Billionaire Romance Boxed Set 2(32)

Daniel chuckled a little. “Really? We haven’t been to one of those in…God. How long’s it been?”

“I’d rather not think about it,” said Lindsey. “I just remember you always used to throw a fit whenever Dad wouldn’t let you get a milkshake.”

She looked at me then, for some reason, and I wasn’t sure what I was meant to say. “Too much sugar?” I supplied, trying to imagine Daniel as a little kid bouncing off the walls because somebody let him have too much candy.

Lindsey frowned a little. An awkward silence reigned for a few moments.

“Burgers sound great,” Ray piped up from his chair. “Six o’clock?”

Daniel opened his mouth to object, but Lindsey shook her head, instantly silencing him. “Shut up, Dan. Nobody else likes to wait until the crack of midnight to have their dinner. You can just take it to-go if you absolutely have to wait until the most fashionable hour to eat.”

I giggled. I couldn’t help it - I’d always hated that he wanted to take me out to dinner so late, but I figured that was just how it was going to be with him. He commanded so much quiet authority. But not, apparently, when his sister was around.

A familiar melody, tinny but clear, echoed through the room.

“Oh,” said Lindsey, reaching into her pocket. “That’ll be the hotel. We’d better go meet our shuttle.”

“I’ll help you with your bags.” Daniel got to his feet, but Lindsey stopped him with a single look.

“For Christ’s sake, Danny. My arms work.” She chuckled. “See you at Jerry’s at six!”

Once they were safely down the hall, I turned to look at Daniel. He had the thousand-yard stare of a bomb survivor.

“She’s quite a firecracker,” I said.

“I’m sorry,” he said, quietly, not looking at me.

“No, I like it.” I pulled one of the chairs over and sat close to his desk. “I like her. She doesn’t take any bullshit, does she?”

He finally cracked a smile. “No,” he said. “No she does not. Least of all from me.”

“I can’t wait for tonight,” I said. “Seriously.”

Daniel looked relieved. “Lindsey’s cultivated a certain personality,” he said. “To get by. To thrive, really. She runs the biggest architectural firm in Boston. You don’t get to where she is by playing nice with men like me. It’s a reflex by now, I think.” He shook his head. “Anyway, she’s my big sister. She’s allowed certain liberties.”

“I should say so.”

It made perfect sense, now - someone with Daniel’s ambition but without the advantage of his XY chromosome would naturally develop Lindsey’s personality. I could tell from the tone of his voice that he admired his sister, perhaps with just a touch of that awe that younger siblings tend to carry for their older brothers and sisters, even when they should, by all rights, be equals.

“It really will be fun to have dinner somewhere casual,” I said. “Don’t you think?”

“I suppose.” Daniel was shuffling papers on his desk. “How’s it going out there? Do you almost have everything wrapped up?”

“I guess,” I said. “You know, you’ll never find another designer quite like me.” I was mostly kidding, but I suppose a part of me was fishing for a compliment.

He smiled wryly. “Get back to work, Ms. Wainright. I’ll come by for you at five thirty.”

“I’m going to need to cut out early if you want me to have time to get home and get ready, sir,” I said, with exaggerated politeness.

“Of course. Go home at four and relax.”

“Oh, thank you, sir.”

He shook his head. “You’re picking up a bit of my sister’s bad attitude,” he said. “I’m not sure I like it.” But he was smiling.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Thorne. I’ll make sure to work on it.”

And with that, I sashayed out of his office.





Chapter Eight



We arrived at Jerry’s Grill right on time, and Lindsey and Ray were waiting for us on the bench outside. Lindsey waved enthusiastically with both hands, pulling me in for another half-hug like she hadn’t seen me in weeks. “You’ll love this place,” she said. I loved the smell already - one hundred percent authentic beef and fry oil.

It was noisy and hectic inside, but our smiling hostess led us on a long, winding pathway to an empty booth near the back of the restaurant. Unlike many of the faux-Americana burger joints that had sprung up modeling themselves after places like this, the black and white photographs and memorabilia on the walls were all authentic. I’d heard of this place before - it always garnered a mention on those food-centric travel shows, and had a top spot on “iconic places to eat” lists for my city. People were always surprised when I said I’d never been, but there wasn’t much money to eat out when I was a kid. And as an adult, going to place like this alone just seemed…sad. It was the kind of place you’d bring your family.