Page 17 of Forever a Thief

Thank God, I have insurance. I’m doing my damnedest to be like Harper and look on the bright side. I’m more gloomy by nature, so it’s hard. But after talking to my sister earlier, I feel better. She reminded me of all the positive things I needed to hear, and she and Ryland vowed to help me get Charlie’s Place up and running again. Guess it’s a lot more than just a shattered door now.

Looking around, I wonder where Laurent went. He turned out to be a pillar of support, taking charge when the police arrived, helping me answer their questions. He even held my hand. Looking down, I lace my fingers together and squeeze. We haven’t had a chance to talk alone yet, and I have no idea why he was here when the explosion happened, but I’m so grateful for his presence.

I know he claims he’s no hero, but I’m going to disagree with that statement. Wholeheartedly. The way he swooped in and pulled me from the fire before I risked my life and tried to stupidly put it out myself…

He’s a hero in my book. No doubt about it.

As if on cue, he appears from around the corner of the restaurant, carrying something, although I can’t quite see what. He crosses the street, sits down beside me and gives me the item in his hand. My heart clenches as I look down at the cracked frame holding the scorched picture of my parents, Harper and me. It must’ve gotten blown off the wall… And he found it.

“Thank you,” I whisper, voice catching as I begin wiping the soot off the edges. All of a sudden, the weight of what happened presses down on my shoulders, and it’s like I’m being crushed. Despair fills me. “What am I going to do?”

“Please, don’t cry.” He slides an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. He feels so strong and solid, while I’m a trembling mess of emotions. “I have an offer for you.”

Surprised, I glance over, blinking my tears away. “What’re you talking about?”

“You plan on re-building your restaurant, right?”

I swipe a hand under my runny nose. “Yes, but—”

“So, you’re going to need investors.”

My mouth drops open. Is he offering to help me rebuild? Hope surges within my chest. It seems too good to be true. “You want to invest in Charlie’s Place?”

He shifts beside me. “Let’s just say I have a proposition for you.”

Frowning, I pull away. “What kind of proposition?” My brows knit together and I immediately think of that old movie Indecent Proposal.

“A business proposition,” he clarifies, as if reading my dirty mind. “Let’s get some café and I’ll tell you what I’m thinking.”

At this point, I have nothing else to do today—and probably tomorrow—so why the hell not? I’ve already given a statement to the authorities, spoken to my sister, and informed all my employees about the fire since I’m not entirely sure who already knows.

With a soft sigh, I get up and point to a small coffee shop down the street. “I could use some caffeine,” I murmur.

“Me, too.”

A few minutes later, we’re sitting at a small table inside, sipping coffee. A large, hot mocha won’t rebuild my restaurant, but it tastes delicious. Some comfort in a cup. Across from me, Laurent watches me closely as he drinks an espresso.

“I think there’s a way we can help each other,” he begins, setting his cup down. His vibrant green eyes hold me hostage, and I can’t seem to look away.

“How?”

“We each want something. You need help rebuilding and, let’s face it, insurance only covers so much. And they’ll be in no hurry to cut you a check. If I come on board, you can get things rolling. You could upgrade things, find a better location, build a bigger place. Whatever you want.”

“And in return?” I ask, unable to keep the suspicion from my voice. Because although I don’t know Laurent well—hell, I don’t even know his full name—I do know he’s a self-proclaimed thief. Is that the kind of person I want to do business with? That I can trust?

God, I hope so. Because we both know how much his investment could help speed up the process. The insurance company might drag their feet for months. Hell, depending on what caused the fire, they might even fight paying anything. But if Laurent invests, I could look for a new spot and start setting up as soon as next week.

“In return, you’ll help me get back the book that was stolen from me last night.”

I’m not sure why he needs my help, or what I could even do to help him, but I’m in a desperate position, which is making me much more willing to listen than I was before. “Go on.”

“It’s a rare copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by—”

“Lewis Carroll,” I finish, and he arches a dark brow. “That’s my favorite book. Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved it. My dad used to read it to me before bed.”

An unreadable look passes over his face before it disappears just as quickly and he’s back to business. “You help me, I help you.”

“I’m not sure how I can help,” I admit, struggling to understand why he wants me and not Addie and her ring of thieves. Or even Ryland and his friends. Well, other than the fact that they’re all law-abiding citizens now and Laurent is…not. “I have no experience when it comes to, um, stealing. I can’t break into a house or a safe or deactivate an alarm. I can barely work the remote control for my streaming service.”