Read Online The Last Groom on Earth by Kristin James - Free Book Online Page B

have made a believer of me. I think the bread is even better than the pasta. What do you call this dish, anyway?”
    “I don’t know. I imagine it’s one of Eileen’s spur-of-the-moment concoctions. Maybe she’ll name it Bryce’s Rotini after you.”
    “Or perhaps the King of Pentacles’ Rotini.”
    Angela chuckled. “Could be.”
    It was strange, she thought, but she was actually enjoying Bryce Richards’s company. Perhaps he wasn’t so bad, after all Maybe all these years she hadlet her own insecurity influence her against him. Maybe one could be a number-juggler and still be all right. After all, her sister, Jenny, was a fun person once you got her off mathematical equations.
    “Tell me something,” she said, leaning forward. “What do you like to do? In your spare time, I mean.”
    Bryce looked at her as if she had spoken in a foreign language. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean your spare time. Your activities. Hobbies. Whatever.”
    “Oh. Well, actually, the last few years I haven’t had a lot of spare time. I’ve been busy getting the business off the ground.”
    “And now? I presume it’s flying now.”
    “Yes. But I still work a lot.”
    “So all you do is work?”
    “No.” Bryce looked offended. “I, uh, I go to dinners, parties, things like that.”
    “With clients?”
    “Yes.”
    “That doesn’t count. Something you do for fun.”
    “I work out sometimes at the club. And I run.”
    Angela rolled her eyes expressively.
    “The opera.” Bryce looked pleased with himself. “I went to the opera two weeks ago.”
    “Did you enjoy it?”
    “Of course. It was very…” He paused for a long moment, then grinned. “Boring, actually. I would have fallen asleep if they hadn’t been singing so loud.”
    Angela chuckled.
    “But I’m not completely inert socially,” he protested. “I do date. I’ve been to movies and…that sort of thing.”
    “What was the last movie you saw?”
    “Uh, actually, I—”
    “That’s what I thought. You need to loosen up. All work and no play and all that stuff.”
    He smiled faintly. “I’m afraid I’m not the type.”
    “To enjoy himself? Nonsense. Everyone should have something fun to do, an avocation that takes them away from work. Something light, with no redeeming value. That’s what keeps you young and healthy.”
    “I thought it was food like this that did that.”
    “That, too. But you have to nourish your spirit, as well. Did you know that laughter actually induces healthy responses in your body?” She brightened. “Hey! Why don’t we go to a club? There’s a nice jazz bar not too far from here.”
    “I have work to do,” Bryce replied automatically.
    Angela grimaced. “It’s Friday night. And it’s almost ten o’clock. Nobody stays in their office till ten on a Friday.”
    “They do when they have a client who’s in severe trouble.”
    “For Heaven’s sake.” Angela waved away his remark. “Your client releases you from your obligation tonight. Trust me, the problem will still be there tomorrow.”
    “That kind of attitude is what’s gotten you into trouble.”
    “Don’t be such an old poop. Come on, I insist.” Angela jumped up and reached over to take his hand and pull him out of his chair.
    Bryce found he couldn’t keep from smiling back at Angela and standing up. He supposed he should insist on returning to the office and getting the work done, but he found himself reluctant to bring the eveningto a close. He didn’t really want to return to the office and work by himself. Besides, there was something very pleasantmore than pleasant, actually—about having her hand in his, pulling him along.
    They walked through the empty restaurant to the front counter, where Eileen, through with her job, was sitting with Max, chatting. She turned and smiled expansively. “Did you enjoy your meal?”
    “It was wonderful.” Angela rhapsodized about the food for a few minutes while Eileen and Max beamed. “You’re