Dream Date with the Millionaire

by Melissa McClone

  The warmth in Dani’s gaze made his senses reel. “I’ve been busy.”

  “I can see that.” Maeve smiled. “But, this time, I understand why. We’ve enjoyed chatting with your…friend.”

  His mother emphasized the last word.

  “Dani is my friend.” Bryce didn’t want Dani to feel uncomfortable, but that seemed impossible under the circumstances. “She and I are dating.”

  “You might have mentioned it,” Maeve said. “Her.”

  “He hinted, Mother,” Caitlin added. “Remember what I told you, but I’m sure he just wanted to keep Dani all to himself.”

  As the color on Dani’s cheeks deepened to a bright red, Bryce’s chest tightened. His sister was right. He did want to keep Dani for himself. He wanted to pull her away from his family and spend the morning with her. The afternoon and evening, too.

  Caitlin leaned forward. “Dani, I don’t know if Bryce has talked to you about—”

  “Later,” he interrupted.

  “But—”

  “I promise.”

  His sister nodded, her face glowing as if she were walking down the aisle today, not in nine months. “I have a great idea. What if the four of us go to breakfast and then Mother and I can take Dani shopping?”

  “That would be a lovely way to spend the day,” Maeve said. “We could stop in at the Fairmont afterward. The Laurel Court puts on a nice afternoon tea.”

  “Oh, afternoon tea would be perfect.” Caitlin clasped her hands together. “We could always go to the Garden Court at the Palace Hotel. I love the harpist there.”

  Dani sat still, not saying a word. A smile remained frozen on her face, but her eyes reminded him of a deer caught in the headlights of two semitrucks approaching from opposite directions. No matter which way she went, she was going to get hit head-on.

  Bryce wasn’t about to let that happen.

  He placed his hands on her shoulders and gave a reassuring squeeze.

  “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 characters. 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 whoosh
ed 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.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  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.