The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire(51)
Dane gave her a superior smile. “Watch.”
A valet hurried over to take his key, and an attendant opened the door for her. The exterior had oddly shaped trees and shrubs that looked like a topiary seascape, especially with colored lights beaming on them from the ground. A sign with swoopy, elegant writing read La Mer. The name seemed familiar.
The maître d’ in a perfectly pressed tux greeted Dane as they walked inside. “Good evening, Mr. Pryce.”
“A table for two.”
“Certainly.”
A tall blonde in a black dress came out and led them to a table. As they walked into the main area of the restaurant, Sophia felt her jaw go slack.
Dane leaned over. “You’re going to catch flies.”
She flushed.
They wove their way through aquarium walls full of exotic tropical fish. Unlike some restaurants that showcased fish destined to be made into meals, none of the specimens were for consumption. The bluish light and gentle movements of the fish were soothing, and the restaurant glowed like a magical underwater world.
Diners in the latest fashions and bedecked with jewelry conversed softly as they ate, their silverware clinking. The perfume in the air alone was probably worth more than a brand new Mercedes. Chopin played from speakers embedded in the ceiling and columns.
The woman stopped at a private booth. “I hope you find this acceptable, Mr. Pryce.”
“It is,” Dane said.
Sophia sat down and looked around, trying not to seem too overwhelmed. “I can see why you said it’s one of those places you have to come see. Is this”—she gestured at their booth—“a perk of being Mark’s brother? Or does he owe you a favor too?”
“Both, actually. But if you ask he’ll deny that he owes me anything.”
“Why? Is he the ungrateful type?”
“He thinks I tried to sabotage his relationship by giving his girlfriend a ride into the city once. Never mind that she climbed into my car without asking. It’s not my fault he can’t control his woman.”
Just then a waiter appeared. Dane ordered a five-course meal featuring lightly seared sea bream and green sauce. She hadn’t been sure what to get—the menu didn’t have prices or even much information—so at the end, she followed Dane’s lead.
The service was fast and efficient without being intrusive. The waiter seemed to be invisible until he was needed. The sea bream melted in her mouth, the sauce just right to compliment the flavor of the meat without overwhelming it with herbs.
“This is amazing,” she commented, savoring each bite.
“Worth skipping dinner at home, isn’t it?”
“Yes. And I feel kind of disloyal.”
“Why? This is better and that’s the truth.”
“But I feel like I shouldn’t say it out loud, you know?” She licked the sauce on her lips, and his gaze dropped to her mouth. She looked away as her face warmed. She shouldn’t put much stock into this dinner. It undoubtedly meant nothing to him. “There’s something about you that makes me more direct than I would normally be.”
“Do you prefer lies?”
“Of course not.”
He tilted his head, studying her. “Does honesty make you uncomfortable?”
“Sometimes, but it’s preferable. And refreshing.”
“So my guess was right. You have been surrounded by liars.”
“I’ve been surrounded by…doublespeak.” She’d loved competition, but she didn’t like confrontation. Skate federation officials and the media had always been careful to ensure that either they could cover their butt or elicit certain juicy responses out of her. She’d learned to be circumspect about what she’d said to avoid unnecessary drama.
“Is that how people excuse lying these days?”
“Easy for you to say. Who’s going to ding you for being blunt? Unless I’m mistaken, people want you to like them, not vice versa. I’ve seen people trying to get you to buy into their business ideas.”
Dane shook his head. “They’re wrong about that. I don’t need to like them to invest in their ideas. All they need to do is convince me that their business is going to add value to human lives, and therefore be profitable.”
That was probably true. He always seemed cold and remote in the office, prompting the complaints she’d heard from his staff. Would they have found him more human if their first interaction had been in Mexico or something similar?
She moved a piece of sea bream around, gathering up sauce, then chewed it thoughtfully. “So when are you moving out?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Moving out?”
“You lost the bet. I thought you’d give up and move back to your place.”