Best Friends With the Billionaire (The Rochesters) by Coleen Kwan Page B

had boobs.
    But at least Hank noticed, and Shawna, too. The young woman put on a languid, don’t-care attitude, but her sharp eyes darted between Cassie and Kirk, and Cassie sensed she hadn’t completely given up on Kirk.
    The restaurant was packed with well-off diners. Reservations at Rawlins had to be made months in advance, but she guessed being a Rochester meant Kirk could jump the queue.
    She was studying the menu, which featured “infusions” and “emulsions,” and prices that made her eyes water, when Kirk leaned in and murmured, “Try the caviar, it’s really good. And the sea urchin. I think you’ll like it.”
    Caviar and sea urchin? She’d never had either before, but she trusted Kirk to know what she liked foodwise. “You order for me,” she said.
    He lifted his eyebrows, smiling. “Okay.”
    As he gave the order to the server, Cassie couldn’t help the warm toffee feeling inside her at his solicitous manner. Even though they were pretending, she knew this was how he’d treat her if they were a real couple—taking her to a Michelin starred restaurant, helping her to choose exotic food, ordering an expensive bottle of wine that he knew she’d enjoy. For a few moments she indulged in her fantasy, imagining that Kirk was really hers.
    He and Hank quickly fell into business talk. As Cassie listened on, she saw the intelligence in Kirk’s arguments and admired his business skills. He’d always been the smartest man she knew, and now she got to see his cleverness in action. But Hank seemed less enthusiastic, so Cassie turned her attention to Shawna, thinking she could at least keep Hank’s daughter occupied.
    Her attempts at conversation were met with general indifference until Shawna eventually asked, “Have you known Kirk long?”
    “Years,” Cassie replied. “I met him in college, but we’ve only been dating recently.”
    Shawna pursed her lips, reserved and suspicious. “You’re a lucky girl.”
    Yeah, right, lucky. Lucky to be friends with a hot, sexy guy who didn’t want to kiss her. She caught Kirk’s eye. He’d glanced at her several times while he talked to Hank, as if he were checking up on her or something.
    “Oh, I don’t know,” she said, raising her voice so the men could hear. “Maybe Kirk’s lucky to have me. After all, I let him take me to Rawlins just to talk business.”
    Hank laughed. “You have a point there, Cassie.” He glanced at Kirk. “And I think she’s right. You are lucky to have her.”
    Cassie gave Kirk a brilliant smile. “See?”
    Kirk’s expression was enigmatic. “That’s me—bursting with luck,” he said.
    Their waiter approached them with the next course, and the conversation moved on to general topics. As the dinner wore on, Hank became more interested in Cassie, and she found herself telling him about her work in Sydney.
    “Sounds like you’re succeeding in a male-dominated field,” he said, seeming impressed. “Good for you.”
    “But you’re not in that job anymore, are you?” Shawna asked, arms folded across her chest. “Now that you’ve moved back to San Francisco.”
    “I’m looking for a job in my field,” Cassie smoothly replied.
    “Isn’t your family company involved in property management?” Hank asked Kirk. “Why don’t you get your girl a job in your company?”
    As Kirk glanced at Cassie, she felt her neck and chest growing warm. “Well that’s a great idea, but Cassie likes her independence, don’t you, sweetheart?”
    Her heart did a jumping jack, even though the “sweetheart” was for Hank and Shawna’s benefit.
    “It’s true,” she said. “We don’t like living in each other’s pockets, do we, honey bear?”
    Kirk’s eyes widened, and she gave him an impish grin. Bet he hadn’t seen that “honey bear” coming. His gaze lowered to her cleavage, and his mouth tightened. Why? Had she dropped something down her dress? He looked away as she fussed with her napkin.
    Hank leaned back and patted