The Stubborn Suitor, Book Two (An Alpha Billionaire In Love BBW Romance) Read Online Free Page B

Emerson’s beach party. She had never heard him say anything condescending or rude himself, but the comments and jokes of others hadn’t seemed to offend him either. She’d thought he was a stuck-up snob at the time. Perhaps her first impression had been correct. He obviously thought he was better than the poor girl working at the restaurant. Maybe she should have just stayed home with Madison.
    Before she had the opportunity to turn and flee, however, the hostess was approaching them.
    “Your table is ready,” the girl said with a smile, leading them towards the back of the restaurant.
    “I asked for a table by the window,” Drew growled as the hostess stopped at a table in a corner.
    “I’m sorry, sir. This is what we have available.”
    Drew opened his mouth to argue, but Cami stepped in front of him and smiled at the girl.
    “This will be fine,” she said. “Perfect, in fact. Very private and romantic; right, Drew?” She turned towards Drew with her eyebrow raised.
    “If you like it, that’s all that matters,” he replied, pulling out a seat for her.
    Cami sat in silence for a while, staring at the wine list.
    “See anything you like?” Drew asked in a more gentle tone.
    “I’m not really much of a wine connoisseur,” Cami replied curtly.
    “How about I just order a bottle for both of us?”
    “Fine, whatever,” Cami answered.
    She knew she should try a little harder to be polite or the entire date was going to be miserable, but she just couldn’t help herself. She was too upset over the way he’d treated the hostess. In that moment, he’d reminded her a lot of Ken—just another spoiled rich guy who thought he was so much better than the working class.
    Cami buried her head in the menu and barely paid attention as Drew ordered their wine from the server. She did note, however, that he was much more polite to the server than he had been to the hostess. He’d probably picked up on her distaste and was trying to get back into her good graces. But she didn’t want him to treat people well just because of her…she wanted him to do it because it was the right thing to do.
    If this date really was a test, he’d already failed.
    The waiter brought the wine, and Cami had to fight the urge to chug the glass in front of her. She and Drew sat in tense, awkward silence for a few minutes, each sipping their wine. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and it was quickly going to her head. When the waiter returned a few minutes later to take her order, she had finished her first glass and was halfway through her second.
    “Ready to order?” the man asked with a smile.
    “Give us a minute,” Cami replied, feeling bold. Once the server had left, she leaned forward and continued speaking to Drew. “Listen—maybe we should just leave. I can pay for the wine and have the rest corked to go. We can just call it a night and go our separate ways.”
    “What?” Drew replied, surprised. “No! Why?”
    “This is awkward, and we both seem miserable,” she stated.
    Drew took a large sip of his own wine, practically finishing off the glass, before he replied.
    “Look…I’m sorry. We got off to a bad start. But I like you a lot and I want this to work.”
    “It doesn’t seem that way right now. Why did you even ask me out? We’re just sitting here in silence.”
    “I asked you out because I like you…a lot. And then the stuff with Claudia made it all awkward and weird. I’m sorry…let’s start over. I like you. I like you a lot.”
    There were a lot of confusing things about that statement, so Cami decided to take them one at a time.
    “Why?” she asked.
    “Why?” Drew repeated, obviously confused.
    “Why do you like me?” Cami clarified. “Because sometimes, it seems like you like me, but other times, you seem pretty apathetic. You’re hot and cold. It’s confusing. So I want to know why you think you like me.”
    “I don’t just think I like you. I know I do,” Drew assured her while