Page 14 of The Prince Who Loved Me

The two other women were chatting about seeing a guy they had both dated in the restaurant with a blonde in a tight purple shirt. Brandi looked down at her clothes and frowned.

Surely they weren’t talking about…

“I can’t believe Cris keeps bringing his dates to this same restaurant,” one of them said. “What a douche.”

Well, Cris was a popular name. It couldn’t be the same guy. He had said—

“Do you think he told her yet that this has been his first date in almost a year?” the other asked.

“I don’t blame him for continuing to use it. It’s a good line. And his delivery? With those soul-searching eyes? Flawless.”

“It got me in his bed.” The woman flushed. The sound of the lock sliding carried over. “That one and the shy statement of how glad he was that he came tonight.”

Oh, that bastard.

“My favorite?”

Brandi held her breath as the women washed their hands, hoping they’d turn off the water before revealing it.

“…guess. ‘When I saw you walk in, I felt for sure you were with someone else. No way could I be that lucky’?”

Brandi released her breath. Cris hadn’t said that to her.

Yet.

“Close. It was when he claimed that if I was looking for a hookup, he’d wish me well, but he was in it to find a relationship. Fucking liar. Of course I’d fall for that line. And then he ghosted me after that.”

“You’re too gullible.”

“Was. Though I did get a couple of good orgasms in exchange.”

The whine of the hand dryer blocked most of their laughter.

“I just hope that if she realizes he’s a selfish ass, she’ll console herself with a drink at the bar. Maybe we can introduce ourselves and raise a glass to her escape.”

Brandi waited for the door to close, then braced herself for the rest of the evening. Well, crumbs.

She left the bathroom and cast a surreptitious glance at the groups of women gathered at the bar. None of them were looking at her. Which made sense. How would they have known she would use the restroom at the exact time they were in there?

By the time she got back to the table, the main course had been served. The lasagna had sounded delicious when she had read it on the menu, but now it seemed like she was about to eat a plate of garlic-flavored rocks.

Cris hadn’t yet started eating. At least he had good manners.

“I have a confession to make,” he said.

Oh, she couldn’t wait to hear this one. “What’s that?”

“When you walked in here, I didn’t think you were Joie. No way I could be that lucky. You look exactly like your profile picture. It’s probably not PC to say this, but you’re really beautiful.”

The almost-perfect echo of what the woman in the restroom said put a pit in Brandi’s stomach. Not only because he had said it before, but because he had also instantly judged her on her looks. Yes, she was blessed. And these reactions were pissing her off. She should have had Sebastien take pictures of her without makeup and right when she first woke up.

“I don’t lie about who I am.” She delivered the barb, knowing he wouldn’t pick up on it.

“It’s refreshing. So many people – both men and women – use older photos or have them edited. Like we wouldn’t be able to tell when they show up looking nothing like they did in high school?” He raised his eyebrows as if expecting something.

Was commenting on his looks expected? Was that a thing, now? She decided against it and instead took a bite of her lasagna. It was pretty good, even with the uneasiness in her stomach. “This is delicious.”

“It’s one of my favorite restaurants.”