He laughed. “I can do this.”
She looked at him with raised eyebrows.
“I will do this,” he said with confidence.
“You better believe it. You are a great contractor. You work hard, and you deserve it.” He smiled, and her heart dipped in her chest.
He helped her into her chair, then pushed her into the bank and up to the counter.
“May I help you?” an older woman who looked to have too many troubles on her shoulders asked.
“I’d like to talk to someone about getting a business loan,” Nick said.
Without responding, the clerk picked up the phone and made a call. She hung up. “Mr. Taylor will see you in the first office on the right.” She pointed toward the row of offices along the far wall.
As they approached, the man sitting there instantly stood up and walked toward them. “Hello, I’m Will Taylor, the loan manager. What can we do for you today?”
Gillian recognized him instantly. How many times had he greeted Paul the same way, with the same smile, the same handshake?
“Mrs. Barnes, it’s been a long time,” he said, turning to her with a look of surprise.
“It has,” Gillian said brightly.
“Is everything all right?” He gestured toward the chair.
“Yes. I was in a minor car accident. I shouldn’t be in the chair for much longer.”
“That is wonderful to hear, and how is Mr. Barnes?” he asked tentatively as he glanced at Nick.
“Paul is great. This is an old friend of ours, Nick Carr. When he said he needed a business loan, I told him this is the bank to come to. You’ve always helped us so much in all our business endeavors,” she said, wondering how many of Paul’s money laundering businesses he started through this bank.
“Of course, please come in.”
Nick pushed her in front of Mr. Taylor’s clean desk, then took the chair next to her. His office looked exactly as it had the last time she’d been there. Nothing personal, no pictures, plants, not even a paperweight.
“I’d like a loan for my construction business.” Nick passed the business plan they created across the desk. “I already have a contract for the first job, with many opportunities for follow-up business. It’s all there.”
Mr. Taylor opened the document and started flipping through the pages.
“This looks very promising. Do you have anything to put up for collateral?”
“Not at this time,” Nick said.
Mr. Taylor frowned.
“Will that be a problem?” Gillian asked, leaning forward slightly. “Because my husband and I can vouch for him. I’ve known Nick all my life. We’re practically family.”
Mr. Taylor looked at her for a long moment, then turned to Nick. “How much were you looking for?”
“Fifty thousand should do it.”
His eyebrows rose. “Let me run some numbers for you. I’ll be right back.”
Once he left, Gillian leaned toward him and squeezed his leg. “You’re doing great. I’m going to go see the clerk about the safety deposit box.”
“Okay. I wish I could kiss you,” he said softly.
She smiled. “I just felt it.” She wheeled her chair out of the office and toward the clerk. The counter was too high. She looked up at the woman and cleared her throat. “I’d like to get into my safety deposit box.” She reached up and laid her key on the counter.