Page 72 of The Grumpy Billionaire
Reid, on the other hand, appeared almost bored. Of course, he had this perfect creature to himself all the time.
She probably wasn’t even the first supermodel he’d dated.
“Hi,” she said in one of those soft, high-pitched baby-doll voices men seemed to love.I hate her.
“Hi.” I stuck out my hand and stretched my mouth into a smile. “I’m Mara Neely.”
After she gave my fingers a weak clasp, I gestured to my star-struck date. “This is Bruce Franconi.”
“I’m Rainy,” she cooed, then turned to introduce my lifelong love to me. “This is Reid.”
He looked down at her with a patient expression. “We already know each other, pumpkin, remember? That’s why we came over to say hello.”
“Oh, right.” She emitted this little Cartoon Channel giggle, and based on the look that came across Bruce’s face, I thought he might just take a knee and propose.
Reid’s face was now sporting an amused grin. “So this is Bruce.”
He reached across the table and gripped my date’s hand, appearing no less than delighted to meet him. “I see you two are finishing up here. How was your dinner?”
“Fabulous,” I said in a deadpan tone.
“Great, man. You should totally try the New York Strip. You been here before?” Bruce asked.
Reid answered that he had, and Bruce continued his impromptu restaurant review. “Yeah, this place rocks. I knew I had to bring Mara to someplace swanky, you know, cause she’s like, kinda famous and all classy and whatnot.”
“Oh yes,” Reid agreed, clearly fighting to suppress a laugh. “Only the best for her.”
Knowing him like I did, I could tell he wasn’t referencing the dining establishment with that little remark. He was talking about my date.
He saw right through him. He thought Bruce was a joke.
Well—I thought his girlfriend was a silicone-filled, one-calorie-from-starvation nightmare. I reached across the tabletop and stroked Bruce’s hand.
“Oh—you’re too sweet. You know I would have gone anywhere with you, though.”
I could tell I’d surprised Bruce from the way his eyes widened. But he got right with the program.
He grabbed my hand, running a thick thumb vigorously over the back of my knuckles and giving me a totally unsubtle wink before turning back to Reid and Rainy.
“I’d ask you guys if you wanted to go dancing with us after dinner, but Mara and I are just gonna head back to her place, make it an early night. She’s just about ready for bed, aren’t ya, hon?”
I fought to hold in a gasp, while Reid’s bemused expression was instantly replaced with a glare. He issued a tight-lipped reply without looking at me.
“Well, it was great to meet you,Bruce. You have a good night.”
I almost felt sorry for scrawny little Rainy as he whipped her around and dragged her to their table.
Not as sorry as I felt for myself, of course. My ex was sitting down to dinner with a ravishing supermodel.
I was still here with Neanderthal Man’s slightly less-intelligent cousin.
“Listen, Bruce. I think I’m gonna go on home. Alone,” I hastened to add. “I really had the day from hell, and I wouldn’t be good company for anyone tonight.”
His dopey sweet face fell in disappointment. “Aw, can’t we just stay a little longer? I wanted to get dessert.”
I reached over and covered his beefy hand with one of mine. “You should do that. Don’t let me be a party pooper and stop you, okay? And dinner’s my treat.”
“No way—” He started to argue.
