Page 31 of The Billionaire Invitation

She hummed as she drank her wine. He thought he’d convinced her, but couldn’t be sure.

“How did the luncheon go today?” he asked.

She seesawed her head. “Okay, I guess. She promised money once I have some money and structure. Oh, and a name for the nonprofit. I assume it’s normal for people to be skeptical of a newcomer.”

“I don’t like that she’s creating hoops for you to jump through. You don’t have to answer to her.” He frowned, more sure of his decision now that he knew what Honesty was up against. “This is your pilot, not—whatever her name is.”

“Beatrice Banks. She founded By Banks cosmetics.”

“Never heard of her.” He hated when barely rich people acted like they had control over not-as-rich people. It pissed him off. Anyone could say what they wanted to say about the Cranes and their billions, but he had never been raised to take advantage of anyone. Being business savvy was almost a requirement in their family, and when there were people in need, they stepped up.

“I’m not giving up. I can meet with donors one-on-one and ask them for checks individually. I mean, it might take a toll on my company, but Gabby is great. She’ll pick up the slack. If I work around the clock for a while, maybe I can do it all.”

“What if you didn’t have to work twenty-four seven to make it happen? What if you had a financial backer?”

“You mean like a fairy godmother?” she joked.

“Not exactly. I mean me.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Before coming to dinner tonight, while she was dressing in her borderline inappropriate outfit, Honesty had made a few rules for herself to follow.

If she was going to enjoy these two weeks with Dante, she would need to set parameters or else she would be screwed. And not in the fun way.

In order to walk away with her heart and brain intact, she had set two ground rules before she’d left home.

Their arrangement was temporary, so the first rule was simple: two weeks, just sex, and no pretending it was anything more. Second, whatever happened between the sheets stayed there and had nothing to do with her business or her nonprofit.

She’d thought offering to pick up the dinner tab tonight might keep those lines from blurring. But she knew him and had expected an argument. Him offering to be her backer, though? Dropping cash into her lap didn’t blur the line so much as obliterate it.

“Except in this case, I would be your fairy godfather,” he said.

She ignored his attempt at humor. “Absolutely not. Just because I gave up the check for dinner without a fight⁠—”

“That’s not what this is about.”

Their waiter, whose timing was questionable, chose then to step up to the table to take their order. She and Dante made quick work of ordering—she chose the fish and risotto. He ordered the duck and vegetables.

When that was done, Dante continued.

“Meet with Eli. Tell him your idea. Rather than launch this nonprofit on your own, why not work with Refurbs for Vets? The veterans they help are living in their own retrofitted homes. They need you in their kitchens. The service you offer will improve their daily lives in a real and meaningful way.”

“Eli…Crane? Why would he help me, other than because you asked?”

“He wouldn’t be doing this as a favor. This fills a gap for the mission of RFV.” Dante leaned in. “Think about it. His charity installs ramps, lowers countertops, but an accessible kitchen is useless if nobody cooks in it. That’s where you come in. You teach them how to maneuver in that kitchen. You teach them the value of cooking healthy meals for themselves. That’s self-reliance. Independence. Tell me that’s not worth doing.”

She couldn’t. Because that was exactly what she’d helped Christian realize. She’d stood in her brother’s kitchen and had shown him how to make easy meals so that he didn’t have to order takeout. She’d taught him to make enough for a crowd, so that he could entertain—for one or many. He’d appreciated being able to do things on his own. He’d told her that himself.

“And you think Eli will be open to this.”

“I do.”

She nodded while thinking it through. “So, I would ask for donations from him or⁠—”

“Eli’s the infrastructure, not the money. He is your link to the people. The money will come from elsewhere.” He pointed to himself. “Fairy godfather.”

She and Dante were already swimming around in muddy water. She didn’t need to compound that problem by being indebted to him too. Accepting a check from Dante was worse than accepting one from Eli. If Eli sponsored her nonprofit, it would be a business transaction. If Dante cut the check, she would feel protected and cared for by him again. Add in a few rolls in the proverbial hay and she’d be squarely in the Danger Zone.