“Kon,” he introduced with a smile that left her a bit stunned.
Bella tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled. “Bella,” she returned as he sat next to her.
“Can I get you a drink, Bella?” he asked with the sophisticated baritone of an Englishman.
Bella chuckled. “Are you the bartender?”
“No, darling, I’m not the bartender, but I can make it happen.”
Bella redirected her attention to her file. “So, can I. No, thank you, Mr. Kon.”
Good-looking or not, Bella was uninterested. She already had a gorgeous man with enough charm to fill Soldier Field.
CHAPTER 4
XANDER
Alexander Creed, known to most as Xander, entered the restaurant and walked over to the host stand. The young woman was tapping on a tablet with long, manicured nails but froze when she looked up. “Hello,” she greeted in the same breathy voice most women used when they spoke to him.
Xander smiled. He always led with a smile. Mainly because his mom told him that his smile was his best feature. “Hello.”
The hostess cleared her throat and smiled in return. “Do you have a reservation?”
“Hell, does he need one,” a server muttered under her breath as she passed by.
Xander chuckled. “I’m with the Creed dinner party.”
The hostess nodded and tapped the screen. “You’re a bit early, but one from your party is waiting at the bar.”
She gestured toward the bar area. “I’ll show you the way.”
Xander followed the hostess to the bar where he found Bella in conversation with a man with the look of bad intentions. And Bella must have sensed it as well because she blew him off and looked down at some papers in a folder. The stranger raised a brow and leaned in for another try, but Xander cut off his attempt by stepping between them. “Hey, beautiful.” he greeted before kissing the top of her head.
Bella looked up and gifted him with a wide grin. “Hey, Xander.”
“Always working,” Xander scolded as he took the stool on the other side of her.
“Yeah,” Bella groaned. “I need a life.”
Xander grabbed her hand, putting the large engagement ring on display. “Planning your wedding isn’t enough?”
Bella laughed. “You know damn well I have no hand in the planning of this wedding. This is aTabitha Creedproduction.”
Xander shook his head with a chuckle. “My mom hijacked your wedding?”
Bella nodded. “Yes, and thank God she did. I’m lost in the wilderness here. Shit, Taylor planned this birthday dinner.”
Xander laughed. “And where is the birthday boy?”
“He’s finishing up at the office. He’ll be here shortly.”
Bella peered at him through narrowed lids.
“What?”
“How is it you guys do the same thing, but he seems to work a lot harder than you?”
“What?” Xander scoffed. “For one thing, young lady, we don’t do the same thing. And for another, no one, and I meanno one, works harder than me.”
