Page 25 of The Pretender

We.I shouldn’t feel comforted by the words of a hot stranger with an amazing dick, but at this point, I’ll take it.

“That’s a good plan. I need to dig in and figure it out. The sooner the better.”

“You said before you aren’t sure what’s not working?”

“Right. The answer is different depending on who you ask. Brogan says it’s marketing, my dad says it’s lack of expansion. My uncle will say expansion is the opposite of what we should do right now since we’re bleeding money.”

“Without knowing more details, I’d say your uncle is probably the closest. If the business is losing money, that needs to stop first. How will you introduce my help?”

“I was thinking of telling them you do business consulting and offered to look at our stuff. I’m sure we could offer you some kind of fee.”

A soft smile tugs at his lips. “I’d say you already have.”

“But they think you’re my boyfriend, so staying with me wouldn’t be considered payment.”

“We can discuss, but I’d rather not take any money.”

I nod as my head fills with questions I don’t intend to ask. He said he wears suits all the time. Is he rich? Or just posh? I bet he looks mighty fine in a suit, either way.

“When your nonna suggested a walk in the garden, she was talking to you, right?” Balt asks.

“No idea. She may want us both to go, just me, or just you.”

“Wonderful,” he mumbles.

I chuckle. “I warned you.”

“You did.”

“What about your grandparents? Do you have any left?”

“My paternal grandmother is alive but very old. She lives in Italy with one of her other grandsons.”

“Did she ever live in the states?”

Balt shakes his head. “Not to my knowledge. I hardly know her. I haven’t seen her in more than twenty years.” He frowns as he stares ahead for a moment. “I feel guilty about that. After my dad died, I should’ve reached out.”

I rub his hand. “It’s not too late.”

He nods, meeting my gaze. “You’re right. Everyone else is gone.”

“It sucks when people die.”

“It does.”

“Do you believe in religion? Heaven and hell?”

A crease appears across his forehead. “I used to, but somewhere along the way I stopped. You?”

“Nah. I stopped a long time ago when I realized I was as gay as the day is long. My brothers were way ahead of me, but they had promised my mom not to share their views with me because I was young and impressionable. Funny how no one considers that when they take a kid to church.”

“Very true. Catholicism is almost cultural for Italians.”

“Agreed. Anyway, at fourteen I decided I wasn’t going anymore, and slowly I stopped believing altogether. Everyone was cool about it, and now only Nonna goes for social reasons.”

Balt smiles, rubbing my thigh. “I’m glad your family was kind to you.”

“Yours?”