Page 6 of Proposition 1

My breathing stopped as my eyes widened. I knew my mouth was hanging open, as I stared at the outstretched hand. I don’t know how I didn’t realize this was the man that had come into the room to stand behind the desk, except that I was too upset to pay any attention to him at the time.

Snapping my mouth shut, I lifted my hand to place my fingers against his, not sure if I should be touching a man from that family. I didn’t want to be associated with him if anyone else recognized him, yet I didn’t want to offend him if he was trying to help me. I assumed he was in league with his father and knew the debt we owed, so maybe he had convinced his father to go easy on us.

He lifted my hand, his firm lips pressing to my knuckles far longer than necessary. I felt myself flush and forced my eyes away from his when he finally released my hand. He was no stranger to women and knew how to get the reaction he wanted, but I didn’t have time for games.

I cleared my throat as he continued to stand instead of taking his seat again.

“You said you could help me?”

He waited a moment longer before answering. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a card and held it out to me.

“I have a proposition for you. Call me when you’re ready to discuss it.”

With that, he removed those searing green eyes from me for the first time since he entered and walked away. I was left staring after him as he passed through the door and disappeared into the darkness outside. It didn’t seem like what he wanted to discuss was something as simple as forgiving my brother, and we couldn’t afford to get more tangled up with them.

The ding from the kitchen letting me know the food was ready jolted me back to reality. I had no reason to trust Leo, but I also had no way to come up with the money on my own. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like whatever his proposal was, but I pocketed the card before going to grab the plates.

If I couldn’t come up with something on my own, I may have no choice but to call him.

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