Page 46 of The Billionaire Invitation

“That’s what makes you so special.”

Sloane made a grumpy sound that indicated something other than slumbering joy. Honesty and Jaylyn excused themselves so that Reagan could tend to her.

“I am so happy you’re coming with me. And dinner will be fun. You don’t have plans with my brother, do you?” Jaylyn frowned.

“Dante and I have not made plans for tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” Jaylyn looped her arm in Honesty’s and walked her into the living room where more people had materialized.

Now the pull inside of Honesty wasn’t so much about a baby as it was the Crane family as a whole. They were nice. In an overstepping sort of way.

As Ike introduced Dottie as “my girlfriend,” Honesty found herself thinking that maybe she would keep in touch with Reagan and Jaylyn in the future.

Was that a bad idea?

Just how close would Dante want her to remain to his family after he returned to LA? Would they still be friends? Or would the end of their affair leave them further apart than before?

Dante, who was talking to Brody, met eyes with her across the room. His neutral expression revealed nothing.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The coquette-styled bakery was an ode to lace and bows. With its palette of pink and white, Honesty felt like she’d been dropped into a vat of frosting.

She and Jaylyn sat at an ornate white wrought iron table with matching chairs. Thankfully, the uncomfortable seats had been outfitted with plush cushions—in pink and trimmed with white lace, of course.

Honesty admired the delicate hand-painted sign on the window next to their table. The backwards script read: Angel Cakes.

She’d heard of this bakery but had never been inside. She’d assumed it provided sweet treats for weddings, bridal showers, and baby showers. Maybe the occasional hyper-feminine birthday. It turned out they baked for an array of events—including retirement parties, graduations, and Father’s Day—sans pink as needed.

“Is this place, like, throwing you way off your diet?” Jaylyn asked.

“I don’t diet. That is a common misrepresentation about people in my field—that we are vigilant about every bite we put into our mouths.” Honesty had been asked every dietary question under the sun. Was she gluten-free, vegan, or never ate refined sugar? She’d lost count of the number of times she’d been passed over for lamb shanks or canapés because the host had assumed she’d never. “For me, eating is about adding in more good stuff, not eliminating the bad stuff. Also, spoiler alert”—she whispered this next part—“there is no bad stuff. There are foods that fuel you and foods that cost you. It’s about balance.”

“I love that. So you would eat an Oreo?”

“I would. I have.”

“And drink a regular Coke?”

“Pepsi, but yes.”

“Wow. Admirable.”

“Thank you.” Honesty sat a little taller. She wanted healthy food to be accessible to everyone. Not only the veterans that she looked forward to serving via her new nonprofit, but to anyone struggling with food noise, which was so prevalent these days.

Since it was early afternoon, Honesty accepted the offer of a cup of coffee. Jaylyn opted for decaf tea, saying that she’d had enough coffee today to “awaken the dead.”

“I couldn’t sleep last night. I kept having ideas for rings I want to design. I was up half the night sketching.”

Honesty had been admiring the skull ring on Jaylyn’s middle finger. “Your design?”

Jaylyn nodded.

“Dante said you were incredibly creative. It’s nice to hear you’re pursuing your passion.”

“Reagan’s engagement ring was hidden by six pounds, seven ounces of the cutest baby on the planet, but hers is a design of mine as well.”

“Is that what you do? Custom jewelry design?”