I wince. “She ran into tire trouble.” I don’t mention that I just met Faith when I saw her on the side of the street kicking her van. I recall that moment with an amused smile.
“I’ll take that grin as a yes. So who is she?”
I chuckle, then decide to confide in my cousin, after all. “I met her tonight. She had some issues, and I helped out. She has a candy shop near the club.”
“So you decided to be a Good Samaritan.”
I nod.
“And she thanked you with treats. That you like, a lot.”
I roll my eyes. “Can we discuss business?”
Grinning, Gabe gestures into the apartment, and I follow him through the huge open design and into his private office, where we settle into wingback chairs. “Drink?” Gabe offers.
I shake my head. I’m not a big drinker. Not since that night. “No, thank you.”
“So what’s going on?” Gabe has been my mentor since he finished college and decided to stay in New York with his now-partners. He helped me find an apartment and funded my venture, Club TEN29, named after the date Levi died. A date we will never forget.
“Now what did you want to discuss about the future of your club?” Gabe leans back in his chair and meets my gaze.
“I came here to ask for ideas, but when I was talking to Faith earlier…”
“The candy girl?”
I laugh. “Yes. She mentioned wanting to stand out in her area of business and dominate, and I realized that’s what we needed to do and an idea came to me on how. We should expand Club TEN29, utilize our stage, and upgrade our acoustics. Then we bring in live talent. I want a Miami vibe in New York.” My excitement grew as I explained. “I don’t expect big names off the bat, but I know we can get solid people. I can hit up Avery’s husband, the rock star, for help.” I also dated Charlotte Jasper, another recording artist I met through my half-brother-in-law. I could ask her to perform.
“All of which would require funding.” Gabe steeples his fingers in thought.
I nod. Gabe has his hands in various businesses and has the money to lend, should he deem it a worthwhile investment.
“We have the collateral now to go to a bank for a loan.” Which we didn’t have when we were starting out. Gabe lent us the money for the start-up, which we are still paying back over time. “But I’d prefer to work directly with you again.”
“Talk to your partners and see if they’re on board. Work up a plan and bring it to me.”
I rise to my feet. “Thank you.”
Gabe stands, walks over, and slaps me on the back. “Your success is my success. Besides, we’re family.”
Our grandfathers were brothers, but the Dares remain close despite some living in different states. Even the half-siblings have come to an understanding and have sibling-like relationships now. Some more than others.
“Enjoy your family,” I say to Gabe as we walk to the door.
“Thanks. Enjoy your candy girl.”
My heart gives a kick. “I don’t think I’ll be seeing her again.” She made it clear she doesn’t think it’s a good idea, and if I look deep into my soul, the part of me I protect, I have to agree.
But I still can’t forget the slashed tire or the troubled look that crossed her face when I told her about it.
“Letting her go easily doesn’t sound like the Dare way,” Gabe says before saying goodbye and shutting the door.
I groan and head back to my car, Gabe’s words in my ear.
***
Faith
After my failedattempt to deliver candy and the encounter with my dark knight, as I’ve come to think of Jason Dare, I spend a restless night tossing and turning. I have too much on my mind to relax. From the need to reschedule my candies to a daytime delivery, which means taking time away from being in the store, to my worry about Colton finding me, to thoughts of the sexy man I turned away, I’m unsettled, to say the least.
