Page 51 of Dream Date With the Millionaire
“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.”
