The Billionaire’s Girlfriend Bet - Leslie North Page 0,36
think I am. But I appreciate your confidence in me.”
She leaned over the center console to plant a kiss on his cheek. “That’s what I’m here for.”
Their car ride to the business district took about a half hour. They chatted and listened to music, but Michelle’s nagging feeling persisted. Something was off with him. She didn’t know what it was. Had no idea how to even ask him. But it was there.
Once they pulled up to the restaurant valet, Blake went into celebrity mode as he handed off the keys—a certain type of cool, calm and collected persona that he had in public spaces. She supposed it came from his lifestyle—or at least the types of people he usually dealt with. At any rate, it was one of many things that fascinated her about Blake. She couldn’t keep the grin off her face as he escorted her into the restaurant on his arm, feeling every inch the VIP at his side.
The restaurant they’d come to was simply called VINO and featured a trendy, modern layout inside—low, rectangular booths around boxy, artistic tables. The air smelled like the most drool worthy food, even though she couldn’t pick out a single, individual scent. Blake pressed a hand to the small of her back as they followed the hostess through the restaurant, winding between tables toward a back room adorned with potted palms and sconce lights.
Inside, Blake’s friends waited. The two men came to their feet first, wrapping him in hugs and friendly claps on the back, and then their significant others headed his way for hugs too. Once they’d all greeted him, Blake turned to Michelle.
“You guys, I have someone special I want you to meet,” he said, slipping his arm around her waist. “Her name’s Michelle.”
Michelle bit at her bottom lip, heat creeping over her cheeks. It was mildly embarrassing, but she loved it at the same time. Blake introduced everyone one by one. His best friends offered their hands, but their partners—Mila and Jackie—pulled her into hugs.
“It is so good to meet you,” Mila said, guiding Michelle toward her seat facing Blake across the long table. “Honestly, with the way Blake talked about you, I wasn’t entirely sure you were real.”
“Oh, no?” She laughed as she slid into her seat, finding a glass of sparkling water already waiting for her. Jackie raised her hand to summon the waiter, who arrived at the table a moment later.
“It’s our best friend’s birthday,” Grayson said, who sat in the middle between Daniel and Blake. “Bring us your most ostentatiously expensive wine.”
Michelle snickered as Mila rolled her eyes.
“Red or white, sir?” the server asked.
“Red. No, white. Blake, why don’t you choose?”
“Red,” Blake confirmed.
The server walked off and the table of friends grinned at each other. And truly—already—Michelle felt like she was among friends. She’d met Grayson and Daniel before at the stadium, and their significant others were incredibly welcoming.
“We heard you gave Blake an incredible birthday present,” Daniel said, smiling over at her.
“It was a poorly made pineapple upside down cake,” she countered. “Hardly incredible.”
“And homemade lasagna,” Blake countered. “And balloons, and all those sweet cards.”
Michelle grinned at him. “Okay, yes. It was an incredible birthday.”
“Blake never cares when I make him lasagna,” Grayson teased. “That’s how we know this is for real with you two.”
Michelle laughed, looking over to Blake for his reaction. But he was fully focused on his phone, frowning.
“What was that?” he asked, putting his phone aside.
“Just saying that you never got all excited when I made you lasagna,” Grayson repeated.
Blake snorted. “You haven’t made me lasagna a day in your life. And if you tried, it would come out so badly I wouldn’t even recognize it as lasagna.”
The friends laughed, and Michelle watched as Blake returned to his phone immediately. She wondered who it was he was texting, or what could be so important that he’d let it distract him from his birthday dinner. The server returned then with their wine, pouring each person a generous glass.
“So Michelle,” Mila said, grabbing her wrist. “We heard you’re a trainer for the Seagulls!”
“Are you best friends with all the baseball players?” Jackie asked, resting her chin on her palm.
Michelle laughed, launching into an executive summary of her real role in the gym—professional mom and shin wrapper. The ladies were very curious, peppering her with questions until the server returned to take their orders.
And once more, Blake buried himself in his phone, frowning down at the screen as if the rest of