Envious

by Cheryl Douglas

  “You’re gonna be so sorry you said that, Rozen.” She slipped into the driver’s seat. “Remember, I was once a very, very bad girl.”

  He slammed the door and leaned over when she rolled down the window. “Show me how bad you can be, beautiful.”

  “You’re on.”

  As Chris rounded the rear of the car, he knew there was no turning back. He could deny his feelings for this woman while she shared a bed with his best friend, but as a free agent, all bets were off.

  Instead of turning into the parking lot of the plaza with the unit they were supposed to view, she drove right past, laughing out loud as she hit the gas to beat a yellow light. “If I had a car like this, I wouldn’t let it sit in a garage collecting dust. I didn’t even know you’d bought this.”

  “Just picked it up a few weeks ago,” he said, grinning. She was having so much fun driving the car, if he’d had any reservations about the six-figure price, he didn’t anymore. It was worth every penny just to see her smile like that. “A buddy called and asked if I might be interested in taking a run out to Oklahoma with him. He restores classic cars, and he had to pick up one he bought. The guy he bought it from had this baby in his collection. He didn’t want to part with it at first, but I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”

  For someone with his means, Chris lived a pretty low-key lifestyle. Muscle cars were one of the weaknesses he enjoyed indulging when the opportunity arose. He didn’t go looking for cars, but when he saw one that made his mouth water the way that one had, he couldn’t walk away. That was the nice thing about earning more money than he would ever spend. He could afford to treat himself once in a while… or the lady in his life.

  Shooting a sidelong glance at Katie, he couldn’t think of a woman who deserved to be pampered more. She hadn’t had an easy time of it growing up. While he was playing sports and fishing, she was dealing with an alcoholic mother and wondering where they would get their next meal. It was no wonder she’d fallen in with the wrong crowd and turned to drugs. She was looking for a place to belong, a family to belong to. She found that with the kids on the streets who were as lost and alone as she was. If things had been different, he would have grabbed her hand, but he had to keep reminding himself it wasn’t a date. That wasn’t easy when her little black dress screamed take me.

  “Oh my God,” she said, slowing down in front of what appeared to be a newly renovated building just off a quiet residential street. “I didn’t even know this was here. Did you?”

  “Can’t say that I did.” Seeing the way her eyes lit up, he knew they’d have to stop and check it out. “Pull in.” He gestured to the near-empty parking lot.

  “I don’t think we should,” she said, slowing to a rolling stop near the curb. “It looks like there are people working. They’ll wonder what we’re doing here.”

  “There’s a ‘For Sale’ sign,” he said, gesturing to the realtor’s sign. “I’m sure they expect people to stop and check it out.”

  “Wow,” she whispered, looking up at the small building as if she was seeing the Taj Mahal for the first time. “It’s perfect.”

  Chris guessed it was a twelve thousand to fifteen thousand square foot building. The newly finished stucco exterior gave it a more modern appearance than the older, more traditional homes surrounding it. It was a great neighborhood, perfect for the kind of business she had in mind. The building had ample parking for staff and parents dropping off their kids and a large grassy area in the side and back, which would be ideal for a playground.

  “We should keep that other appointment, but why don’t I give the agent a call and see if she can meet us here in about forty-five minutes?” He pulled his cell phone out and started dialing before he realized she was gaping at him. “Is there a problem?”

  “Look at this place.” She gestured wildly. “Do you have any idea how much something like this would cost in this area?”

  It was commercial space, so it wouldn’t cost as much per square foot as residential. Given that it was on a large lot, Chris guessed the price tag to be in the vicinity of a cool two mil. “No, but I’d like to find out.”

  “But, you can’t—” Katie fell silent when Chris shushed her and smiled. She looked at the building as though she was awe-struck at seeing her fantasy laid out before her.

  Chris knew, no matter the cost, the building had to house her new business. After exchanging a few words with the selling agent, he disconnected the call and gripped his phone. “We’re all set. She’ll meet us here in about forty-five minutes, so we should probably make our way over to that other unit now.”

  “But this is too big. I mean, it’s exactly the kind of place I imagined having someday, but—”

  “Let’s just check out both places. For the sake of comparison.”

  “Okay,” she said quietly, stealing one last look at the building before easing away from the curb. “If you say so.”

  Chapter Six

  The landlady had shown them the storefront unit, and Chris was driving them back to the building they’d spotted. Katie had suggested he drive so she could collect her thoughts. Everything was happening so fast. She hadn’t even completed her courses, and he was offering to set her up in business. Could she really handle that kind of stress?

  “You’ve been quiet,” Chris said, pulling into the now-empty parking lot. He eased into one of a couple dozen parking spaces and turned off the car. “What did you think of that unit?”

  “It was nice,” she said. “It was a good size for about twenty kids.” That was the kind of enrollment she was anticipating for the first couple of years. It may not seem like a lot to him, but to her, the idea of being responsible for the care and educational development of twenty pre-schoolers seemed like a daunting task. She wasn’t even sure she could handle that many, but she didn’t think voicing her concerns to the man who’d offered to invest in her business would be prudent.

  “Is that your vision for this business?” Chris asked. “Twenty kids? Tell me what you’re thinking. And don’t say nothing. I know you.”

  He could probably see the wheels in her head turning, she thought. There was no point in trying to conceal her fears from him. He would see right through her act. She stared out the window at the large oak trees dominating the generous yard. She could imagine a playground there full of kids blowing off steam at recess, screaming with delight and chasing each other, her little Hannah right in the middle of all the fun. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”

  “Tell me about your concerns.”

  “I’ve had jobs before,” she said, lifting her shoulder. “You know, waiting tables, retail…” She looked at the building that could very well give life to her dreams. “But I’ve never had my own business. I don’t know anything about starting a business.” A little sob escaped, and she covered her mouth. “Before Lee came home that night, I was sitting at the kitchen table Googling how to write a business plan and I still couldn’t figure it out. If I can’t figure out how to devise a plan, how do you expect me to execute one?”

  He cupped her shoulder to get her attention. “You won’t be doing this alone. You have me to help you, and I know a thing or two about starting a business from nothing.”

  She knew Chris had a master’s degree in business, but he had a large company to run and a daughter to raise. It wasn’t fair of her to expect him to waste his valuable time helping her. It was probably time to back out, before she got in too deep. “I just don’t think it’s the right time for me.”

  “I’d never force you to do anything you don’t want to do,” he said, watching a dark blue BMW pull into the lot and park a few spaces away from his car. “But if you’re turning down this opportunity because you’re afraid of failure, don’t. I know you have the potential to do things you’ve never even dreamed of. Don’t sell yourself short.”

  He saw potential in her? No one had ever said that to her. She knew she should say something—thank him for his kindness, tell him how much it
meant to her that he believed in her—but before she could find the words, he was out of the car and walking around to the passenger’s door.

  “Are you ready to do this?” he asked, holding out his hand to help her out of the car.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.” She took a deep breath. Looking at him, she found the words she needed to say. “Thank you for doing this for me. No matter what happens, this means more to me than you know.” Katie didn’t wait for a response as she turned toward the approaching realtor.

  “Lovely evening, isn’t it?” the mature woman in a conservative navy suit said. With a warm smile, she offered her hand to Chris. “You must be Mr. Rozen.”

  “I am, but please call me Chris.” He shook her hand with a smile before gesturing to Katie. “Mrs. Phillips, this is my business partner, Katie Elliott.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, and it’s Cynthia.” Her eyes glided to Chris’s car. “My youngest son would go crazy over this car. Not that he’d ever be able to afford it.” She winked. “He’s still working on paying off those student loans.”

  “I remember what that’s like,” Chris said, chuckling. As a truck driver, his father couldn’t afford to put four boys through college. They’d all paid their own way, working odd jobs and incurring debt so they could finish school.

  “Well, why don’t I show you the building?” Cynthia said, leading the way toward the front door.

  “What can you tell us about this place?” Chris settled his hand on the small of Katie’s back as she preceded him up the narrow stone path to the front doors.

  “Well, it was a real estate office. In fact, I had my office here, but my broker felt we needed something a little bigger, closer to the downtown core.”

  “Makes sense,” Chris said, keeping his eye on Katie as they passed through the two sets of doors. The smell of fresh paint assailed them. “The place has been completely renovated?”

  “It has.” Cynthia switched on lights from a panel near the front door. “It’s about twenty-five years old, so it was definitely time for a face-lift. What kind of business do you have?”

  “Katie is a pre-school teacher,” Chris supplied as Katie wandered, poking her head into each door lining the wide hallway. “She’d like to open a private pre-school.”

  “Oh, this building would be perfect for something like that,” Cynthia said, smiling. “There’s a full kitchen, two bathrooms, a rear exit, main office, and ten generous rooms that would be ideal classrooms.”

  Even in the early evening, the expansive windows let in a lot of light, bathing each room in a soft glow. With the neutral floors and walls, Katie could easily imagine the space alive with brightly colored learning aids, long tables for arts and crafts, and miniature chairs. Katie strolled to the back of the building knowing her wide-eyed expression must be conveying her feelings to Chris and Cynthia. She was in love.

  “Do you like what you see, Ms. Elliott?” Cynthia asked when Katie returned.

  “It’s lovely,” Katie said, smiling. “And it’s Katie, please.”

  “That’s my future daughter-in-law’s name,” Cynthia said, beaming. “She’s a lovely girl. She and my son have been dating for years. I can’t wait until they finally tie the knot this fall.”

  Katie smiled politely. She was sure Chris could tell her mind was somewhere else.

  “Do you have a feature sheet or any additional information we could scan over dinner?” he asked.

  “Oh, of course,” Cynthia said. “I don’t know where my mind is tonight. I should have given you this as soon as we walked in.” She reached into the black leather folder she’d been carrying and passed him a glossy brochure. Katie looked over Chris’s shoulder and spotted the asking price in the top corner. $1.7 million.

  “Do you think zoning will be an issue?” he asked Cynthia.

  “I don’t believe so. But if you choose to make an offer, you can build in a contingency for due diligence, just to make sure you won’t have any problems with licensing or bi-laws.”

  “Great.” Chris glanced at Katie. “Do you have any questions?”

  She was overwhelmed, not only by the prospect of starting a business, but by the asking price for the property. He was supposed to lend her fifty thousand dollars for a forty percent stake in her business, not buy a building to house her fantasies. “Um, no.” She turned her attention to Cynthia. “Thank you so much for showing us the space. It’s really lovely.”

  “It was my pleasure.” She offered her hand to Katie then Chris. “Please let me know if you have any additional questions or would like to set up another appointment to view the space with your own contractors. Just in case a build-out is necessary to meet your needs.”

  “Thank you, we’ll do that.” Chris held the door for Katie and waited until they’d reached the passenger’s door of the car before he asked, “So what did you think?”

  “What’s not to love?”

  ***

  Looking at her, with the sun setting in the background, he asked himself the same question. What’s not to love about this woman? The answer came quickly, startling him with its intensity. Nothing, she’s perfect for you. Except for one little problem. She still shared his best friend’s last name. He didn’t trust himself to speak without blurting out his thoughts, so he helped her into the car and took a deep breath as he tried to collect himself before facing her again. He got in and started the car. “I think so, too. Why don’t we make an offer? I’d be willing to go in at one-five.”

  “That’s crazy.” She twisted her purse strap between her fingers. “I can’t let you do that. I don’t even have my degree yet. Then there’s the certification and…” Her eyes filled with tears. “What if I fail? I can’t let you take that kind of risk on me.”

  Chris’s heart broke seeing the proof that no one had ever believed in her as much as he did, including herself. He wanted her to develop the confidence that came from stepping outside of her comfort zone and pushing the boundaries of what she believed was possible. “I have no doubt you’re going to pass with flying colors. In the meantime, we can set this in motion. We have a few months before the new school year starts. That should be just enough time, right?”

  Her eyes darted from one side of the road to the other as though she were plotting an escape. “It’s a huge amount of money. You offered fifty thousand dollars initially, and even that’s too much to play with.”

  “I’m not playing.” If only she knew how serious he was. “This is an investment, and real estate is a good bet. Whatever it takes to get the business up and running, I’m willing to put it up.”

  She looked at him, seemingly stunned by his generous offer. “I can’t even imagine what it must be like to be able to spend that kind of money without thinking twice about it.”

  “I’m a careful investor. I work hard for my money and I’ve busted my butt to get where I am, but when I see a good thing, I don’t have to wait around for a bank to give me their approval. I won’t deny that’s a pretty damn good feeling.”

  “But how do you know I’m a good thing?” She blushed. “I mean, how do you know this business is a good idea?”

  “I spent a little time doing some research. I came up with the framework for a plan. Now that we know some of the details, we can fill it in and see where we end up with projections and operating costs, based on the size of the space, number of students you could enroll, and tuition you could charge.”

  “I still can’t believe this is happening,” she said, her eyes shining with eagerness.

  “When you want something badly enough, there’s always a way to make it happen. Don’t ever forget that.” He knew when his head hit the pillow that night, he’d remind himself of the very same thing. It may take a while before she was ready to take a chance on love again, but when she was, he’d be waiting.

  ***

  Katie was having the time of her life with Chris. They’d laughed, talked, planned, indulged in mouth-watering pasta and decadent dessert, and
smiled so much her cheeks hurt. She’d known he was an amazing man, but spending time alone with him was a rare treat. She sipped on the cappuccino she’d ordered because she wasn’t ready for the evening to end. “Did you want a big family?”

  “Still do.”

  “So you think you’ll get married again?”

  “I’d like to, when the time is right.”

  She was sure he would. Men like Chris didn’t remain single forever. There was no reason the image of him standing at some altar, exchanging vows with a faceless woman, should make her chest hurt. Must be heartburn. “Do you think Bianca would be okay with her daddy getting married again?”

  “I guess that depends,” he said, smiling. “You know her. She’s very opinionated. Any woman I fall in love with would have to love my little princess too. We’re a package deal.”

  Katie couldn’t imagine a woman alive who wouldn’t melt at the sight of that cherub face and those big blue eyes… so much like her daddy’s. Katie counted Chris’s ex-wife among her friends, but she thought Courtney must have been out of her mind to walk away from a man like Chris. “I doubt that will be a problem.” Katie blushed when she realized she’d said that aloud.

  “Are you saying you think we’re irresistible?”

  Rolling her eyes, Katie said, “I meant your kid is irresistible, Rozen. I didn’t say anything about you.” They’d always had an easy rapport and been able to tease each other. Katie knew how rare that was, but while she’d been sharing a home with Lee, she hadn’t given it much thought. It was become increasingly difficult to ignore. They just fit. He accepted her for who she was, didn’t judge her for her past, and made her believe she could accomplish any goal she set. No one in her life, not even her own family, had ever believed in her the way Chris did.

  “What are you thinking about?” Chris asked as he twisted the stem of his wine glass between his thumb and forefinger. “Don’t say nothing. I can see the wheels turning.”