Saturday morning, Bryce crawled out of bed. A sleepless night left him longing for extra shut-eye, but he couldn’t fall back to sleep. Caitlin wanted to meet him for brunch in an hour, but he wasn’t that hungry.

Not exactly true.

He wanted something. Someone. Dani.

Why hadn’t he kissed her last night?

He’d had plenty of opportunity, but he’d been trying to be a gentleman. To make up for her experience with other men. Bryce had wanted her to feel safe and comfortable with him, but he needed to remember that a gentleman still kissed his date goodnight.

Bryce walked to the French doors leading to a balcony and looked down at his yard.

Below, a hummingbird hovered near a blooming bougainvillea. The rapid wing motion and the way the bird flitted from one flower to the next, feeding off nectar, reminded him of Dani. Even though she’d sat with him during the picnic and at the movie, she never seemed to slow down or relax or simply be in the moment.

Was that her personality or nervousness or perhaps her age? She was only twenty-six. Six years younger than him.

He wanted the chance to find out which.

The hummingbird flew off in search of another flower. Bryce wasn’t about to let Dani get away so easily. He went downstairs to his computer and typed an e-mail.

To: “Sanfrandani”

From: “Bigbrother”

Subject: Today?

Had a great time last night. Any chance you are free for lunch today?

To: “Bigbrother”

From: “Sanfrandani”

Subject: RE: Today?

Not unless it’s a late lunch. I’m working today.

To: “Sanfrandani”

From: “Bigbrother”

Subject: RE: RE: Today?

A late lunch won’t work for me. I have a family thing. Tomorrow I need to check out a horse my sister is thinking of purchasing over in Danville. Want to come?

To: “Bigbrother”

From: “Sanfrandani”

Subject: Yes!

I love horses. I need to finish up a project at work tomorrow, but can be done by one if that works for you.

To: “Sanfrandani”

From: “Bigbrother”

Subject: RE: Yes!

One o’clock works fine. Where do you want me to pick you up?

To: “Bigbrother”

From: “Sanfrandani”

Subject: RE: RE: Yes!

Pick me up at the corner of Howard and Beale. Near
Starbucks. If you’re running late just give me a call 555-2328. See you tomorrow:-)

Yes! A date and a phone number.

Bryce reread Dani’s replies, noting the exclamation marks and the smiley face on her last e-mail. He grinned.

Many women liked flowers, others preferred chocolate, some favored sparkly jewelry.

But who would have known the way to Dani’s heart was with a…horse?

“How was it?”

“The best ride of my life.” Dani sat atop a gorgeous fourteen-hand bay gelding. Giddy with excitement, she smiled down at Bryce. “He’s a great horse. Fabulous gait, compliant, good attitude.”

“How does he handle?”

“Wonderfully. I think I’m in love.” She knew Bryce had only asked her to ride the horse because she was close to Caitlin’s size and hadn’t ridden in months. Dani didn’t care about the reasons. She leaned forward in the saddle to pat the horse’s hot neck. “Did you see those lead changes? They were great.”

He smiled up at her. “You were great.”

She sat taller in the saddle. “Thanks. I’ve always felt comfortable with horses.”

“It shows,” he said. “You’re fun to watch.”

He was, too, with his dark hair gleaming in the sun and a wide smile brightening his face. “Thanks for letting me ride him.”

And thank goodness she’d thought to bring her paddock boots or she might have missed the chance. What an opportunity.

With a final reluctant pat, she dismounted. She’d taken the horse through his paces and showed Bryce what he needed to know. Her job was finished.

Her feet hit the ground. She held the reins in her left hand and removed the helmet she’d borrowed from the stable with her right. “I forgot how much I enjoyed riding.”

“That’s what Caitlin said.” Bryce took the helmet from Dani and fell in step beside her. “Her fiancé, Mark, could tell she missed riding and told her to buy a horse. She used to be really competitive and he’s encouraging her to go for it again.”

As Dani led the horse around the ring to cool, she glanced toward the entrance to the indoor riding arena where the owners, a man and woman in their mid-fifties, spoke to a male rider.

Dani wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans.

The couple had kept their distance from her and Bryce once they’d realized Dani knew what she was doing. She appreciated the vote of confidence. “Caitlin will be able to do whatever she wants with this handsome fellow.”

“Good to hear.” Bryce moved with the grace and agility of an athlete. Dani would love to see him ride. “The vet’s already done an examination. He looks like a winner. I’m going to tell Caitlin to buy him.”

The horse snorted.

Dani didn’t blame him one bit. She wrinkled her nose. “Is that really your job?”

“Who else’s job would it be?”

“Caitlin’s.”

His grin crinkled the corner of his eyes. “That’s one of the things I admire about you, Dani. You say exactly what’s on your mind.”

“If I didn’t, you wouldn’t know what I was thinking.”

“It works both ways,” Bryce said. “So you know, I’m not trying to make Caitlin’s decision for her. She asked me to come out here and give my opinion. That’s all. There’s also something you don’t know about my sister. Something you should know.”

His eyes darkened.

“What?”

Bryce paused. His lips thinned into a narrow line.

His serious expression worried Dani. “What is it?”

He took a deep breath. “Caitlin fell in love with a man who wasn’t what he claimed to be. He stole her money and broke her heart. I don’t want her to be hurt like that again so I look out for her, whether it’s with love or horses.”

Dani respected how he looked after his sister, yet…“That’s admirable, but what about your father? Isn’t he the one who’s supposed to do that?”

“My father’s into his own thing. He was never around much when he and my mother were married and it’s gotten worse over the years.” Bryce’s jaw thrust forward. “He spends his time seeking young wives.”

“How young?”

Bryce grimaced. “His current girlfriend is the same age as Caitlin. He’s not exactly big on being a parent these days.”

He acted nonchalant about the whole thing, but an edge of bitterness in Bryce’s voice made her want to reach out to him.

The horse butted her with his nose.

Okay, she could take a hint.

Dani touched Bryce’s arm. His muscles rippled under her hand.

“At least your dad’s still around. That counts for a lot. He could have just…”

Bryce’s brows slanted. “What?”

She pulled her arm away from him. “Left.”

As she led the horse toward the gate, Bryce followed.

“My dad took off when I was six,” she explained. “My youngest sister was only a couple of months old. He said he loved us and would be back, but we never heard from or saw him again.”

Bryce’s eyes clouded with sympathy. “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t want his pity. “Thanks, but my mom said he
wasn’t cut out to be a husband and father and we’re better off without him.”

“You must miss him.”

Dani shrugged. “I don’t remember him. I have some of his DNA and his last name. That’s all I ever want from him. I think what I miss is the idea of having a dad, but my sisters and I have done great, thanks to my mom.”

Bryce shook his head. “I don’t see how a man could desert his family like that.”

Neither did she. Especially since her father had left them with nothing. But Dani wasn’t about to let his selfish actions years ago ruin this beautiful day. She looked up at Bryce, the sun warming her already heated face. “Not all men are like you.”