Page 25 of Dream Date With the Millionaire
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?”
