“I guess we’re here.” Thankfully, Laurie sounded unperturbed that they’d ridden in silence for much of the trip.
He followed her out of the car and walked beside her into the restaurant. As he placed a guiding hand on the small of her back, he steeled himself for the spark that came from touching her.
I don’t remember it being like this before. It’s obviously been way too long since I went on a date.
Laurie was completely annoyed with herself. Her body was sending crazy charged sensations everywhere, and all Finn had done was touch her back. It wasn’t even her bare back, mind you. The zing transferred through the outer dress material, a satin lining, and a spandex thigh-and-midsection girdle she’d spent twenty minutes squeezing into.
His deep voice rumbled, “Reservation for Finn Anderson, party of four.”
The hostess, a twenty-something, wearing a too-short-in-Laurie’s-opinion dress, turned a bright shade of pink, gushing, “Yes, Mr. Anderson. Right this way. Your table is waiting.”
Laurie kept a keen eye on Finn’s gaze, impressed when it didn’t drop down to the girl’s swaying hips as she weaved her way through the swanky restaurant. It wasn’t the kind of place Laurie frequented. She might’ve gone with the Knights after Steph married Branson. The billionaire could easily afford it, but they seldom ate out anywhere. Being blind, Branson felt more comfortable eating at home, where the noise didn’t distract from the conversations.
As they took their seats, Miss Wiggle-Butt leaned over Finn to slide a business card into his hand. “I saw you on the cover of Now Magazine. I’m your biggest fan, you know. My name and number are on this card, Mr. Anderson. If there’s anything you need, tonight or any other time…” She fluttered thick, fake lashes at him. “Anything at all, just call me.”
Laurie waved her fingers in front of the girl’s face. “Hello! Are you blind? Or am I invisible? Do you see me sitting right here?”
She blinked wide green eyes at Laurie, as if she’d appeared out of nowhere. Her mouth opened, and an “Oh!” came out before her fingers covered it.
“It’s hard to believe you missed all this, in a bright red dress.” Laurie flitted her hand up and down, indicating her ample body.
“Uh… I’m sorry…”
Finn’s eyes crinkled in the corners as he stifled a laugh. Showing pity for the shaken girl, he read from the card. “Marla? Is that your name?”
“Y-yes.” Marla backed a few steps away from Laurie.
“Marla, could you do me one big favor.”
“W-what?” Her eyes shifted back and forth between Finn and Laurie.
That’s right. You’d better not be flirting with my boyfriend while I’m sitting at the table. Uhmm… my temporary boyfriend.
“Would you bring us an extra chair?”
“Yes, Mr. Anderson. Right away.” She scampered away like a mouse surprised by the light.
“I suppose that’s a common hazard of being rich and famous,” Laurie said.
“Don’t forget incredibly good-looking.” Finn laughed as if his description wasn’t accurate. “I’m actually only famous in certain circles. Cole is the real face of Phantom Enterprises, so he attracts most of the attention. I’m more in the background, mostly developing video games, so I’m more likely to have young guys fawning all over me.”
“You’re saying I could take you to a nightclub with me and use you for bait?”
“Ha! Only if you like nerdy guys who spend all day sitting in front of their computers.”
“I’ll take a nerdy guy over a jock, any day.”
From his narrowed eyes, the note of bitterness that crept into her voice hadn’t escaped his attention.
“Did you have a bad experience with an athlete? Ex-boyfriend perhaps?”
The man hadn’t become a billionaire by accident—he was as sharp as he was irritating. He’d come amazingly close to the truth with a minimum of clues.
“Nope,” she answered honestly, nothing to clue him to the fact that her father was the athlete in question. Before he could follow up with another question, she asked, “Who’s the fifth chair for?”
“Lucy Felder… the most beautiful girl you’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Admiration swam in his deep blue orbs, and Laurie felt a pang of jealousy. How would it feel to have Finn Anderson think something like that about me? Not that I believe looks are that important, but still…
“I can’t wait to meet her.” She did her best to smooth the strangled sound out of her voice.
“Here she is!” Finn beamed as he bounced to his feet, his hands outstretched. “Come here, beautiful!”
“Hiya, Finnster.” A tall woman with shoulder-length strawberry-blond hair held a carrier as Finn extracted the baby from it. “Don’t wake her up. I just fed her, so I’m hoping she’ll sleep through dinner.” She kissed Finn on the cheek and turned to Laurie. “Forgive my brother’s rudeness. I’m Katie Felder.”
“Nice to meet you, Katie.”
“She’s already used to my rudeness,” Finn added.
“Mum’s coming. She stopped at the ladies’ room.”
Expecting a handshake, Laurie rose as Katie approached, but got wrapped in a smothering hug, instead.
“Sorry about that.” Katie chuckled, when Laurie awkwardly patted her back. “I’m afraid our family hugs everybody all the time.”
“Not so.” Finn bent to place a gentle kiss on his niece’s forehead, a move that made Laurie’s heart swell inside her chest. “I tried to hug you after I ran that marathon a month ago, and you ran away, squealing.”
