Chapter Sixteen
Hank didn’t know how long he remained there with Bethany sleeping on his shoulder. Thirty minutes? An hour? He stayed until his arm fell asleep. Then he managed to rest her head against the cushions and shake his arm until the pins and needles disappeared.
Even then, he stayed where he was, watching her sleep. Some magic he couldn’t name shimmered in the air around them until his cell phone buzzed, breaking the spell.
Elizabeth. She’d been worried about him. He owed her some attention. Hank grabbed the phone and went into the kitchen to take the call so he wouldn’t disturb Bethany.
“I think you should shelve Fitaholics for now. Head back to LA.”
He frowned but kept his voice low. “Not even a hello, first? I thought you wanted the fitness center?”
“Sorry, it’s late. I do want the fitness center. Scout’s honor. But Blackie has some movie roles he wants you to audition for. We’re done here for a while.”
“Since when? Yesterday, he told me all he could find were cheesy car commercials.”
“Since today. He told me you’re up for a major award for Apollo. He wants you back in LA.”
“I’m not going back there yet.” His voice came out sharper than he’d intended, although it was exciting to learn he was up for an award. He ran a hand through his hair.
There was a pause. “Why? What’s keeping you in Cleveland?”
Hank sighed. “I need a little downtime. I’m not flying out on Monday. I’m staying here a few weeks.”
Elizabeth paused. Hank could picture her running through all the arguments in her head. She settled on one. “If you need downtime, we’ll go to Barbados. At least there we’ll have sunny skies every day and beautiful beaches.”
“I don’t need sunny skies and beaches. This is the city where I was born. I want to visit a few places while I’m here.”
“It’s the girl, isn’t it?”
Hank paused, flicking a glance toward Bethany.
“What girl?”
“Don’t play dumb. You know who I mean. The restaurant owner you invited to dinner. Have you slept with her yet?”
A groan sounded from the couch. Hank waited to see if Bethany was waking up, but she stilled.
“That’s none of your business. I just got out of one relationship. The last thing I need or want is another.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Hank could picture Elizabeth rolling her eyes and filing her nails. “What’s there to kid about? I’m serious.”
“Oh yeah? That’s what you said about Melanie, remember? You and she were just gonna be friends. Next thing I know, you’re moving in together, and look how long that lasted. Now we gotta deal with the fallout from her pissed-off father and a lawsuit.”
“That was different. Melanie’s Hollywood. Bethany is”—Hank turned back to the family room—“a real friend. She takes my mind off everything.”
“You may think of her as a friend, but she’s female and she’s human.”
Hank leaned against the wall. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Elizabeth managed to sound sharp and bored at the same time. This personality trait of cutting through the bullshit was one of the reasons he liked having her around. But for some reason, he found himself clenching his jaw.
“It means, you’ll break her heart. You always do.”
Hank straightened. “That’s ridiculous. Melanie’s not heartbroken, she’s mad.”
“Take it from me, Hank. She was heartbroken first. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and all that. The best thing you can do is to stay far, far away from this poor girl. You’re vulnerable—and on the rebound.”
“She’s not a rebound.” His voice came out louder than he wanted.
Hank glanced again at Bethany. She lay in the same spot, unmoving.
He turned away and lowered his voice. “I won’t break her heart.
I’m not looking for a serious relationship.
Besides, she doesn’t even like me. I’m threatening her livelihood. ”
Elizabeth scoffed. “Oh, she likes you all right. You’re worth millions.”
“She’s not after my money.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth’s tone sharpened. In Hollywood, people were catty and selfish and generally full of themselves.
“I mean she cares about people, Elizabeth. She’s feeding the hungry out of her restaurant.”
Elizabeth huffed. “Okay, point taken.”
“Great, you see where I’m coming from?”
“No, I see she doesn’t have much business sense.
” Hank pictured Elizabeth grinding her teeth.
“Which is all the more reason why you should stay away from the girl. Hank, I’m not trying to rain on your parade.
But this is your career we’re talking about.
Bethany Parker will be yet another drain on your finances.
You’re already having second thoughts about opening Fitaholics.
Next, you’ll be giving her back the building. ”
Hank opened the fridge and found the cheesecake. He scooped a slice on a plate and nabbed a fork from the drawer.
“Hank Haverill, you have not agreed to give away the building, have you?”
“No,” he mumbled around a bite of cheesecake. He would up his workout tomorrow.
Elizabeth snorted. “Hank . . .”
“Listen, she’s entering her grandma’s restaurant in a baking contest that could earn five hundred grand in prize money. I told her if she wins the contest and if I sell the building, I’d sell to her. She’s aware I need to make a profit whatever I do. What’s the big deal?”
“The deal is you’re supposed to be shelving this project and returning to LA, not giving the building away to charity.”
Now it was Hank’s turn to roll his eyes. “This is not charity, Elizabeth. For God’s sake, I’m not gifting her the building. If I decide to sell it to her, she’ll pay for it just like any other buyer. If she can’t purchase it, I’ll find someone who can.”
Hank finished the cheesecake and put his dish in the sink. Despite what he’d threatened Bethany with earlier, the service he hired would do the dishes in the morning.
“Ah, Hank.” Elizabeth sounded disappointed.
He sighed and leaned against the sink. He didn’t know what he felt for Bethany. He hardly knew her. He tried again to provide some rational explanation Elizabeth might believe—or maybe he was trying to convince himself. “She amuses me, that’s all. A distraction. I’ve had too much stress.”
“Okay. Have it your way. Sleep with her and get it out of your system. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Hank clenched his jaw until it ached and injected as much sarcasm as he could into his voice. “I don’t need your advice on who to sleep with. You’re my publicist, not a counselor, remember?”
A sound from the couch told him Bethany was awake.
Elizabeth didn’t seem fazed by his bitterness.
“Yeah, and as your publicist, I’m advising you to let the woman alone and get back to your career in LA.
This attraction you feel is the thrill of the chase.
It will only last until you find the next challenge.
You know it as well as I do. You’ll break her heart. ”
“Hey, I gotta run.”
“Wait, where will you be tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. I’ll text you in the morning.” Before Elizabeth could press him for details, he ended the call.
He turned to see Bethany standing in the kitchen, sandals in one hand, hair tousled, and eyes wide.
“Why didn’t you wake me up? It’s midnight.”
He strolled toward her with a grin. “You didn’t turn into a pumpkin.”
She did not return his smile. Instead, she dropped her sandals and slid her feet into them. “I gotta go. Thanks for dinner.”
“Beth, wait. I’ll take you home.”
A car horn beeped outside, and they both turned toward the sound. She shook her head and hurried toward the door. “No, Travis is here. Bye, Hank.”
Before he could stop her, she opened the door and dashed from the house.
What had she overheard?
Hank scooped up the white sweater that had slipped from her hands when she’d run. He brought it to his face and let the scent of lemons surround him.