Page 28 of Love Bites

“It means that the previous three burritos weren’t enough to fill you up?” I said as the offering hung there in the air. A balloon animal popped across the street. A child started crying. The clown knelt down to comfort him. Haider and I both shuddered visibly “That mother needs to remove that child from that clown before he’s pulled into a sewer.”

“Seriously. When I’m a parent I am never going to allow my child anywhere near a clown. Not even a mummer clown. I mean, sure, they have banjoes and strut around in feathers which is sort of like a drag queen but not really…”

“I have no idea of what you are referring to with the mummery or a drag queen with a banjo.”

The man had totally lost me.

“Oh, yeah, well I was thinking of Trixie Mattel but I don’t think she plays a banjo. She plays an autoharp. Mummers are people who dress up on New Years Day and strut around on Broad Street in Philadelphia. One of the kids I went to highschool with was from Philly and his family always watched the Mummers Parade online. It’s pretty cool. I mean, the costumes are really pretty…”

“Haider,” I slipped in before he could launch into another nervous ramble. “The burrito is just a burrito. There is no hidden agenda behind it. Please. If you wish to eat it do so.”

“So what you’re saying is that sometimes the burrito is just a burrito?”

“Exactly.” He plucked the chicken burrito from my hand. The man was so lean I wasn’t sure where he was putting all of this food. “I think we should talk about our relationship.”

He picked a black bean from the goodies inside his burrito, blue eyes now clouded with confusion.

“Do we have a relationship?” he asked then tossed the bean into his mouth.

“I think we have something that is very much close to a relationship. Whether it remains business or pleasure is what we need to decide.” I sat back, crossed one leg over the other, and let him chew his bean. My gaze lingered on the clown who was now on break and smoking a cigarette under a fat oak tree. “Your grandmother and I had quite a chat over our lemonade.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked nonchalantly. I fought the urge to smile, instead keeping my sight on Hank the Happy Clown smoking a Marlboro as he talked on his cell. “She’s been cagey lately.”

“Mm, well, she was rather forthright with me. She told me about her past with my grandfather, and how he stole her recipes.” I turned on the bench to face him. “I am aghast and shamed that my family did such a heinous thing to yours. There will be compensation made—of that I can assure you. Also, I am withdrawing the offer to purchase Harmony Chocolates from you effective as of midnight tonight.” His mouth fell open. Thankfully he had swallowed his black bean. I reached out toclose it, allowing my fingers to linger on his scratchy chin for a tender caress. His blue eyes widened, narrowed, and then dropped to the burrito in his hand. “I will not swoop in to harm Capucine in such a manner again. Her recipes will stay with you, as they should, and I will withdraw from your life wholly.”

He nodded, his curls bobbing. “Okay, that’s…yeah, that’s what I want.”

That admission hurt. “I know. You’ve been very clear that you have no wish to sell to me. I respect that. I should not have come over to try to bully you into it. That is Bernhard’s way not mine.”

His sight came up to grab mine. “I know you’re not like him,now. I mean, now that we know each other better. I’m just…selling would have solved so many problems, so I’m kind of in a weird place where I’m glad to have you back off professionally but unsure of how I can make a go of it without the cash that Brauning would have given me.”

“Personally?” I enquired as my fingers yearned to fly back to his face. I kept them on my lap. His expressive brows tangled. “You said you were glad to have me back off professionally. What about personally?”

“Oh.” He seemed flustered. It was an engaging look but I needed him to be sure. I was. I’d spent one night loving him and was certain I wanted more. And not only sex, although the sex had been phenomenal. I wanted more Haider in my life no matter how difficult that may be at the moment.

“Why don’t you take a few days to think about it?” I offered after watching him burp softly, chew another bean, wet his lips, and swallow loudly. “Perhaps a few weeks.”

“‘Weeks’?” He plucked another bean free then rolled it between his fingers.

“Mm, yes, weeks. I wish to fly home and address a few things with my grandfather in person. This sort of calling out cannotbe done otherwise. I will reach out when I have things settled in Munich. If you have decided to not see me again then I shall send a revamped proposal along via email in all the proper channels. If you request me to return to the states I shall do so with haste.”

The poor black bean was now paste ground between his fingers. He seemed unwilling to look me in the eye, a bad omen, I felt. Perhaps he was unable to even consider a romance with someone related to the toad—thank you Capucine—who had done such ill to his family. It would be understandable.

“What kind of revamped proposal?” That query brought his bright blue gaze from the bean pulp.

“Well, I am not wholly sure yet but I would like to perhaps invest in Harmony Chocolates as a silent partner.” His eyes flared. “I would happily buy say ten percent of your shops stocks then ask for a measly ten percent payback, which I would then reinvest five percent back in the shop. You sorely need to expand. Your webpage is primitive. The kitchen needs modernizing. I have a list of upgrades that I accumulated for my grandfather who will never see the list now.”

“Oh,” he murmured yet again. “I’m not sure about stocks but I can offer you membership units.”

“That would work.”

“Okay. Wow, I…okay.” He stared at me as if he were trying to ascertain how sincere I was being. I didn’t blink or look away. I wanted Haider to see that I was in this one hundred percent, be it just business or a joint personal and professional joining.

“So, that is my new offer. It is not affiliated with Brauning Chocolates at all. This will be a limited involvement on my part in the day-to-day operation of Harmony Chocolates. I can keep tabs on things from Munich online if you wish.”

“Why are you doing this?” I quirked a brow in question. “Making me this new offer. Are you feeling guilty over the shitdear old Opa did to Mamie, or are you truly invested in seeing Harmony Chocolates thrive?”

“All of the above,” I replied candidly as the clown ground out his butt on the grass. Ugh. What a litter clown. “Also, may I just say that I am very relieved that you did not question me on if I were using cash to lure you into a commitment.”

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