Page 99 of Up All Night

I walked around the area, checking out the other restaurants and shops in the area, enjoying the quiet that was such a contrast to the city.

Several minutes passed before West joined me.

“Okay, I’m all caught up and ready to have lunch,” he said with a smile.

I was fine with how he needed to take care of a few things for work, but I was hoping now he’d be able to let himself relax and enjoy our afternoon together.

We sat outside, the warm day the perfect temperature.

Once we ordered, West leaned his forearms against the table. “I feel like it’s been forever since we were together at your dance studio. Have you finished painting yet?”

It did feel like forever ago. We’d both been so busy with work that we hadn’t seen each other since that night.

“Yes, all the painting is done. The wood floor will be installed on Monday, and I can’t wait. Then the mirrors will be delivered on Wednesday.”

“It’s going to look amazing,” he said. “You’re so close to being ready to accept students. Have you started working on any marketing ideas?”

My shoulders slumped. I was so busy, between training at the gym and finishing up my last weeks at the other dance studio, that any remaining time I had was put into working on making my rental space look like an actual studio. “I haven’t had the time. The dance recital is next Saturday, and then hopefully when I’m no longer working there, I’ll have more time to dedicate to getting my business up and running. Although the marketing part does seem daunting.”

“I could help if you want,” he said, genuinely looking as if the idea excited him. “I’d be willing to put in some cash and be an investor, too, to help in the areas you don’t feel as comfortable with in running a business. We could hire experts who could take some of the load off your plate.”

Wait, what? He wanted to give me money?

I tried to remember what I had said, worrying he might have thought I was fishing for him to offer me that. I had in no way wanted him to give me money. The thought of him investing in my business had never crossed my mind.

I blinked a few times. “You want to be an investor in my business?” I said slowly, my mind trying to catch up to everything he’d just said.

“Yeah, I believe in you and your business plan,” he said, like this was the best idea ever. “I enjoy working with start-up businesses, and I think we’d make a great team.”

I swallowed the knot in my throat. This lunch was beginning to feel more like a business meeting than a date.

West’s phone rang. He looked down at the screen. “I gotta take this, but think about what I said.” He stood and answered the call, pacing in front of the restaurant as he talked.

I sat there in stunned silence.

There was no way I was taking his money. His offer had my nausea returning. If I took his money, I’d be just like my mom. How did I keep doing this? It was like no matter how hard I tried not to be like her, I was destined to be her regardless. Dating a rich guy who spent his money on me made my skin crawl.

I. Would. Not. Be. My. Mother.

West returned, sitting down with a smile. “Busy day today. We have several deals we’re in the middle of right now, so again, I apologize.”

“It’s fine,” I said with a tight smile, partially from him working for half of our date and partially from his offer to invest. My happy mood was officially gone.

West’s smile faltered as he took in my expression. I must not have been doing a good job at hiding my feelings.

Our waiter came and placed our food down in front of us, effectively cutting West off from whatever he might have said.

We both took bites of our food, and the lobster tasted so fresh that it must have been caught this morning.

West swallowed his bite and looked like he was about to say something, but I hurried to speak first.

“Thank you for your offer to be an investor in my business, but I can’t let you do that.”

He looked confused. “But I want to.”

“And I appreciate that, but this is something I want to do on my own.” My voice sounded formal, like I truly was talking to some random investor.

He nodded, looking down at his plate. “Oh, okay. I understand that.”

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