“Soon? What is soon?”
If my mom came back, hiding this dumb ruse would be more difficult. Nora could hear her call me Anthony and…yeah, not good. “What’s the rush?”
“After the guilt trip you sent me on, I figured I’d better come back to be with your sister,” she said, making me roll my eyes. Ever so dramatic, my dear mother.
“Okay, stop.” This conversation made me want a drink despite my hangover.
“I’ll talk to your father and see if we can handle things from home. Now I need to go. I love you.”
“You too, Mom.” I hung up and waited a beat before moving.
It seemed all the parts of my life were about ready to crash-land together. My mom’s return meant I had to come clean to Nora, but that could burst the bubble we were in. That fun, wonderful bubble, where money didn’t matter at all. I pinched the bridge of my nose and let myself pout for five seconds.
I was a grown man and could handle this. I didn’t have a choice.
Without a real plan, I went into the kitchen and found Nora soaked. My T-shirt on her was plastered to her skin, showcasing every curve and her pebbled nipples. My body tightened with need, and she looked up at me with her lips curved. “Everything okay?”
No.
“Are you trying to be sexy?” I asked, my voice gruff and low. The way her gaze focused on me and didn’t see dollar signs. The slope of her neck that always smelled so damn good. I walked over to her and turned off the water and spun her around.
“N-No.” Her chest heaved, and with each breath, her breasts strained against the wet cotton. I brought my hands up to her breasts and tweaked the outline of her nipples, making her buck against me. “Fritz,” she said, tipping her head back and giving me access to her neck.
I teased the sensitive skin with my teeth and lips until she was a withering mess. “You’re so beautiful, Nora. It drives me crazy.”
She hummed into me, and by the time my mouth was on hers, she kissed me hard. While using our chemistry as a way to distract myself from the lies wasn’t my best moment, it also wasn’t my worst because despite our differences, we fit together.
Now I had to figure out how to tell her the truth and hope nothing changed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
A few days later,Peter Dubowski sat with his head in his hands and bounced his knee up and down so many times the chair shook. My gut twisted with guilt. My finance guy didn’t come through for him like he did with Carla. The details blurred together, but the main point was that he didn’t thinkthe business had a solid enough plan to invest in.
He had layouts, a menu, a financial sheet to track all purchases, yet…not solid enough. The coffee Carla provided tasted like acid in my mouth. It was a good brew, but watching this guy’s dreams be crushed in front of me ruined the flavor. And to think I gave him a moment of hope before it was crushed.
“Peter,” Carla said in a calm voice. “There are other investors, other banks. I’d be happy to look over your plan and help you with it.”
“There’s no one else. I’ve tried all of them, Carla.” Peter looked up at the sky, and the slump of his shoulders reminded me of me. How I felt at work. Hopeless. Without direction. At a crossroads of wanting to make a change, but without a single clue how to do it.
“Do you know anyone else, Fritz? I know this is asking a lot, but maybe there’s someone…?” Peter asked, trailing off and his face hardening into defeat.
My mind whirled with a spark of an idea.
It wasinsaneand not even fully formed, like ten percent of an idea that I had no business thinking about. What if…I…fronted the money? My mind buzzed with excitement at the fact I could invest money in this proposal without taking a hit. The risk wasn’t my livelihood, but there was a chance I could fail. That this could blow up.
“Wait,” I said, my throat dry and my hands shaking with adrenaline. “Let me see your plan.”
He handed over the packet—color coded and organized to perfection, and I scanned the mission statement.
Green products to promote healthier living.
All organic ingredients and vegan recipes.
Plans to collaborate with other local businesses, like Carla’s and the vegan dessert place Nora told me about.
They could partner with Nora once she starts her business.
All the air left my lungs as I knew, in my gut, this was what I was searching for. This momentright here.I’d heard about silent partners, but never thought aboutbeingone.
