Joon Gi Kim was bold. Sky would give him that.
Unfortunately for the handsome stranger, her friend Jo wasn’t buying what he was selling and honestly, neither did she. If something was too good to be true, it probably had a wandering eye, secret kids scattered around the country and a thing for women in short skirts and crop tops.
But that was another matter.
Sky straightened her shoulders. “Let me see if I understood that clearly. You’re saying you’d like to help me run the café?”
“That’s right.” He nodded.
She arched both eyebrows. “And you’d work for free?”
“For the first month.” He lifted a pale finger. “If I raise the value of the business by then, I get a salary.”
“Which you want to reinvest into Sweet Treats to become a silent partner.”
“My time and expertise are worth thousands, but I’m giving you a great discount. My only stipulation is that you keep going and never sell this store to anyone.” He lifted his chin like the deal was done and he’d already garnered the profits. “What do you say?”
Sky’s jaw dropped. Joon Gi’s claim of doubling her profits in six months was ridiculous enough, but a niggling voice in the back of her mind told her no sane person would make that kind of offer for nothing.
Just because he was crazy enough to propose it didn’t mean she was crazy enough to accept.
Sky found his request about the store bizarre too. Why should he care if she sold or not?
All kinds of alarm bells were ringing in her head. She might be a soft touch, but she was no fool.
Sky shook her head. “I say thanks but no thanks. I’m not looking for another worker at this time.” She could barely give herself and Jo a salary every week. It was plain math.
“You go, girl,” a voice whispered.
Sky looked over. Jo was across the room leaning on the counter and making no attempts to hide her eavesdropping.
“As I was saying,” she raised her voice so Jo knew that back up was appreciated but unnecessary, “I’m stunned by your offer but I don’t need your help. And even if I did, I don’t know you or trust you.”
“Understandable,” he said.
Well, more like he growled.
Not intentionally, of course. But still. Joon Gi had a gravelly voice, a tone that was far deeper than what she’d assumed he would have based on her limited interactions with the Asians in Belize.
He was on the tall and lean side, solid in way that filled out his turquoise-colored dress shirt well. His face was angular, sharp-looking. From those brown eyes, thin nose and thick pink lips one would never guess he’d be the type to go around traipsing into cafés promising to change lives.
Joon Gi ran a pale hand through his straight black hair. “I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that your store is spending more than it’s making in profits.”
Sky stiffened.
He continued as if he didn’t notice. Or maybe he just didn’t care. “You’ve got personal bills or responsibilities that keep you from making the proper investments for expansion and you’re probably tied up with mortgages of some kind. Maybe a business loan?”
“Who the heck are you?” Sky’s eyes narrowed to slits and her round chin tipped up. Her suspicion meter was going off the charts and no cute face could disguise the alarm bells.
“Have you been spying on us?” Jo stormed over.
“The woman I was with earlier is a friend of mine. If she’s interested in your bakery, it means it’s close to folding. She’s not the type to play a game she won’t win.”
Sky remained calm. “I’m not intimidated. Plenty of businesses have approached me and I’ve shot them down with no issues.”
Just then, the door opened and customers straggled in.
Jo straightened and shot Joon Gi a warning look. “Don’t do anything suspicious while I’m gone. And you”—she pointed to Sky—“don’t fall for any of his sob stories. I mean it.”
“I won’t.”
“I’m serious, Sky.” Jo narrowed her eyes.
Sky nodded and shooed her friend away. Turning to Joon Gi, she fluttered her hands. “Go on.”
“Look, the truth is …” He glanced aside and lowered his voice. “I need this job. Badly. In the past, I made some bad business decisions and got caught by the cops. I lost my business, my money, my family, and my fiancée.”
“Your fiancée?”
He nodded sadly. “She returned the ring while I was in lock up.”
Compassion welled in Sky’s chest. She knew what it was like to be dumped cruelly and wouldn’t wish it on her worst enemy.
Lowering her lashes so he couldn’t see her internal struggle, she croaked, “That’s awful.”
“I’m trying to get back on my feet, but I need someone to take a chance on me first. The banks won’t approve me for a loan and my associates have distanced themselves because of all the media attention.” He nodded confidently. “I have a lot to offer. I can help you, Sky. If you choose to help me.”
Her defenses crumpled like a wave taking down a sandcastle.
So much for not falling for sob stories.
“Do you know anything about baking?”
“No.” He set his hands on the table. “But I can learn. Plus I can give you tips on marketing, book-keeping, and expansion. I ran several successful businesses before my… downfall.”
Sky whipped her hand out. “How soon can you start?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Jo returned just as the customers left. “What’s going on here?”
“I just got hired.” Joon Gi’s eyes glittered.
Sky had a flashback to this morning when Phillip took off with her money and got the inexplicable sense that she’d been manipulated.
Again.
No, this is different. This is a mutually beneficial exchange, right?
“Sky,” Jo shot through gritted teeth, “can I see you? In the kitchen?”
“Yeah, sure.” She pushed away from the table and followed Jo into the private room.
The moment the door swung behind them, her friend whirled around. “Really? I leave you for ten seconds and you let some random stranger into your money cupboard?”
“He needs a fresh start, Jo. You heard him. The guy was blackballed by every business in the city. No one wants to work with him. Not even his family. Was I just supposed to kick him out after hearing all that?”
“Yes! Yes you were!” Jo sounded utterly exasperated. “Don’t you think they have a reason for shunning him? Maybe because he’s a crook?”
“We should get to know him before we judge. He said he’s willing to work for free for a month. That can be his probationary period. If we don’t like him, he can take a hike.”
“Or maybe we shouldn’t get tangled up with men who bribe custom officers.”
“He seems sorry.”
Jo tapped her cheek and spat sarcastically, “Yeah, I bet he does.”
“I’ve made my decision.”
“I know you’ve got a big heart, Sky. I’ve seen it first hand, but this is insane.”
“Don’t you have work to get to?” Sky reached behind her and checked the phone that she’d left on the counter. “Your grandmother will kill you if you’re late.”
“How do you expect me to leave you alone with him?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“What if he’s a serial killer or something?” Jo nibbled on her bottom lip, her brown eyes growing more frantic with each hypothetical situation. “What if he’s a stalker who’s been waiting for an opportunity to have his way with you?”
“I don’t think Mr. Joon Gi is interested in me like that.”
“Why? Because you’re black?” Jo gestured to herself. “Hello, Asians mingle. Evidence is right here.”
Sky laughed. “You know I didn’t mean it that way. Would you just go? I’ll text you or Phillip if I’m uncomfortable.”
“Fine. I’m leaving. But don’t let him walk all over you. Remember, you’re the boss here.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sky saluted.
Jo grabbed her backpack that was stashed beneath the counter and used the side-door exit.
Sky let out a relieved breath and grabbed her apron. She’d accepted Joon Gi on an impulse but now that the pity was wearing off, she had no idea what to do about him.
Might as well make the best of it.
After tying her apron behind her, Sky strode outside. Joon Gi was up and pacing around the café with his hands behind his back. His eyes swept back and forth as he inspected every inch of the place.
Doubts cropped in her head, watered by her own insecurities.
Had she given in too quickly?
What if he was just another businessman interested in buying her out?
She cleared her throat.
Joon Gi whirled around and strode toward her, a welcoming smile on his face. His presence put her at ease for some reason. He was cunning, but Sky sensed he was also good-hearted.
Maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to approve given your track record. Her past relationships proved she wasn’t a great judge of character.
“We can draft up a contract later,” Joon Gi said. “But first I’d like to check the state of your book-keeping—”
“Hold up.” She raised a hand.
Joon Gi raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not handing over anything yet.”
“What?” His brows lowered. “But I thought we’d come to an agreement.”
“The agreement was you get a second chance. I’ll decide when and if I’ll let you into the business part of Sweet Treats and I also decide if I’ll entertain any other offers.”
Joon Gi stared at her with wide, brown eyes.
Her smile slipped while she waited. Why was she so nervous to set her foot down? It was her business. She didn’t owe this man anything.
Don’t let him get to you.
“Fine.” His eyes dropped to her apron. “What do you want me to do first?”
“We’ll start with the easy stuff.”
“Okay.”
She made a slow perusal of his torso. “What are you wearing under there?”
“Excuse me?”
She chuckled. “You might need to change shirts. Things are about to get messy.”
“Why would they—?”
Sky pumped her thumb to the right. “You can start by wiping the counters and chairs.”
“Y-you want me to clean?”
“We’ve only got two people on staff and I’m the one who usually has to clean around here. Since you were so concerned about proving yourself, you can start there.”
His eyelashes fluttered. For a second, she wondered if he would reject her.
Deep down, Sky was almost hoping for it.
After dipping her toes into the ocean of Serendipitous-First-Meetings, she’d gotten a little wary of the water. People who popped up into her life offering something usually ducked out just as easily. It was best if Joon Gi made a smooth exit too.
The silence stretched.
Sky opened her mouth to dismiss him, but Joon Gi started unbuttoning his shirt. “You have a deal.
“Oh.” She blinked in surprise. “Follow me.”
He slipped his shirt off and set it on the chair. As they strolled, Sky tried not to ogle him, but her eyes gravitated to his broad shoulders and the tattoo riding along the inside of his arm.
Joon Gi leaned past her when they got to the broom closet and his arm brushed against her side.
Sky’s heart bucked like she’d been shot.
What is wrong with me?
Unperturbed, Joon Gi grabbed a rag hanging from a hook with the tip of his fingers and turned to face her in the cramped doorway. She felt his warmth and every vibration his deep voice made when he asked, “Will this work?”
She nodded dumbly.
“Just tidy up the front?”
“Yeah. I’ll be in the kitchen if you have any problems.”
“I got this.” He smiled, causing his eyes to collapse into slits.
He’s so hot.
She swallowed.
Perturbed by the thought, Sky shuffled away and hid in the kitchen until her heartbeat returned to normal.
She was sampling too much of her goods lately. It was doing weird things to her.
Tomorrow, I’m going on a diet.