Page 64 of The Billionaire Invitation

“Hi, J.” Honesty’s grip relaxed on his arm.

“Me? You’re the bad influence,” Dante said.

“Am not.” Jaylyn stuck out her tongue at Dante and then turned to Honesty. “We’re starting with champagne. Unless you’d rather have margaritas?”

“No margaritas,” Honesty said. “I might never have margaritas with you again.”

“I said that once.” Brody approached, notably missing his better half. “I lied.”

“Where’s Reagan?” Dante asked.

“She’s breast-feeding in the bathroom, which is roughly the size of the Taj Mahal. We brought someone to help with the baby tonight. She said she wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

Funny, Dante had considered missing it, and it certainly wouldn’t have cost him the world. If it hadn’t been for Honesty’s insistence on coming with him, or, face it, Jaylyn’s nonstop texting today, he might have skipped dinner altogether.

“As long as she doesn’t keep the baby hidden away tonight. We want to see her,” Jaylyn said.

“I promise Reagan will bring her around.”

“Hi Honesty, I’m Chloe.” Zander’s girlfriend popped in and offered her hand. “It is so good to meet you. I am excited about the work you’ll be doing with RFV.”

“Thank you. Me too.”

“Come with me for champagne, and I promise not to let Jaylyn or tequila anywhere near you.” Chloe laughed. Honesty gave Dante a wave as she followed them across the room to a stocked bar complete with bartender.

“Dad really knows how to do it, doesn’t he?” Brody’s tone was filled with admiration.

“Are you kidding? This place is ridiculous,” Dante found himself saying, despite promising himself that he wouldn’t be petty tonight.

“A cluttered mess. But somehow it works. Like the rest of Dad’s life. No matter how audacious things appear, they work out.”

Dante let out a noncommittal grunt. How the man had talked four women into mothering his children, and then letting him gallivant across the globe, was beyond him.

“This room has been to more countries than I have,” Dante quipped.

Brody let out a hearty laugh.

Zander stepped in to hand Dante a glass of whiskey. “Drink up before the old man arrives. Who knows how many minutes he’ll stay before he has to run a very important errand. In Italy.”

Brody clinked Zander’s glass with his own. “I thought he was staying in Chicago for a while. That’s what Jaylyn told me.”

“Him? Stay when there’s a fresh new prospect in the wings? Unlikely.” Dante shook his head. “This restaurant’s been open nearly a month. Pretty long in the tooth for our dad.”

He could feel Zander and Brody watching him carefully.

“Sorry. Long couple of weeks. I was planning to be back in LA by now.”

“Sure it’s not more than that?” Brody raised his eyebrows.

“Are things not going well with Honesty?” Zander’s face was a mask of older-brother concern.

How was Dante supposed to answer that? He supposed the truth would be easiest, even if it might subject him to further questioning.

“Things are going very well with Honesty. And with her charity I’m helping to facilitate. Long Live Food will make a big difference to the community.” Dante lifted his drink to his lips.

Brody clapped him on the back, and almost made Dante spill his whiskey down the front of his tie. “Save it for the board meetings, brother. Just say you like being with her. Is it that hard?”

In this crowd? Yeah, it was that hard.