Chapter Ten #2
She turned and walked to the driver’s door.
She didn’t trust herself to say another word.
She was angry and disappointed enough to burst into tears, and she refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing she’d fallen for his line about wanting to cook for her.
She’d believed there was more to Hank than what she’d seen on television.
She was a fool. Maybe he would take her silence as a hint and go away.
He did not.
“Beth, wait. Let me explain. Please.”
She turned, catching another whiff of his musky scent.
At some point this evening, he’d changed his clothes because with the parking lot light over their heads, she could see he had on a white V-neck and a pair of dark shorts that showed off his athletic build to perfection.
She was eye level with his chest and his lovely golden chest hair.
She raised her gaze to his. “I don’t like liars. ”
He flinched, and his lips slanted down. “I didn’t lie to you.
I was on the phone talking to my financial advisor.
I called the restaurant to tell you I was running late.
You didn’t answer and, apparently, didn’t check your messages.
” He reached out a hand, but she backed away from it.
“Please, I’d like to make it up to you.”
She narrowed her gaze. He dropped his hand by his side. “That’s not what I’m referring to.”
“What then?” He looked perplexed, but it was dark, and he was an actor.
“Oh, come off it, Hank. You did the interview, right? Or do you actors have body doubles who talk to the press for you?”
He cocked his head to the side and frowned. “Yes, and I told the reporter nothing had been decided yet. Let me guess, the gossip rags said I’m opening a fitness center, and you believed them.”
She crossed her arms. “Yes, they did. So that’s how we’re going to play this? You’re going to tell me you’re not putting me out of business? Oh, and it wasn’t a rag, it was our local news station.”
He shook his head. “I’m not surprised. They’re always looking for news, and I’m sure Elizabeth set the stage. That’s her job. And yeah, that’s right, I didn’t promise anyone anything. And I wasn’t talking over my finances to screw you over.”
She scoffed. “The local news lied on purpose, then? Why would they do that?”
“They only aired parts of the interview. I told them the same thing I told you: Nothing’s been decided yet. I didn’t say that I was going ahead with it. There’s a big difference.”
She shook her head. “Not where I come from. You told me you weren’t feeling the fitness center. Now you’re in talks with the city to make it happen? Sounds like lying to me.” She turned to open her door.
“Now hold on.”
The desperation in Hank’s voice stopped her.
“That call I got while we were having lunch was from my agent. My . . .” He shifted from one foot to the other. “My series has been canceled.”
She wanted to get in the car and speed off, leaving him in her dust. She wanted to indulge in a good cry followed by a large container of peanut butter ice cream.
She wanted to forget she had ever met Hank Haverill.
But something stopped her. Some tiny bit of empathy.
Acting was Hank’s life just as Grandma Lou’s was hers.
Her hand stilled on the door. She glanced at him over her shoulder.
“So you decided maybe you’d better open the fitness center anyway, right? ”
“Look, nothing’s decided. But the last thing I want to do is put you out of business. I said I’d rent to you and the other tenants until I figure out what I’m doing. I meant it. Can’t we just ignore the press for one night?”
She turned to face him, releasing all the pain, frustration, and heartache of the last few years in a single moment like she’d lifted the lid on a sealed pressure cooker.
Tears stung her eyes. “No, Hank, we can’t.
This place” —she flung a hand toward the building—“is my livelihood. Travis’s too.
It’s all we have left. It’s all that’s left of our parents and grandparents too.
I can’t just pretend everything’s fine. If you mean what you say, then put it in writing. ”
She would not cry in front of him. She would not. Bethany opened her car door. She needed to get home and put this sorry mess of a day behind her.
“Beth, wait.”
She made the mistake of sparing him a glance. He stood next to her, his hands in his pockets again. He looked lonely and . . . lost.
She let out her breath in a huff. “What?”
“I meant what I said. I’ll have my lawyers draw up a lease agreement, which I’ll sign, but in return, you have to do something for me.”
She settled her hands on her hips and curled her lip. “Like what?”
“Give me a lift home.”
She frowned and looked toward the street as if a vehicle might appear. “You don’t have a car?”
“No, my driver dropped me off. I’d hoped to catch a ride home with you after.”
Bethany tightened her hands into fists. Had he thought he could charm his way into a sleepover?
Enjoy a late dinner and then get her into bed?
In that case, he wouldn’t have needed a ride home.
She understood. A TV star like Hank was used to getting what he wanted—including adoring fans throwing themselves into his arms every day.
He must have caught a glimpse of anger on her face because he waved a hand. “Never mind. Forget it. I’ll call my driver. My hotel’s not far.”
She hesitated. He said he would sign a lease agreement, which would guarantee she would be able to rent for the next few months.
Long enough for her to learn if she’d won the contest and had the money to repurchase the building.
All she had to do was give him a short ride to his hotel.
Seemed like an easy enough trade. “You’ll sign a two-month lease agreement? ”
“Yeah.” He nodded his handsome head and seemed almost embarrassed. “I’ll have my attorney draw up the agreement and get it to you to sign tomorrow.”
She hooked her thumb toward the passenger seat and sighed. “Hop in.”