Page 22 of Dream Date With the Millionaire
Dani walked to the exact center of the Romanesque rotunda and looked up at the top of the dome.
The vastness of the structure made her feel so small, so inconsequential. The way she’d felt ever since being laid off from her dream job. She hated feeling this way, floundering and frustrated and living a lie. That wasn’t the kind of person she’d strived to be all these years. Dani wanted to make something of herself, make a difference, but she felt as if she were standing on a playground merry-go-round being spun around by a group of mean kids with no way to get off.
She wanted off. Out.
Dani was tired of things being out of her control, of struggling to check the next item off her to-do list. She needed to lighten up and have fun. Tonight with Bryce would be a good start.
So might something else. She remembered a piece of trivia she’d read about this place on a San Francisco tourist Web site.
Dani clapped her hands together once. The sound echoed perfectly through the dome.
“I used to do that when I was a kid.”
She jumped, startled by Bryce’s voice. He looked handsome in a green polo shirt and khaki pants. With his casually styled hair and steady grin, he reminded her more of a fashion model than a computer geek. Except for the paper bag he held.
“You don’t have to be a kid to do it,” she challenged.
His gaze, intense and unwavering, met hers. “Step aside.”
She did.
Bryce handed her the bag. The scent of rosemary wafted out. He positioned himself at the center, looked up at the dome’s ceiling and clapped. The sharp sound echoed through the rotunda. “Satisfied?”
“Very.”
“Me, too.”
The way he studied her made her think she’d gotten a smudge of dirt on her face. “What?”
“You wore your hair down.”
She tucked her hair behind her ears. “I couldn’t find my bandana.”
“Your hair’s longer than I thought it would be.”
Dani couldn’t tell if her hair length was a good thing. Not that his opinion mattered. Much. “I keep thinking I should cut it and go for one of those trendy new styles.”
“Your hair looks great the way it is,” he said. “You shouldn’t change it unless you really want to.”
He sounded as if he’d had this conversation before. And then she remembered. Caitlin. “Spoken like a true big brother.”
Bryce shrugged, looking a little embarrassed and a lot more like his profile picture—that shy, easy to hurt guy Dani had imagined.
“It’s sound advice,” she added. “Thanks.”
“Just don’t ask me to braid your hair.” He shivered. “I still have nightmares over that one. Caitlin, too.”
Dani laughed. “Don’t worry, I can braid my hair myself.”
He made an exaggerated swipe at his brow. “Good, I was worried for a minute.”
She was a little worried herself.
Bryce was too cute, the kind of guy you wanted to take home. Intelligent, nice, attractive, funny. Her friends would like him. Her mother and sisters, too.
Not a date, she reminded herself.
“Nice outfit,” he said.
“Thanks.” She’d chosen a nice pair of brown pants, a blue blouse and a cropped lightweight jacket. Not super-fitted clothes, but these showed a few curves. She’d considered wearing her baggy sweats or another of the loose-fitting outfits hanging in the back of her closet and forgoing makeup again, but something inside of her had revolted at the thought of playing the role of ugly duckling again. She wanted Bryce to see her for who she was.
Inside and out.
His gaze, slow and appreciative, didn’t stop at her breasts, but ran the length of her and back up again. “Your shirt brings out the blue of your eyes.”
She drew back. “You know what color my eyes are?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am. Most guys…”
“Most guys,” he prompted.
She might as well be honest. “Most guys never see beyond my bra cup size.”
He shrugged. “Their loss.”
Dani was used to men liking her body, not her. She was always seen as a trophy, a piece of arm candy. She bit her lip, not sure what to make of Bryce.
“Close your eyes,” he ordered.
She did.
“What color are my eyes?”
“Green.”
“Correct,” he said as she opened her eyes. “Guess you’re not just interested in my cup size, either. So we’re even.”
Dani wasn’t sure about that. She felt off balance, as if her not-so-neat little world had been spun in yet another direction by him. She didn’t like the feeling.
“Ready to eat?” he asked.
“Please. I worked through lunch and am starving,” she said. “Whatever you brought smells delicious.”
