answer his questions, I count to three in my head before replying, “I live with two roommates. They pay the bills, as they know I’ve been struggling; they’re very supportive of my efforts to save the diner.”
As he watches me while not saying anything, I resist the urge to squirm. And the urge to babble.
Then he grins, leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head.
“I will help you.” I start to smile, only for that small glimmer of hope to sink when he says, “On one condition.”
I’m not sure what that condition will be, but something tells me I am not going to like it. I scowl at him. “And what would that be?”
“First, the terms I’m offering are in this file.” He straightens and hands the folder to me. “Once you and your lawyer go over them and you agree to my conditions, I will sign them.” I open the file as he continues, “I will pay the loan off for you. I will also give you enough money to pay off all the past due bills and fix or replace anything that needs done.” I look up and gape at him as I read the sum on the papers. “That includes the money you owe the lawyer.”
“You…” I clear my throat as tears fill my eyes. “You already knew how much I trouble I was in.”
He runs his hand through his hair, his eyes never leaving mine. “It’s my business to know these things. Anybody with half a brain could see you were struggling. I didn’t know how much until my lawyer met with yours. However, I had no idea it started with your father and had been going on for a while.”
I don’t even know what to say. I had given the lawyer my permission to discuss the details with anyone who might be able to help, so I can’t even be mad that he knew the details of my situation.
Dropping my eyes from his to stare down at the papers, I ask, “What is the condition?”
I wait for his answer.
“Luna—Jocelyn—dammit, what do you prefer to be called?”
I actually love the sound of Luna on his lips. The way he says it has my body humming every time, but I don’t want him to know that. I don’t look up as I answer him. “Jocelyn is the better way to go. The last thing I need is for anyone to figure out that I was Luna; it’s bad enough that you know.”
“All right, Jocelyn. The condition is…” He pauses. Really pauses, long enough that I look up at him to find him smiling at me. “The condition is that you marry me.”
CHAPTER TWO
Well, if his aim is to freak me out, he has succeeded.
I jump up from my chair. “Absolutely not!”
He doesn’t seem shocked by my reaction. He smiles and lifts a brow. “Do you have any other options?”
“You know I don’t.” I sigh and sit back down. “Doesn’t mean I am going to accept you.”
He chuckles. “You would be insane not to.”
“Well, maybe I am insane!” I snap, placing the papers on the edge of his desk before pointing a finger at him. “Or perhaps you’re certifiable for even asking. You don’t even know me. Hell, I barely know you.”
“Wouldn’t getting married solve that issue rather quick?”
I throw my hands up in the air. “Why in the world do you want to marry me? What’s wrong with doing this out of the kindness of your heart or something?”
“I’m a businessman.” He grins, leaning forward with his hands clasped. “Truth is, you’re doing a great job with the diner and have been since you took over. You’ve been paying off the debts, little by little, but not fast enough. You simply need money to bring yourself out of debt. But nothing is free, Jocelyn. Everything has a cost, and my money comes with a price.”
I ignore his compliment, even as I fill with pleasure at his words, sticking to the heart of the matter. “Isn’t the fact I have to pay you back enough of a price?”
He shakes his head. “If you marry me, I pay all of this for you. You don’t need to pay me back.”
My mouth drops open in shock. I recover fast, asking, “And if
As he watches me while not saying anything, I resist the urge to squirm. And the urge to babble.
Then he grins, leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head.
“I will help you.” I start to smile, only for that small glimmer of hope to sink when he says, “On one condition.”
I’m not sure what that condition will be, but something tells me I am not going to like it. I scowl at him. “And what would that be?”
“First, the terms I’m offering are in this file.” He straightens and hands the folder to me. “Once you and your lawyer go over them and you agree to my conditions, I will sign them.” I open the file as he continues, “I will pay the loan off for you. I will also give you enough money to pay off all the past due bills and fix or replace anything that needs done.” I look up and gape at him as I read the sum on the papers. “That includes the money you owe the lawyer.”
“You…” I clear my throat as tears fill my eyes. “You already knew how much I trouble I was in.”
He runs his hand through his hair, his eyes never leaving mine. “It’s my business to know these things. Anybody with half a brain could see you were struggling. I didn’t know how much until my lawyer met with yours. However, I had no idea it started with your father and had been going on for a while.”
I don’t even know what to say. I had given the lawyer my permission to discuss the details with anyone who might be able to help, so I can’t even be mad that he knew the details of my situation.
Dropping my eyes from his to stare down at the papers, I ask, “What is the condition?”
I wait for his answer.
“Luna—Jocelyn—dammit, what do you prefer to be called?”
I actually love the sound of Luna on his lips. The way he says it has my body humming every time, but I don’t want him to know that. I don’t look up as I answer him. “Jocelyn is the better way to go. The last thing I need is for anyone to figure out that I was Luna; it’s bad enough that you know.”
“All right, Jocelyn. The condition is…” He pauses. Really pauses, long enough that I look up at him to find him smiling at me. “The condition is that you marry me.”
CHAPTER TWO
Well, if his aim is to freak me out, he has succeeded.
I jump up from my chair. “Absolutely not!”
He doesn’t seem shocked by my reaction. He smiles and lifts a brow. “Do you have any other options?”
“You know I don’t.” I sigh and sit back down. “Doesn’t mean I am going to accept you.”
He chuckles. “You would be insane not to.”
“Well, maybe I am insane!” I snap, placing the papers on the edge of his desk before pointing a finger at him. “Or perhaps you’re certifiable for even asking. You don’t even know me. Hell, I barely know you.”
“Wouldn’t getting married solve that issue rather quick?”
I throw my hands up in the air. “Why in the world do you want to marry me? What’s wrong with doing this out of the kindness of your heart or something?”
“I’m a businessman.” He grins, leaning forward with his hands clasped. “Truth is, you’re doing a great job with the diner and have been since you took over. You’ve been paying off the debts, little by little, but not fast enough. You simply need money to bring yourself out of debt. But nothing is free, Jocelyn. Everything has a cost, and my money comes with a price.”
I ignore his compliment, even as I fill with pleasure at his words, sticking to the heart of the matter. “Isn’t the fact I have to pay you back enough of a price?”
He shakes his head. “If you marry me, I pay all of this for you. You don’t need to pay me back.”
My mouth drops open in shock. I recover fast, asking, “And if
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