Star Power
yesterday. It looks good. Honestly, if you hadn’t asked me to watch for it, I
still would’ve considered it worthy of a meeting.”
“That’s wonderful. Tell me when he’s due to present. I’d
like to observe.”
Will agreed, they said their goodbyes, and Dani disconnected
the call. Soon, Cope would have a company of his own to run. It felt great to
help out a friend.
On impulse and a sudden desire to see Cope again, Dani
called him and asked him to meet her for lunch. When he cheerfully agreed, she
found her heart beating faster at the prospect of seeing him again. She
directed Mark to drive her home so she could get ready for the date.
***
Dani stepped into the dim, intimate dining room of Genius,
the upscale restaurant she’d chosen for her lunch date with Cope. Outside, the
paparazzi hovered with their cameras, but she didn’t give them a second
thought.
The maître d’ approached and greeted her. “Welcome to
Genius, Miss Grayson. Your party is waiting.”
Dani smiled as he led her past full tables and occupied
booths. Voices mingled in a soft buzz, and a whiff of spice and roasted meat
made her stomach growl. The host guided her to a secluded, candle-lit table at
the back of the restaurant.
Cope smiled when he saw her and stood. He took both her
hands in his, and grazed each cheek with a kiss, sending a shiver down her
spine.
Dani stepped back and eyed his gray suit, noting the perfect
fit, the notched collar, and the navy tie. “You look great.”
He flashed her a grin and pulled a chair out for her. “You
look gorgeous yourself,” he replied as she lowered into the seat. “Did you do
that for me?”
“Did you dress up for me?” Dani teased back.
Cope rested a hand on her shoulder. “Of course. I want to
make you fall madly in love with me.”
They both laughed self-consciously, but when the hand left
her shoulder, she instantly craved his touch again.
A waiter appeared to take the drink order. Cope’s frown and
troubled gaze tipped Dani to his concern about her drinking.
Without hesitation, Dani said, “Sparkling water, please.”
“I’ll have the same. A bottle of your best.” He grinned at
the waiter and eased back into his chair. “You okay, Dani?”
“Me?” She waved away his question. “I should ask you. What’s
happening? Have you found funding for your business?”
“I’ve got a few meetings lined up, and one of them will get
me the money I need.”
“Call me when you’re up and running. I’ll be your first
client.”
“I’d be honored.”
They chatted until the waiter returned with their drinks,
and Dani realized she’d forgotten to review the menu. Cope asked the waiter for
more time, and they scoured the options.
Since filming on the new picture would start soon, Dani had
doubled her daily exercise quota and planned her meals carefully. She went with
the roasted pumpkin salad. Cope chose the salmon with roasted cauliflower,
squash puree, and roasted apples and kale.
When the waiter left, Dani reached across the table and
placed her hand over Cope’s. Their gazes locked, and Dani licked her suddenly
dry lips. “Thank you for the other night.” She lowered her eyes. “You’ve always
looked out for me, and I took you for granted. Newt shouldn’t have fired you—I
never expected that. I can get so full of myself. Please forgive me. I got used
to doing whatever I want, breaking the rules when I want, and it cost you your
job. Why aren’t you furious with me?”
Cope turned her hand over and held it in one of his while a
finger lightly traced circles around her sensitive palm. Dani stifled a gasp at
the jolt the touch speared through her body.
“I disobeyed the rules, Dani. I didn’t argue with you much,
and you didn’t know what a breach of protocol it was.”
“Yeah, but I was so drunk I didn’t care, which was selfish.”
Dani gave him her brightest smile. “Forgive me?”
“Always. Let’s not talk about this
yesterday. It looks good. Honestly, if you hadn’t asked me to watch for it, I
still would’ve considered it worthy of a meeting.”
“That’s wonderful. Tell me when he’s due to present. I’d
like to observe.”
Will agreed, they said their goodbyes, and Dani disconnected
the call. Soon, Cope would have a company of his own to run. It felt great to
help out a friend.
On impulse and a sudden desire to see Cope again, Dani
called him and asked him to meet her for lunch. When he cheerfully agreed, she
found her heart beating faster at the prospect of seeing him again. She
directed Mark to drive her home so she could get ready for the date.
***
Dani stepped into the dim, intimate dining room of Genius,
the upscale restaurant she’d chosen for her lunch date with Cope. Outside, the
paparazzi hovered with their cameras, but she didn’t give them a second
thought.
The maître d’ approached and greeted her. “Welcome to
Genius, Miss Grayson. Your party is waiting.”
Dani smiled as he led her past full tables and occupied
booths. Voices mingled in a soft buzz, and a whiff of spice and roasted meat
made her stomach growl. The host guided her to a secluded, candle-lit table at
the back of the restaurant.
Cope smiled when he saw her and stood. He took both her
hands in his, and grazed each cheek with a kiss, sending a shiver down her
spine.
Dani stepped back and eyed his gray suit, noting the perfect
fit, the notched collar, and the navy tie. “You look great.”
He flashed her a grin and pulled a chair out for her. “You
look gorgeous yourself,” he replied as she lowered into the seat. “Did you do
that for me?”
“Did you dress up for me?” Dani teased back.
Cope rested a hand on her shoulder. “Of course. I want to
make you fall madly in love with me.”
They both laughed self-consciously, but when the hand left
her shoulder, she instantly craved his touch again.
A waiter appeared to take the drink order. Cope’s frown and
troubled gaze tipped Dani to his concern about her drinking.
Without hesitation, Dani said, “Sparkling water, please.”
“I’ll have the same. A bottle of your best.” He grinned at
the waiter and eased back into his chair. “You okay, Dani?”
“Me?” She waved away his question. “I should ask you. What’s
happening? Have you found funding for your business?”
“I’ve got a few meetings lined up, and one of them will get
me the money I need.”
“Call me when you’re up and running. I’ll be your first
client.”
“I’d be honored.”
They chatted until the waiter returned with their drinks,
and Dani realized she’d forgotten to review the menu. Cope asked the waiter for
more time, and they scoured the options.
Since filming on the new picture would start soon, Dani had
doubled her daily exercise quota and planned her meals carefully. She went with
the roasted pumpkin salad. Cope chose the salmon with roasted cauliflower,
squash puree, and roasted apples and kale.
When the waiter left, Dani reached across the table and
placed her hand over Cope’s. Their gazes locked, and Dani licked her suddenly
dry lips. “Thank you for the other night.” She lowered her eyes. “You’ve always
looked out for me, and I took you for granted. Newt shouldn’t have fired you—I
never expected that. I can get so full of myself. Please forgive me. I got used
to doing whatever I want, breaking the rules when I want, and it cost you your
job. Why aren’t you furious with me?”
Cope turned her hand over and held it in one of his while a
finger lightly traced circles around her sensitive palm. Dani stifled a gasp at
the jolt the touch speared through her body.
“I disobeyed the rules, Dani. I didn’t argue with you much,
and you didn’t know what a breach of protocol it was.”
“Yeah, but I was so drunk I didn’t care, which was selfish.”
Dani gave him her brightest smile. “Forgive me?”
“Always. Let’s not talk about this
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